October 2012 Update

BEAUTIFUL FEET

Soo much has changed just since my last newsletter. In fact pretty much the moment I sent it out my timeline completely shifted. As many of you know I was originally planning on waiting until January to quit my job with Sherwin Williams, but after some prayer and fasting I strongly felt like I was supposed to quit as soon as I was living on the base because the work that I would be doing would be full time work. So I gave a 3 week notice to my boss and before I knew it, it was September 7^th . (note: I quit with the full knowledge that I would have to completely rely on God to provide my every need, which is where we should always be.)

It was the first week of being officially in full-time missions again, and I knew when I quit my job that I was going to journey up to Tennessee for a little more than a week to hopefully get to meet with friends and family to start building my support team. I was soo nervous for this trip as finances were in the forefront of my mind. When in a quiet time one morning I felt like God spoke “give me room.” Of course I assumed that was in regards to my finances, but found out quickly it was in every facet of my life. I drove to TN in faith that I would be able to even get back to Florida because I knew driving up I was supposed to leave my car with my sister so she’d have a way to pursue whatever it is she needs to do. Well, God provided the exact finances I needed to fly back to Jacksonville, pay my rent and other bills at the beginning of the month. I have a deeper understanding why Jesus prayed “give us this day our daily bread.”

Since I’ve been back in Florida I have jumped in feet first. The students of the discipleship training school started arriving the day after me and I have started mentoring 5 amazingly wonderful girls. All of which grown in ways that they never even thought was possible in just a short two and a half weeks. Another amazing thing that happened since being back was I got to lead a homeless man to the Lord that I had met the first week I was down here in Florida in April. It’s not every day we get to see the fruits of seeds that we helped plant. My desire is to be available for God to use, no matter how that looks. Truthfully, I have soo many stories already just since returning and I am so excited to partner with God in what he’s doing here in Jax Beach.

A few prayer requests: I had to go to the hospital because I severely sprained my ankle. I have been on crutches for almost 2 weeks, and it’s been a slow process to get full flexibility of my ankle back, but we all know a hospital visit also means hospital bills since I do not have health insurance.

Lastly my previous newsletter I sent out was just the beginning of my support raising journey. I am not even at a tenth of what I need. So to be fully vulnerable I am asking you to pray in regards to how you could financially partner with me.

In His Grip!!

Below picture is the Fall 2012 DTS and Staff

Who's your Rodney?

I am writing this wish soo much excitement in my spirit! Let me share a 4 month journey and what I got to experience tonight by the grace of Jesus. Let me back up first. And I'm pretty sure a blog a few months back touches on the very beginning of this story.

On a Monday, 4 months ago, I had only been in Jacksonville Beach for 2 months. (trying to find how to tell this story) I was at the YWAM Base with Sarah and Michael Young for dinner and sadly it was a meal that I couldn't eat. So I decided to go to a caribbean restaurant called Blue Water because they normally would have half price appetizers. It was a really rainy day and on my way to the restaurant there were a lot of homeless people sitting under the balcony of the music venue Free Bird to keep dry. I just kind of kept walking and didn't glance at them, but when I arrived at the restaurant sadly they weren't open. So as I was walking back one of the guys (Rodney) yelled out to me "Hey can you help me?" I was completely closed off at first, but still willing to listen to what he was gonna ask for, yet expecting it to be for money. Then all he asked for was pain reliever because his legs had really bad cellulitis. I responded with, "of course, but I don't have any on me, let me go get you some." I returned to the base and Apps McNorton was there and he had some I could take to him, but I asked Apps to come with me because just to be safe. We gave him the pain reliever and were just really willing to listen to all that he wanted to share. We also made friends with a gentleman named Cherokee who we also got to know (I'm still going to be interceding on his behalf). After some time of listening and sharing God was finally opening a door to present the gospel, then we were interrupted by 4 cops pulling up to make the leave the area. It was horrible, Apps and I knew we could just walk away, so we had to witness the cruelty of those cops, literally treating these people, who are already in a place of hopelessness, worse than animals. After they all left my heart was soo broken for them. I realized that we need to take time to invest in those that are the unapproachables (yes I made up that word). Until today I had only saw Rodney one time since that day. Which brings me to this amazing day!

While sitting in the dining hall of our base talking with a student, by the name of Danny, and Rodney walked by. He saw me, then walked in a door, let me point out, that is normally locked. He pointed at us and said "you are good people." He walked in and sat down and started chatting, after I mentioned I hadn't seen him in the area for a while. I started bringing back the conversations we had had in our prior meeting. He mentioned that he was just "forced" to leave an area again, and all he wanted to do was listen to the music. So I asked him if we could sing him a song. So he was very open to it. (little did I know there was another student, Gigi, sitting behind me who had just stepped out the night before and spoke life into Rodney). On to the story... we sang a song, and Danny just basically sang out a prayer over him, and I back up with some harmonies. When we stopped Rodney looked at me and said your voice hits my heart, can you sing me another song. So that's what we did, and again in the process I just sang out prayer over him, praying for God to reveal His heart to him. When I opened my eyes, Rodney was in tears. It was the last thing I expected. God was moving in his heart and at the moment he had no idea. Gigi then asked him if he had kids. Rodney said no at first, then pretty quickly said he wanted to be honest that he had 2 daughtes. Gigi then shared with him that she saw and image of him and his wife and 2 daughters on the beach and His family was restored. Which opened the door to share more of God's love with him. After some time (there are a lot of details i'm going to leave out) he asked for one more song, and he made sure to point out again that he wanted me to sing (which is really humbling). So I sang, and just was praying that the words would strike his heart. And I saw it! The moment had come, between Danny, Gigi, and I speaking the words that the Lord lead us to say, Rodney surrendered fully to God. It was soo beautiful!!!! In his utter brokenness HE CRIED OUT!! It was so true.

What would have happened if I 4 months ago had just ignored Rodney's cry for help? What would have happened if Apps and I hadn't really taken time out to listen to Rodney? What would have happened if Danny, Gigi and I hadn't been sitting in that cafe? What I'm trying to get at it that everything in our lives has a direct effect on the eternity of those around us. When I first got here I don't know if I would have had the confidence to even speak to Rodney, but through God bringing redemption into my life, I was able to be there in the moment someone else needed help. And tonight I got to witness God bring fullness to a broken man by the name of Rodney. So my question to you, who's your Rodney? Are you willing to fill the need that he has?

Please continue interceding on behalf of Rodney! He is supposed to come back to the base next Monday for our community night. Pray that we continue to get opportunities to disciple and pour into him. Pray that Rodney finds a job, receives healing physically and from his addictions, and that God does redeem his family. Thank you for taking time to read about my new brother in Christ's story. Blessing to you and your Rodney!