Coincidentally

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
Psalm 139:7-8 (HCSB)

About thirteen years ago, a woman named June* was pregnant, and she had such a severe case of morning sickness, that she could not eat.  June lived in Phon Phisai, a district in Nong Khai province in Isaan, as northeast Thailand is known.  Like most people in Thailand, June was a Buddhist.

June had been to the doctors in Phon Phisai regarding her morning sickness, but they had not been able to help her.  So she made a trip to see a doctor in the city of Nong Khai, about an hour drive to the west.  The doctor she went to see was a Christian and there was some literature in the office explaining Christianity.  While waiting for he turn in the queue, June went to the chapel and, while there,  she read some of the literature and her interest was piqued.  Christianity sounded like a good thing to her.  She tried to pray, but didn't really know how.

June went home and that night, at one point, a small cloud appeared the room that came and rested on her head then drifted off.  Immediately, her morning sickness went away.  She attributed this to Jesus.  She decided she wanted to go to church, but the only church in the area was one where they worshiped "Mother Mary".  The nearest church where they worshiped Jesus was in Nong Khai city.

In January last year, Somdy and Chanh moved to Thailand.  There goal was to plant a church in Nong Khai.  They started out in the city of Nong Khai, but they could not sense God leading them to any place there.

After praying about this for a few days, Chanh suggested, "Let's go to Phon Phisai."  So they boarded a van and went there. Upon arriving in Phon Phisai, they just happened to run into a woman named Ping,* someone they had known from several years ago.  Ping and her husband Lee* lived in her mothers yard. (It is common for couples to move onto the same property with the wife's family in northeast Thailand.)  Somdy asked Ping's mother if they could have a Bible study at her house, and she agreed.  But the house was a bit cramped for the number of people that came.

Somdy and Chanh started looking for a place nearby would would serve as both a place to stay and for the church to meet.  It just so happened that Ping knew of a place that was available just down the street. They looked at the house and found it to be suitable so they made arrangements to rent it.  The house was located in the same yard as the landlord's house.  His children lived on adjacent properties.  Coincidentally, the daughter that lived just to the other side of his house was June.

After thirteen years of waiting, June now has a church to go to in Phon Phisai--and it's right next door.  She was baptized last month, but even before that, she was eagerly wanting to know more about God.

June getting baptized

Coincidence.

Even pioneer missionaries are never to first to go to places where there are no believers.  God always goes first.

Thank you, Lord, that you are already at work in people's lives even before we meet them.  Continue to lead us to those whose heart you have been preparing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

* The names have been changed.