Now Is The Time
Written By: Stacy Swenson
The Call of God has always taken me by surprise.
It appears to be ‘out of the blue’ -
The Call from God to follow Him when I was a five-year-old girl playing with dolls.
The Call from God for my husband and I to adopt two boys from Ethiopia in 2011...
…and now the Call for us to leave behind our home in Illinois and move to Tijuana, Mexico to serve among the most vulnerable little ones in the dark Zone Norte area of the city.
I am certain that these calls have not been ‘out of the blue’ at all. God sees what we don’t see. His timing is always perfect.
“ Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. ”
We adopted our two sons - the whole story is evidence that He hears and acts in His miraculously perfect timing. The deepest desire of my heart has always been to love and care for vulnerable little ones. God shocked me by orchestrating the adoption of our two boys - taking them out of the orphanage and placing them in our family!
In His way, at the perfect time - it is so clear to me now as I look back and see how He fit all the parts together perfectly.
And yet a few years after that process I found myself pleading with God to act.
Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, my memory was flawed - I thought He didn’t hear me. My heart was broken thinking about the millions of vulnerable children worldwide. Yes, my two sons were now safe and secure and placed in our family, but there were more who needed a mother.
How could a child survive without a mother? “Send me!” I desperately shouted to God. His answer was clear - you are right where I want you now - being a mother to the children I gave to you.
November 2019 - our first grandchild was born! Maggie Luna entered the world and we flew quickly to Tijuana, Mexico to meet her. The first time I held my perfect tiny granddaughter I was overwhelmed by the blessings that have been poured on her - her mother and father love each other and love Jesus with all their hearts, her family on both sides are rooted in love and faithfulness - her every need will absolutely be met. I was flooded with praise to God for the undeserved grace and mercy He has already shown to this precious newborn. She will be raised in the light of His Love.
At that same moment, God spoke to me,
“There was another baby born just a few miles away. That baby is cold and hungry and fearful. The mother cannot care for her, she has no support or resources - now is the time I need you to go to the streets of Tijuana. I want you to be a mother to the little precious ones who are cold and hungry and afraid. Just like I provided for Maggie with her loving parents, I am going to provide for many little ones through your loving care.”
He said “now is the time I want you to go.” God sees what we don’t see and His timing is perfect. He told me, “Now is the time that I can use you to reach those vulnerable little ones with My Love and Care.”
So we obey. My husband is taking early retirement from the US Postal Service, we are selling all we can and leaving Illinois behind. On October 5, 2020, my husband and I and our 14 year old son will pack up our car, leave the family farm and head for the streets of the Zone Norte area of Tijuana.
We don’t know yet what we will find, what our ministry will be - but we are certain that God has called us there right now. His perfect timing will show us the plan that only He can see. And because we are in love with Jesus, we do not hesitate to follow.
The details are in His Hands.
