“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.” – Habakkuk 1:5

The first time I ever read these words wasn’t on the pages of scripture…it was on missionary prayer card.  You know, the kind of card you get from missionaries that ask you to pray for them while they are serving abroad.  But the thing is, this prayer card was from someone I had never met in person.  It was from Mariana Melo (now Mariana Johnson).  We put her card on our refrigerator door and committed to pray for her.  Then months later I had the opportunity to serve along side Mariana in Costa Rica with a mission team of college students from Spartanburg in May, 2012.  Mariana is passionate about the Lord and about His Kingdom.  She lives in the hope of these words from Habakkuk.  She lived then and lives now in the hopeful expectation that Jesus has been and is now doing utterly amazing things in our midst.  May we, like Mariana, step out of our comfort zones, look at the nations and see what the Lord is doing.  Mariana has recently moved from Costa Rica, gotten married to Fred Johnson and they are now serving together with Young Life in Mexico.  Pray for them today as you read God’s Word.  Ask the Lord to help you see the amazing things He is doing and ask Him to let you be part of His Kingdom’s work.