the Bender Beat

aaaand, just like that, it's summer. We can't believe it. We are still in America, but our departure is in sight! Big news in this newsletter!!

We have a vehicle!! Thank you all so much for giving toward our vehicle fund, and for praying with us that the right vehicle would come across our path. Branden and our team spent lots of time searching for options, getting quotes, speaking with dealerships, and we were able to make the final purchase last week! A dealership in Angola is having it shipped from Dubai, and we expect it to arrive in Angola the first or second week of July.

We've Got Visas!!

And the moment we've been waiting for, we have our visas!!! We got the call today that they are processed at the consulate in Houston, and as soon as we have a departure date they will print them and send them to us. We can't believe the wait is finally over!!

This week we will be talking with our team to set a date for flying out. Thank you for your persistent prayers on our behalf!! God is so good, and we can't wait to see what He has planned in our new home.

It's been a year and nine months since we left Africa. We didn't know how long we would be gone, thankfully the Lord didn't check with us on that before we left, because it would have been a hard thing to say "yes" to. This wasn't our plan but we know that not a moment of this time has been wasted or lost. That's what it means to follow Jesus, isn't it? That our plans are no longer so important, even if we don't know what His plan is exactly. It's okay if we don't know all the details, because we know one thing for sure, His plan is definitely better. Not a moment of your last year and nine months was wasted either, if it was spent following Jesus. Even if your plans didn't quite work out, I know His did, and I'm confident they're better.

 

One day in this time of waiting, I (Lauren) was in my room, and I was just all bent out of shape. I wanted to be in Africa, where I feel I'm meant to be. I wanted to be ministering to people in the middle of nowhere, sitting under trees talking about how good God is. I didn't want to be stuck, uncertain, completely helpless to change my situation, totally in the dark about how long we would be in this place. I was so frustrated that there was nothing I could do to make the time go faster or make the pandemic end or make countries open their borders, and I was crying out of this anger and helplessness. And I just, barely, almost imperceptibly, shifted my attention to the Lord...and in a moment my whole being was set at peace before Him. I felt my attitude and mindset change in that second from hopeless to full of hope. And I thought, "wow, Lord, how is it that in an instant, you can set me right?" and He said to me, "because I know what you're supposed to look like."

 

Wow. How simple and profound! Of course the Maker can set us right in a moment, He knows exactly how we're supposed to be! When I can spend days and weeks trying to get myself out of a funk, struggling to figure out what I need to change in my life so it's better and I'm happier, He only needs an instant. Like a master potter, He already sees in His clay the finished product, and with skilled hands He shapes us into what we long to be. While I'm some crazy clay monster trying to shape myself into what I think He wants, just looking up at Him and surrendering is what lines us up with His beautiful plan.

We're so thankful we had this time in America, unexpected though it was! We got to be with so many family and friends, we got to help with projects and be present for special occasions, to share with amazing churches, to make new friends, and to deepen relationships with the ones we had. God knew this was what we needed and we are praising Him for it!!

 

 

We will send out another update when we finalize our travel plans!

Thank you all for your constant prayers and support, your love, your hugs, your emails, your wisdom and encouragement in our lives. We're so thankful for you.

 

With love,

the Benders

the Bender Beat website