Pennies From Heaven

At the time we left the country, no one really knew how bad COVID-19 was. You can tell me all you want that you did, but as for me, I did not. I thought everyone around me was overreacting. And if you know my story, you know I was very ill and survived a very rare bacterial blood infection. Therefore, I continually told myself, “If B.Q. didn’t kill me, neither will this.” I will be the first to admit, I was wrong, and this is a very important time in history, but I will never say going on that mission trip was wrong. I know many people do not understand and many were worried for what was to come. Yet let me tell you a marvelous story my Nana use to tell me.

When I was about 6 years old when my Nana explained that when a penny lays in front of your feet, heads up, an angel placed it there. This is to show you are heading on the right path. She explained how your very own angel would place them in front of you when you needed it the most. This instilled a feeling of undying faith in me for the “penny moments.” I recently called my Nana to have her explain it a little bit better than to a six-year-old. She told me the story similar to how I remembered it, but this time she said you receive a penny when you are following God’s calling for your life. When you are truly walking in faith for the Kingdom. Now, I get pennies when I am on a real fun and exhilarating spiritual high, so that all adds up to me. But what I didn’t expect was a total of seven pennies on this trip. Seven.

The Thursday I left for my mission trip, I was on the phone with my friend and mentor, as he was telling me people did not want to go, and as I was listening I stumbled upon a penny. (Penny number 1) He next said, “I feel like I don’t need to ask this, but what are you thinking?” and my childlike faith spoke loud and clear saying, “I was in from the beginning.” That penny was like Jesus’ voice, it was solid stone in a world where we are treading the water. Receiving that penny meant, “Thy will be done,” in His name. I would go for Him because He was providing. And so, I went.

After I went, I learned the forty-four hours of traveling were not easy. The trip was in a delicate wavering place for hours of this time. The health scares had students and their parents rattled. The airports were bare, and the people seemed afraid everywhere we went. The trip itself was almost canceled a couple times. It also didn’t help that every time someone asked where we were all heading, they would react to our answer with, “Oh my, you better wear your masks and gloves.” But during these fearful forty-four hours I saw people’s hearts soften, I saw my faith instilled within me spread and I saw God’s hand touch the lives of those next to me.

The night before we left Miami to go to Abaco, we stayed in what I like to call “a little rough around the edge's” motel. Some may say dump, but I don’t think it was that bad, it had some nice plants too. While we were there, around 12:30 in the morning I was getting ready for bed. As I finished washing my face while my roommates were fast asleep, there it was. Right in front of my foot on the cold tile, another penny, heads up of course (penny number 2).

Once we landed in Marsh Harbor, it didn’t feel real. We had been desiring this experience for so long that it felt like a dream. A good one. We met another group of students working with the same organization while down there and we formed what I like to call an eternal bond. The kind of bond that won’t be broken by death because you just know you will see these people in Heaven. While we were unpacking, I was unloading my bible and journal and a girl I had met there was needing help moving the table in our room. As we moved this tiny table, there was another penny near the wall. Heads up (penny number 3). At this time, I am getting a lot of the Spirit stirring within me, I just know there will be something big to come. 

While down in Abaco, we did not get to do much work. We were mainly getting use to the routine and the scenery. On Sunday, we couldn't go to church because of risk of one of our students being a carrier for the disease. So, we had our church in the school gym we were in. After church we had some quiet time. During this time, I packed up my journal and bible and headed out somewhere with some peace. I didn’t know where I just knew I would be there when I got there. When I got to a place filled with plants, I started writing. I started talking to Papa G. We talked for about an hour and then I paused our conversation so I could go eat. Now I am not joking when I say this, but a penny, a US penny, sat two feet away from me, heads up, when I said, “I will talk to you in just a little bit, I just feel a bit hungry in this moment.” That penny had not been there prior to me sitting and it was not one of the other three either. (Penny number 4, seeing a theme yet?) So, I sat back down and decided to wait on lunch a little bit longer because we needed to talk a lot more. 

The next day was the day the news broke. We had been told the Bahamas were shutting their borders within the next three days and we needed to find plane tickets back to the states. Personally, I let the news roll off my back and let Jesus roll into my heart. I was a little upset, but when we talked, He showed me that there is more to it. And so, I went on about my day of work with my best friend Hannah J as we cleaned chairs and organized the library and took a few breaks in between.

But this day was not like any other day. This was the day. On that beautiful Monday in Abaco, I walked to the beach with three of my greatest friends. As I got ready to step into the water, I looked down on the rock and found a rusted penny. A penny that was heads up indeed but could only be seen at that exact angle with that exact sun beam. I was on a local beach that was filled with rocks and no people. It was nothing but the act of an angel. It was penny number 5. This penny was placed before me right before I went to the water to be Baptized. This was the penny I wanted to see. It was Papa saying, “I love you dear, I am for you, and I take delight in your joyful actions.”

That day was the most beautiful day. It was gorgeous, every move, every action and every feeling felt divine. From the heavens themselves. The next day came and we went to bed around three in the morning. We got three hours of good sleep and then came the hard part. We had to pack. We had to say our “see-you-later's” and drive to the airport. As we waited for the plane to get ready, we prayed for the Island and for the people of the land. We prayed for all. And soon enough we boarded the plane. Now it is safe to say I did not think I would get any more pennies. We were leaving the land that needed the most healing, how could I be walking in faith for the Kingdom when it felt like I was walking away? Simple, it is God’s timeline. It is His Kingdom. And just like it had been there all along, a penny on the floor of my seat section of 16C on the plane. And I am sure my seat mate thought I was crazy because in that moment tears started to run down may face in delight and joy (Penny number 6).

Which brings us to penny number seven. This penny wasn’t as fun to find as the others. In fact, I was a little mad about finding it and walked past it then walked back a few seconds later. I would also like to note I have not ever gotten seven pennies in a week. When I get a penny, it is maybe once a month when I am really blessed. But like I said, I receive these pennies on spiritual highs, and this was just that. Penny number seven lived inside a Walmart in Dickinson, North Dakota. When I got back to Dickinson, I didn’t go home. I went to the doctor with a friend, I took her home and then I went to Walmart. I was processing my feelings and trying to figure out how this was the right place to b; back in the United States. And just as I was in my head, I was not paying attention and then looked down at the piece of trash I stepped on. As usual, I picked it up to throw it away and a penny laid below it right inside the front doors of Walmart. I walked right past it, threw the garbage away and realized that penny is meant for me and I needed to get over my anger. Therefore, I walked back to pick it up and of course it was heads up. I grabbed it and brought my head into focus so I could grab the essentials I needed to go home. 

These pennies are not something to idolize, it is just one of many ways I talk to God. I do not save these, in fact when I get a half jar full, I go to a popular destination and lay them heads up to help the angels with their work. I should not save these. They are not mine to have, they are Papa G’s. These pennies are simply a way for me to hear His words of affirmation. Though I do not need it, these beautiful priceless pennies show me a physical sign of Him. As many people love the footprints in the sand story, I love the pennies from heaven story. It reminds me that I am not alone, I am His child and He will provide to me. In times like today, that is what we all could use, a penny on the ground from an angel. A near to worthless penny, laying on the ground to show us that we have been, are, and always will be children of God. A penny to show us God has not and will not leave. A simple penny to explain how He takes delight in our joyous actions. A priceless penny to tell us He stands with us and He is for us. A penny from a divine place to tell us He has this under control. A penny from Heaven.

In Christ,

Alex Ann