The Midnight Call | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Midnight Call | Previous Challenge Entry
By Trudy Newell
01/21/16
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The phone rang, waking both of us up. I looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. I groaned inwardly. In my experience midnight phone calls are not good news. However, this was the exception. It was our son, David, calling from California.

“Pop,” I could hear over the speaker phone, “hope you’re not asleep.”

“That’s fine, son.”

“Tammy and I wanted to know why you guys aren’t going to England to help with the Indian Family camp in August.”

I looked at Mike. Oh, yes, ‘Family Camp.’ We’ve dismissed the idea of going. I know, we felt it was a ‘Macedonia call’ and shared the need in our newsletter. But there was no response. We’ve already told Geeta that we can’t come this year.

Mike turned the light on. “We prayed about it, and decided that as God did not open the door for us to go, it must not be in His plan.”

“What do you mean?”

“David, we don’t have the resources for this kind of trip right now. We’re praying about next year. God is sovereign.”

“Dad, Tammy and I think you should go, and we’ll pay for the trip.”

We found that God is not only sovereign, he also has a sense of humor. We didn’t think a ministry trip of this kind could be put together in a month, especially since we were already booked for a week of meetings the first week of August. It was a whirlwind of activity as we mapped out our three weeks in England.

Within a week of the phone call we had our tickets to England, and a gift of $2500 had been sent in to cover the expenses. When God works, things happen quickly.

The next day we telephoned Geeta.

“Is it too late to be a part of ‘Family Camp?’”

Geeta almost jumped through the phone with excitement. Before the conversation was over, she had offered one of the family cars for us to use during our stay. PTL for His provision.

Next call to England provided housing in the Fennell house while they were on furlough. Talk about God’s timing.

Our trip was fantastic. Surprises all along the way, including Albert’s* salvation. Mike had spent hours with this dear Hindu man. As he helped in his catering business, Mike would share the gospel.

One day, Albert* made it very clear. Mike was sharing with him about spiritual things in one of those rare moments of quiet. “I think the world of you, Mike, but I will never convert!” He pounded his desk to emphasize his determination.

God works in remarkable ways. Shy guy that he is, in our phone calls and emails, Albert* never told Mike that he now knew the Lord. After we greeted the family, his sweet wife, Ginny*, took us aside and told us the good news. It was several days before Albert* shared about his new faith in Christ.

We took a flash drive with us to print out copies of Mike’s Bible study for new believers, “All this and Heaven too.” Albert’s* eyes shone as we handed him a copy. He looked it over and sighed, “I’m sure Ginny* knows most this stuff already, but it will take me some time to get through this.”

‘Family Camp’ took place right after we arrived. What a special time with friends we had known and worked with there. I had tears in my eyes watching Mohan teach and lead. Madhu and the gang from London were all there. The ladies from our Friday night study were there in force.

“Mike, can you two come for dinner?”

“Trudy, can you come for tea?”

We looked at our already full schedule and squeezed in as many invitations as possible.

I guess we’ll catch up on our sleep when we get back to Georgia.

God was so gracious, and helped us fit in all the visits that were on our hearts. Peter* and Ashley* lined up two special events so we could see as many people as possible. We look back and realize only God could have put this together.

There was one invitation we could not turn down. Geeta, her mom, and the whole family invited us for a farewell tea. All our friends came for this special time on our last Sunday afternoon in Leicester. Yes, there were tears.

We arrived back in Georgia on a Wednesday night blurry-eyed, but praising God for that midnight phone call in July.

*Names changed

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