I had this revelation a week ago when I was forced to finally take my car, named Bruce, to the auto body shop because he was more than broken. (I refer to my car as a person all to often, so just accept it and lets move on.) I knew it would be costly, as most repairs are, but I cried out and prayed to Jesus that it would be a $300 dollar price tag so I would be able to pay for it as well as my airfare deposit for El Salvador. Sure enough a week and a heart wrenching conversation later, I was told that my car would in fact cost $2,500 to fix at minimum. Tears flooded my eyes.Now before you write me off as an entitled brat who didn't plan well, like I had even felt for myself, let me tell you the back ground and reasons for my tears. Its basically the straw that broke my back scenario. I'm going to bring you into my heart in this moment, before this I had already felt like the Lord was stripping me of everything I was holding onto prior. Things that I thought were good and right and frankly what I thought I deserved. Yet still after putting up a fight to not let go, I ended up releasing and giving it all to God anyway because He always told me it would be worth it.
What had I let go of you might wonder? Well, in complete transparency because that's what I'm all about, broadly I thought I had let go of my life. Specifically I let go of, my schooling in Flagstaff and what I had thought was my solid and good plan to become a teacher. I let go of my dearly treasured Wyldlife girls in Flagstaff that I was starting to live life with so closely. I also let go of my Wyldlife teammates, more like family, which was more than heart breaking. I let go of my old relationship, I let go of my best and closest friends. I let go of being close to my family and loved ones. I let go of Arizona to embark on a brand new adventure in the Pacific North freaking West. Then I came up here, and then I began to let go of my plans, ALL of them. My money because it was getting put into First Year. I let go of my expectations of what I thought I was going to have in coming up here. I let go of people that I really liked having in my life, I let go of my heart and who I wanted to have it. Then what felt like I had nothing more to give, Jesus took my wheels. (see what I did there!)
This wouldn't have mattered so much normally but the reason I think it did hit me so hard was because I didnt know what I was holding onto while holding onto my car. Guess what it was? Ready for it....independence. A car meant I could go where I want, when I want, and not have to depend on anyone. Talk about a blow to both my ego and my heart. In being faced with the GIANT auto bill I also had to make a decision, was I going to El Salvador anymore or was I going to choose my independence. I couldnt afford either so it then felt like I was going to lose my car and my dream to go to El Salvador. So yeah it really did break me.
So naturally I got very, very mad at God. Yelling and screaming saying that "He couldn't do this anymore, that I had nothing else for Him to take away." I cried out asking "why He would do this if in laying my life down He wasn't going to show up in any ways!" It was in that desperation He asked me, if I trusted Him at all.
I wanted to quit, I wanted to yell and cry more than I wanted to fight, I wanted to throw up my hands and just stop in my tracks, I didn't trust God as much as I thought I did. I wanted to let Him handle certain things on His own and I would handle the rest. You don't do anything half way with God, like I was doing, therefore He kept stripping me of what I wouldn't let go. So I was faced with a decision, to choose if I trusted that God wanted me to go to El Salvador and would provide or I didn't, wouldn't go anymore and keep trying to do life on my own. Since we're playing the guessing game, any ideas as to what I chose?
If you guessed letting go of another 'it' and surrendering even more to Jesus and HIS WILL for my life, you'd be right. I let go of Bruce and all the independence that went along with him. I chose to instead hold onto with ALL of my might to the promise that God has amazing things in store for me in El Salvador. I chose to trust Him with every spec of my being that He will provide for me like He always has and always will, that somehow come March 28th (my birthday, coincidentally!) I will be on a plane going to share the gospel, pray for the sick, and contend for hi
s kingdom in El Salvador.
Our team will be serving alongside a local church, La Ruta(The Route) in San Salvador. From La Ruta we will conduct healing services in rural churches as well as gospel outreaches in local high schools. Previous teams have seen incredible miracles in the healing services and many student have come to faith in Christ in the schools. We are trusting God for mighty miracles in Jesus' name and for many to come into the kingdom with all our initiatives.
My financial deadlines are approaching and I am left praying and working my butt off to come up with the money! I have $410 of support raised so far and I am left to raise $1,000 dollars by February 15th, and then the $700 by March 10th. So I'm reaching out far and wide for help!
I pray that you consider supporting me financially. A gift of $50, $100 or $150, or any amount is more than appreciated and welcome as well as tremendously needed. If you cant support me financially then I pray you come along side me in praying for the trip as well as God providing for me and my team to go!
Just so you know, gifts are tax deductible and can either be mailed to:
Anastasia
Plumb
c/o City Central Church
425 N. Tacoma Ave
Tacoma, Washington 98403
c/o City Central Church
425 N. Tacoma Ave
Tacoma, Washington 98403
or can be donated online by clicking the link below;
Click the 'First Year' student and then when you put my name in type 'El Sal' next to it.
Thank you for considering supporting me through prayer and/or giving. This trip would literally be impossible without the generosity of so many. Grateful for you heart, your belief in me and my dreams and taking the time to read this and love on me!
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