WeWillGo '12 Day 4

Last year we sorted and organized clothes in the clothes closet. This year we helped neighbors find clothes. Last year we organized the food pantry. This year we gave neighbors bags of that food. In both instances, we had the privilege of praying with and loving on these precious folks...

We were so busy doing this all day, I didn't even stop to take photos til the end of the day.

I think the smiles say it all...

Girls hanging out at Love House

Saying goodbye to our new friends, Lindsey and Emily

WeWillGo '12 Days 2 & 3

Missionary Merideth May giving us instructions before Sunday service.

Prayer-walking in the neighborhood

We had the opportunity to pray with many neighbors along the way...

Narnia in Wintertime, but Aslan is on the move...

Dreaming and prophesying what will become of this property some day...

He will rebuild the ruins and devastation...

Worshipping with our WWG family

!!!

We made birthday cards for a sweet girl we met while prayer-walking. Her name is Alexis and she was 14. We prayed for her, then as we did the simple act of singing the happy birthday song to her, she dissolved into tears. It was one of the most touching things I've ever witnessed. Her "family" had used her birthday as an excuse to drink, but through our simple act of stopping for the one, she felt loved...

Meagan preached a wonderful message. We would have never guessed it was her first time!

Praying with summer intern Lindsey and missionary Roxanne

Praying with missionary Landrum (Married to Roxanne)

Cleaning up broken glass around playset

Weeding flower beds

Pam and David will be moving into this house some day to serve at WWG. We prayed and prophesied the kingdom come...

WeWillGo '12 Day 1

The Nest (my church) began the first day of our mission trip by setting up a swingset donated by Pat and her girls. 


When we were here last year, one of the jobs we did was clean up the lot next to the Lancaster's house. There was lots of broken glass and debris. Pat had a God encounter in this lot that left her forever changed. When we arrived and they showed us where they wanted the swingset, we couldn't believe it...it was the exact spot where God had given Pat such revelation of His love and calling...it was holy ground.

Pat standing on holy ground last year

Pat praying over swingset on that same spot this year

And as if that wasn't enough, God had to go and show off just a little by placing a bird's nest in the perfect spot just above the swingset!

Rain Down

Brooke and the WeWillGo team made it safely to Pemba, Mozambique! Thank You, JESUS!!
I am at my friend's house in Jackson, MS awaiting the arrival of a team from my church, coming to serve here at WWG over the next few days.
As I sat out on her back patio this morning watching and listening to the soothing sounds of the rain, I cried out to God to rain down His love and glory here in Jackson and there in Pemba. Times of refreshing, renewal, refilling...
Holy Spirit, as You rain down Your presence in our lives, let it flow through us to those You have called us to love and serve in Your name...loving The One and loving the one...

Almost There...

Brooke and the team sailed through checking luggage and security in Jackson and Atlanta. They have been flying all night, making their way to Johannesburg. Apparently there were no issues with the weight of their luggage. Praise Jesus!!
I want to be sure to thank God for the big things and the small things, because with God they're really ALL big things!!
At the Jackson airport, after driving around and around the parking garage, we finally found a spot near the back, but conveniently placed there was a luggage cart! Thanks, LORD!
Then on the flight from Jackson to Atlanta, the flight attendant gave Brooke a double portion of snacks, because she was wearing a Texas Rangers shirt!  ; )
Praying continued favor on this team for the rest of their journey.
Amy was quick to remind everyone yesterday that the mission trip begins now, not when they reach their destination. They are carriers of the glory of God...in the airports...on the planes...in the restaurants...in the bathrooms...in the hotel...in the tent...in the dirt...EVERYWHERE!
So yes, while they are almost THERE, THERE is not the mission...NOW is the mission!
NOW is when they love The One and love the one...

PRECIOUS CARGO

AMY GIVES LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE TEAM

PART OF THE TEAM (PLUS MY FRIEND'S KIDS!)

ONE LAST HUG FROM MOM BEFORE LEAVING

Equipped

Brooke is returning to Mozambique in 3 days.
Today we have been wrapping up and carefully packing a hodge podge of items for her to take to dearly loved missionaries serving there. 
One, an artist, teaches widows and abandoned women to make jewelry, which they sell to support themselves and their children...which means they don't have to sell themselves...
Jewelry-making requires the proper equipment...some of which seems strange, 'til you realize it is being used to cut coconuts and such. You see, the idea is to teach these precious women to utilize the natural resources so readily available to them for their benefit.
Another, a musician, loves to worship and lead others in worship with her special gifts. Her equipment? A violin. This particular violin already has a story, and now it will travel across the globe with Brooke, awaiting its next chapter (or song) to be written.
Still another missionary will be equipped with something very practical - comfy shoes for walking.
Brooke is taking equipment she will need herself...sleeping bag, clothes, toiletries, etc...
While all these material items are certainly useful for the tasks at hand, yesterday Brooke received the most important piece of equipment she will need...she was equipped spiritually with prayer and laying on of hands at both our church and at Iris Nashville. 
God has called each of these missionaries and He always, always equips the called.
Just as Brooke and I have prayed over each piece of equipment we have packed, and have prayed favor over the weight limit on the suitcase, trusting God to get it all there safely, we have prayed over Brooke, trusting God to get her where she needs to be safely.
Just as each piece serves a specific purpose, God has called Brooke to specific purposes on this trip, and for each purpose, He has equipped her. Her most important piece of equipment? She has been clothed with Holy Spirit power! She has received power when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she will go and tell all about Him in Franklin, in Tennessee, in Mozambique, and all around the world!
Loving The One Who equips the called and loving the ones to whom she is called...

I Want to See You...

This morning at church we sang the song Open the Eyes of My Heart...
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing Holy Holy Holy...
We have a little girl with Downs Syndrome who goes to our church. She loves to worship! And she loves this song in particular. From the first note, she recognized it and excitedly shouted out "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord!" She moved to the center of the room and sang every word of this song at the top of her lungs, occasionally pausing to shout for us to open our eyes!
Usually when I worship, I keep my eyes closed, but for some reason I opened them just as I sang the words "I want to see You".  As soon as I opened them, Natalie looked at me. For a brief moment her eyes were locked with my eyes and I thought, "Here I am singing 'I want to see You' and I AM seeing You, Lord! I am seeing You in the eyes of the least of these...I am seeing You in her pure heart...I am seeing You in the way she worships with abandon...
Natalie is a special girl. Sometimes at church while we are worshiping, she will walk around the room, going from person to person, touching each one, whispering a word or two to each one. I get so excited when I see her coming my way, because I know I'm about to receive a touch from Jesus Himself! 
You should see her minister when we go to the nursing home for our monthly visit after church. She gives love so freely and gently to each person there. And if ever she can't come for some reason, she is deeply missed! Each resident wants to know where the little red-headed girl is!
Natalie is such a beautiful example of Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
She is pure in heart.
She sees God.
She loves The One.
She loves the one.
And I have seen Jesus in her eyes.