CONTRASTS
Wednesday
This day was a day of stark contrasts:
Abundance, poverty; opulence, decay; contentment, desperation; new,
old; hopeful, hopeless; full, hungry; sinner, saint; rested,
exhausted.
And it all began as we left the most beautiful resort in
Biloxi while “Who Are You” by The Who played overhead in the
parking garage as we made our way out to Gulfport to pray over a
business full of women. Our hostess lead the way from the resort
strip to more and more desperate areas. Empty lots littered the
landscape like gaping holes in a gleaming mouth, giving way to more
and more neglect and disrepair, tall grass and a general aching in
the air.
The team did what we do best: loving
and caring for the women who were open to our prayers and giving them
a listening ear. We surrounded Rebecca as we ministered to her needs.
A later report indicated that something lifted for her
which is a miracle in her case. We continue to trust God over her for
a complete and perfect work. We prayed for her son as well after I
heard the word, “son.” Indeed, she only had one son, a good son,
and we prayed for him, too. These prayers were only the beginning to
what would turn out to become a very long, fulfilling, rewarding and
exhausting day.
Irene was next.
I felt like a horse behind the starting
gate, muscles ready to spring into action, quaking at the thought of
being able to let lose and run free. Urgent. Urgent! Oh how
difficult it is for me to just rest and be in the moment when I do
not know what to expect, when I don't know what the plan is ahead of
time, when there are so many needs, when I want to get to the point,
and go on to the next and the next and the next. Check. Check. Check.
These are people not empty boxes ready to be checked off. Connect.
Casual. Connect deeper. “You are eager, aren't you?” Ilene
stated. Giggles from everyone ensued.
Tears flowed from all of us as pointed
scriptures, read by Missy and Mary, pierced our hearts making their
mark. Abba, Father. Daddy loves us so well.
We went on to the Feed My Sheep
Ministry in Gulfport, who had plenty of volunteers to feed the
hungry. We were given permission to minister to those outside, (as
long as we did not give anyone any money or rides) where we prayed
for a woman with tattered feet, weathered face and a friendly
demeanor. She in turn prayed for us. She was in a hurry to join her
friends on bicycles.
No one was at the Battered Women's
Shelter due to a communication glitch. But it was well. We all felt a
sense of urgency to get to New Orleans while we were still in the
office building earlier.
New Orleans. WOW. We determined to go
to The French Quarter. I felt like a tourist and grew impatient.
When
will we get to minister? When will we get to pray for somebody?
Casual. Connect. Natural. Be still. God will open something up and
that He did! At first, the area was saturated in a heaving heaviness,
like a sigh that's ready to be let out but never gets past the lips.
As we walked the streets, things lifted. The atmosphere was slowly
changing from dark to dawn.
In front of a bar called Krazy Korner, a
huge man with his name tattooed to the underside of his chin and
neck, Big Tiny, quipped about my bottle of water. “You're not gonna
have any fun drinking water.” “I carry the party inside,” I
grinned back. Open door. We began to engage Big Tiny in conversation,
found out his story and spoke into his life. He is a good man and
needed reminded of it. He was clearly touched as tears welled in his
eyes. We prayed for him and blessed him and he posed for photos. He
pulled me into his sweat saturated shirt and held me tightly as
everyone snapped away. Missy was glad he did not hug her. This was
getting fun despite our initial trepidation about ministering in New
Orleans.
Big Tiny, a homeless woman named Donna,
a street musician, and a cafe waiter named Hezekiah, were all
appointed by God for us to love, serve and pray for. Just as it was
approaching dusk, we left and trailed through the city looking for
an open Starbucks and were awestruck at the beauty and contrasts in
New Orleans. Old, new, rich, poor, quaint, open, well maintained,
neglected. From trepidation to confidence, we all felt a deep
connection to New Orleans and knew we had to come back again and
spend more than one day next time through.
We left the city as dark dropped over
the landscape and made our way down Route 10 west bound toward
Houston. We traveled for a couple hours before stopping for dinner
after 9 PM, then got back on the road to our last minute arranged
hotel another hour and a half away. We arrived exhausted at 1 AM. I
immediately dropped into bed, oblivious to the activity around me as
everyone else showered.
Today we are heading to Houston.
Denise, here we come!
