A Saturday of Service

What an amazing gift to be a part of God's plan and see it through from the first seed to fruition!

Our church conducted our first Operation Inasmuch this past weekend, a local feet-on-the-ground mission trip.  We literally served in the backyard and surrounding neighborhoods from our campus.

Here's a quick video that gives a snapshot of what the day was like.  So good!

When a small group from our church sent a mission team to a similar project in Nashville last summer, we had no idea what God would have in store for us.  Looking back, I can see this past weekend was His plan all along!

Our family was deeply impacted in Nashville, having our eyes opened to the refugees that live two short hours from us.  Coming home, we realized that we could duplicate a mission of service here.

I began praying for direction of exactly how our church would be on mission in our own backyard.  A few weeks later a small postcard showed up in my mailbox.  It was a call to action to learn more about Operation Inasmuch.  And from that God's plan was born.

It was an honor to watch the progress from prayerful planning stages to final details.

Saturday, sitting in the circle of an army of volunteers I had to choke back tears.  I flitted about to various projects, taking photos, but mostly soaking up the view of watching His hands and feet in action.  From prayer walks, to lunch preparations, to nursing home visits, to chats with individuals awaiting free oil changes, they were all precious sights to see.  And even better was watching our teens roll up their sleeves and take part.  Both were eager and excited to serve.

Over 100 volunteers, countless lives touched, and a church on fire for missions.  What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday!

If you would like to learn more about Operation Inasmuch just click the link!  





Linked with #DancewithJesus

Faithful Friday: Freedom

For seven days last week, the kids were soaked in the Gospel.

From youth camp to our mission trip, they were knee deep in devotions and in being the hands of feet of Christ.   I'd like to say that is how we live every single day but the truth is, life often gets in the way.  Which is why I'm thankful for opportunities like these for the kids to fully disconnect -and reconnect to God.

God spoke to both at different points last week and weights were lifted from their young hearts.  One I heard about upon their return from camp, one I was blessed enough to witness.  For both of them, they had breakthroughs and this momma heart was rejoicing...tears included!

Oh, the freedom that comes from knowing our Savior!

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
(Star Spangled Banner)

Noah, my somewhat stubborn reader, found messages within God's word.  He soaked up the lessons in their group devotions.

Arriving home, he eagerly showed me his Bible, scriptures underlined and his own notes written in the margin.  Above all, he shared an important moment he had while there and a conversation he had with his youth leader.  With misty eyes, we hugged and I sent up prayers of thankfulness for him having this opportunity, for God using camp to reach him, and for Noah having such wonderful role models to lean on.

Going into the mission trip was the perfect bookend for him.  With each ping of the hammer, he was filled with a passion for helping refugees entering our nation.  God ignited a spark within him and I can't wait to see how he'll use him in the future.


For Tina, I was prayerfully concerned about her on our mission trip.  By luck of the draw, she was put into a group without any of our church members.  Worried, she would be too shy and upset to enjoy the weekend, I asked if she wanted me to request a change.  Without pause, she said that God placed her in this group for a reason and she would do it for Him.

And use her, He did!

Tina's group visited a refugee neighborhood and did a Backyard Bible Club.  She was able to hand out shoes and clothes, play with the kids, and even visit a Sikh temple.  It was eye-opening for her!  So many moments touched her and through the lens of her phone camera, she captured some of the best photos from our trip.

   

But perhaps the photo that speaks the most to us, was the one I quickly snapped of a surprise moment at the end of our day.  As our groups combined to share testimony, mouths dropped when our timid little girl asked for the microphone.

With a brave small voice, she shared her favorite experiences of the day.

She watched God move through her and the lost and it forever changed her.

Later she shared what an urgency she had to tell the story and what freedom came afterwards.

On this day, our nation's birthday,

a day we celebrate our freedoms and independence...

I can't help but feel blessed to know both these kids know the true sense of those words.

One nation under God...

one family filled with His Spirit!

Hands and Feet of Christ

Wow, God!

I think most of our group, being new to this type of mission work, entered the weekend with a little anxiety and uncertainty.  For many, this was way out of their comfort zones.  For some, they tiptoed into it, unsure of the outcome but excited to see what God had in store.

As always, God didn't disappoint.  All the time, God is good.

Saturday night, waiting for our kids to come out of the gym from playing basketball, a bit of free time after a long day of mission work, I broke down in joyful tears.

For each of us, this trip was such a milestone - spiritual breakthroughs -to think of where we've been to this place, being used by God to reach the lost...it was just almost more than I could fathom.  The fullness of the moment was too much.  I sobbed in prayerful gratitude.

Humbled.  Exhausted, but in a good-tired kind of way.  Surprised.  Joy-filled.

We came on this trip to help others but were blessed tenfold for our service.

It would take me pages upon pages to speak for everyone, so many moments I could share from past 48 hours.  Today, I'll just tell the story from what I experienced...at least as much as one post can allow.

God opened my eyes more in eight hours than a lifetime before.

He broke my heart for the lost on this trip.

I am forever changed.

My Saturday began doing a prayer walk in a refugee complex where many first stay upon arriving to Nashville.  What impacted me from the start was how the homes and places we visited looked so very normal and ordinary from the outside.  At first glance, I would not know or guess that nations from across the seas now lived within these walls.  But upon opening their doorways, I peered into other worlds.

I tried to picture myself in their situations, slowly walking past each breezeway.  Voices in languages I couldn't understand.  Scents and sounds that were foreign to me.  All the while, the bustling and busyness of city life swirled all around, cars zooming in the streets that circled these apartments.

Could I leave the home I've always known, the comfort of my small town where I can tell by the bend and curve of the road where I am, even with my eyes closed?  Could I fly into an unknown area, where I don't speak the language or know the streets, with nothing to claim as my own?  Could I start life over in a town I'd never heard?  Could I leave everyone I've ever loved for the chance to start anew?

Lost in a new world...

It was unimaginable to me, these brave souls with dark brown eyes, standing on American soil in their bare feet, our flag hanging from some of their balconies.  Unimaginable yet beautiful.  But also heartbreaking.

Because I knew many of them were lost in the worst way.  Lost in the sense that no amount of worldly help or direction can lead them.  Searching for hope and not yet realizing it is within their reach and free.  The price has already been paid by The name above all others.

In the hallways of this complex I prayed for these souls.  That among the fresh start they are beginning, they would find new life in Jesus.  When I came upon tiny chairs, or toys tossed on the back porch, I paused for the littlest of souls in hope that they might grow up to know the One who would never leave them, no matter where their feet may journey.

Later in the day we handed out light bulbs to a Burmese housing complex.  We were told from our group leader that many, upon coming to our country, don't even know what light is.  Some have to be shown the simple act of flipping a switch to get light in a room.  And most don't realize that when the light burns out, they can simply replace it with a new bulb.


When those timid but smiling faces answered their doors, their rooms were often dark and the symbolism made my heart ache.

Living in a world of darkness when the One true source of light was just a prayer away.

In a universal language we smiled back and shared the love of Jesus.  There's so much more I want to tell you, friends.  Moments that are forever etched within me that I need to put into words.  For now, I'll thank you for the prayers you said for us on this trip.  They made an impact more than you may ever realize.

Faithful Friday: Let it Start with Me

Will you spend some time praying for us this weekend?

This Faithful Friday post will be short and sweet, as we are headed to Nashville for our first international family mission trip.

When I say this, some people pause...waiting for me to share where we are going after boarding a plane in Nashville.  But we aren't flying anywhere, just driving the few short hours it takes to get to Music City from our home.

Yet, within those city walls 

we'll have an opportunity to reach the world.

To date, there are over 100 different people groups living in Nashville - from all parts of this Earth.  And through groups such as, No Other Name, churches like ours can partner for short term mission trips and help with World Relief.

My husband and son will be working on a construction crew, niece at a Kids Club, and I will be going on prayer walks in various international neighborhoods.  No matter our role this weekend, we'll all be the hands and feet of Christ.  And I cannot wait!

We feel very blessed to go on this trip and 

have no doubt God has wonderful things in store.  

Please pray for our safety as we travel and for 

the hearts of those we meet to be open to the message.

Even though Nashville isn't far from home, we'll still have great reach across the world, 

but we must remember that the mission field starts in our own backyard.  

You don't have to board a plane, or even get in your car, 

to make a difference and share the good news with others!