Our plan B – God’s plan A

As you go through life, especially in missions and even more so in Latin America, you learn that flexibility is key. Things can change in an instant and you can end up somewhere or doing something that you had never planned, and sometimes never wanted. For example, we had planned to speak to teachers in both primary and secondary schools in Palenque the other week but ended up only being given the opportunity to speak to the primary teachers, or at the beginning of the year I had intended to come back to Colombia earlier but in the end I stayed in New York for an extra 3 weeks.

However, something else that you learn in these changes of plan is that your plan B is often God’s plan A. We like to come up with great ideas and plans that sound to us like the best option and the most impactful for the kingdom often not listening to God for what His plan or idea is. Sometimes he lets us carry on in our way and turns it for his glory, but other times he puts barriers in our way or picks us up and turns us around, like a father watching his child heading towards a hazard. I have often noticed that when these diversions occur the results are much better than originally planned. In the examples above, by focusing on the primary school teachers we were able to give a deeper instruction which they can pass on to the high school teachers, and can implement the changes in the primary school enabling the pupils to take the lessons learnt with them into high school and in New York I discovered that my online course was actually a postal course which I wouldn’t have been able to complete in Colombia.

As everyone knows, my plan A long term was to stay in Colombia and found a ministry here however lack of support from the leadership of YWAM Cartagena means that I am unable to do so at the moment. This has been a hard thing to deal with, I have been in Cartagena for nearly 7yrs and it is my home, my heart is very much in this city. I have been through a long grieving process over the last few months, not only as I am leaving but also because it hasn’t been my choice to leave. So Plan B is forming, to go to Lima in Peru for a time to collaborate with a friend I met in the School I did in Iquitos at the end of last year to found a ministry together. As I look back at all the other Plan B’s that turned out so wonderfully I am finding consolation in this and trusting in God that this is His Plan A for my life. There are already some big positives in the move, my best friend from here in Cartagena now lives in Lima with her husband and child and with a 2^nd child on the way it will be great to be able to be near her and help her with the 2 little ones. Also the love and support I have already received from members of the YWAM teams in Lima and Cusco surpasses what I have felt here in Cartagena. Unfortunately the issue of Sexual Exploitation is something that affects every community and Lima has the highest recorded rates in Peru so I will be able to make an impact.

I have been reminded in these past months of how many people in the bible were sent to neighbouring countries for times during their formation, mostly to Egypt with the exception being Moses who was already in Egypt! Some went against their will such as Joseph sold into slavery and Jesus running from Herod, some because of mistakes they had made, Moses killing the Egyptian guard. I guess my case is a bit of both, I have made mistakes in Cartagena in terms of interpersonal relationships, however it is not my choice to leave. But I am praying that this time in Peru will be my Egypt; an important time of learning and growth which will in time lead me back to Cartagena to establish the much needed dream in this beautiful heroic city.

So now as I pack my bags and get a few souvenirs for myself I trust that this is not Adios, but Hasta la vista Colombia.