A weekend away with Dad, the Ultimate Trip advisor

A surprise weekend away with your dad, of course you are not going to pack a change of clothes, money or your cell phone! You just jump in the car and enjoy what he has planned right?

We were sent out on a Luke 10 journey, just like when Jesus sent out 72 disciples to heal the sick, tell people that the kingdom of God is near while staying at a person of peace and accepting their hospitality. At first I was shocked that we were doing this but also excited to see what God our "Trip Advisor" had planned for us.
The "clues" we were given by our "Trip advisor" were Storms river mouth, Sarah, Jacques, Red, Compassion, Log cabin, Isaiah 58 about true worship and a feeling of going away with Dad.

So Friday afternoon we started hiking to Storms river mouth and got a lift with another team of 5 going to Plett by a lovely lady who only stopped in J-bay because she thought she had a flat tyre... well to her surprise no flat tyre but she picked up 9 hitch hikers!

We arrived at storms River mouth Gate where we were waiting on our Trip advisor to provide for what we thought would be our first miracle, getting in the gate where we had to pay R 200 to get the 4 of us through. After a while I decided to ask where we should pay to go in or how the system works. To our delight we were told it was too late in the afternoon to pay entrance and we could walk right on through!!

At the breath taking beauty of the Storms river mouth we had a wonderful chat to our trip advisor about what was to come on the weekend ahead but He was not giving out many clues but encouraging us with " You Cannot Fail!" and " I will make a way". We had the opportunity to pray for healing and explain why we believe God can heal at the river mouth to some German tourists. We had to be out of the reserve by 9 pm and were offered a lift to Storms river village by a kind Dutch tourist after he struck up a conversation with us at Storms river mouth. To our amazement he proceeded to take all 4 of out for dinner at a 4 star restaurant with a sticker on the door saying " Rated by Trip Advisor."

It was then 10pm in the small Storms River Village with no-one in sight! We went over to the backpackers hoping we would be able to meet some people or a person of peace that would invite us in! The backpackers was empty and they graciously made a plan for us to stay in a dorm with white feather duvets and RED blankets :) The next morning we noticed the backpackers also had a Sticker on the door saying "Rated by Trip Advisor" and the backpackers was a log cabin. We did not go chasing after the "clues" we had but they were all fulfilled throughout the weekend.

On Saturday it was confirmed that we should stay for the whole weekend at the backpackers where they blessed us incredibly with food and accommodation! We went out into the town but it soon started raining, we found shelter in a restaurant but made it clear we were just getting shelter from the rain and not paying customers! The whole restaurant was RED and the lovely manager also wearing red we soon realised this was part of our awesome Trip advisors plan. The manager got chatting to us and she was our SARAH – her name was not Sarah but just like Sarah in the Bible she was waiting on a promise from God and we had been sent to encourage her.

I noticed a specific waitress when we entered and I knew our Trip advisor had planned a meeting between her and I. So walking in faith and obedience I approached her. I asked her name and it was..... VALERIE!! Whaaaaat!! My mind was blown! I have only met about 3 other Valeries in my life and the fact that I knew I had to go and speak to her all together almost left me speechless! God immediately gave me the words He wanted to tell her and I went to sit down Knowing that I know that I Know like I have never known before Isaiah 43 "You have been called by name."

It was still raining so we stayed at the restaurant and they blessed us with coffee and huge portions of toasted egg and bacon sandwiched and chips! Wow we were so spoilt and when we left the staff were thanking us more than we were thanking them!

Smiling from ear to ear, tummies full we returned to the backpackers where they had prepared lunch for us! Too much food on a Luke 10 journey! Wow God is an abundant provider! So we ate again and were very thankful for the abundance! We had an opportunity to pray with and encourage the staff at the backpackers and God healed 1 of the ladies we prayed for it was such a faith building miracle to witness!

The owner of the backpackers and his children arrived shortly after this and I immediately though we were going to get kicked out! AH such little faith! We really wanted to serve the owner and his wife but did not know how. We randomly started playing with the children outside, we had a ball! They took us to a room with a wall mural of the whole garden route painted on it. We were having so much fun playing games for hours but we were all thinking we have probably lost the plot a bit maybe our trip advisor had other things planned for us to do!? Then Pierre pointed out a face on the mural with a name written under it.... JAQUES! It was exactly where we were supposed to be and in fact doing a huge act of service for the owner and his wife, giving them the afternoon off, while we were just having fun with kids!!

That evening we were upgraded to safari tents, enjoyed Poitjie Kos, met travellers from Ireland, France, Denmark, USA and we were thanked by the owner for choosing that backpackers to stay in!!?? God is a good good father!

Sunday morning we said our goodbyes after buffet breakfast and started the trip back home to Jeffery's Bay eager to hear the stories of the other teams! I thought the trip was over when our last lift was from a father and daughter who just had a bonding weekend. I was thinking about this father and daughter praying for them on the back of their bakkie also thinking my great relationship with my own dad as well as how I had the feeling that this weekend was going away with my dad. When they dropped us off I asked their names and the father's name was Derek... which is my dad's name! This just showed me again how God is in every fine detail as well as the big things.

Looking back at the whole weekend I am so awe-struck, inspired and grateful for what God did not only by providing over and above our basic needs, using us to heal the sick and giving us opportunities to tell people about God and His Kingdom BUT EVEN MORE how His plans are perfect, He is the ultimate "Trip advisor", He fulfils His word, He is in the detail and that He has CALLED ME BY NAME. He is the only one the inspires Awe- Our God is an AWEsome God!