Ministering to the Ministers today

Good morning!  We woke well rested this morning, to the sound of kids playing and singing at the Vacation Bible School at our host church haven. 
Last night we led the dinner chapel service at the New Orleans Rescue Mission, where about 150 men and women overnight guests were gathered.  It went awesome!
Each of us connected with the dear souls gathered.  Karen went first and as began to share about hope, she put her paper down and just let the message come out! Richard shared the hope he has found, having once been homeless himself.  We wove in some Scriptural encouragement and perspective.
God wastes nothing!  All our tough times can become connecting points to minister to others in the same situations.  When we, with God's help, start breaking free, that testimony can give powerful evidence of desperately needed hope.  2 Cor 5:14-20= "¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."
Chapel lasts one hour and that seemed to go by in just a few minutes!
Thank you, prayer warriors, for praying us through!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests for Today:

Richard:  Prayer request for Ray, his dear friend back in Delevan recuperating from surgery, has had a mild stroke and a problem with blood clots in the hospital.  The hospital staff have caught each complication.  Praise report from yesterday: "I thank God for having me here to encourage and help others in the strength of the Lord. I'm probably going to say that every day from now on."

Karen: Prayer request that the Lord give us discernment on which project(s) we are to work on in ministering to Hy & Libba (our main ministry partners since 2003) today.  Praise God that we are able to have the time today to work with Hy & Libba!@

Wes:  Prayer request for spiritual insight and wisdom to best encourage and strengthen our dear, dear friends.  Praise report:  Praise God that Karen had God's strength and confidence during chapel to put down her script and speak with the Spirit's leading!  Richard was a complete natural wherever we go, but specially at the Rescue Mission.  His phenomenal one-on-one skills and talents were on full power last night.  In fact, we couldn't find him he was at one moment with someone inside, then outside.  You should see the glow in both their eyes!

Tonight's Ministry - New Orleans Rescue Mission Chapel Service

We've seen the large number of people checking out our mission blog and we say, "God bless you!"  Tonight's ministry is doing the chapel service before dinner.  Karen, Richard and I have been preparing today for the service (as well as firming up lots of things for the rest of the mission.)
Please pray that the Holy Spirit anoints each of us as we share testimonies and God's Word.  Also, please pray that the love of God fills us and those we will minister to.

The main theme we plan to share tonight is HOPE!

"One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as 'those evil people' or 'those poor people who need our help.' Nor must we search for signs of 'love worthiness.' Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are."  Philip Yancey

Good morning!

Life down here is slower and we're trying hard to do that.  Just kidding! We're taking things easy waking up and going with the flow.  Almost all our scheduled ministries for the trip are at night.

Prayer Requests
Richard - "for more compassion everywhere, even for me", for friend Ray who had surgery yesterday. To make a difference here in New Orleans.
Karen - God's healing for Mr. Hy (bad bronchitis) and for Jeff Intersoll through Tres Dias who got sick on mission in Africa and is now back home sick.
Wes - For God's protection on my family back home.   For the team to catch the Divine appointments
God sets up for us.

Praise report from Karen - That He is working in me.  I am seeing that these children work in different ways then I am used to . I just handle things as I am used to, God is at work, teaching me how I need to change and adapt!
Praise report from Richard - So grateful to be here. Please pray I give what I'm supposed to be and get what God wants me to have.  All for His glory!
Praise report from Wes - SO good to be back here and reconnecting with dear friends and ministry partners.
Praise Report from Traechelle - I thank God for Richard - even though it's his first mission trip, he jumped right in and helped people of different generations. He was wonderful with each person!

We're on the Mission Field!

Karen came early to town this past Sunday - that's the eager attitude to have!  Richard and Wes flew into town this afternoon and headed right to our main ministry partners, Hy & Libba McEnery's home and ministry center.

When Wes and Richard arrived, kids and adults (maybe 20 or so in all)were already there waiting for our arrival.  Karen worked a craft with the kids before dinner. After a delicious meal including crawfish pasta, Karen and Miss Libba took the kids into another room for Bible Study while Wes took the adults for one of the best interactive studies he's seen in years! The adults asked if we could do another night like this before we have to head home.

Prayer Requests:  Hy McEnery has severe bronchitis and is in great need of healing.  The team asks prayers for discernment on the many divine appointments that God has for us each and every day!

Coming Next:  We will work tomorrow morning on crafting a one hour chapel service that we will lead Thursday night before dinner at the New Orleans Rescue Center.  Please pray the Spirit will give us insights and inspiration for this crucial ministry.

Our Tentative Mission Schedule

Changes will occur as we follow the Spirit's direction and adapt to the needs of those we serve!
Here are some known ministries:

June 28 - Wes and Richard arrive in New Orleans.  Karen will have been there since Sunday.
June 29 - New Orleans Rescue Mission Dinner Chapel service.
July 1 - Desperate Reality Outreach 10pm-Midnight.  More at http://www.desperatereality.com
July 2 - Food outreach for the homeless at Ozanam Inn.
July 3 - Pre-event evening rally and prayer service for Feed the Multitudes.
July 4 - All Day outreach at Feed the Multitudes! More at http://www.victoryfellowship.net/ministries/10/about-feed-multitudes
July 6 - Flights home.  We are bringing Traechelle Carr back with us!  Traechelle has joined with our mission team ever since we met her in 2003!  Traechelle will be staying in our area till July 8th!