Proclaiming a Miracle!

So today I'm proclaiming a miracle!  I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought about was...I should look at my passport to see when the next time I have to be out of the country is.
***Side note- for all of you wondering.  With the visa I have I have to be out of the country every 30 days.  So this means some times I just drive about 2 hours to the nearest border, stamp out and then back into Mozambique.  Other times I actually go out for a rest.***
Well, in my head I had remembered I would need to go out of the country again very close to the time I'm leaving to come home (Thanksgiving week).  This morning however I discovered...this would have been true only after I went out of the country on October 20th.  OOOOOOOPPPPPPSSSSSSS!  I big, could cost up to $100 a day oops.  So, today is November 3rd; day 13 of me being in the country illegally.  That's a fine of $1300 if you can't do the math.
My heart was racing, mouth getting dry.  If you don't know me well, I don't do this type of thing.  I'm a planner.  I'm obsessive about dates, times, meetings, getting things done the right way.  I'm a rule follower...don't color outside the lines kind of girl.  So I was stressed.  I headed next door to ask another missionary who had gone out of the country with me last time to check her passport, just to make sure I wasn't reading wrong.  No such luck.  We had gone to Swaziland on September 20th...therefore I should have been out of the country October 20th.
Next came the mad dash to figure out how I was going to get to the border.  About 25 phone calls later and an hour or so, Tracey (who is amazing!) had volunteered to drive me, the hospitality truck was free, and Sam (Praise God for her!) was going to go through the border with me in case something happened!  Next I got the best and worst case scenario pep talk from Steve (one of our base directors).  Here's what he said...best case- you'll walk right through, they won't even notice, and you'll be back asap...worst case- they'll hold you at the border, make you pay a HUGE fine and you can try to argue your way out of it if you want.  But, they cannot arrest you and they cannot confiscate your passport.
With this we headed off.  I was nervous to say the least, but also knew that in Mozambique nothing is a sure thing expect that everything is unpredictable...and today I knew that might work to my advantage!  So we make it safe and sound to the border.  With a prayer and smile Tracey lets Sam and I out of the car.  We walk straight up the counter...I was hopeful for a line so the border officer would want us all out and not really be paying attention...no such luck.  I put my passport on the counter and looked a Sam quite worried.  She says a little prayer...that included something about the woman's great hair and cute earrings...mainly to make me laugh I think...and next thing we knew we were stamped through and walking out of the building!!!!
What an experience of favor from the Lord.  Tonight I am so full of thanksgiving.  I can't help but remember the many times in my life my mom has said...God always protects those who are forgetful (or something like that).  Usually it was in reference to me leaving my purse somewhere in a store or restaurant, and it still being there when we got back after I'd remembered it.  I never liked hearing it then, but now I'm SO grateful for His protection!
Also, some days I still wonder why I'm here.  Usually this is when things are tough, I'm frustrated, or just can't see the difference my presence here is making.  Today I am reminded that God wants me right where I am.  I received a HUGE smile of favor today and for that I am full of thanksgiving and renewed in my want to serve!