Where He leads...: 2008

As you all know, I've been appointed as a missionary with Africa Inland Mission. I am still "patiently" awaiting the details of my assignment. :) But I wanted to share with you what I do know at this point...

We are waiting on confirmation from the Unit Leader in Namibia, Africa. As it appears, Namibia will be my destination for ministry! (Most of us have to slow down our speech a bit to say Namibia correctly. :) Just sound out all 4 syllables: Na-mih-bee-a.) Namibia is located northwest of South Africa. I've attached a map for easy reference. My ministry in Namibia will include working with orphans and vulnerable children in some capacity. In addition, I could be involved heavily with youth ministry and certainly I'll be building relationships with people of various ages, cultures and religious backgrounds. As soon as I receive more information about the city and ministry I'll be working in, I will send out that information. In addition to my email updates, I will be mailing newsletters. If you would like to receive these newsletters, please send me your mailing address. I will also be making prayer cards and I will get those into as many hands as possible because more than anything, I will need the support of family and friends through prayer!

My departure date is set for June 26th 2009! As I've mentioned previously Africa Inland Mission is a faith-based organization, meaning that all missionaries sent by AIM must raise 100% of their support. By May 26th I must have the required support given and/or pledged in order to depart at the end of June. Many of you have asked how to become financial partners with my ministry in Africa. If you are interested, send me your email address and I will email you that information. I also have creative ways to raise funds for my ministry through my jewelry (www.thepaperbagboutique.com) and other fund raisers I will do from now until I leave in June. So if you live around my area, let me know if you want to be involved (i.e. hosting a jewelry party, participating in a yard sale, car wash, etc.) and I will get you that information.

I am looking forward to sharing what God is going to do throughout this new journey! Stay tuned!! :)

Just wanted to write a quick note... I JUST received word from the Candidate Director that I have been appointed with Africa Inland Mission!!! In short, that means that they have approved me to be a missionary through their organization based on my interviews, psychological evaluation, etc. Now the next step will be working with them on receiving an actual assignment in Africa. Also, I can now to begin my support raising (with AIM I will be raising 100% of my support for the field). My time line is still to leave for Africa in 2009, and I hope to have more specific details on the where and what by the end of this month. So please continue to pray with me for God to specifically guide my steps as I intentionally seek out His purposes. I look forward to sending you a more specific update in the coming weeks.

Thanks as always for your caring interest and support!

I arrived in Pearl River, NY this morning for the start of Candidate Week with Africa Inland Mission. So far I am the only "candidate" here as the rest will arrive after lunch. The next five days will be very exciting as this is my big opportunity to learn more about AIM, their mission, what it will be like to serve in Africa for two years--and all the while they will be learning more about me as I meet with them regarding my psychological assessments, and share with them my heart for the nations. I have been looking forward to this week since my first interview in April. I am very anxious to receive more information about what country I may actually be assigned to, when I will be leaving the U.S., and what the ministry focus will be during those two years. One major goal of AIM is church planting in regions currently unreached by the gospel. Some teams will be focusing on education, some on medical missions, and so on. Pray with me as God opens my eyes and heart to the opportunities and that I will be led by His wisdom each step of the way. (Africa Inland Mission: http://timo-aim.com)

I cannot forget and be thankful for the continued love and grace that God has bestowed upon me to this point in my journey. I look back on the past few years with joy and peace in reflecting on all that God has taught me through each challenge and adventure. I appreciate the maturity that I have gained through serving Him, especially as He has sharpened me by revealing my weaknesses--allowing me to grow even more.

Thank you each for your prayers and support. I enjoy sharing my journey with you, and even if you only have time to glance over my updates, it means a lot that you stay interested in what God is doing in my life. I am blessed to be back in Maryville and able to share stories with many of you face to face. If you can, send ME an update of how things are going with you, and certainly let me know if there is anything I can be praying about for you and your family. I look forward to sharing in greater details my plans for Africa after the conclusion of my time here in New York. So stay tuned! :)

I want to close with a prayer request for my dear brothers in Christ down in New Orleans. Many of you will recall my stories about Bethel Colony South, the drug rehabilitation ministry across the street from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Many of those men became dear friends of mine during my time in the Crescent City. Those men know firsthand what it is to struggle against the darkest temptations of this world. And praise be to God for using men like Mel Jones to stand up and fight for the souls of those very men, to introduce them to the truth, love, and redemption that comes only through Jesus Christ. Several have successfully been rehabilitated both physically and spiritually through the program at Bethel. Some, sadly, end up back on the streets or even dead (as happened to a good friend of mine who was murdered after falling back into a life of crime). My prayer request is one of comfort and healing. A strong leader at Bethel, Arthur, passed away in his sleep at the end of October. Arthur was young and very fit. Apparently he had a heart condition he was unaware of. Pastor Mel called me personally to tell me the news. I pray also that the testimony of Arthur's life will remain powerful to each of the men at Bethel and that they will realize the urgency of Christ's call to each of them, as none of us are guaranteed our next breath. And to let you know just how special these men are, and how special they are to me... my last Sunday morning in New Orleans was split between two churches. The first service was with the Bethel men. At 8am they have their own service together in the gym of a nearby church. The 60 or so of them gather together in intense worship. It is phenomenal to witness the singing and shouts of praise from men who truly know what it is to be redeemed--and who can't thank God enough for that love and forgiveness! I was sitting near the back and before the offering Pastor Mel called out to me to ask when I would be leaving for Africa. I told him my plans to go to East TN to spend time with family and raise support and head on to Africa next year. He said, "Men, this offering this morning is for Hannah's ministry in Africa. Now we make $15 a week, so 10% of that is $1.50. You give what you can and the Lord will multiply that gift." Humbled, I sat in my chair, stunned that such an offering would ever be put towards my ministry. Most of these men have lost everything, their homes, their families, their sense of pride, and there I sat... listening to the sound of change being rattled in pockets and placed in the offering plate. The total amounted to $340. It may have well been one million dollars because that gift, like the widow's mite, meant more to me than any I have ever received. (Within the next 48 hours, through that gift and jewelry sales, I had raised the $700 required for Candidate Week. And here I sit, ready to absorb all I can about my next adventure! God is good. All the time. Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. His grace is sufficient for me.)

You can watch Pastor Mel's incredible testimony here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVxEuLgkzzE

As I've already mentioned in previous updates, my time with MissionLab in New Orleans is coming to an end. My feelings at this moment are bittersweet. I am certainly sad to think of leaving behind the wonderful friends that I've made here--many I now consider family. And who can describe the magic of this city? Its unique atmosphere that sings a song all of its own, the beautiful people that make up each distinct community, the food, the flavor, the culture... It's an odd feeling, too, to leave behind a work in which I've invested the last two years of my life. I had never even been to New Orleans before this storm called Katrina wrecked havoc from corner to corner and beyond. In April 2006 I found myself driving through what might be described as a massive playground of destruction. The city looked as if it had been tossed in the air only to fall to the ground and shatter into a million pieces. (Parts of the city, sadly, are far from being put back together.) The needs in this city infected me with a desire that I couldn't shake. I wanted to do more. There was nothing else at that moment I could do, but do more for this city--more than just the 4 days of volunteering that I had originally signed up for. Within two weeks I was making plans to join MissionLab for the summer. By the end of that summer '06, I knew God had a full-time calling on my life for this work. And here I've been! My time here has been incredible, challenging, heartbreaking, joyful, and inspiring. God has blessed me with the opportunity to meet so many needs personally and through our volunteers. Words can never describe the joy that comes from seeing someone in need, and meeting them where they are to help fulfill that need. The stories and testimonies I have heard from some of the homeowners we have been able to serve have been so encouraging for my own life. How inspiring it has been to see the challenges and the triumphs of these precious people who have lost everything and yet never lost hope in the God who never leaves us nor forsakes us.

I suppose the hardest thing about leaving is knowing that there is still so much left to be done in this city. There are still homeowners distraught--unable to rebuild without further assistance. There are still children who have been bumped low on their parents' priority list as the family struggles to survive. There are individuals in AIDS residences who are hurting, men and women in nursing homes who are lonely, homeless people who are hungry, and people everywhere I turn who are weary, broken, and without hope. It is difficult to leave a ministry that is reaching out to each of these. It is easy to feel, in a way, that by my leaving I am turning my back on the very ones I came here to love and to serve. And then I'm reminded that no matter where I go, the needs of God's people are unending. The poor we will always have with us (Matthew 26:11). The orphans and widows will always need to be cared for. There are still 2 billion people in this world who have never even heard the Gospel! My main calling in life is that WHEREVER I am, I am to love and to serve God and God's people with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have dedicated myself to that calling and leave myself open daily to whatever and wherever that looks like. Even while being in New Orleans, my heart is continually broken for people worldwide, and it is that brokenness that has led me to the next step in my journey. My last day with MissionLab will be September 30th. From there I will head back to Maryville, TN to spend the next several months with my family and friends there as I raise support for my next adventure.

In November, I will be going to Pearl River, New York as part of the next phase in my process with Africa Inland Mission's two-year program called TIMO (http://timo-aim.com/). I will be in New York for 5 days as part of AIM's Candidate Week. There I will learn more about the program, they will learn more about me, and (what I'm most excited about!) I will get more details on which country I will be going to and what the ministry focus will be. I am definitely looking forward to that week and hearing more about the specifics of what the next two years of my life will be like! :) I will definitely keep everyone posted and I hope that you will continue to pray with me as God leads me through this process. I will have more details after Candidate Week about how you can financially support my time in Africa if you feel God leading you to do that. I know God will provide. He already has in so many ways throughout my ministry here in New Orleans and other trips I've taken up until now. And I'm thankful for each of you who have prayed for and encouraged me along the way. I could not have accomplished all that I have without God using people like you to pray me through it!

I hope those of you here in New Orleans will continue to keep in touch after my departure, and I will be looking forward to seeing others of you when I am back in Tennessee!

With 2700 Christian volunteers coming to serve in New Orleans during our 8 weeks of summer camp, it is safe to say that New Orleans was impacted for Christ in a mighty way! Not only did they provide labor through the work of their hands and encouraging words by the kindness of their spirit, they shared the message by personal testimony and through the Word of God.

Our summer staff accompanied many of our groups as they went out into the city for ministry. They brought back wonderful testimonies of what God did each day through the service of the volunteers and as they handed out the New Testaments. Adam Fontana, a returning summer missionary and worship leader, recalled what it was like at "Tent City", an area under the Claiborne and Canal underpass where homeless individuals gathered and lived for months. The volunteers passed out waters, bag lunches, and the Bibles from American Bible Society. Sadly, some of the people rejected the Bible, telling the group that there was nothing in it for them. Then, however, his report changed as God began to open hardened hearts. "As our presence was established, many people started to ask what we were doing down there, why a group of kids would be in New Orleans during their summer to work, and what the Bible had to do with anything. Through the Bibles that were donated, the kids were able to provide these answer-seekers with a brand new Bible and prayed with them as they received the Word of God, some for the first time," Adam recalls.

Stacy Ellis has spent her last two summers as a summer missionary for MissionLab. Her heart is especially broken and burdened for the city of New Orleans. One of the groups she was assigned to this summer participated in a recreational ministry at one of the parks. While some of the students played with the children on the playground and teenagers on the basketball courts, others sat on the outskirts of the park and got to know some homeless men who frequented the area. Stacy shared, "One of the men started telling us about his life and the difficult things he'd been through. He expressed a great deal of pain, bitterness, and guilt about how he'd hurt people throughout his life. The kids and I listened, and then I told him that he didn't have to carry that pain and guilt around with him anymore, because Jesus has already taken all of that upon Himself. We expressed to him the Jesus loves him and can give him hope for his life and forgive his past mistakes. At this, the man started to weep, and we all prayed together. As we were about to leave, one of the boys in my group grabbed one of the New Testaments from the van and gave it to the man, telling him that the words in this book would change his life. The man seemed grateful and told us he'd be reading it." Some of the other groups Stacy served with handed out Bibles as they did street ministry and prayerwalked through the local neighborhoods. Others packed hygiene packs to handout to the homeless and street performers, and included a New Testament in with the rest of the items.

Thanks to the generous donation of American Bible Society, over 500 Bibles were handed out by our volunteers this summer to children at Vacation Bible Schools, adults in nursing homes, youth at correctional facilities, individuals seeking help and hope at community centers, and more. We trust that the love that was shown throughout the community by both word and deed will be planted as seeds that will multiply into a great harvest. It is our firm belief that God's word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11). May His glory be known throughout this city and to the ends of the Earth. Amen!

I don't have long because I need to get back to the shelter and see how everything is going. We stepped out to lead a family to a local shelter and then stop for dinner and a quick moment online.

I am still safe, but I suppose that's obvious considering nothing has hit us yet. Unlike I previously thought, I am set to stay in Covington, LA. I moved to Pine View Middle School which is only three blocks over from where I was originally (Pathways Elementary or something like that). We still have Red Cross staff at Pathways, but we spread out into two shelters. No showers at our shelter. We'll have to go to Pathways and sign up for a shower time. That's the least of my worries though. I am fully functional regardless of how clean I am. :)

I've been receiving some updates regarding the storm (thanks Jason and Brian!). The storm definitely sped up and is set to make landfall sooner than I imagined. Wind and rain are in the forecast for tonight as soon as a couple hours from now, with landfall in the morning between 4 and 7am. We'll start feeling it at midnight more than likely. Right now there aren't many people in our shelter. At first it was going to be a staff AND public shelter with well over 200 people there. Now it's switched back to a staff only shelter. I'm not sure why. Either way, I'll do whatever job they tell me to do. For now, they call me the dormitory manager. I'm helping to maintain the organization, cleanliness, etc of the shelter. Should we start packing it out, that will be an important role to keeping the sanity. Right now I'm kind of enjoying the small community of people there. I'd say that will change soon, especially after the storm makes landfall.

I'm including some pictures. Please don't think that I'm just sitting around goofing off. :) Actually... I'm surprised I've had this many opportunities to get on the internet. That's the luxury of knowing people in the area I suppose. This will probably be the last chance I will get for a while. Texting will be the best option after the storm. I would ask that you refrain from texting me much as I want to maintain battery life as much as possible should power go out and my main priority is getting word out to my family. I will see if my brother can post an update online or something. Last update... as you'll see from the pics. My friend and co-worker Adam was able to join up with me here through Red Cross. That was such a cool surprise and blessing for both of us. We're "lovin' this" together!! He has such a passion for helping people especially in their specific time of need. It will be nice to ride out the storm with someone I've gotten to be close friends with throughout my time in New Orleans.

Thanks again for your prayers. My car is with me in Covington, including whatever I considered my "precious belongings" from my apartment. Most importantly, my photos, camera, computer, guitar, etc. And having my car in working order on the other side of this storm would be a bonus as well. So you could pray specifically for that situation, although I know that should I lose all of that, life will go on. I'm anxious to see what things are going to look like this time tomorrow and throughout the week. I'm not even going to try to guess the outcome. Again, I will just put it all in God's hands and trust in His will and way. Catch up with you on the other side...

Pics... in order:
001 - The shelter I stayed in the past two nights.
006,7,8 - Before, during, and after my first powdered milk experience!
011 - Adam and I lovin' our red vests. :)
017 - Adam: Doing what he does best, lovin' on some locals. Robert is the one local that is still in our shelter. Our shelter manager didn't have the heart to make him move when it turned into a staff only shelter. He's a very sweet man and very appreciative of our "hospitality". He also has a small TV and lets us crowd around to watch it.
014 - Our new digs. This is where all the action is set to happen as we ride out the storm.

Blessings,
Hannah

So the last 30 hours have been super exciting! :) Our first assignment was loading boxes from the 4th floor of the Red Cross headquarters into the truck on the ground (elevator broken of course). I was pleased to realize that I was in better shape than I thought. I was going up and down the stairs before some of the older folks had reached the second level. I suppose the hiking, rock climbing, and all of the other fun activities I've done lately have paid off. :) It was nice to feel useful.

Later that day, some Penske trucks had to be moved from the rental store to the Second Harvest warehouse. First I was given the keys to a regular-sized moving truck. It was similar to driving a 15-passenger van--which I'm very used to. The next trip, I received keys to a 26 footer! That thing was huge! I had to climb steps just to get into the driver's seat. Safe to say, I've never driven anything that big in my life. It was a blast!!! I got praised for a tough turn I took like a pro. :) Next, a 26 footer... six speed!! That was the most intimidating, but I passed that one as well with flying colors. I've driven a few more since then, most recently to bring a truck back to the Northshore. For all you non-locals, the Northshore is simply north of Lake Ponchartrain. One of the main missions I had today was to take a big truck with another lady to Sam's and purchase 10 pallets of water. We had them loaded and took them to the Amtrak station downtown where the "bus system" was underway. Since this morning, the elderly and disabled have had a jump start on receiving aid via buses and other assistance. There were lines of people everywhere waiting their turn to board and get out of town. News crews were everywhere, and I don't think I need to mention how hot it is. The heat index yesterday was around 100. Same today I'm sure.

For now, I'm staying at a Red Cross staff shelter in Covington, LA. The phrase that has come out of my mouth more than any so far is, "This is so much fun!" Last night I was laughing at the situation. Grown men and women spread all over the place in cots. Big New Orleans style cockroaches everywhere. A couple ladies FREAKED OUT over a cockroach under their cot. It woke everyone up and I couldn't stop laughing at them. I suppose I felt their pain because I'm pretty freaked by spiders... but cockroaches aren't really anything to me and I just watched as the lady stood 15 feet away from her cot and just stared in that direction, arms-crossed. I'm not sure what that was going to solve, but apparently she thought it was effective and eventually tiptoed back to bed.

I hear rumors that they are going to move us further north since Gustav is looking pretty intense. I will let my family know what city I'm in if I move and I'll try to send out another update at some point if I can. Mostly, just know that I'm safe and I'm having the time of my life... as usual. :) Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to pray. Although I enjoy being here and active in whatever might happen, my heart is broken and I'm kind of in shock at the reality of this situation. If anything close to Katrina happens, I don't know how I will process it. I don't say that AT ALL to put any attention to me in that regard. My heart goes out to everyone else. It's just hard to wrap my mind around the possibility of watching a city I've poured myself into the past two years back in the same situation it was when I started. That will be a hard pill to swallow, but I know that God is in control and I have complete faith and trust that He knows exactly what He's doing even if we don't understand it now (or ever).

Love and blessings,
Hannah

[The picture I took from my phone. It's a fuzzy pic of the staff shelter. And this is when there were only about 40 people there. By this morning there were about 100 people spread out everywhere. Supposedly 200 more were coming today. I think they've found us another shelter as well (although again, we may be moving as early as in the morning).]

I thought I'd send out a quick update since this storm called Gustav is brewing and many of you in other parts are wondering what we're all up to down here. Well I can't speak for everyone, but I'll tell you that I am getting myself prepared. I always knew that should a threat of a storm ever arise I'd want to be as close to the action as possible. Not because I'm a storm chaser or purposely like to put myself in danger, but because I want to be able to help in some way. Since I moved to New Orleans, I've been taking classes through the Red Cross because I decided that would be one of the best and easiest ways to minister to the community in a time of need. So despite my plans to spend my Labor Day weekend in Florida, I'll be sticking around Louisiana or wherever Red Cross assigns me to work in a shelter or with distribution or whatever. The seminary has issued a mandatory evacuation beginning tomorrow at noon. Red Cross is ready to accept volunteers as early as 10am today, so I will finish getting my things in order to be ready to leave campus today. I doubt I'll have much time for or access to communication while I'm with the Red Cross. My number one priority will be letting my family know I'm safe. I'll catch up with the rest of you on the flipside. :)

Thanks for your prayers for me, for this city, and all affected by natural disasters. I want to ask you also to pray for my friend Rebecca Jordan and her family as they are dealing with the recent death of her father, Dale Ross who has been battling cancer for sometime. He was one of my favorite Maryvillians, and I enjoyed keeping up with all of his travels and mission trips... many of which were to New Orleans. Ironic timing, this the day of Katrina's anniversary. The last time I saw Dale, he was pouring his heart into a rebuilding project in New Orleans, donning his bandanna, "whistling while he worked". I am a better person for having known him. He was a great man and will be greatly missed.

I'm going to close with a recent update I received from my friend Chaz. I don't really have the time or the clarity of mind to pour out my thoughts and impressions as New Orleans is bracing for a potential hit... (of course we're praying against that!) But I appreciated what Chaz had to say, and I hope you'll find it both informative and enlightening as you are either here in the city making your own plans for the weekend or if you're watching the track of the storm from afar. Thanks, Chaz, for your insight.

>>Though it may sit in the recesses of your mind I am sure you have all heard by now that Hurricane Gustav has his compass pointed to New Orleans. This city is know for throwing hurricane parties with friends, and they are proud to be the home of a alcoholic drink recipe known as simply a “Hurricane”, yet the past two days something has been different in this great city. Though just emotions, the vibe of this community is weighty and thick. Colleges are closing, lumber is being purchased, and the roads are getting packed already! Just 3 years after 1.4 million people left a city, only to return finding devastation, anarchy, and traces of what was once something we all think of as more than just a house … they had only traces left of their home. Today New Orleans finds itself on the eve of Katrina’s 3rd anniversary. Tomorrow night it is expected that an evacuation of the city will be called, 3 years to the day from when Katrina slammed her name into history. The city is not ready and we know it. We, the people of this city are. We are prepared this time, skin is thicker, lessons have been learned, and hurricanes have commanded their respect!

Please be in prayer for this city over the next few days as Hurricane Gustav approaches the Gulf of Mexico and our great city! It is “hoped” by engineers that our levee system (that is STILL being reconstructed) can withstand Cat. 3 hurricanes, but this test is one that we cannot afford to fail. Pray that the levees hold. If they do not people like myself will be sitting far from home watching on TV just like you as the waters rise. The only difference is, we will be looking for our homes on the screen. The last storm put the apartment that I am in under 8ft. of water. I am moving what I can into a friends apartment upstairs before I fly out with the hope of minimizing damage.

Today I began to prepare for a sermon on Psalm 23 that I have to deliver in two weeks. It is a verse that most pull comfort from and draw strength in knowing that God is with us even as we stand in the shadow of tragedy and/or evil. We can draw strength because in these times of trial and strife we are still just in the shadow of the Valley of Death. If we are in the shadow of something it means that we have not taken a direct hit! Hard times will come and go … BUT, we can feel safe and protected knowing that God is right there with us as our protector. Sometimes that protection is from ourselves and sometimes it is from something like a storm that I have dubbed, “Hurricane G-Unit.”<<

Blessings to all,
Hannah

We had groups out last week tackling what I call my “July Initiative”. In about one month the infamous anniversary approaches again… Hurricane Katrina—3 years. I still remember what it was like, my first time in New Orleans post-Katrina. Then, it was 8 months after the storm. I remember having no words for the horror, the devastation that I saw. Houses on top of cars, boats on top of houses, unidentifiable debris absolutely everywhere… it was truly a mess. But I must say—as bad and as ugly as that was to me, I find myself no less shocked to drive through the streets of New Orleans today. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who sees the mess that still is New Orleans. Does the media see this? The rest of America? I can tell you who sees it… thousands of homeowners who have decided to stay in New Orleans after this disaster. Families who are exhausted from rebuilding their home brick by brick. Couples who have been burned by “contractors” who took $80K of their money and ran. Grown children making sacrifices so that their elderly parents don’t have to take out a new mortgage at 88 years old. Some of these people have told me how depressing it is to drive through their neighborhood, having struggled through the journey with their own home for the past three years, and to see house after house, yard after yard, that still looks like the bomb went off yesterday. My July Initiative is to use our volunteers to tackle as many of these homes and yards as possible. I mapped out sections of two different neighborhoods. The volunteers have made amazing headway so far this month, but that is only a small drop in the bucket.

Just ask Fletcher. Will Fletcher is a local homeowner who saw the tidal wave coming and is still trying to bail his way out. I met Fletcher through our volunteers. I had a group in the area as part of my J.I. and Fletcher stopped to talked to them. Fletcher met Mike, one of our summer staff and after Fletcher shared some of his story, Mike reached out to say, “We gotcha, man—we gotcha.” Fletcher, like so many in this city, is desperate for someone to come along beside him—to help and encourage him. A couple of our groups have been able to step in and assist with the piles of work at his house. I had the privilege to meet Fletcher on Monday. He is a talker, and boy, does he have a lot to say! I fully believe he has bottled up every thought and emotion he has experienced since August ’05. He told me how he was outside as the floodwaters were approaching. “The water went from 4 feet to 6 feet, 6 feet to 8, 8 to 12! I was outside, looked down the street and said aloud, ‘What’s that?! Man, that’s a house!!’” He recalled rushing up the steps to safety and the force of the rapidly rising water and debris from a house barreling down the street knocked him back across the room. Tears were forming in his eyes when he described how thankful he was for the volunteers these last few days. They have provided him with an indescribable boost, when everyone else in the city seemed to be kicking him while he was down. In his words, “They have come in here and said, ‘Man, you got screwed—but you’re hanging in there.” Indeed, Fletcher has been wrecked and abandoned in so many ways…and amazingly, he and his family are still hanging in there. They inspire me and will for years to come. Leaning on his now corroded mustang, Fletcher looked down at the ground in a daze, talking as if to himself to say, “Maybe we can have something we can actually put a Christmas tree in.” Having a place to display a Christmas tree is something most of us take for granted. For Fletcher, having such a place represents so much more than a festive decoration. It represents restoration of life—pressed but not crushed, knocked down but not destroyed. May we all find the strength to rise up when the pressures of this world try to bring us down.

Praying that you are especially aware of God’s love and blessings today,

Hannah Sterling

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

My apologies for the time that has passed since my last update. To put it mildly—I have been busy! Since June 1st, we have seen over 1100 volunteers come through our summer program. I wish I could say that I’ve had the opportunity to sit back and watch the amazing God things that are happening throughout the city as these young people come to serve. Quite the opposite—I have been behind the scenes, at all hours of the day and night, doing my best to make sure that these young people continue to have opportunities to serve. My top priority here is organizing where each of these 300-400 youth and adults work and do ministry each week. As much as I’d love to go love on some community kids, prepare a meal for the homeless, gut a house, or prayer walk around the neighborhood—the majority of my time is spent in the office on the phone or at my computer. But in the midst of this organized chaos—God reminded me of a powerful truth. If I don’t take time to stop and thank God for this incredible opportunity to serve Him, it’s my own fault. If I don’t take time to sit down with the campers or my staff at dinner to hear about the events of the day, the people they encountered, the miracles performed by God, it’s my own fault. Truth is, despite my crazy and intense schedule, my being here and serving here in New Orleans is a phenomenal gift from God! Absolutely nothing less. And if I don’t take time—make time—to thank God for exactly that, it’s no one’s fault but my own. God is challenging me to daily be in a state of thanksgiving, recognizing all of His blessings, yes, even the blessing of this assignment—as tired and overwhelmed as I may be at times. A phrase I read recently has been echoing within my mind, “Complaining is a sign of an ungrateful heart.” Lord, help me to always be grateful for every blessing!

We’ve seen dozens of students who have come down on mission for Christ actually accept Christ as Savior and Lord! Out on the mission sites, children, teenagers and adults alike are learning what it means to have a personal relationship with God. The relief work is continuing as teams are going out to serve the community by cleaning up yards, painting, putting up sheetrock, laying down flooring, patching roofs—even gutting buildings that haven’t been touched since Katrina!

This week we had a group in Violet, LA gutting River Edge Baptist Church. Even after all that I have seen down here in New Orleans, walking around this house of God that had been filled to the ceiling with floodwater and untouched since the storm, literally took my breath away. Looking up, I could see grass on the ceiling from the high waters and all along the wall was evidence of where it settled. Most prominently, the water line ran along the wall of the baptistery, straight through the middle of a wooden cross. Bibles and hymnals were strewn all around. Pews were caked with dry earth—pews stacked on top of pews. Toys had floated out of the nursery into the sanctuary. A giant fish head lay on the ground as if it had been there forever.

Friday I took the opportunity to go with a group to help finish up that job. The mold in the kitchen and hallway areas was intense. We suited up for the task and carefully went to work. I absolutely love getting out and working with the groups. I hope to do more of that come the end of this month. That will be my reward if I can get caught up on scheduling! My favorite part was climbing up the ladder-like walls to take down the ceiling tiles. It was amazing, and I was amazingly worn out by the end of our time there!

I know that many of you have been praying for me. And I fully know and believe that it is through those prayers that I can keep going when my body, mind and heart are all but spent. In fact, every time I hear from one of you that you have been praying for me, it is a great reminder that it is through those prayers I am accomplishing all that I am. It would be impossible for me to do and maintain all I do if it wasn’t for God’s grace!! Thank you for your continued support. I hope to see many of you in the coming months. Continue to pray for me as I seek God’s guidance on what lies after New Orleans. I am currently applying to serve in Africa for two years with Africa Inland Mission (http://timo-aim.com/) beginning sometime in 2009. I will keep you posted as I continue on that journey and I look forward to sharing more details about that opportunity in the near future.

Much love and many blessings to you all!

Check out our website for video footage! http://www.missionlab.com or on our youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/missionlab

(The "End of the Week" videos and "Evan's Blogs" are the best ones!)

Things are pretty busy for me as I’m gearing up for a big summer, but I wanted to take a moment and send out a quick update…

I’m long overdue for sharing my photos from my Israel trip. I spent hours going through them, putting them into a folder I could share through a site I use to print out my photos at a decent price. It wasn’t until I finished that I realize you (meaning YOU) have to create a free account to look at them. Oops. Some of you won’t mind, some of you already have a York account, and the rest of you are probably too busy to have made it this far in my update anyways! :)

Try this link: http://www.yorkphoto.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=215501016/a=81821121/t_=81821121

In other news…

MissionLab is set to have an average of 400 volunteers a week throughout or 8 weeks of Summer camp. My main responsibility--to find ministry sites for everyone one of them! I can do all things through Christ, right? So you can imagine how heavily I’m leaning on God for the wisdom and energy I need for a task like this. A constant reminder is that I cannot possibly rely on myself for accomplished all that I’ll need to. God appointed me to this task, and He’s the One who will supply the power behind all that needs to be done.

I had a wonderful visit from Dad and Kelly. We got to play tourist for a few days, visiting a plantation, eating some fantastic food, riding a streetcar, exploring the above-ground cemeteries, and more. I enjoyed the change of pace and of course, their company. While walking along the lake shore, we met a cute little second-grader named Britney. “Hi!” she said, from the back of an SUV--she nearly startled me, for I hadn't even noticed her. I asked what she was doing and she said she was writing a song. As we were leaving, I wanted to see if she’d finished. She was sitting by a lady I assumed was her mother, but who turned out to be a songwriter herself. Her name was Pat and apparently she was a stranger to Britney up until their newfound friendship. Britney sang her song for us. Very creative, and very on key. Pat also sang one of her songs for us about the importance of prayer, and responding to God’s answer with obedience. She shared with us her story from Hurricane Katrina, and I’m happy to report that I already have some volunteers lined up this summer to help her along with rebuilding her home. People are all around us that need a friend, need an encouraging word, or even just a listening ear. I pray that I never get too busy to stop and meet the little and talented Brittneys and the strong and beautiful Pats of this world.

I also had a brief visit from my aunts Gwen and Judy and my cousin Lindsey. That was a blast! We spent a little time wandering the streets and art galleries of the French Quarter. Never a dull moment with those ladies!

I’ll be heading home this week for a much-needed and anticipated visit. I hope to see some of you! And I hope all of you have a great week and treasure the many blessings God has given each of us.

All for Him,
Hannah

We made it back safely to the United States Saturday. What a trip!!

Definitely the question I have been asked most often since I returned... "What was your favorite part?"

My answer--well, my answer has been different every time. First of all, I'm too indecisive for favorites, and second of all--too many of the experiences from my trip were incredible! How can anything outshine another when they're all shining so brightly in my memory?!

Maybe my favorite thing was exploring all of the historical places we visited. Hurrying through a thousands-of-years old fortress because we only had 30 minutes and I was determined to explore every nook and cranny I could! Walking up and down the steps Paul would have taken to enter into the sea. Going underground into ancient aqueducts and secret tunnels important to those civilizations during times of peace and war. Stumbling upon ancient burial grounds and tombs (see "tomb" photo).

Maybe my favorite part was admiring the landscape. Looking at the beautiful flowers (see photo of the flower at Tel Dan), interesting birds and wildlife, rolling hills, still waters, roaring ocean (see photo at "Caeserea")... Who can decide?!

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the trip was getting to do things I've most definitely never done before... like ride a camel! (See "camel" photo) Or stick my fingers in the Dead Sea. Or walk along the Via Dolorosa. Or bump into a modern-day goatherd while his goats are grazing in a cemetery on the Mount of Olives. (see "goats" photo) *I certainly never knew that goats could jump like that. Or going to my first-ever Holocaust Museum (see photo of the Holocaust memorial). Boy was that incredible and heart-breaking. I could have spent all day there, looking at the pictures, reading the facts, hearing the personal testimonies of those who experienced it first-hand. What a tragedy. And yet, it reminded me of the genocide, war, murder, and everything else that is still going on today... often in places that never receive proper news coverage. It was a reminder to pray... a reminder to do more than pray... a reminder to act. To stop living so comfortably here in my skin and continue to reach out and get out to the dark and broken places of this world.

This trip will continue to impact my life for years to come... surely for my entire life! The Bible truly is coming alive even more than before. As I read it daily I'm reading about events that occurred in places I can now say that I've been too. Unbelievable! If you ever get an opportunity to go to Israel--GO! I'm already hoping to go again. It was such a whirlwind trip, I was only processing a portion of what we were seeing and experiencing. There is still so much to see and understand. The only thing I would change is that next time I would love to go with some of my closest friends and family. It would be so special to experience such an amazing place with the people I love most.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for safety and a great time. I definitely was blessed with both!

(To read a fantastic daily play-by-play of this incredible experience, check out my friend Christie's blog: http://smilingattomorrow.blogspot.com/)

Greetings once again from Israel! I won't take long to write because once again I'm borrowing someone's computer. Tonight is our last night in Maagan. We're headed to Jerusalem from here and we'll spend the rest of out time there. I'm very excited about that! Hopefully, if there is time (and no major security issues) we'll go into Bethlehem tomorrow. That'll be incredible.

Since my last update... we've gone to Sepphoris, Korazin, Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Rosh Hanikra, Kursi, Bet Shean, Ben Tal, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, and others I'm probably forgetting!

Let me just attach some pictures and give you a brief description about each one...

Easter morning was spent on the Sea of Galilee. Dr. Nelson Price brought a challenging message and it was an incredible start to our day! The water was beautiful and calm. I wouldn't mind seeing it during a storm. Our guide said that 10 foot waves form and it is truly a dangerous event! What a miracle for Jesus to calm the storm. While I was sitting on the shore early one morning, I imagined how startled and amazed I would be to see Jesus walking on the water. I decided that I would jump at such an opportunity to venture out on top with Him as well!

The picture here is of a chapel on the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). The remains of a Byzantine chapel were found here in 1935, but the chapel now was built on the hilltop instead of over those remains.

The next picture is of me soaking my feet in the Jordan River (referred to in Israel simply as "The Jordan"). It was chilly and to our surprise, full of huge catfish! :) It was humbling to have the privilege to visit such a significant site.

Mount Ben Tal offers an incredible view overlooking the Golan Heights and Israel’s Northern borders. It was also a significant stage for the war against Syria. I explored the bunker--which was so cool! (And literally cool as well compared to the heat above ground). I'm pictured here with my roommate Amy... a spunky 13 year old that's keeping me young on this trip. Seriously though, it's neat to get to know her and what an experience to go to Israel at 13!! I pray it's just as life-changing for her as for the rest of us!

I LOVED Nimrod!! We only had a short visit there and I felt like a kid in the candy store trying to sample every inch of that place! Nimrod Fortress sits on a mountain 2,675 feet above sea level. It is one of the largest fortresses to survive in the Mid-East since the Middle Ages. There's a long history there, and I'll let you look it up and read about it. :) But it was sooo neat to explore that area. We found secret passageways, pitch black staircases that we fearlessly followed down to different lookout areas... if only I'd had a bow and arrow... or whatever they used back then!

Kursi is the site where Jesus miraculously cast the devils out of a man into a herd of swine which stampededed into the water and drowned. As our guide put it... this was the first recorded case of "deviled ham". :) A Byzantine basilica was uncovered at this site--attached to it was a chapel and foritified monastery. There is a crypt there that I regret not going down into. (If you would have seen the entrance to that thing, you wouldn't have blamed me. But honestly, I just didn't think there was much to see.) After seeing pictures from others, it actually would have been a neat thing to behold. After uncovering the remains, skeletons of more than 30 middle-aged men were found there.

This is SUCH a brief rundown of just a few of the dozens of sites we're seeing. It's a fast-pace trip and I already know that it would be great to come back to Israel at a later date. Regardless, I know this will be life-changing and I'm treating it as if it were a once in a lifetime opportunity... because it very well may be. I'm going to make the best of it! Thank you for your prayers while I'm are! I hope one day you get the opportunity to explore Israel (if you haven't already).

Mount Ben Tal

Nimrod Fortress

Kursi

Boarding the boat Easter morning on the Sea of Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes

The Jordan

The weather delays in the States made no affect on our landing in Tel Aviv. We had a strong tail wind and arrived on schedule. I slept at least 9 hours of the flight! Praise the Lord! It was getting dark by the time we made it to our bus. We arrived at the Kibbutz (a little colony like area for our accommodations). Our room was adorable. I'm sharing it with my new friend Amy. She's a hip little 13 year old. I slept like a rock (aside from the fact that we didn't have an alarm clock or a watch. So we set her phone--Atlanta time--for what we THOUGHT would be morning in Israel. Apparently her cell phone finally did catch up to Israel time, and so we were up at midnight wondering if we were actually supposed to start getting ready...)

Today we went to Tel Beerseba, Arad, Masada, Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were supposedly found), Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea. I won't attempt to tell you the details of those places at this time... but they were all incredible! Myself and 4 others actually hiked up to the "fortress" of Masada. Halfway up I was wondering why in the world I made such a dumb decision! But we finally made it... and I'm very glad I took the trek. I'll be feeling it tomorrow... that's for sure. But I was able to really identify with the Jews in 70 or 73 AD who hiked up the mountain in an attempt to escape from the Romans. To think of perhaps pregnant women, certainly the elderly to the very young, all trying to make it quickly up the slick slopes--literally running for their lives. For me... I was guaranteed freedom at the top. I would be "rescued" by my group and even take a fun cable car ride back down to the bottom. But for them... it was certain death. They actually killed themselves before the Romans (who eventually broke through) could do the job themselves.

These places I'm having the privilege to visit each day were the backdrops for some of the most significant events in all of history. Incredible!

I'm looking out the window now at the Sea of Galilee. I'll actually be spending part of Easter ON the Sea of Galilee! I'm excited! But first... all of the adventures of tomorrow... I can't wait! I don't have long to write because I'm borrowing someone's computer and it's nearly bedtime here. Until next time...

This is a shot of Masada... if you look closely you can see the snake path we hiked up!!

Here I am sticking my fingers in the Dead Sea. That was weird! The water feels so different there! It taste nasty, and of course seeks out the slightest cut you might have on your skin! Ouch!

Another fancy shot of the Dead Sea

Currently I’m sitting on the floor of the New Orleans airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta… delayed due to thunderstorms. For any of you who don’t already know—I’m Israel bound!! I was telling my friend Christie how disappointed I was not to have time to write an update before I left for Israel. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to share some of the events from the past few weeks, but more importantly, I know I will have a much more peaceful sendoff knowing that my friends and family are praying with me throughout this special trip.

I have been very busy since my last update. We’ve had over a dozen mission groups pass through these last few weeks. I’ve dealt with everything from overflowing toilets, to helping serve meals in the cafeteria, to cancelled ministry sites, and more. Even amidst the busyness, I try to stop and remind myself—not only to breathe—but to consider the blessing it is to be a part of such a great ministry here in this city. Although I miss getting out and “doing the grunt work” myself, I love seeing these students—who have given up their Spring Break—ministering throughout the city in so many ways.

In other news, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was in town to film their season finale. I had an incredible opportunity to pitch in—serving meals to volunteers and workers, and I even got to work inside the house for a bit. It was very exciting to be a part of something so “big”. By that I simply mean that it’s a show that is familiar to millions of viewers. It brings me to tears nearly every time I watch it—if not every time. I love “happy ever after” stories. Stories where people are coming through for other people. My friend Sarah and I had huge smiles on our faces as we were yelling “MOVE THAT BUS”! (And just so you know, that part of the show—in reality—lasts so much longer than the couple minutes they show on TV. We were yelling “MOVE THAT BUS” til we were blue in the face… about two hours before the homeowners even arrived.) Throughout that week, though… weaving my time with Extreme Makeover with my time at my “real” job… the realization was continually reinforced that every day I have here in the city is “big”. Every day lives are impacted by Christians here in New Orleans (either local or otherwise) who are pouring their hearts and energy into rebuilding lives and bringing the hope of Christ to everyone they encounter. The story that God has written and continues to write is the most extreme one there is! There is no greater “makeover” a person can receive than that of a new life in Christ.

A cool (and not so cool) thing happened last week… While taking a break from serving meals at Extreme Makeover to go work inside the house, I hid my camera (my nice, digital SLR-Christmas-gift-from-my-dad camera) between some boxes and when I came back, it was gone! Considering the fact that it never showed back up, I can say with confidence that it was stolen. I shed a bucket full of tears, filed a police report, but knew in my heart I probably would never see it again. As I was sitting behind the catering line, bawling my eyes out—frustrated with myself and with the situation considering where I was at—a gentleman came up and asked, with hesitation, why I was crying. I explained to him what happened. This nice man, who turned out to be a council member of Westwego, carefully took down my name and information. He promised that he would make it a personal priority to try to help me in whatever way that he could. The next evening he found me so that I could file a police report and introduced me to one of the producers, Diana. She was also very friendly and sincerely concerned about the situation. Mr. Shaddinger had already told her about my upcoming trip to Israel and how sad I would be to be without my camera for such a trip of a lifetime. Long story short… Thursday after the reveal—Mr. Shaddinger found me and gave me a sweet card without about 30 signatures from individuals who had actually donated to buy me a new camera! As I drove home that evening, I was praising God for my brand new Canon riding along with me in the passenger seat. GOD IS GOOD!!!

So our plane has arrived. We will board shortly to Atlanta, followed by an 11-12 hour flight to Tel Aviv. I cannot WAIT to share this next adventure with you! Please do pray for safe travels for myself and the 48 others who are taking this trip with me. I’m praying specifically that my eyes, mind, and heart will be opened to all I will experience and all God has for me in Israel.

A leap year to remember began with a leap year forgotten…

My morning began like any other and I expect its ending to fit the same description. Part of my morning routine is to read out of my One Year Bible. Each day’s reading includes a passage from both the Old and New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. As I picked it up and began to thumb through the pages, a thought instantly crossed my mind--”I wonder what they did about Leap Year?!”

In those few seconds I even became a little anxious… a second after that my fear was confirmed--Leap Year had been forgotten. It was missing. I flipped from February 28th to March 1st and back again. No February 29th. As is the case when I’m clearly disappointed, my bottom lip jutted out and I was sincerely sad. Sincerely. Sad. I realized at that moment how much I’d been enjoying my readings each morning. Some mornings I’ve been so engrossed in a story that I’m tempted to read ahead into the following day’s chapters to see what happens next (even for stories I’ve heard a dozen times before). Of course the gospels are inspiring, and I’ve extremely enjoyed the stories of old. And the Psalms each day… always a blessing and a reminder of God‘s provision and faithfulness! Many have echoed the very cry of my own heart. The proverbs bring a daily dose of wisdom, and then I’m out the door to face the world!

But not today… Leap Year had been forgotten. And I noticed.

Why am I even bringing this up? Because those last three words hold a ton of significance for my life and walk with the Lord. The fact that I noticed something missing from my time in God’s Word allows me to acknowledge and remember the many years when I didn’t.

I did end up reading from a different day so that I wouldn’t entirely skip my daily dose simply because the editors ignored the 25% chance I was reading during a leap year. I selected a date, not at random, but the date of my spiritual birthday. June 26th. I read from 2 Kings about a bunch of people being killed and Jezebel getting brutally murdered and then being trampled by horses. Happy birthday, huh? I read from Acts how Paul confronted the Athenians about their false gods. Oh the power in his words as he describes the one and true God. The God who made the world and all that is in it. IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING. I don’t know about you, but living and moving in God, by God and for God this week has taken me to some incredible and heartbreaking places this week.

Psalm 144: “What is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? … Deliver me and rescue me… Then… there will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.”

“A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” (Proverbs 17:27)

Thank you, Father, for your Word. Words useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Knowledge demands action.

I was reminded again this week that our knowledge demands our action. Look around you. What are needs that you are aware of in the lives of those surrounding you? Then answer this: are you active in caring for the needs of others?

May I introduce you to some new friends of mine?

Jerry is a man who waits every morning for a lady who picks him up to help do some work around her house. I’m convinced that whatever she’s able to pay him is the income that’s sustaining him, however meager that sustenance is. Jerry was born and raised in New Orleans. He has some family in Memphis, Tennessee.
Quinton is a man with yellow, but kind eyes. He is from Roanoke, VA. He came to New Orleans recently to do some work around town. Apparently the rest of the crew went back to Virginia without him--much to his dismay as he discovered he’d somehow missed out on that roundtrip ticket.

Bitty was a woman sitting in the cold and bitter wind. I’m not certain that she had any pants on, yet by her measly weight I am pretty certain that either drugs or a eating disorder have been in her recent past. She didn’t want a blanket. My guess--the wall she’d built around herself shielded her from the pain of the cold air as she repeated, “I’m fine”. As I persisted she even warned, “I’m not in a good mood.”

Lily stood at the foot of the church steps, admiring the tall cathedral. She was traveling--seeing the sights. By the looks of her I’d say she’d been traveling through this vacation much longer than she’d been in a steady home. If you closed your eyes, you’d think by her voice that she was a Hollywood blonde bombshell. Her weathered face, stringy hair, and tired eyes told a much different story.

What do my new friends all have in common? They are each one of the hundred plus individuals who have settled into a community under the I-10 overpass at Claiborne and Canal. (Lily being the only exception as she claims she’s only passing through, sleeping at a bus stop instead of in a tent or stolen mattress like the rest.)

It is a sight that most of us could never even imagine. And yet thousands of cars drive by this scene each day in this city. I wonder… what do they think, the passing cars? When did they stop noticing, not this eyesore as some call it, but these people… these individuals? Each face. Each hungry belly. Each tired soul. Some are taking notice, although perhaps mostly with a camera. Yes, I supposed it is an interesting scene to document.

I must say, however, that some are trying to help the situation. My dear friend Robert, a retiree, packs up the bed of his truck with donuts and hot chocolate each morning and soup in the afternoon. He’ll work each evening ‘til dawn cutting up 10 pounds of carrots, 10 pounds of potatoes… you get the point… to give some kind of nourishment to the homeless. This service comes from the goodness of his heart, from his desire to share Christ’s love, and out of his own pocket.

I had the privilege this week of helping him serve soup, hot chocolate and blankets to dozens of homeless men and women. The next day I went with The King’s Academy, a volunteer group in from Tennessee (also the school I used to work for), as they handed out hygiene packs, more blankets, Bibles and tracts. It was on that day that I met Jerry and Quinton.

I sat with them for quite a while, asking about how long they’d been living under the overpass, talking some about their families, and talking a lot about God. You see, I’ve found that men and women in such dire conditions talk a lot about God. Even living on the streets, some part of them believes in God but they can’t quite put their finger on how to live that out. Many are missing the point that living out a life and belief in God requires believing in a God who desires to live in them. They speak of reading the Bible and praying to God in a tone of ‘cause-that‘s-what-Momma-taught more than ‘cause-Christ-lives-in-me-and-I-can-do-nothing-else! I excitedly took the opportunity to share with them the truths of God’s redeeming love through His Son Jesus. They listened, Quinton especially, eyes glued to mine as I spoke each word. I prayed with them and left them with this challenge: “As you lie down for bed this evening, before you go to sleep ask God this question, ‘Am I right with You? Or is something missing in my pursuit of a true relationship with You?’” Again, I repeated to them that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one comes unto God the Father but by Him. Believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the way--the only way--to secure an eternal relationship with God. If their questions to God that night revealed a void, it is my prayer that the truth of God’s Word that was shared with them would resonate in their minds and that they would find and accept God’s truth, entering into a true relationship with Him.

My persistence with Bitty paid off. She eventually took the blanket from me as I asked her, like I would a child, “Will you please take the blanket… (displaying my puppy dog eyes)… for me?” At last, she consented, yet again she warned that her mood was not favorable for company. No bother. I’d already opted to sit down and stay awhile with her anyways, bad mood or not! I can’t remember all that I said, but I loved on her as best I could for at least 10 minutes. I reminded her over and over of God’s love, of how it doesn’t matter how far we stray from Him, He’ll never leave us. He’ll NEVER leave us. Bitty’s Momma taught her well, and she nodded often in agreement as I spoke. It wasn’t long until Bitty became my “all the time” girl. I’d mention how God’s always with us… “All the time,” she’d reply. I’d tell her that His love for us is strong… “All the time,” she’d faithfully nod.

“God is forgiving.”

“All the time.”

“God is able.”

“All the time.”

“God loves us more than we could ever comprehend.”

“All the time.”

I dare say that Bitty’s words will echo in my head for weeks to come. I hope they keep ringing in my ears for as long as I’m on this earth! For God is good… all the time!

Tears were forming in Bitty’s eyes. They trickled slowly down as I literally felt the love I had for this once stranger, now friend passing from God, to me, to Bitty. I could sense Bitty opening her heart and posture not just to me, but to God Himself through that encounter. Tears flowed from my own eyes as I prayed for her. Aubrey, sitting with us, gave Bitty a Bible and encouraged her to read about God’s love. Bitty began to open up to us, sharing her frustrations, concerns, and desires. We hugged her a few more times before saying our goodbyes… promising to pray for her in the days ahead.

And finally, Lily. I had returned to the area today looking for Quinton. I was going to talk to him about some options for getting back to Roanoke. My search led me to a nearby church offering showers, meals, laundry services and more to the homeless. Quinton was nowhere to be found. I met some other nice folks (workers and homeless men) and I even ran into Wendell, who used to be a resident at the men’s ministry across from the seminary. He immediately recognized me and called out my name. I was honored to be remembered! I hadn’t seen him in over six months. I was able to pray for him and learn about his current, and unfavorable, situation.

As I was leaving to go back to the office, I saw Lily standing there. I was literally about to turn the key and drive off yet I sat frozen, realizing that I needed to go talk to her. Why? I have no idea. But I knew I’d have a feeling of regret all day if I simply drove off, so back out I went. “Hi!” I began. What followed was some small talk, some not so small talk… and the next thing I knew we were driving down the road searching for a decent coffee shop. I spent the next hour and a half with Lily. There were a couple moments of awkward silence, with me not having a clue what to say… but for the most part we both shared how we were having a great time just meeting someone new, drinking some good coffee, and enjoying the pleasant day out on the town. I found out that Lily had served 3 years of a 5 year sentence in jail. She had 5 children ranging in age from 20-something to 5 from what sounded like 5 different men. The fathers all had custody of the children. It has been a long time since she’s seen any of them. I asked her if that made her sad. She got quiet, looking away, uttering an expected “yes”. I’ll never forget the giddy hug she gave me as we were being rung up at Starbucks. I’ll never forget the shock in her voice when we pulled into the parking lot, “It’s $6 to park here!” (Normally, I avoid those lots like the plague, but I was on a mission and cost was not a priority!) And I’ll never forget how she nearly refused to take the money I shoved in her pocket as I dropped her off. She looked at me with a grin and said, “I suppose this isn’t for my night on the town, is it?!” To which I happily explained that I purposely gave her some smaller bills and those (only those!) were to be used for her fun night on the town. The rest I made her promise to spend on the Greyhound she was hoping to catch out of town. She agreed, giggled, and walked away.
In other news… God has been faithful to me in my job situation. It is still a heavy load and I’m very busy, but His presence is so evident!! He has been active in so many ways, big and small, throughout this transition. Thank you for your prayers. They have not been in vain!

Blessings,

Hannah

Some recent reports on the homeless “colony” under the overpass.

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl022808jbhomeless.7028a71.html

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl022608tphomeless.307258d6.html

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." ~Oswald Chambers~

First, I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas season! I had a fabulous time with my family and friends in Tennessee and even had a chance to see some old friends in New York City to ring in the New Year.

January 7th marked my one-year anniversary of living and working in New Orleans full-time. My, how 2007 flew by! So many new things learned, so many great ministry opportunities, and yet… there’s still plenty left here to learn, do, and be! I’ve been looking forward to 2008 because I view this new year as an opportunity for more growth and improvement in my own personal life, in the MissionLab program, and in the rebuilding of New Orleans.

This year started off well enough. I eased back into the office after the break. I’ve had time to run through my to-do list as we prepare for the new groups of volunteers this Spring and Summer. I’ve had some chances to get out into the city and minister to the needs of the community. Life is good. :)

Then… BAMM! This past week, something unexpected…

Linda Jackson, who came back with her husband to the seminary after serving for 10 years as missionaries in France and Tunisia has left Mission Lab (unexpectedly) to manage a different department on campus. After Hurricane Katrina, Bob and Linda basically rebuilt MissionLab from nothing. She’s been operating as Office Manager, but basically has had her hands in everything concerning what we do.

Long story short, with Linda gone, that leaves me carrying a huge load! Granted, I have directors over me, but as far as day-to-day logistics, I’m now the one doing the brunt of the office work, organizing, thinking!, etc. Let me put it this way… my title is Ministry Site Coordinator. I am a liason between the ministries in the city and the groups that come in from out of town. It is a full-time job. Now… for an indefinite period of time… I’m essentially taking on another full-time job on top of the one I already have. There are no plans to “replace Linda” per se. The duties are starting to fall on me… hard.

My prayer request: I need daily, God-given focus, clarity of mind, determination, wisdom, discernment, energy… and whatever else you want to throw in there!! :)

But allow me to share with you what I have already been learning through this. After all, although I was completely shocked by this event, God wasn’t. He has known all along that this was going to happen, and I have full peace and confidence in believing that He has prepared me for this challenge.

Soon after we heard the news, we all began straightening up our desks, realizing that more work and files would be coming our way. Bob started throwing his “trash” into a box. I noticed CDs, notepads, etc that I could use or recycle. He allowed me to sift through the items and in the box I discovered a pocket-sized book. I never throw away books, so despite its title I would have salvaged it. Upon closer inspection, however, I realized perhaps I’d found an even greater treasure than expected…

The book is called “The Red Sea Rules: The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out” by Robert J. Morgan. Interesting title, considering my current emotions, so I started reading it… and didn’t stop.

What a blessing this book was to me during this time of what I’ve called “a harsh transition”! As I’ve read and meditated on the truths from this book, and subsequently from Scripture, I realized that many of you could probably benefit from these truths as well. My prayer is that you will either take the time now to read through these highlights or that you will save this message for a time when you might could use some God-given reminders.

(The dedication for this book was to “Katrina”, his wife. I paused, stunned, before proceeding to Chapter 1. After all, God brought me here through the events of that storm. Perhaps only if I’d read my own name would I been more surprised. …Although later in the book, the author tells a story of his daughter Hannah and God’s providence in providing her with the perfect apartment in Knoxville, TN!)

The Red Sea Rules:

Rule 1 -- Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Rule 2 -- Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.
Rule 3 -- Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Rule 4 -- Pray!
Rule 5 -- Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Rule 6 -- When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Rule 7 -- Envision God’s enveloping presence.
Rule 8 -- Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
Rule 9 -- View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Rule 10 -- Don’t forget to praise Him.

“First, He has brought me here, it is by His will that I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.
Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.
Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last, in His good time He can bring me out again--how and when He knows.
Let me say I am here,
(1) By God’s appointment,
(2) In His keeping,
(3) Under His training,
(4) For His time.” -- Andrew Murray

“The next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, ‘How can I get out of this mess?’ try asking, ‘How can God be glorified in this situation?’” -- R. J. Morgan

“I do not care what the circumstances may be, the Christian should never be agitated, the Christian should never be beside himself, the Christian should never be at his wit’s end, should never be in a condition in which he has lost… It implies a lack of trust and confidence in [God].” -- Dr. Martyn Llyod-Jones

“If God is for us, who can be against us?… In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” -- Romans 8:31, 37

“Whenever I haven’t known what to do, I’ve just tried to do what comes next, to take the next logical step by faith. I’ve decided that sometimes plodding is better than plotting when it comes to finding God’s will.” -- R.J. Morgan

“Faith is…
believing that what the Lord has said to us will be accomplished. (Luke 1:45)
being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised. (Romans 4:20-21)
believing that things will happen just as He has told us. (Acts 27:23-25)
considering Him faithful who has given us promises.” (Hebrews 11:11) -- R.J. Morgan

“The trust we put in God honors Him much and draws down great graces… When [God] finds a soul penetrated with a living faith, He pours into it His graces and favors plentifully; there they flow like a torrent.” -- Brother Lawrence

I realize that what I’m facing with my job isn’t a tragedy or a major hardship, although I’ve experienced both throughout the course of my life. This transition is going to have a great outcome; I have complete faith in that and in God to bring about His will. Regardless, it is something new. I’ve never had such an intense workload, but I thank God for His clear calling for me to be right where I am.

I know from prayer requests some of you have shared that 2007 has brought you and/or your family and friends some difficulties. I hope you will continue to share your prayers and concerns with me. Most importantly, I pray that you will find comfort and strength in the God who made you and has a good and perfect plan for your life. Maybe there’s something from the experiences of those mentioned above and wisdom from God’s own Word that can fill your mind and heart with peace.

Thanks again and always for your prayers and support!

Blessings,
Hannah