Watching Him move
Hello everyone. Another tour has passed and another newsletter is in front of you. Can you believe that it has been three years since I have started writing these?? There have been so many experiences, lessons learned and great times; thank you for being apart of all of my struggles and triumphs over my time here.
This spring tour I was placed on the home base team to work in the offices and help with whatever other odd jobs there are around our base. Even though that is my main job I have still gotten to travel. In April I joined the mission’s team and traveled to England, Scotland and Wales for about two and a half weeks; so many sights and memories. And all the churches and hosts were absolutely "brilliant". I would like to share a testimony from our trip that goes along with the title I gave my newsletter; watching Him move. I wrote this for our recent ministry mailed newsletter so some of you may have already read it. But for those who haven't I pray you are blessed by hearing what God is doing around the world.
It was our last service in England and the church was packed. We did our sketches and an alter call was given. Despite a great response to the sketches during the service and several people visibly touched by the message only one person came up for prayer. Earlier that morning we had gathered together to seek God's direction for the service. One team member asked God to simply...Move, to see a tangible move of Him, for God to visibly rock that church. When one person came down to the alter, it was a praise but it felt unfinished. The pastor of the church came forward to say some closing words and finish out the service when a man from the congregation came forward to share something he had received from the service. As the man began to talk he started to weep and cry out to the other people in front of him saying that our team had come a great distance and everyone should WANT to be prayed over for an anointing to be passed on. All at once there was a flood of crying and waling people on their knees. We began to minister in prayer and anoint heads with oil. The anointing of God flooded that floor and people began to hear words from God and hearts were restored. God heard that prayer before the service to please...move. Where two or more are gathered in His name there He is in the midst of us.
This is what I have been learning this tour; to ask God to move. Do you know how powerful your prayers are? I have been reading a book called "intercessory prayer-how God can use your prayers to move heaven and earth". It really has illustrated prayer for me in a new way. For instance: Intercessory prayer. Intercession means to go between or to represent. So when we go to God and pray for someone we have a meeting with Him that says, "God I am standing in for this person and because of what your son did on Calvary (in the name of Jesus) I am asking you to move and touch this person". It is what Jesus did for us, too. He went as a go-between for God and us. He bridged that gap. He interceded for humans. He had a meeting with His father so we can go directly and have a meeting, as well. As author Dutch Sheets puts it, "interceding is not just a prayer (although there is a prayer of intercession), it is an action". So how about it? Let's take action, have a meeting and see heaven and earth move.
In addition while in England, Scotland and Wales: we got to go to Hillsong London and had an amazing time of worship (if you ever get the chance...GO), got caught in a rain storm while seeing big Ben, Westminster abbey and other sights (we got so soaked), going southwest we met the other side of the Atlantic ocean (I live on the other side!), in Scotland we saw Edinburgh Castle (it was huge), we ate lamb (poor little thing), toured an underground city type thing from the olden days(their drainage system was sick), ate fish and chips (fries, yum), got two flat tires (go figure the rental car doesn't carry a spare), repaired two flat tires (thank you Lord for the sealing material and male power to do so), saw “Les Mis” at a London theater (24601...you have to know the play), learned self-defense from a professional fighter (don't mess with me. My favorite maneuver is the teacup one ), tried a Cornish pasty (tasty), drive down penny lane (hey Jude), I saw a game of cricket going on (kind of like crocket', or however you spell it, and golf), heard a shop owner tell a local pirate story at his shop (there was more Jack sparrow stuff in there than I have ever seen), Murph bought candy floss not knowing that it was just cotton candy (that was just funny), lost a hubcap ( oops), never found a hubcap (sorry rental people), ate at an Italian restaurant in Scotland (there is something you don't see everyday), saw 3 men wearing kilts (I took a picture), 2 were playing the bagpipes (I took another picture), Joshua and Josh ran through a field chasing sheep (they were excited to be in Scotland), stopped in Wales and took pictures (I have been to five countries now!), learned some Portuguese (if I knew how to spell it I would tell you what we learned), saw 25 people come to Christ (thank you Jesus), passed out almost 6000 tracts (sewed a seed)...all in all it was a great trip and I am so glad I was able to go.
Myself and other home base people also were apart of Pastor Dave's Gospel revolution meeting in Jackson, TN and that my friends was a good time with great preaching God really showed up and the church was wonderful to work with. We all also did a car wash to raise money for our vans and even though we all came out looking like lobsters, because of the sun, we were able to raise a good amount. PRAISE GOD!
Wrapping this newsletter up I would like to share a few quotes that I have heard that I believe are "repeat" worthy.
-We don't wait well. We're into micro waving; God, on the other hand, is usually into marinating-Author Dutch Sheets
-To err is human to repeat it is stupid- Someone
- You can't be trusted until you are teachable- Dr. Tim Hines
-It's not the speed of your growth; it's the quality- Dr. Tim Hines
-The darkness is not too dark; the light is not light enough- Bobbi Jo Hamilton
Thank you all for your support, not only to go on the mission trip but in general. You are beautiful people. I pray that you are blessed over and over and over again.
Love and hugs-Joelle K. Shenk
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