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Fall 2007 Southwest USA Tour Photo Albums
Somewhere in the middle of Utah, bus breakdown! Ministry opportunity!
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel Philippians 1:12
As you all know, we now have a new bus. "Incue". We call it our "God-bus" because it is so perfectly suited to what we need and so beyond what we ever expected. He is so good to us. We left Denver a few days after my last update and headed on the way to Las Vegas. As you know, we experienced a couple of breakdowns. The causes of the breakdowns were always minor things, but each time we found God had a purpose for us in the town we broke down in. We met several specific men and women that God had us minister to in these breakdowns. I definitely learned to trust God in those circumstances. Even when it was hard and hot and you felt stranded, God came through every time and encouraged us in the end with His divine providence.
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Ministry in Las Vegas Nevada
Vegas was an eye-opener for me especially because it was my first time there. The city is in the middle of a desert valley and our entrance into it was nothing spectacular. As you move into the city center, the billboards, advertisements, and buildings get more and more sketchy. It was weird to see such filth being publically displayed and more than that, celebrated. The place where we stayed in Las Vegas (John and Debb's) was open to youth every night. Any of the kids who wanted somewhere to go could come over and hang out. On Monday nights there was also bible study. We spent a good deal of time just being with the youth and talking with them. We also played at several churches throughout Vegas. In Vegas the theme that God was teaching me (and has been this whole month) is to wait on Him. The flesh isn't good at waiting, and I really had to learn patience and resting in God's timing for things. He has a lot to teach us if we are willing to be taught.
Ps. 37:7a "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.."
Is 64:8 "But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
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Ministry in CA: Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Immanuel Baptist Church
We drove to Los Angeles on Wed. the 17th of Oct. We spent the first night in a WalMart parking lot, and then the next morning headed to Santa Monica, where we parked the bus for the day. I was able to sink my toes into some sand and splash some salty ocean water on my face, which I loved! We spent the day at the pier and walking up and down the promenade. We were all together as a group when we walked by a man name John who had a cardboard sign asking for money. All up and down the promenade there are people begging, but this one man stood out to Norm. He stopped to talk with him, then after a couple minutes called us all over. This man had something wrong with the joints in his hands and elbows and was unable to work. He was raising money to get back to Korea so he could have them operated on. And, he was also a Christian! Our group gathered around him and prayed for him, then each of us gave him some money. Later on that night, a man had seen Norm give someone else money and had followed our group 2 blocks down to the food court to tell Norm he was impressed with what Norm did. This man's name is Ahmad and he is a Muslim by birth. Norm was able to share Christ with him. He spent over an hour with us and we took him to see our bus. Pray for Ahmad. He is not far from Christ.
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While in LA, we played at Immanuel Baptist, a black church in the midst of LA. We definitely stuck out, being eight white people in a group. On Saturday night, we went to the mall for supper and walked back through the sketchy area of town (which we didn't know until after). Aside from constant staring, nothing eventful happened. On the way home, we were about 5 minutes from the church when we heard a series of gunshots. By the time we were back at the church, police were eveywhere and there was a helicopter circling with a searchlight. The murder had been within a block of us. God was definitely protecting us there.
Ministry at the Tuscon AZ Salvation Army after school program for kids
Here we are in Tuscon Arizona at the Salvation Army helping out with an after school program for kids.
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Ministry at Adult Recovery Center, Tuscon, Arizona
In Tuscon, AZ, the highlight by far was our evening at the Salvation Army Adult Recovery Center (ARC). God was so present in our evening chapel there. The room was packed with men who know they're sinful, and love God with every fiber of their being because of what He's saved them from. It's an awesome thing to see grown men weeping and yelling "I am free" at the top of their lungs. They have a childlike faith, absolute adoration of God, and genuine humilty. An altar call brought more than 3/4 of the men forward, so that they filled the front of the building and lay kneeling all down the center isle. It's impossible to explain the feeling of watching God work that night, but I know I was challenged not to live in the "Christian box", and also to encourage other Christians to seek passionately after God.
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Grand Canyon, Arizona
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with splendor and majesty. Psalm 104:1
O Lord, How many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. Psalm 104:24
We took a little detour and went up to see the Grand Canyon. It was such a blessing to see God's incredible handiwork!! We spent a few of the morning hours touring the shops and taking a hike down the cliff (we only got halfway down and turned around).
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I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
Jezreel T-Shirts being Manufactured in Silver City, New Mexico
We were in the bus, about an hour’s drive away from the Grand Canyon, when Marlynn hopped out of her bed and said to Norm that we should go to Silvercity, New Mexico. We had no bookings there, but we had several days that were free and there were people there who wanted to see us. Norm decided, "Why not," so we drove the 240 miles out of the way and stopped in Silvercity. Another divine appointment! The band was SO blessed there. A Christian family there owns a retail and silk-screening/embroidery store, and they gave abundantly to us of what God had blessed them with. They supplied us with more Jezreel t-shirts, hats, stickers, and business cards that WE got to help design!! All of our meals were taken care of by different families, and we were able to minister at the Rescue Mission as well as an outdoor concert right outside of MorningStar (the clothing store). We left there feeling so encouraged by God's provision and abundant blessing.
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