Little touch of heaven in the past..

 

There are seasons in life when we look back and realize God was writing a story we never could have imagined. That’s how it feels when Ace and I remember our years in Bolivia and Papua New Guinea. We never planned to serve overseas. We were in our 40s, settled in ministry, working with youth, surrounded by a church family we loved. Missions wasn’t on our list — but it was on God’s.

Sometimes people hesitate to say “God led,” but for us, that was the only explanation. Only God could have moved us from comfort into the unknown, from familiarity into faith.

During a recent conversation, Ace and I found ourselves remembering those early days — raising support, selling our home, living in the gym of our sending church, preparing for training with New Tribes Mission. Everything was new for us and for our children. Moves like that require counting the cost for the whole family. It wasn’t easy, but God gave us the faith to believe He was leading all of us, not just the adults.

And He did. God worked in our children’s lives as much as He worked in ours. He kept us moving toward Bolivia, where we served as dorm parents for missionary kids whose parents were deep in the jungle reaching the least reached. Later, in Papua New Guinea — a place I often call a fifth‑world country — we supported missionaries serving in some of the most remote villages on earth. Many of those people would never hear the gospel unless someone went, learned their language, taught them to read, and translated Scripture for them.

We weren’t the translators. We weren’t the linguists. In fact, language school made it clear that wasn’t our gifting. But God still had a place for us. My husband used to say, “If all I can do is carry a missionary’s suitcase or supplies to the plane, I want to be part of it.” And God honored that heart.

For seven years in Bolivia and then again in Papua New Guinea, we served the ones who were serving others. Later, God brought us back to the U.S. to care for missionaries on furlough — listening, encouraging, helping them take their next step. Looking back, we see His hand in every assignment.

Sometimes we ask ourselves, “Did we really live in two countries? Did we really fly into remote villages by helicopter or small plane? Did we really do all of that?” It feels impossible — but that’s what God does. He takes ordinary people and writes extraordinary stories through them.

There were hard days, even dangerous ones, but we never thought about quitting. We honestly believed we would die on the mission field. But God had another chapter for us here at home.

We weren’t special. We didn’t have extraordinary skills. But God loves to use people who simply say yes. Where God leads, He equips. And He continues to equip at every new step of obedience.

So let me ask you gently: What has God laid on your heart?

Maybe it’s speaking to a coworker who needs encouragement •

Helping a neighbor who needs a touch of heaven •

Or loving your family well — one of the hardest and holiest mission fields •

Or maybe, just maybe, exploring overseas missions

There are countless ways to serve Him. The important thing is not the location — it’s the obedience.

Wherever He leads you, He will equip you.

“One small step of faith can open the door to a God‑sized story.”