Andrée Seu Peterson - God’s hand over every detail

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Monday, September 21st. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Commentator Andrée Seu Peterson now on God’s faithful provision. This is a selection from her 2008 book Normal Kingdom Business.

ANDRÉE SEU PETERSON, COMMENTATOR: Charlotte, retired coordinator of the brain-injury program at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, had a desire to organize an overnight camp for former patients. Someone happened to drop in for a chat and inquired about a possible head injury camp in Red River, New Mexico. Charlotte heard herself telling him there would be one by August.

First she needed lodging on flat terrain and scrounged up 20 cabins 7 miles from town. Two days later the preacher of Faith Mountain Fellowship Church happened to pay a pastoral call. Before leaving he committed his church as camp headquarters and meal venue.

Charlotte phoned Baylor Rehab about possible co-sponsorship with the church, and her former colleagues promised six paid staff members.

No national rental companies had wheelchair vans, but Charlotte talked to a lady in Boston who happened to know a lady in Albuquerque (the nearest airport to Red River) who had two.

The ex-wife of a former Baylor patient got wind of the camp and offered a nonprofit, her own residential program that was no longer operational. A simple name change was all the lawyer needed to make the transfer.

Next up, insurance. No companies had the right type. One night Charlotte was substituting as ski hostess for a friend. While waiting for the 2 a.m. bus she idly perused a file that contained a travel insurance policy from an outfit in Ft. Worth. The following day Charlotte’s group had coverage.

Charlotte had her heart set on T-shirts. Companies wanted $1,500—too much. The day she gave up on that quest the phone rang with a donation of $1,500. Charlie D. from Amarillo volunteered to cook. Pede S. from Baylor apologized for not being able to come to camp, and sent four huge boxes of craft projects. Red River townsfolk rallied round the camp vision when one of their own, 10-year-old Nathan L., suffered brain injury in a skiing accident.

Campers need scholarships. Charlotte and Mike inserted donation requests in the Christmas cards. A steady stream of small checks came in, simultaneous with the stream of seekers. Neither was totaled for months. 

In May they did the math: “$1,275 in needs, $1,275 in scholarships. The mayor and his wife, asked to present the souvenirs, decided to fund them: staurolite rocks, shaped like a cross and found in the Sangre de Christo mountains.

Margo S., owner of a local bar, happened to read about the camp in the church newsletter. She rang and asked whether Charlotte could use refreshments.

Charlotte mentioned to God that she needed two more people to lead fishing expeditions. Just then two people walked by her cabin, an unusual sight where most folks ride horseback. Charlotte invited them inside. Neighbors in the cabin down the road, turns out they love to fish.

Two days before camp they were two cars short. The Mahurins from Oklahoma dropped in to see how they could help. They had two cars.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

I’m Andrée Seu Peterson.

(Photo/iStock)

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