"The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps"

Prov 16:9

As we prepared for Costa Rica, our team worked on crafts, games, evangelism and music. We were prepared to share with kids and moms and anyone else who the Lord might bring us to the slums we visited as well as the park we planned to do our evangelism in.

Arriving in Costa Rica, we got to do the things we had planned, but in a very different way. Our teams that we had put together didn't work as teams as we had originally thought, but it was such a beautiful thing. The Lord showed us the work that he had for us and our team diligently worked at whatever the task was at hand. We didn't allow ourselves to be handcuffed by our own plans or our own agenda.

This became even more true when it came to ministry that was unexpected. We had prayed and planned about our outreaches that were planned ahead of time. Yet God had a divine appointment for us that wasn't on the schedule. We met Roy shortly after we landed in Costa Rica. He was our bus driver and would be our bus driver throughout the trip! We didn't know much about him, but he was kind and patient and he seemed to really enjoy our company.

After a trip to the mountains to visit some kids and single moms in a slum, Victor went to thank Roy for driving up the narrow roads. As Victor thanked Roy, Roy began to open up to Victor. He shared his life with him, and how impressed he was with our team and our willingness to work hard, and "go to places the Costa Rican people didn't even go."

You see, our plans all along were to do the work that was planned. Yet along the way, God's plans were for Roy to be our bus driver and for him to spend time with us. I'm reminded of what Paul wrote to the Colossian church. "Whatever you do, do you work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Our hard work, diligence and willingness to have joy in our serving spoke volumes to Roy. As our team traveled to Costa Rica, the Lord had Roy in mind.

You see, Roy wasn't supposed to be our bus driver. The company Victor uses didn't have a big enough bus for us so they contracted out a bigger bus along with a driver...and here was Roy. Roy was not a part of our plan, but he was a part of God's plan for our team. I am so thankful that God's plans are bigger and better than our own and that He is the one who directs our steps.

Wherever it is that the Lord takes you, remember to hold things loosely as His plans for you might not always be what you plan them out to be!