It all started Sunday morning in my home church following our worship service. The pastor began to speak to our congregation about a missions trip to Atlanta Georgia ministering to the homeless that was to be planned for the Summer. After the pastor finished speaking we went into our special time of prayer where the alters are open. After hearing the details about the trip, I began to feel the lord tugging at my heart. I began to pray in my heart about what I felt, and experienced a strange and wonderful feeling of complete peace along with a little god given excitement & anticipation. I then found myself walking up to the alter for prayer. My pastor knelt down beside me and asked how he might pray for me. I told him that I really felt that God was calling me to go on this trip, but I didn't know how it would be possible. The first problem was the fact that I just started a new job and didn't have the seniority to ask for specific vacation time off. …And this is the only vacation that I will get this year and I couldn't take that week off and leave my wife at home alone. The pastor looked into my eyes and said to me, “if God called you, he will make a way for you to go”. We agreed together and began to pray.

That afternoon my wife and I sat down for lunch. During our meal conversation I very casually said, “so, what did you think about that mission trip the pastor talked about today?” Without even pausing, she enthusiastically said, “I think you should go”. …I was shocked! …I thought to myself, “that was way to easy”. I began to put up what I thought would be her argument …saying, “but that's the only vacation we'll have together this year, I can't do that to you”. She then said, “Honey, I feel like you need to go”. This calm attitude, and quick reply was totally out of character for my wife, so I said, “I'll tell you what, you take some time to think about this and I will ask you about this again in two days”. So a couple days went by, and I approached her again, the answer was still yes.

Later that week I finally got a chance to talk to my supervisor about putting in for a vacation the week of June 26th. He apologetically said, “I'm sorry Shawn, But we have a union shop here and vacation goes by seniority, and I'm afraid that the month of June is prime time for vacations. Not only that, but bids for vacation time slots aren't approved until the middle of April. …I'm afraid I can't help you .”

The next Sunday I went back up to the alter, and when my pastor came to pray with me, I said, “My supervisor said he couldn't get me the vacation time for the trip. ..But the biggest miracle has already happened! My wife said I could go on the trip! So, if God can get my wife to say yes, then he can surely get my supervisor to change his mind!” We prayed again trusting the lord…

I went back to work the next day and I said apologetically, “I'm sorry for bothering you about this again, and I don't want to upset you, …but is there any possible way that I can have my vacation June 26th?” My supervisor leaned forward putting his elbows on his desk and folded his hands and said, “Shawn, why is this so important to you?” I looked down as I spoke, “My church is going on a mission trip to Atlanta Georgia to minister to the homeless, and I really feel called to go.” He began to look at me even more intently and said, “I don't know if you know this about me, but I have a masters have a master's degree in theology, and I sure don't know how I ended up here, but, …well, …anyway, …I believe that you have been called to go on this trip.” He paused, and then said, I can't make any official guarantees, but off the record, I will do everything in my power to see that you go on this trip. So, …just go ahead and make your plans”.

As time went by I had made my initial deposit for the mission trip, but I just couldn't seem to come up with any more money than the $50.00 deposit. So I prayed, “Lord, I know that you want me to go to Atlanta, I still need $300.00 more, I'm just going to trust that you will take care of it for me, and I'm not going to worry about it”. With in the next week, a friend of mine and his wife approached me and said, “Shawn, we were planning to go on the Atlanta Missions Trip, but some things came up, and we are not able to go. We know that the Lord has called you to go on this trip, and He put it on our heart to give the money we put down on the trip to help pay your way.” I thanked them, and praised God.

I remember smiling the whole way down to Atlanta and being filled with unexpresible joy and gratitude. When we arrived I remember telling everyone that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and I praised God for this wonderful new pain. …While in Atlanta I experienced an awesome week of ministry, and witnessed salvations, miracles, and I stood in awe as I watched the Love of God fill even the most empty places. …But that's a whole other story.

While I was in Atlanta there was much work to be done and I didn't sleep much. We were up early and to bed late every night. By the Thursday night at 11:30pm I was very ready for some much needed sleep. I laid down in my cot and started to drift off to sleep… And all of a sudden my eye popped wide open! …and the Lord spoke to my heart telling me that I needed to call my wife back home. I didn't know if it was good news or bad, all I knew is that I needed to call. The feeling was so strong that I got up emediately and searched for someone with a cell phone. …Borrowing a cell phone I quickly dialed the number to called my wife. The phone began to ring and she picked up. She didn't even say HI. She just said, “I prayed so hard that you would call”. I smiled and said, well I got the message. She went on saying, “Honey, I've been offered a full time teaching position! …I couldn't wait to tell you. I wish you were here.” “That's amazing!” I said. …My wife had waited for 8 years after her schooling, and it finally happened! …After our conversation I began to walk back over to my cot, and the Lord spoke to my heart saying, “It's been a long time since you served me whole-heartedly”. I felt God's warmth and that this wonderful blessing was His was of saying Thank You.