“The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

I have found this to be so true, especially when it concerns ministry.  No matter how prepared I may think I am, I must totally depend on what the LORD is doing and what His plans are.  Here are a couple examples…

* We recently launched a Bible study at Medicka, the Medical University.  However, our first Bible study was comprised of all international students!  We are thankful, because these students have six years of school here in Kosice.  What would happen if they caught a vision to reach Slovaks for Christ, then carried the gospel back to their own countries?  Although this is not at all what we were planning for (our lesson materials were even in Slovak!), we had a great time together and went through a lesson on how you can know you have eternal life (1 John 5:9-13).

The first Bible study at Medicka for this year. We had people from the Ukraine, Ireland, and Angola there!

* I recently shared my staff team how I was longing for the Lord to begin deeping some of my contacts, or at least have some of them respond.  That night, while awaiting for a tram to go to my apartment, two guys came up and said something in Slovak.  I replied “Som American.  Nie rozumiem” (I’m American.  I don’t understand).  To my surprise they said “Oh you speak English?  We are trying to get to the Technical University and need to know how.”  I told them this tram line ran to their University and found out they were first-year students.  We began to talk… and soon we were exchanging phone numbers!  They said they would love to practice their English together.  And because their tram did not come for 14 more minutes, I waited with them and talked about all sorts of things! 

There are more examples that I could give, but I praise the Lord for how He blows away our expectations and causes us to trust Him in ministry.

Playing host in my host country! Aaron invited Lukas and his girlfriend Ivana to our apartment for dinner one night. They have known American STINTers for awhile now, so pray that this year they would come to know Christ!