At my home church, we have a group called the Energizers.  (No, they’re not a group of battery lovers!) This is the Adult Bible Fellowship for those aged 70+. This past Sunday, we had an opportunity for the youth to serve the older generation a lunch after church.  It’s really a beautiful thing to see generations connecting, the wisdom of the aged and the vibrancy of the young.  All in one room.   I asked the youth pastor which role he would like me to fill, to which he responded “you’re young enough, we could use some sitting at the tables.”  I chose a table with one of the girls in my small group, and got to know her a bit better.  Little did I know that I was about to have my world rocked.  As the first couple sat down with us, we began to talk about missions and how their daughter is involved  in a ministry and travels all over the world.  I love meeting like minded people.

Not much later, another elderly couple sat down to our table, and as we were continuing to talk about missions, I mentioned Ukraine.  To which the wife says to me, is your last name “P-U-P-I… I don’t know how to pronounce it.” When I affirmed that she was spelling my last name, she got a little teary eyed and said, “I don’t know you but ever since I saw your name in the bulletin, I’ve been praying for you and your time in Ukraine consistently.  I saw everyone was going with a team and you went all alone for such a long time, how did you manage?”  We were able to have a great conversation about the trip and I was able to personally thank a complete stranger for praying for me.  These are moments that don’t just happen.  It really was divinely orchestrated.  Grace & I were totally blown away at how God brought us to sit together.

You see, so often I doubted that my community was praying for me, and here I was jaw-dropped by the continual prayers of an elderly couple.  There’s power in generations.  There’s beauty in the body.  We are called to all play a role in this grand mission, senders, go-ers, and pray-ers.   So, what do we do?  Be faithful with what God calls you to.  God called Grace to pray, and I’m thankful that she obeyed.