Yesterday was a full day of ministry! At 11:15pm last night the day’s needs ended. Physically exhausted but spiritually exhilarated, I collapsed on my air mattress for my night’s rest! Oh, to be a people so passionate about God, so filled with His radical love that we would be a changed people. God showed up yesterday…we are a changed people.
Work projects kick-off the day. We scraped, painted, cleaned, and canvassed neighborhoods. We had lunch together then headed out for children’s ministries. One site is a church struggling to stay alive. Our students reached out to the neighborhood families to provide a loving, Christ-centered place for the children. The other site, a park, offered its own challenges: some very needy kids, large open field, an afternoon storm. Our students played sports, made crafts and shared the gospel through a skit. They learned names and stories of the kids. It was a sensory-filled afternoon!
Following a delicious dinner, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully through the evening’s debrief. We shared how we saw the Lord at work… He spoke love through our students to the children, He reached out a helping hand to the pastor and others thru our work projects, He touched team members thru encouraging words by other team members, and sooo much more. We then worshipped together and heard a message from Marcus, our short-term missions facilitator about sin and stuff in our lives that hinders our abilities to minister. He shared his testimony of broken and forgiveness. He presented the opportunity for us to lay our hidden burdens done.
The Holy Spirit moved in many students lives of our mission team. In awe, I listened to and prayed with several students…as did each of our adult leaders. So powerful! Honesty, some tears, repentance, and renewal followed in raw conversations and more prayer. I am deeply humbled when I can experience God and be used by Him to bring healing.
(June 2010)
