God’s call is as unique as a snowflake; each is different. So was the way God called us into missions.
While still enjoying the newness of marriage and our first ministry, God was putting the pieces together; our first visit to ICOM (National Missionary Conference) in Lexington, Kentucky, friends praying for us on a return flight from Uruguay and preaching a sermon series chapter-by-chapter through Acts which convicted me more than parishioners.
These stirrings lead to questions about a potential visit to the mission field, but my wife helped rebuff them. Comments like, why not go yourself and bring back some pictures, were not very promising. We had never been outside the USA, studied a language, nor did we have money.
Finally we reached an agreement to attend an informational meeting for those interested in an exploratory trip to Venezuela led by Doug Lucas. There wouldn’t be any harm in listening, I suggested?
Things couldn’t have gotten worse after the meeting. We drove home through a depressing November rainstorm, my football team had just been beaten and when the idea of a potential visit came up, it got a resounding ‘NO!’ but this time through tears. It looked like the door had shut.
That evening as we prepared for bed, I asked my wife one last time if we could pray regarding the decision? Fortunately she agreed. The idea came that if God were calling, ask Him to wake us up at 3:33; if not 2:22. (3:33 = God, David, Donna in the decision, 2:22 = just us two). We had never prayed like this, but we did. And just as silent as a falling snowflake, God answered spot on, first waking her, and then me, at 3:33am! Well that was some 30 years ago and we’ve spent the better part of that time doing what we have enjoyed most, serving Him in Venezuela!
David Linn
Missionary Venezuela
