Little Axe, OK

I am piecing together a little bit of background information on Little Axe, OK since there is no census information on Little Axe apart from Cleveland County. Named after a Shawnee Indian chief, Little Axe has (or had) about 1258 students pre-K through 12th grade five years ago. According to  www.littleaxeokhomestead.com,

"The land was settled in 1886 by the Big Jim Band of the Shawnee. They came to the area when the government tried to force the Shawnee Indians to settle in an area given to them in Pottawatomie County. The Big Jim Band resisted and came to the area eventually known as the Little Axe Community.

                           image from http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.4386


The area where the [original] Little Axe Community was located is the area where Lake Thunderbird was mapped, in the early 1960s. With the creation of Lake Thunderbird, the old community of Little Axe was destroyed." 

'New' Little Axe was destroyed again in the tornados of 2013. We all know about the tornado that hit Moore, OK. Little Axe got very little news coverage. Hundreds of homes were destroyed. Many of them were uninsurable older trailer homes. Hundreds of good people, working class people, family- driven people were effected and forced to live in tents. God's Girls was encouraged to go to Little Axe to help during our mission trip last year. One year later, many are still waiting to rebuild.

We will be in Little Axe, OK Tuesday, July 29th, SOZO Tour 2014.

Pray for the people we will be guided to serve. May we bring encouragement, God's love and gifts of mercy, gifts of healings and words of hope. God direct our steps to the people you want us to minister to. May we have an impact that lasts through eternity, that can never be flooded out, overtaken or wiped out.

 Love ya,
Carol

Joplin, MO

Of all the cities we are scheduled to visit on the SOZO Tour 2014, Joplin, MO is the one I am most eager to reach. Last year, my friend, Alita, gathered  a group of women together to hear God's Word from us. Since we left, she has been pleading with us to come back.

Once again, Alita is gathering a group of women into her new home, which is located in Joplin. They want to hear about SOZO healing body, soul and spirit. I will be introducing The Elephant in the Room class for them, which will be augmented by the rest of the team.

 

Joplin has an interesting history. She was established by a Methodist preacher on one side of the valley. Another man established a city on the other side of the valley. They joined together in Union City but was this was determined to be an illegal merger. The two cities merged again later and was named Joplin City. Lead and zinc were discovered in Joplin around the Civil War time and became quite prosperous mining them. Mines still litter the landscape. Joplin has a large waterfall and has 1000 acre park, and multiple streams.

Joplin was hit by a EF-5 tornado in 2011 and 1/3 of the town was destroyed, including the high school and a major hospital, which was knocked 8 inches off its foundation. Joplin's name means The Afflicted based off the meaning "son of Job." If you know the story, Job was a very wealthy man who loved God and hated evil. He sacrificed continually before God just in case his kids were sinning. Job lost everything, including his children in a series of afflictions that was initiated by his own fear.  God allowed the adversary to tempt him. But through all the loss, Job never once cursed God. In the end, when Job prayed for his friends, his affliction turned and God restored double to Job everything he lost, with the exception of his children. And his subsequently born daughters inherited a share of their father's estate after he died which was normally only given to male children.

I am praying for the restoration of Joplin, instead of the afflictions, I pray inheritance. I pray for the people of Joplin to receive an inheritance in Christ. I pray for the people to dig deep, to mine the treasure of God's Word. I speak restoration, rebuilding and inheritance in the Lord. I speak wholeness over Joplin's people. I pray that her foundation of salvation in Christ would be rock solid, unshakable, unmovable and abounding. I pray the center of the Four State Area would light the way for the same kind of restoration in the states surrounding her. I decree and declare Joplin a unified city, a strong city founded upon the Rock, Christ Jesus and her people free, whole and prosperous in His name.

I pray for the women that Alita is gathering together will be forever changed and transformed by what God will do through us in Joplin. I pray for SOZO wholeness for each one.

Love ya,

Carol

 

St. Louis Another Gateway

I am beginning to see a pattern emerge regarding the cities God's Girls Mission is called to enter during SOZO Tour 2014. So far, these cities all have nicknames about gateways, pathways, or openings and prosperity. St. Louis is no exception to this pattern.

• Charleston: Canoe Way, or Transportation Way; 

• Dayton: Gem City;  Best city for college grads to get employment (employment openings, path way to a new careers);

• Bloomington: Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana;  

• St. Louis: Gateway to the West. Plus she is a major shipping port on two major rivers.
  
  St. Louis was the starting and ending point for the greatest westward exploration expedition in American history: The Lewis and Clark Expedition.

I see a pattern that mimic's what God is doing here in our own home town. God's Girls Ministry owns The Circuit, which is a beautiful restaurant, art gallery, gathering place and wi-fi cafe in Newport News (New Port News), Virginia. We are a gateway to the unchurched to lead the seeking to Jesus Christ.

I am eager to travel this city circuit from one gateway to another, seeking those God puts before us to encourage, love and minister to. I will be looking for gems all along the way, and the special people God is calling to grow and bloom for Him.

Please pray for St. Louis and the people God will point out to us there. May we lead them through the new port into God's love, grace and wholeness, through the only way, the only gateway to God: the man Christ Jesus the Lord.

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE.
NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
--The Gospel of John 14:6

Love ya,
Carol

PS Still need $400 more for the trip.
Please donate here:

BLOOMINGTON, IN

 

Bloomington is home to about 80,000 residents, and half of these are college students.

Can you imagine that for a moment?

Do you think many of these young adults bring Jesus with them to their college campus? Do you think many find Jesus there? Do you think this town is a huge opportunity for  ministries of Christ to go and to be love, demonstrate Love, and be an encouragement to these young people?

Bloomington is known as the Gateway to Scenic South Indiana. It is ranked number 1 in many different categories (a list follows below) and it was named Bloomington by the original settlers who were so impressed by the haven of blooms present! 

This is a town of contrasts: rich, poor, young, old, employed, unemployed, and 

educated, uneducated, clean and drug/alcohol addicted.... (see the 2nd #1 listing below)

I am praying for a spirit of unity there, of continued blossoming and prosperity in all sectors, and manifestation of complete wholeness for the people, in body, soul and spirit. I pray for freedom from drug and alcohol addictions, for the deliverance in Christ that satisfies, for His love is better than wine. I pray for God's Girls Ministry's very first intern, Debbie, who is serving her family there, for getting refreshed in the Lord, for encouragement and for all her needs to be met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


Here is that list I was talking about.

• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: Community and social services occupations: (population 50,000+)"
• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the largest percentage of people in hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (population 50,000+)"
• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: Life, physical, and social science occupations: (population 50,000+)"
• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: Community and social services occupations: (population 50,000+)"
• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the largest percentage of people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (population 50,000+)"
• #1 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: Life, physical, and social science occupations: (population 50,000+)"
• #2 on the list of "Top 100 cities with highest percentage of college students (pop. 50,000+)"
• #2 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: Entertainers and performers, sports, and related workers (population 50,000+)"
• #2 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females working in industry: Educational services (population 50,000+)"
• #3 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the highest percentage of residents living in poverty in 2007"
• #4 on the list of "Top 100 cities with youngest residents (pop. 50,000+)"
  
  
  List from: http://www.city-data.com/city/Bloomington-Indiana.html#ixzz37kgqSKJq
  
  I say, RISE AND SHINE, BLOOMINGTON, AWAKE TO LOVE! BE UNIFIED AND WHOLE IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME.
  
  

  BLOOMINGTON IS #1

  
  
  Love ya
  Carol
   

Dayton, Ohio GEM CITY

I lived most of my childhood growing up in northeast Ohio. That is where I met my husband of 30 years. We returned to visit Ohio every year for quite some time to camp and learn about God's beautiful Word, then visit family members and friends that still call Ohio "home."

Ohio is a beautiful state and rich in historical significance. I cannot help but reflect that for as long as I can remember, I could sense underlying every major city, there was a strong heaviness; a deep, sad sigh that manifests as oppression and depression on the faces of her people. Dayton was one of those cities. She was especially grim, gray and dirty, even more so than Youngstown and Cleveland.  Graffiti covered what once were prosperous businesses. She stood alone in stark contrast to the green trees and fields surrounding her.

When I looked at the history of Dayton yesterday and saw how she was nicknamed the "Gem City," and "Little Detroit," I began to fall in love with Dayton. She is called Little Detroit because of the vast industry that mimicked Detroit. She is home to huge proportions of aviation and aerospace technologies, and is very heavily invested in the healthcare (3rd best in the nation for quality) and education. She obviously believes education is the key for her people. She was voted as best place for college grads to come get employment a couple years ago. If you want to buy a good house for a cheap price (vs Virginia or New York) you will find that in Dayton.

Dayton montage found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio#mediaviewer/File:Montage_dayton_1.jpg

We all know Detroit is a virtual wasteland now, eaten up by her policies and economic burdens. I do not want that to foreshadow Dayton's future. She is the GEM CITY, shining bright for Christ. Pray for Dayton, for prosperity as Gem City, to shine spiritually, socially, economically and physically: SOZO Wholeness manifested both on the streets and in the hearts of the people.

I have not returned to Ohio for several years so I look forward to entering her borders from the Ohio River side from West Virginia. We will be there Friday, July 25th. Please pray for the people God has ordained for us to minister to while we are there.

Love you
Carol

Stop 1 Charleston

God's Girls Ministry SOZO Tour Mission Trip is quickly approaching. I am taking one day at a time and still fundraising. ($400 to go!) We leave the morning of Thursday July 24th for Charleston, West Virginia. Yesterday I spent a few minutes looking up Charleston's history after being inspired by Connie to do so. I was intrigued by the industrial history of the city. It is based in Kanawha County. This Indian name means Canoe Way with a connotation meaning Transportation way. 

I also found it interesting that Charleston's industry began with the discovery of salt mines. While mining for salt, natural gas was found, and then coal. There is not much demand for salt from Charleston anymore, but the salt water brine is now a source for two chemicals that are in demand. One thing lead to the other...salt mines paved the way to the others.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As He is the only way to The Father, so Charleston is the transportation way to our Mission, leading the way to more wholeness of Christ, (body, soul & spirit) to the streets of the midwest.

Charleston is a small city as state capital cities go, with 51,000 people making a life within the city limits. Of those, 64% do not claim to be followers of a religion of any kind. Now I do not know if some of these are the "no-religion, I- have- a -relationship -with -Jesus" folks. Still, 64% without  a home church, without experiencing the great love and grace and goodness of God, seems like a huge number to me. Most of the Christians there are Methodists or some other protestant religion. I am happy to bring God's simple message of unconditional love, grace, hope & healing to the city whether they go to church or not. Everyone needs what Jesus offers. He satisfies. His love is better than wine.

I see the importance of having a period of time without money concerns so I can focus more on the trip itself, the goodly encounters we will have and to  prepare with more praise, worship, focused Word studies, prayer and supplication. I want to prepare a blog entry in advance for each city to help me focus on the places we will be stopping. I would like to have all donations in by this Friday. Click here to add your's.


If you helped make this trip possible with your prayers and financial contributions, thank you. I hope you will follow our adventures along the way as I post updates from the road as often as possible.

Top left: Connie, first timer!
Top right:me

Bottom left: Lesa
Bottom right: Hayley, 15, also first timer

Love you
Carol

Homestretch

The Lord has been extremely gracious to us as a Team. The past couple days, from Nashville to Bristol, have been a transitional period. It was not planned this way. It is the way it unfolded for us. I have not taken many family pictures. I left that up to everyone else. I enjoyed the family time without distraction.

We met Missy's uncle and aunt and cousin and second cousin babies for a Thanksgiving type feast outside of Nashville. Only there was no turkey...It was all southern style home cooking with plenty of sugar and butter and loads of "YUM." I do not remember EVER getting together with family and laughing so hard, enjoying the interactions of all the family members and being drawn in like I was family, too. This whole family loves God, is dedicated to one another, and laughs and plays and obviously works hard, otherwise dinner would not have been served on time with all the lighthearted activity going on. The babies were the center of attention and amusement and interaction, as well as it should be; they are one and two. I would love to go back and re-create a fun, loving legacy like this. I hope those babies come to understand how special that kind of family interaction is. We prayed together. I got more out of it than I gave. It made me long more and more for my own home.

We said our farewells, reluctantly, on my end, I could not get enough of this family dynamic. We then traveled another 40 minutes to stay overnight at the other uncle, aunt and cousins' house.We were warmly welcomed again. I fell in love with the old family poodle, warts and all. Wonderful kind people, all. We ate breakfast with grandma and grandpa at the dining room table, card table abutted to it at the end, in the old "kid" section fashion. There were only adults there this morning.

We went into downtown Nashville for our last souveneir shopping and to see what else God would open up for us. Not much. Nothing at all. Not even at lunch. I did not get a chance to minister healing to anyone that day until we reached Bristol late last night at the hotel's Bistro. The food service man broke his foot hiking and was in a foot cast, limping hard. I laid hands on him and his foot started to quiver. He was so happy that I prayed for him, a huge ear to ear grin plastered all over his face as I ran to catch up with the others who had gone to the elevator already.

I don't know why they call it "HOMESTRETCH" more, for the last stretch of the journey home or for the longing, yearning desire to be home again in the arms of my loves, for they are equally strong.

I am thankful this last day or two has been a soft transition back to everyday life.

What most impressed me about this whole trip is that God is very present with me, that I do not have to force things to happen, that they unfold in a beautiful, natural way, that I can live two whole weeks out of a suitcase with 4 women in close quarters, with peace and kindness and continuing respect.

See you soon.