“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Prov. 16:9

The verse above was already one of my favorites, and it continues to gain even more special meaning with each passing day, for obvious reasons – God always has surprises in store for us.

A few months ago, I announced that I would no longer be writing on this blog due to some changes we were planning to make. We were literally relocating and planning to structure our small ministry differently. But God had other plans…

In November, we visited the area where we intended to live, looking for a property to rent. We searched for two weeks and couldn't find anything that met our needs. In January, we went back, this time with our belongings already moved, and stayed at my parents' house while we looked for a place, but every place we found had something that didn't work out.

I remember a conversation I had with my husband at that time. He said to me, "Isn't it strange how we're already in the process of moving and still don't have a place to live in sight!" I replied, "It really is strange; it's almost as if God has a completely different plan for us." And he commented, "Well, if He takes us somewhere else, at least our things are already packed." And we even laughed at the idea.

A few weeks later, we were back at the property where we used to live, participating in the Reviver Project. There, we met a Brazilian nurse who lives in the US and works at an Adventist clinic (Wildwood Lifestyle Center). He talked to my husband about the clinic and said my husband should apply to work there, because he had the qualifications they were looking for.

When I first heard the idea, I was very surprised, and even more so when I saw my husband's excitement. I thought, "How can we go there? We're in the process of moving to another state, not another country!" I was confused for a few days and asked God to show me if it was His will, and gradually He showed me that some of our biggest family concerns could be met in a place like that institution.

After the Reviver Project, we returned to my parents' house and continued our search for a property, but at the same time, my husband sent an application to the institution. It was two agonizing weeks for us until we received a response. We wanted to be sure we were following God's will. While we saw good reasons for this move, we thought about the distance from family, the plans we had already made… And it was during one of those moments of uncertainty that I prayed and asked God to reveal Himself to us, showing us His will.

One morning, while complaining to God during my personal devotion, I looked beside me and saw at the base of the window one of those little flowers that sway in the sunlight. I had seen it there many times before, but for the first time, I noticed there was a Bible verse written on the small pot. I felt impressed to read the text from Isaiah 26:3 which says: "You, Lord, will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." There was my answer. I didn't necessarily need to know if we were going to move or not, but I needed to trust in God and remain in peace until He revealed Himself to us at the right time. Our purpose was to do His will, what was best for our family, and that was what mattered. That was a reminder to me that God was in control, and in the days that followed, God gave us many signs of what His will was.

We started to think that if we were really going to move to the US, we should begin to "test the waters" for God to part the sea before us. I thought then that the first step would be to renew our expired passports. One morning, I talked to my husband about it. He told me that the night before, God had impressed upon him the same idea. I asked if we would have the money, and he said that someone, knowing about our possible move, had sent a donation, and when we did the math, it was exactly the amount we needed.

From that moment on, we also began to realize that the doors we had hoped would open for our work in Brazil started to close, and the doors for this potential move began to open.

A few days later, we received the news that we had been accepted into the institution, so we started looking for tickets. A friend told us about a website with promotional fares. We managed to find tickets for the entire family for the price of a normal ticket for one person. We borrowed my parents' credit card to buy the tickets, and in the meantime, we started selling some things to pay for them. With only two days left to pay off the card, we had only managed to raise half the amount. We asked God to help us sell things faster to get the money. We didn't manage to sell anything, but a very dear person (unaware of our concern) gave us a donation that covered exactly the remaining amount.

In the following weeks, sales took off. We sold practically everything we had decided to sell, and even some things we hadn't considered, but which acquaintances asked for, and we ended up understanding it to be God's will.

After we had settled everything and were ready for the trip, we realized that we wouldn't be taking as much money as we had hoped. And we wrestled with God about this issue, and God placed beautiful promises before us, such as the following: “Do not worry about tomorrow.” We must follow Christ day by day. God does not provide help for tomorrow. He does not give His children all the instructions for life's journey immediately, lest they become confused. He tells them only as much as they can retain in memory and accomplish. The strength and wisdom imparted are for the emergency of the moment.” The Desire of Ages, p. 313

We have been here in Wildwood for a month now. We have been through many changes, adaptations, and trials. We still don't know exactly God's plan for us here, nor how long we will stay, but we are certain that we are where God wants us to be right now.

I will continue posting messages and testimonies here, as much as possible. I ask for prayers for our family so that we can remain confident that God is in control, and we will also be praying for you who read the blog, that God may bless you and show you His will in your life.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8

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