This morning we all split into teams for service projects. There were two homes in need of significant improvement here in town, both of whose residents have no ability to make the repairs on their own due to physical and financial reasons. One resident was an elderly woman whom nearly everyone in town knows and adores. The other was a man who was very skeptical and hesitant to accept help at first but his whole demeanor changed over the course of the day as he realized that we truly just wanted to serve him. At first he only cracked his door open to answer questions but he was smiling and laughing with us all by the end of the morning! We pray that the impact we were able to make will affect not only them, but the whole community as people drive by, see the change and question why others would give and do so much.
In the evening we were able to experience the carnival for the first time. There were people and games everywhere! It was a total blast and a total hit! Everybody that came through was able to hear the gospel at least once and a few even decided to give their lives to Christ! During our debrief time afterward, we asked our students what they thought God saw as he watched everything going on. One answered “I think these people have waited a long time to feel loved like this.” All of the communities we will be traveling to have the same story; one of people crying out on the inside to be seen, heard and loved. A story of dying churches in desperate need or revival in order to survive. Please join us in praying that God would send out workers into the fields after us to continue the work that has been started. We know that He is faithful and the Bible promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, are blessed and will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
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Today team 1 started traveling and walked about 6 miles carrying crosses from Enid to Wakomis! We began to feel the discomfort of the Oklahoma heat and weight of the lumber. It was a humbling reminder of everything Jesus went through to demonstrate just how much he loves us, so that anyone who believes in Him can have eternal life. Police escorted us the entire time ensuring safety, and as we walked we also prayed over the city on loud speakers and waved at every car driving by. Several waved back and we are grateful to share that we were very well received! Once arriving in Waukomis we continued to walk door to door handing out hamburgers to everyone and shared that they are not forgotten but seen and loved by God! Because a very generous sponsor decided to donate shoes to every single child (0-18) in the town, we were also able to gather their names and shoe sizes so that we can gift them tomorrow evening at a carnival! Please join us in praying for strength as we do service projects at several homes tomorrow morning, for God to draw people to the carnival to hear, for them to be receptive to the Good News that we have come to share and for lives to be changed forever all for His glory! We are so glad to share that Team 1 has arrived in Enid safely and are now resting up for our adventure ahead tomorrow!
After goodbyes were said everyone spent time at orientation learning more about what to expect, the role of the Holy Spirit and the importance of having a regular quiet time and how to journal what God is doing. We also began training on some of the tools that we will be using for ministry, worshipped Jesus together and had a wonderful time of Surrender, deciding from the start to be “ready for anything”! When we arrived we took a short tour of Forgotten Ministries’ Mercy House where we are staying for the evening and practiced sharing our personal testimonies during small group time before heading to bed. Each and every student was so brave in proclaiming how Jesus has changed their lives! We know that God has given them a unique story to tell and that He has already people planned to share the hope that we have in Him with!We are excited about what God is already doing here, ready to start ministry tomorrow and most of all we are expecting God to move in mighty ways! As we begin the first leg of our journey beginning to walk tomorrow will you join us in praying for; divine encounters, lives to be transformed, and continued health. Awe Star Staff |