DOWN UNDER

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher
than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

      As our plane came in for a landing at the airport in Adelaide, South Australia, I was thanking God for allowing me to be a part of the ministry team form our church.

      We had spent the past week in Perth, West Australia participating in the Vineyard Ministries International Conference conducted by John Wimber and area churches in and around Perth.

      Pastor Ian Trevor had invited our pastor, Ted Lawler to conduct a seminar for the people at the Anglican Church in Adelaide.  As we entered the airport we were greeted with a huge multicolored sign on poles held by church members which read:

TEA TREE GULLY
ANGLICAN COMMUNITY
WELCOMES
VINEYARD MINISTRIES

      Surveying the large crowd of smiling people surrounding the welcome sign, a surge of joy filled my heart as the families swarmed around us with cheerful words of welcome, shaking hands and exchanging names.  I felt so loved, realizing that these Australians are by brothers and sisters in Christ.  I whispered, "Oh God, what a privilege this is!  Thank You for letting me be part of this work You are doing here."  After all the greetings, they called each of us out by name and assigned us to various families.

      A tall man approached me and shook my hand as he announced, "Hello, my name is Roger.  You will be our guest during the seminar.  I'm sorry my wife couldn't be here to greet you.  I'll get your suitcase and we'll be on our way."  I was intrigued by his distinctive Australian accent and thought to myself, this is going to be quite an adventure.

      Roger carried my suitcase to his car and we set off for his home.   Gazing at the country-side I found it to be very similar to Southern California.  Giant eucalyptus trees dotted the landscape along with colorful oleander bushes which grow in profusion all over California.  I remarked, "Roger, you have the same kinds of trees and bushes we have in California.  Look, there's some red bottle brush like I have in my yard at home."

      When we arrived at their house, Roger carried my suitcase in and introduced me to his family.  "Julie, I want you to meet Lenore.  She will be our guest during the seminar at church."  Roger then said, "Here are our children, Jacqui, Darren, and Veronica."

      Jacqui, a lovely blonde teenager was quite shy.  Their son Darren was a very handsome fifteen-year-old with copper-red hair, very shy, also.  Veronica, a lovable, blonde seven-year-old, really made me feel welcome, not the least bit reserved as she plied me with questions.

      After we greeted one another, Veronica escorted me to her room and said, "You can sleep in my bunk bed.  Jacqui and I will sleep in the living room while you're here.  I'll have to come in to get clothes for school in the mornings."  Sitting down on the lower bunk, I said, "That won't disturb me, Veronica, because I wake up very early."

      Then Veronica asked, "Would you like to see my dog?  His name is Dudley.  I have a cat, too, named Felix.  Come out in the back yard and I'll show you."  I thought we were conversing beautifully in spite of her accent which I had trouble understanding at times.  It surprised me when, later Julie reported that Veronica said I could hardly speak English.

      After I unpacked a few things, I joined the family in the kitchen.   Roger said, "We are having tea now.  Will you join us?" I replied, "I just has some tea a short while ago, but I'll sit down with you."  Not being used to Australian customs, I did not realize that 'tea' was what Americans call 'dinner.'  It was a good thing I joined them for tea!  Even though Julie was very polite, I could feel a hostility in the atmosphere in their house.   Veronica kept the conversation going with her happy chatter, much to my relief.

      After tea I decided to rest awhile from the long trip.  Along towards evening I got up and decided to join the family in the kitchen.  Upon opening the bedroom door I heard an argument in progress and made a hasty retreat back into the bedroom.

      Sitting down on the bunk I cried, "Oh God, why have You brought me to this house of turmoil?"  The Lord said, "I brought you here to pray for this family."  Obediently, I began praying for Darren who was obviously rebelling against his parents.  I prayed, "Oh Lord, You see the situation here.  Show me what You want me to do about it."  I came to my mind to ask someone from our team to gather with me to pray for this family.

      The next morning after the girls had gone to school, I said to Roger and Julie, "Do you think it would help if a couple from our group came over and we prayed for Darren?"  They agreed so I called Judi and asked, "Judi, could you and Joe come over so we can pray for Julie's and Roger's son who is causing them trouble?" Judi and Joe agreed to come the next morning to pray for Darren.  Before they arrived Darren got wind of our plan and left the house.  We decided to go ahead and pray anyhow with Roger sitting in for Darren.  It turned out to be a powerful prayer meeting and God did some awesome healing for both Roger and Julie.  It turned out that Roger had been terrible hurt by his father and during prayer God healed him.

      Before the prayer meeting ended, Julie said, "While I was growing up, my mother and I used to go to church with my father.  He was always drunk and I can remember my mother and I standing on each side of him, holding him up.   My memories of church are not good.  I never accepted Jesus as my Savior all the time I went to church, but I'd like to do that now."

      At this point she bowed her head and said the sinner's prayer and Julie asked Jesus into her heart.  By now we were all crying for joy at the wonderful things God had done that morning.  Judi and Joe left and Roger went to work.

      Julie, beaming with joy at her new-found faith in Jesus, said, "Come to the kitchen, Lenore, I want to tell you something."

      She poured our tea and sat down at the table across from me and confessed, "I have to tell you that I did not want you here.  I was mad at Roger for volunteering to take anyone into our home.  But now I'm glad you came.  I shall never forget you."

      From that moment on my stay at their home was more peaceful even though Darren was still causing his parents a lot of anguish.

      I said, "Julie, you and Roger begin praying for Darren's salvation over here and I'll pray for him when I go home.  We'll believe for his change of heart.  Nothing is impossible with God."

      One year later later I received a letter from Julie saying, "We are rejoicing because Darren accepted Jesus into his heart!  Thank you for praying for Darren with us.  God is so good."

      The friendship that began with my stay at their home many years ago as an unwanted guest has continued to this very day.

      Little did I know that I had a divine appointment with a family across the world when I set out on a ministry trip with a team from our church in Temecula, California, USA.  This journey and it's happy ending still fills me with awe at the workings of a loving and faithful God.  It makes me want to shout and sing praises to God!