You Can't Surprise God

There are now only a couple of days before my trip to Mongolia with For Hearts and Souls. The hospital we work at in Ulaanbaatar has been undergoing construction recently. They are remodeling and upgrading the operating rooms, ICUs, and the catheterization lab (all areas which we use during our time there). We are excited to see these improvements! Most projects appear to be coming to completion, but we are cutting it close. Please pray that the work is done well and completely, but quickly, so that we are able to complete the 10 open heart surgeries and 20 heart catheterization procedures that are currently planned.

A few Prayer Requests:

-That the patients, their families, and all of the staff that we work with would see the love of Christ in our words and actions.

-Completion of the construction.

-For the Mongolian customs agents to allow our medical supplies through without extensive questioning or requiring payments to release from customs.

-Safety for the team while traveling and during our time in Mongolia.

-Health for all of the team members as well as the children scheduled for surgery. They cannot undergo heart surgery if they are sick.

For the week starting Sunday the 22nd, when you are sitting down to dinner we are starting our day of surgeries, so say a little prayer for us when you bless your food :).


On a personal note, my Grandma is not doing well. She has been living with Alzheimer's for the last several years. I am grateful for the extra time that I have been able to spend with her as I have been in Texas more often over the last year. I have said my goodbyes and don't want her to suffer anymore, but I wish it wasn't happening when I was about to leave the country. I am reminded by this, as well as things like construction, that even though I can be surprised by sudden changes or information I didn't previously have, God already knew. He knew how the timing of these events would unfold, and He knows what surgeries and procedures need to be done and exactly what we need to have available to accomplish them. None of it is a surprise to Him. I have learned over the last couple of years, and continue to learn, that interruptions are often an opportunity for God to work if we will let Him.

I am so glad you can't surprise God.