Monday Morning Faith by Lori Copeland Page B

mind. God worked in mysterious ways, but this perplexing situation had me scrambling for answers. Before the night was over I was down on my knees, begging for guidance.
    Before work the next morning I dropped by Mom and Pop’s, planning to discuss Sam’s invitation. I was certain I knew what they would think of me traipsing halfway around the world with a man I’d known only a few months, but I needed support.
    Too bad my parents had turned senile overnight.
    â€œExcellent!” Pop clapped his hands. “Good idea. Go for it.”
    â€œAre you out of your mind! Go schlepping off to Papua New Guinea for a month with a man I just met? I can’t believe you said that.”
    â€œYou know the man. He’s a good, solid person. We trust your judgment, honey. We’re doing fine here, and if we have a problem we can always call Margaret.”
    Margaret was as old as dirt. How could they expect her to help? “You mean to tell me you don’t care if I leave — ” I snapped my fingers — “just like that! I’ll be gone for two, maybe three weeks! I’ll spend that time living in a mud hut with uncivilized natives and bugs and rodents!” Why would my parents encourage me to do such a thing?
    Mom smiled. “Sounds like fun.”
    So said the woman who thought she was roughing it when she went two days without air-conditioning last summer during the power outage. “You don’t mean that.”
    â€œI do mean it. New experiences are broadening.” She tilted her chin, the gesture daring me to contradict her. “It would do you a world of good, Johanna, to see how the other half of the world lives.”
    â€œLook, honey.” Pop shifted in his leather recliner. “Sam’s a dedicated, God-fearing man, and he loves you. Serving God on the mission field is an honor few of us ever get an opportunity to do. Who knows? You may find your purpose in life.”
    â€œYou don’t think I’m already living it?”
    â€œI think you should listen when an opportunity arises.
    The good Lord may be trying to tell you something.”
    â€œJust how do you know so much about Sam?” I asked, suspicious now.
    Pop shrugged. “He mentioned that he was in love with you when he called New Year’s Day. That’s all I need to know.”
    I groaned. “Tell me this wasn’t your idea.”
    He didn’t answer one way or the other. “Trust in God, Daughter. He won’t put you into a situation without giving you the wherewithal to handle it.”
    I made a poof sound. “You don’t know that.”
    â€œI know more than you think.”
    â€œI know what we should do.” Mom put her handwork aside. “Let’s pray about it.”
    â€œGood idea.” Pop reached for our hands.
    Before I could protest he started to speak to God about my problem. I was all in favor of prayer, but had I been set up? If there was a chance God was in on this, did I want to know? However, there was something sobering about hearing my parents pray for me. There were tears in my eyes by the time Pop finished asking God to look after me, to grant me wisdom and peace.
    Goodness knew some body needed to.

    Sam phoned that night. “How’s the woman I love?”
    â€œOther than being in love and confused, I’m thinking.” That was as far as I could commit at this point. That and the admission that late that afternoon I had written a fifty-dollar check and applied for a passport. The step wasn’t binding. It never hurt to have a passport. I might decide to go to England sometime.
    Well, I might!
    â€œHoney, I’m not trying to pressure you into anything, but I want you to come with me. You know that, but it’s your decision.”
    I choked back tears. “I’ll give you an answer soon, Sam. I promise.” When I hung up, I dropped to my knees and gave in to the tears, pleading with God for a