Meeting Matt

God continues to organize my life around His purposes....and sometimes it's pretty awesome!

Not long ago, I was complaining to my husband, Alex, asking "Why does everything in my life have to end up being about Threads of Hope?"

Well, God is helping me to embrace that He networking into my life opportunities to be involved in work for His kingdom...and I'm beginning to enjoy it!

Yesterday was the big day for Green Bay, Wisconsin! It was the opening day of the 2011 NFL season, and since the Packers were last year's Superbowl winners, we hosted the Saints in Green Bay for the big day! Probably due to the dispute between the league and its players before the season, the NFL wanted to the 2011 Kickoff a huge celebration. Three music artists were brought in to perform, as well as other celebrities and NFL alumni on site.

All of this "hoopla" attracted the attention of NBC's Today Show, and they filmed their program from inside Lambeau Field that day in Green Bay. Matt Lauer was one of the representatives flown in for the show...and I wanted to meet him.

About a year ago, we were watching the Today Show in the Philippines and Matt had an interview with "Women of Faith." Unfortunately, they weren't women I would have chosen to give me answers to spiritual questions. During the interview, they interrupted Matt by answering his questions even before he was done asking them. Not only that, but I didn't think their answers were right, according to what I know of Scripture. Matt was asking very probing questions, almost like he was looking for answers to his own searching. So I felt compelled to write Matt a letter, apologizing for the way they handled the interview, and giving my own answers to his questions. Then I wrote his name down in my prayer book to begin praying for him regularly.

Back to present day. I went to Green Bay on the morning of the big game with hopes of running into Matt Lauer and telling him I'd been praying for him. When I arrived at the stadium, several fans were waiting outside, all dressed in their Packer green and gold, hoping to catch a glimpse of a celebrity. We weren't getting any answers, and then I spotted a camera man with "Today Show 3" written on a piece of tape on his video camera. I walked over and asked him if he knew if the stars of the show would be making an appearance. He said, "They're probably going to go out the back door and get right into the car to go to the airport. They got dropped off the same way." He said it would be at the far corner of the stadium...so off I went.

On the way I asked one more guard where they might be coming out, and they pointed to the same corner of the stadium and said "Over there by the satellite dish." Now I picked up the pace so I wouldn't miss the opportunity.

When I got to the gate area, I asked the security guard if they had come out yet, and he said they hadn't, but they'd be in a black Featherlite when they came up the ramp. I waited for a while, and then I saw Matt Lauer appear around the corner with his cell phone, apparently trying to get better signal... (praise God for that.) :)

I called, "Mr. Lauer? Mr. Laure?" He looked up and I asked "May I talk with you a minute?" I didn't know if he'd ignore me or what, but he began walking up the ramp toward me. Woo hoo! We shook hands, and I told him that I watch the Today Show in the Philippines; that we used to call it the "Yesterday Show" because it was aired the next calendar day due to the time difference and scheduling. He said he's heard that from others as well. I told him that I had written to him after the "Women of Faith" interview, and that I felt they did not give him the right answers; also that I started praying for him at that time. He thanked me. I told him in a tiny nutshell what we are doing in the Philippines. After thanking him for taking time to talk with me, we parted, although he didn't go far. He took pictures with a few more fans that had just walked up, then continued trying to "phone home."

Earlier that morning, I was urged, possibly by the Lord, to bring information about Threads of Hope with me to the stadium. So I walked back over to Matt again, when he finished his call, and asked, "Would you be interested in taking some information on what we are doing in the Philippines?" He said he would, and took the brochure, handout, and booklet that Alex had written about how Threads of Hope began, into his hands. Then he thanked me for what we were doing. I said, "I know you hear a lot of stoies, and meet a lot of people, but I just wanted to let you know what God is doing over there." I asked "So what is next for you?" and he replied, "Get back on a plane to New York."

I am praying that he ended up reading the information on the plane.

I was the only person standing at that back gate when Matt Lauer came walking up the ramp. I believe that for some reason...or for many...that God arranged this meeting. I better keep praying for Matt Lauer.

God is the best networker I know! I pray that more and more that I will desire my life to be nothing except what counts for the Lord's purposes. I find myself fighting against this very prayer, trying to take back some part of my life that He already purchased. It is a battle. But we already know that, don't we?

To God be all the glory!