God of the "Small" Things

It’s a beautiful morning here in the southern part of Coast Rica on the Pacific side!  The sun is shinning, the birds are singing, the kids are busy with school, and I just drove our "brand new" 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser to the shop to get some work done.   (Work that we knew it needed when we bought it.)

       That’s right!  God has blessed us with a vehicle!  I shared a little last time about our struggle to find a vehicle in our price range with enough seat belts and a diesel engine (in order to get 20+ MPG instead of 12).  We looked all over Costa Rica on many different websites for weeks.  We found plenty of cars that were way out of our price range.  We found vehicles that were in our price range but were in terrible shape, and we found some that didn’t have enough room to get the whole family to a destination at the same time.  (We entertained thought of strapping a child to the top of a car, like Granny Clampit, or buying a bike for the 6th passenger.....)

Some mechanic friends as well as other friends that were familiar with what is available and the price of parts and repairs said that if we could find a 1980’s Land Cruiser that they would recommend buying that as a first choice.  Needless to say this particular type of vehicle is also in high demand.  We found one, but because we couldn't go right away to see it, it sold to someone else.  

Frustrated, we lowered our standards and started looking at other options. It seemed that we would have to increase our “budget” for a vehicle by at least 50% if not 90%.  Even then it seemed that we would end up with a very high mileage vehicle with a shady past.  

We had been praying about this issue all the while, but one morning Faith mentioned that we had only mentioned our need to God and not really asked that he show himself strong in this area.  We got on our knees and asked that he provide a story for us to tell.  A story that would give him glory.  We also asked that he would give us an obvious sign as we aren’t always the most observant in this area.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Matt. 7:7-8

  

Later that day a vehicle matching our “dream list” was listed for less than we had hoped to spend!  We called on it right away, and found out that it was located in a town literally named Holy Spirit!  In addition we were prepared to rent a car the next day and drive 4-5 hours to see it, but God had other plans.  We found, to our amazement, that the owner of the car needed to come this way anyway and would be happy to bring it not just to our town, but right to our door!  

As our Spanish speaking friend hung up the phone and told us all the details, we had tears in our eyes.  The tears weren’t due to the the stress of our current situation or even tears of joy.  Our tears were caused by our being able to see Jehovah-jireh at work.  We felt at that point that the God of the universe was working on our behalf and that this was all but a done deal.

I see that I have already used around 600 words to describe the purchasing of a vehicle.  I also know that I have greatly overused exclamation points thus far, but at the risk of using more, there are a few more points in this story that need to be told in order to show just how much God was at work and how he gets all glory for this story.

We talked to the owner on a Thursday night, and he said that he could probably come to show the car on Monday.  The normal me, (ram everything through and get it done) wanted to step in and just rent a car and go, but there was a peace and Faith and I both felt that this was of God and there was nothing that we needed to do to “help” the process along.  Then Sunday came and Walter, the owner of the car, called to say that his family was sick and we could not see the car until Tuesday, and again we felt God’s peace even knowing that this type of vehicle at this price would not last long.

Tuesday came and the car was just what we needed and we were able to agree on a price.  Then a mechanic friend said that he could give me a ride to San Isidro where we were to close the deal the next day!  On the way to San Isidro my friend told me some nightmarish tales about using the lawyer of the sellers choosing. He advised me to use another lawyer.  Although this advise made sense, I felt a peace about everything and felt that God had prepared the way ahead of me.  After calling Faith to see that she felt the same way, I went to the lawyer that the owner knew.  It was a great experience and we had to spend 1/2 of what I would have at another lawyers office.

When all was said and done Walter hugged me and told me that there was something different about my family.  I was able to tell him, in spanglish, that God is the difference.  I then invited him to call me if ever he was back in our neck of the woods so we could have dinner.  

On my way home I felt joy!  I felt joy at the way God had arranged things, joy that we now had another story to tell that points others to God, and a joy in the peace that he alone can give!    

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

James 1:17

Some flowers from our front yard.

       My God is huge and often overwhelms me!  He knows the hairs on my head and also that a diesel engine will last us longer and get much better mileage.  He knew that some of us aren’t real keen on picking out his direction, and he made things abundantly plain to Faith and I.  He knew that I was nervous about the language barrier as well as the legal parts of buying a car in Costa Rica, and he took those worries and replaced them with an excited interest in seeing how God would work these things out.  

God has also been faithful in giving us “small” assignments in the past weeks.  Faith has been helping out at a second hand store run by our church.  This store uses all the money raised to buy beans and rice for people in the community who are going through hard times financially and use this opportunity to provide for their spiritual needs as well.  She has also gotten to help out with the Sunday School on several occasions.  

        The pastor and his family here are currently in the States enjoying some time with family.  I get to help out in taking over the set up duties as our church has been meeting in an outdoor covered area because the building has gotten to small.  Also, our church has rented an additional space for the Sunday School program that needed to be painted and cleaned.  I have gotten to help with that work several days and have gained a great new friend in the process!  

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we are trying not to miss opportunities that God brings our way.  We are beginning to see several different areas that we would like to help with however, we don't want to rush ahead too quickly.  We also have to make a decision regarding housing. Our current lease is up in September and we are trying to find something else.  Please also know that we are praying that all of you are able to follow his plan for your lives and that he gives you His peace in doing it!  

Seeking out God’s plans,

      The Ridderings

PS. Hey y'all if you want to be a part of our ministry here in Costa Rica please check out this link...  www.WorldOutreach.org/donations -  you can select Aaron and Faith Riddering from the list under the donate tab.  You can also set up automatic monthly Gifts with your credit card if you choose the "Monthly" option.  Or, simply mail your check to:  World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Aaron & Faith Riddering #239. THANK YOU to those of you who have donated already and for those of you that are praying for us!