“God changes people His way, not my way.”
“Do you limit God (and his capabilities) to your small size?”
Samir Youssef was our speaker this morning and his topic was “Holy Spirit Empowerment”. What an inspiration talk! And what an amazing way to send us all out to our different ministry stations all pumped up and ready to love people!
Check out the crazy line-up in front of the Olympic Store -- at one point 3-blocks long!! People were anti-Olympic gear for the longest time...didn't want to give into propaganda; but it looks like patriotism won us over in the end!!
We arrived at First Baptist Church an hour earlier and we got right to work, helping out with practical things like sanitation. A few went out around the block to collect trash, one stayed back to clean up the porta-potty’s and a couple worked the hospitality coffee/hot cocoa table.
Anna scrubbing down the porta-potty's. They smelled lemony fresh after she was done!
Serving up hot chocolate and coffee at First Baptist Church in downtown, Vancouver.
Today was a long day of ministry. We started at 1:30pm and we ended at about 8:30pm. The weather worked in our favor by not raining. But even so, we were getting colder as the sun made its disappearance into the night’s sky. I remember in the past 6 years of mission trips, I had to get students and staff to take breaks and get out of the sun; today, it was “get out of the cold and get defrosted.”
Me and Yoshiko - she's here in Vancouver to support her friend who's representing Japan in the ski jump event! How cool is that?!
All in all, it was a day well-lived. I’m real proud of this team. People were interacting and stepping out to initiate conversations with strangers… some great interactions took place and we got to engage in several people’s life stories. Thanks for your prayers! Keep sending them up to our God! We definitely will need them as we continue into the week.
Hot beverages and great conversations! Always a good combo!!
Here are some PRAYERS of THANKSGIVING and PRAISES:
- We all traveled safely today and there were no problems on the public transit. It all went smooth as silk.
- Great interactions with people. I think everyone on the team got the opportunity to engage in at least one good conversation today.
- For the good teaching we had this morning.
Here we are a place called "The Hobbit House" where most of us would come and get "defrosted". In the back, next to Madeline, is Teran; she's the venue coordinator for this site.
Here are some ways you can PRAY FOR US as we hit the streets tomorrow:
- Tuesday, we’re at a different venue entirely; it’s almost midnight now and I still don’t know the logistics of our travels, availability of parking, etc. Pray that I can get through easily to venue coordinators early tomorrow to work this all out
- Michael J. is still not feeling well; he rested at home today. Please continue to pray for his recovery and that he may join us soon.
- Our team of 8 is joined by a team of 4-5 other young adults tomorrow. They’re part of a program called TREK (much like a YWAM) and we’re really stoked about working with them. Pray for our unity in working together.
- Madeline and I both have ministry responsibilities on Wednesday; she’s taking time out tomorrow morning to prep for her Bible study material and I’m using tomorrow night to get cracking on that talk for Wednesday night. May God give us such great insight of content so that prep time would be efficient.
- Continue to pray that we may step out in boldness to love the people God brings our way; that they may sense a genuine kindness in our actions; that we may have “divine encounters” in which we can engage with people’s life stories and experiences.
- And pray for a sustaining of good health. Though it’s not a frigid cold; it is cold, nonetheless. Pray for the many that serve the late/mid-night shifts and are out serving and ministering on the streets in these hours… that God will send them a blanket of warmth and keep their team members from falling ill or from catching a cold. Pray this for us, too.
