“No, let me tell you the real story.”
When people say, “Wow you must be successful to go on a 2nd book tour,” that’s what I say.
Since our family went to Perth a year ago to support Cliff’s triathlon race in the World Transplant Games, where organ recipients around the world gather to compete, our children have been asking us, over and over, “Can we go back to Perth? Before Tanzania? Please?”
Their favorite part of that trip? “Playing with cold sand, Mama.”
With all seriousness, I told them, “Kids, that’s a big request- it’s not mine to grant. If that’s something you really want, you have to ask God.”
So they did. Week after week, for nearly a year, they persisted in prayer.
On the last day of my North American book tour, as I zipped up my luggage to come home, I received an invitation from Perth to speak.
I looked at the text in gratitude, only to feel a weight sag in my heart. “I wished our kids could go.” But the cost would be exorbitant, I reasoned.
Weeks after I said yes, who would have imagined that a couple from that church would avail their farmhouse for our entire family to stay?
Later, a pastor from Melbourne whom I’d never met, the one who’d nudged the lead pastor of the church in downtown LA in USA to have me speak there, asked to meet me in Singapore because he was visiting. Who would have imagined that an unrelated lady from Melbourne would reach out to sponsor that segment of our book tour for our entire family, as she felt God leading her to play a part in bringing revival to her community?
None of these were planned. We simply said yes and prayed.
Most of all, I believe God heard the prayers of two little girls who love playing in cold sand. I believe He planned the itinerary such that we’d return just a day before the last day of school, in time for our kids to say farewell.
I’ll always remember, that I went on a second book tour not because I’m a successful author, but simply because He loves to answer prayer, even if it’s that of two little girls who love cold sand. 💛
*EDITS: 18 May ECCI 1030AM, 18 May Casey Int 7PM