more...so much more....too much more

 God has been overwhelming Matt and I with opportunities to meet needs of people who really have desperate need.  Not only is He overwhelming us with opportunities, but also with desire to see those need met.  We really can't do it all.  There is so much.  But we can do some and we can ask others to join us in helping.  We have an incredible AWANA commander and family.  They have a heart for outreach and a heart to serve.  Yesterday Matt went to the hotel in the city where we know many homeless families are living and he dropped off AWANA fliers and permission slips.  We knew it was last minute- AWANA was that night, but we did it anyway.  I (along with my favorite librarian :) drove our van, and our commander and Cameron drove the church van.  We were going to only take one van but decided to take two.  It was a good thing we did.  We got there and kids were already in the lobby jumping up and down when they saw the van and waving their permission slips.  We had 6 families represented.  16 kids and 1 mom came with us.  We fed them at the church and then saw those kids have such a fun time!  2 boys put their faith in Christ.  It was incredible.  When we brought them back to the hotel, we found out that one family missed "the bus" as they called it, by 10 minutes and were so disappointed.  We found out that the reason the numbers were so "small" was that because so many of the kids are sick with the flu.  The hotel staff thanked us for making this opportunity available to these kids.  The rules of the hotel are: no playing in the hallway, no playing outside, no going into other rooms besides your own, no loitering in the lobby.  These families are in hard times. The kids are pent up and antsy.  We heard about one situation that I won't even share here, but that had two moms in tears as they shared this major, very negative life changing thing that took place and the severe consequences.  These people need Hope.  They need Jesus.
We are planning on taking more to church on Sunday- started with one family asking to go, now more are asking. The kids will keep going to AWANA- we will just need more vans!

 We are planning our next even which will be a Valentine's Banquet and Club Hope.  A local grocery store donated all the food we need to feed 70+ people a dinner and dessert.  We have volunteers who are willing to go to a training and be a part of teaching the kids, cooking, baking, serving, cleaning, driving....  It is exciting- but did I mention overwhelming??  We are praying for God to equip us with all we need to do what He is asking us to do.  More funding is needed- we need insurance, child protection on each volunteer, gas money, our own support is not fully there, and we have a lead on a possible intern in the summer but need funds for that as well!  God knows all our  needs and He is faithful.  So far we have not had to turn anyone down due to lack of funds.  We just want to do everything with excellence as we strive to make God's name great and known in the city.

When Matt dropped the fliers off at the hotel he found out that two families were sick.  I made a huge pot of chicken soup and was able to bring jars of soup along with rolls to these families.  When we returned their kids from AWANA, they both said that when they ate the soup they started to feel their strength return.  I told Matt- it wasn't just the soup itself.  Someone was serving them.  Someone was loving and caring for them.  Actually, it wasn't me.  It was God loving them through me.  That's what it's all about- being the hands and feet of Jesus.  It wasn't me at all.

                Break my heart for what breaks Yours....