Immeasurably More
Some things seem so improbable, but you can’t help but try anyway. Because we know that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
So that’s why I texted their Daddy in Haiti — to tell him what the girls had done, how God stirred in their little hearts. They literally emptied their purses to pay for two Haitian girls to go to school.
Go ahead, call us naive. But we had this thought: Maybe their Daddy could find the Haitian girls, to tell them in person, and to hug them and to let them know that Jesus loves them.
I knew that one of the men’s cellular phones worked out on that Haitian mountainside, and maybe the message would reach him. We knew it was a long shot. He was serving Jesus in a place where you travel by foot, bathe by five-gallon bucket, and drink by coconut. It’s a place where goods are delivered by donkeys, not UPS trucks. Greetings are delivered with handshakes, not Hallmark.
It’s a place where news travels by talk, not text.
Would this really work?
Our hearts thumped here on this Iowa farm when I texted, asking for the improbable.
“Please tell Scott Lee that Lydia rounded up 75$ to sponsor Jacques Judith to go to school at Mission-Haiti. I have no idea if he can find Jacques Judith but if so give her a hug from her sponsor Lydia.”
I snapped a photo of the girl from the computer screen, and attached it to the text message, hoping the picture might help.
I sent a second message, telling him that Anna had used every last dollar in her purse to sponsor another girl.
And get this: Their Daddy got the message.
(Immeasurably more …)
But, he wrote, it would be hard to find Jacques Judith and Jirodier Jenese.
“I’ll ask,” he texted. “But there are many schools.”
Next, came the emails and Facebook messages popping in the inbox over and over again, from this dear community of people — from people like YOU:
“We were inspired to give, … and now we’ve done the same.”
“Just sponsored another Haitian child. The kids decided to each give up one Christmas present apiece to send a child to school!!”
Because giving is contagious. One+one+one is how God’s people are changing the world. God is in the habit of doing immeasurably more .
And sometimes — when you lean back and think you’ve seen it all — He gives you just … one … more. Immeasurably more.
My phone beeped with a text, on my favorite farmer’s last day in Haiti. Someone from the mission had climbed up that mountainside to find those two Haitian girls, who are loved by these two Iowa girls.
Immeasurably more …
You can check out Mission-Haiti’s website here.
Related post: “What an American Girl Can Do”
Immeasurable is the business He’s in. Thanks for letting us see this…
Thank you, Lyla…
It’s been complicated, trying to tell Scott’s Haiti stories from our perspective. Still trying to get him to guest-post. 🙂 … I keep thinking about what you said early on: This is a family trip; Scott just happens to be the guy on the ground. You are so wise. 🙂
We’ll wait. He’ll come around. 😉
And pay attention: Six months from now he’ll have different stories to tell about the same events. These things have a way of lasting a long, long time.
I will make a note of that. Thanks for the tip, Lyla!
This just gave me goosebumps, Jennifer. He truly is the God of the long shot.
A-to-the-MEN! Yes, Nancy. The God of the long shot. 🙂
Awwwhhh!
Thanks for stopping, Kelly. It was definitely an awwwhhh moment. 🙂
Giving has a way of changing the giver. Scott gave one of the most precious things he had — time.
Very true, Glynn. And we are being changed. It’s been great to have Scott home again and hear his stories.
Jennifer—loved this! thanks for passing on these wondrous moments of God revealing his great and personal love—to you, to the girls in Haiti, to your daughters, your husband—and to us. How can a God so big track our smallest footprints? Because He IS that immeasurable!
Hi Leslie!
So nice of you to stop by. It is amazing, really. God gave us enough — blessing us with the opportunity to bless others. But then to meet the recipients? Wow. Immeasurably more than all we could have asked or imagined.
One+one+one is how God’s people are changing the world.Because giving is as contagious as a yawn. Oh how His love is above and beyond all we could ever ask or even think and then when we need it the most He loves a little bit more. Hug those girls and tell them thanks for living a giving.
Lol! I YAWNED — for real — when I read your comment. A perfect illustration, Doug. 🙂
I have been wrestling with getting for my trip to Haiti. I leave in just over two weeks and so much do before then. This post has reminded me of the One who goes before me. He has a plan– a good one that I can’t even begin to imagine.
Thanks for sharing. You are always handing out encouragement. I love that!!
Dea,
God bless you as you continue to prepare, sweet friend. I can’t wait to go. Soon, I hope?
Scott says he had an overwhelming sense of God’s protection and provision during the whole trip — like He was hemmed in.
Always need the reminder of His immeasurably more and here how He cares about the faith and giving of your girls that these girls might be found in every way:} I think these two words, ‘immeasurably more’ are enough to sustain us in all things the long journey Home:} Blessings!!
True, that. Thank you Abby! They are sustaining words. Thanks for dropping by today. 🙂
Jennifer that is more than immeasureably more…..the little girl we sponsor was so very far away my Scott did not get an opportunity to meet her. The little boy we sponsor tread through the mountains for two and a half hours with his mother in tow in high heels and Sunday best in order to meet him. I cannot imagine. Just to say thank-you. Immeasureably more indeed.
Anne,
How wonderful! We need to talk, girl! I didn’t realize the back-story about this. I do have a lovely picture of your husband with the little boy and his mother. I will send it to you.
This story isn’t done yet. I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Thanks, Jennifer.
Yes, immeasurably more is a most fitting description. Very inspiring and what a testimony to God’s goodness. Blessings to you and those precious daughters!
Thank you so much for sharing this “impossible” situation.
Isn’t it comforting to know that our God does not have that word in His vocabulary.
Your girls will be blessed immeasurably by this .
Oh, my. Thank you so much for this breathtaking story – literally – gasped out loud. Just lovely, all of it…the girls and their empty stashes, the text getting there, the multiplication of gifts/sponsors, your farmer finding your two. Glory, glory.
Immesurable–we just have no idea.
Oh my goodness. Love, love, love it! Oh how beautifully HE works! 🙂
My sweet friend, Isn’t that just our God I live out that… concept of Him giving me more than I could ask or imagine every day. Oh so humbling. We all live it out daily – really we just don’t always realize it. So blessed by your thoughts on print. Thank you for taking the time to share Him on here. It is like I get to have a little chat with God and He gives my examples for my eyes to see through you and the words He gives you! Blessings my sweet friend. Blessings. – Immeasurable!!
Cindy
That is beautiful!
Tears of joy … immeasurable is a wonderful word. I am so in awe when He does the IMPOSSIBLE ..
Touched beyond measure by this whole scenario beginning with your girls’ tender and compassionate hearts.
Jennifer, I am so behind in my blog reading… but I had seen an update about this on Facebook, I think. Anyway, I get tingles just thinking about it. Love the hearts of your girls. Since God has been listening to you so well, can you ask Him if somebody can go hug Kimenyi, the little boy we sponsor in Rwanda?
This story just keeps getting better and better!
I love this! He is faithful!
So cool that your girls took a step of faith, and God encouraged them right away! I love those kinds of stories . . .
How cool is that. Love it when God shows big in small details.
I’m just catching up on my blog reading and got to read everything about this American Girl-Haitian Girl connection and the Iowa Farmer who got to deliver the love in person and the God who is so immeasurably more. I’m just imagining God’s delight over making all that possible for all of you!!
Can’t thank you enough for sharing!
The Holy Spirit connects us, stirs us, uses us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Wow, love this on the heels of that wonderful story of the little purse. How awesome!