{Answered Prayers}

Sometimes it's really easy to forget how powerful prayer is. Often we may pray flippantly without truly believing in our hearts that the Lord will answer. Or we only pray small things and aren't willing to pray big, extraordinary prayers. Oh what little faith we have. I have. How easily we forget the power and greatness of our God. And His promises. But what great promises we have from the mouth of Christ in Mark 11:24 and John 14:13-14. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Since being in Spain, I have seen a great need for prayer. It's an incredibly dark and spiritually dry place in need of the powerful work of the Spirit. I have seen a growth in my prayer life and a great desire to pray more for this country and the people around me. And I'm blessed to have people around me who have a great burden to pray for Spain as well. And God has answered! Prayers for boldness answered. Prayers for students to be interested answered. Prayers for hearts to be changed answered. Prayers for Christian community answered. What a great reminder that the Lord hears our prayers and answers.

So about a month ago, I was supposed to go to Morocco to renew my passport stamps as I've been present in Spain illegally without my visa. As many of you know, I've had many problems obtaining a visa, so every three months I leave the country then come back in. Well a few days before I was supposed to leave, the logistics coordinator for Spain called me and said there would be a change of plans. The company would be sending me back to the US to wait until my visa was ready! My heart sank quickly and my eyes filled with tears at the sound of these shocking words. I was devastated. On one hand it would be great to go home and see family and friends; however, I was extremely scared that my visa would never come, and I would not be able to return to Spain, a place I had come to love so much!

Later that night I proceeded to tell my roommate what had occurred, and immediately she said that we should pray for my visa (it's not like we hadn't been praying like crazy beforehand). So we sat down and prayed together. Literally like 10 seconds after we finished, my American cell phone rang and it was a lady from the Spanish consulate in Houston saying that my visa was ready and I could come pick it up any time!!!! Holy Smokes!!! This was so unbelievable and ridiculous!! Me and Lauren started screaming and jumping up and down in amazement at the incredible goodness and perfect timing of the Lord!

The next day, I flew to Texas to pick up my visa then on to Birmingham for a few days. It was such an encouraging week and a needed rest and time of renewal! The weeks before in Spain had been a bit frustrating and just plain hard ministry-wise. I felt like I was doing all this work for the Lord, but nothing was happening. I had forgotten that my purpose was just to be obedient and share the truth and love of Christ, and the changing lives part was up to God! My time with family, friends, and church was absolutely needed, and in the midst of this week God kept on with the miracles: a long-lost Christmas box was finally mailed to my house in Spain without having to pay any expensive fees AND my flight from Houston to Birmingham was moved up to an earlier time without having to pay anything!

The six months beforehand, I was continually wondering why God wasn't answering my prayers about the visa. I knew He was capable, but I just didn't understand why it wasn't happening when I thought it should. But God's plans were absolutely perfect because a trip to the US couldn't have come at a better time for me. And when I returned to Spain, I was rejuvenated and had a new fervor for constant, expectant prayer!