Wednesday, May 28, 2008

All Ready to Go

Well...the preparation is complete and we are ready to head out. We just finished our last meeting and the next time the team will be together will be at 4:30am on Saturday morning. We will load the bus and be on the road by 5am, putting us into New Orleans around midnight.

Thank you so much for your financial and prayer support so far, but we covet your prayer now during our travel and service. Pray that God would move within each of us, giving us the strength we need for the tasks ahead. Pray that we would come back to Sioux Falls as changed people, ready to work for justice here, in our families, neighborhoods, and cities.

Keep coming back here each day for updates from the team as to the ongoings of the day and what God is teaching us. See you soon!!

~Jason

4 comments:

Martha said...

Wanted all of you to know what we were doing yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday). Prayer vigil began at 5:00 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m.

Used a prayer journal and these were some postings to that:

1. To the Mission Team ~
Thank you for being the Hands and Feet since I'm not able to go. May God richly bless your travels, your service, and your fun!

2. May God richly bless you as you serve others in the spirit of our heavenly Father. Let the light of Christ within each of you shine to those you help that their spirits may also blaze in God's glory.

3. Thank you for the call God placed in each of your hearts to be part of something greater than yourselves. May you be blessed in your spiritual journey as you have collectively been a serving hope to others who have been in need of your help for YEARS. Thank you for giving of yourselves to be able to inject a ray of sunshine and hope into the lives of those who are suffering.

4. May God give you a compassionate heart with love flowing out like a SD prairie breeze - gentle at times but strong and steady as needed. God bless each of you. Thank you for being a part of my Asbury church family.

5. May God bless you with His loving touch as you continue to serve others in Jesus' name.

6. May you serve God, by serving the people of New Orleans, with love, compassion, acceptance, and hope! He will give you strength, endurance, and patience. God bless you all for your commitment to Him.

7. In God's arms you are doing the work for his kingdom. Bless each and every one for your commitment to serve others. Amen!!!

8. Bless each one of you while you are gone -- traveling and working. God speed!!

9. Thank you for having servant hearts and for being laborers in the construction of buildings. Most of al thank you for being laborers in God's harvest. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Matt. 9:37. I pray God's blessings on each of you.

10. May you feel the compassion of Christ as you work together and immerse yourselves into the lives of the people of New Orleans. God Bless you in your work.

11. We are praying for each of the Mission Team members who are bearing the burdens of those less fortunate than we. Our prayers are for your safe return to us - Your families

12. May the light of Christ surround you
May the love of Christ enfold you
May the power of Christ strengthen you
and May the presence of Christ protect you
Wherever you are, Christ is and all is well

13. John 6:27 "Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that is eternal, the food that the Son will give you." May you be blessed with angels above and around you.

14. Thank you for representing Asbury for the rest of us and thank you for giving of yourselves to do God's work. Be safe, be strong and know that God is watching over you and smiling down upon you! God bless each one of you.

15. It's a half day since we saw you go - our hearts, minds, thoughts and prayers are with you. And we know your work has just begun. The yarn around our wrists, the tag on our key chains, missing you at services and practices and meetings this next week will all be reminders of the work you're doing for God, his people, and our church. We're very proud and thankful for your sacrifices of time and talent. God bless you. We will be praying for you anxiously, awaiting your safe return. in God the Father, his Loving Son, Jesus and his loving and compassionate Holy Spirit, we give thanks for you. Amen.

These were the individuals who prayed ~
Martha B
Jeff N
Linda V
Marilyn H
Pilar K
Joyce B
Brenda B
Yvonne L
Bonnie H
Donna L
Trudy B
Bunnie W
Berdine O
Mary R
Terri S
Lee J
Tracy J

Martha said...

This morning's service was filled with reminders of your being servants of Christ. Pastor Rick's sermon was titled "Practice Preaching but Live the Teaching" and all of you are living out that Message!

Martha said...

Prayer Vigil participants:
Jayne A
Martha B
Jeff N
Connie P
Linda V
Marilyn H
Pilar K
Joyce B
Brenda B
Yvonne L
Bonnie H
Donna L
Trudy B
Bunnie W
Berdine O
Mary R
Terri S
Lee J
Tracy J

Julie said...

I am laughing out loud reading the blog! I must say I am not envious of Kayla and Cindy's prostituting opportunities, but I am of the bug experiences (most of you know I love spiders and most creepy crawlers). Keep up the wonderful work and sense of humor. Try to keep Jason and Kip inline and Alex out of the bathroom! We are off to Amy Jorgensen's wedding this weekend in Spearfish! We will tell Dar and Boyd hi from everyone*;-) I will continue to lift you up in prayer and keep you on my heart. Traveling mercies!Love in Christ, Julie Ashworth