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by Luke Nelessen
This year has been full of so many changes for our team at World Relief Wisconsin, but I never anticipated milking a goat as part of my job. Well, that’s not quite what happened. Yet, I did milk a goat! And it was kind of related to my job. Let me explain.
Late in the spring, I heard that our Chippewa Valley team would be losing a few team members. As a regional coordinator working across the state of Wisconsin, I wondered if this would be an appropriate time to move to Eau Claire for a while. Just a month or so. Perhaps I could support the team as they transitioned to a smaller crew.
I started praying, “God, what do you think of this idea?”
When I shared the idea with Gail, our regional director, she liked the suggestion but noted that we didn’t have a budget for relocation. If I were to move, I would need to plan for rent on my own. I asked Jodi, our church and community engagement specialist in Chippewa Valley, if it would be useful if I lived in the Eau Claire area for a time. She thought it would be helpful, and she had even joked a few days prior about the idea of me moving there.
I continued praying, “God, would you provide a place?”
While I was praying, I felt a strange peace about the whole idea of moving to Chippewa Valley. I don’t usually feel that when I’m praying about the future. I’m usually prone to worry over details of plans to come. Yet, the peace felt so sure, that I started to tell people, “I’m going to be in Eau Claire for the month of June” before I even had a place to stay.
I asked others to pray.
During a monthly meeting with prayer partners across the state, I asked Julie, the one attendee this month, “Would you pray that I would find a place to stay in Eau Claire?” Then, per usual, we prayed for immigrants, World Relief, governing officials, pastors and churches.
Toward the end of prayer time, Julie’s husband joined us. When we had finished praying, Julie exchanged glances with Vince before they turned to me with big smiles, “Can you milk goats?”
God answered our prayers.
So, God provided a place for me to stay in Eau Claire in exchange for a few farm chores. My contributions on the farm are marginal and my help to the Chippewa Valley office has been modest. Amidst all the changes and uncertainty, God gave peace and provision.
P.S. If you would like to support Julie’s goat milk soap business, check out their featured products.
Learn more about World Relief Wisconsin’s advocacy work.
Luke Nelessen serves as the advocacy coordinator for World Relief Wisconsin, encouraging church leaders to follow Jesus’ teachings and seek justice and mercy for the vulnerable and suffering.