Well we were here again in Pennsylvania. Arrived on the 8th and today was our final day. Didn't get to do much but stay inside. Snowed 2 almost 3 feet of snow here this week so we were stuck. On Tuesday we were able to help out with some construction and organizing of our YWAM family church. So that was good to be a blessing to the local Body of Christ. Other than that, been pretty boring.
I guess I can write some things I felt have come out of this trip for me -
From the beginning I didn't know what to expect. And every week after that, going to a new place, I had no idea what we were going into. But God always went ahead of us, I know that much. East Coast/New England area evangelism. Hmm, might not excite a lot of us. But, this is where our country started. The New England area was a place of worship and missions building. Crazy to see how the area and our whole nation has strayed so far away from our roots. Our foundation. There is hope though. There are things happening under our small radar. Nine salvations in Boston. BOSTON. One of the darkest places in our country. Liberal, anti-god, free thinking city. Those nine salvations came from the streets. In a few days, less than 2 hours a day being out there. Interesting right? Something that God had to remind me was this is still His country. He will not just hand it over to the darkness. People, of all kinds, are rising up against the darkness and saying enough. The name of our God will not be hidden in this great nation.
Youth are starting to rise up. Fire is starting to burn within their hearts. To see change, and they are willing to BE the change. A sleeping giant is about to wake up. Am I ready for it? Are we, as the body of Christ ready for it. Flakes and fakes will not be able to handle what is about to start. I believe little children will start to call out the sin of their elders. Conviction will fall on whole congregation and repentance will take place because Jesus IS coming back soon. He is looking for a pure bride. His bride.
Ok all that to say prayer DOES change things. Many testimonies of that on this outreach for me. Pray ya'll. Keep praying. Pray for our nation. Change will come. I will pray for my nation and I believe change will come.
Patience, listening for His voice, learning how to love, reflecting Christ, DYING to myself. So much more He has been teachin me. I have said it in previous posts, the pruning of branches is a very painful but very needed thing. The calling God has for me is no small calling. There can be no room for sin in my life. But by His grace will He walk me through it. I am willing. I will respond to His call. I will walk through fire to see His name glorified.
Final note, it's been a good trip. Long, tiring, but also fruitful. I am so grateful for His provision and continuous blessing on this trip. I came to serve Him and He blessed me. What an incredible God He is.
We head back tomorrow morning, stopping overnight in Nashville. We arrive in Tyler, TX on Saturday. I am so excited to be getting back. This is the last post for the Outreach part. I am going to be posting again soon. I will explain what I'll be doin next.
Thank you SO much for your prayers and support. Blessings on you.
-Aaron
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
West Virginia - February 1st - 7th
Hmm, well it's been a good week. When I think about our great nation, honestly West Virginia doesn't come to mind. Having never been here or even driven through. But it has been a very good week. We have been in Keyser, West VA. A small town like the rest of West VA. Spiritually a heavy place. Poverty stricken area, annual average income is $23,000. So it's a run down town but there is so much history it's awesome. We worked with the Whitlock family. They were on staff at YWAM Tyler for about 20 years and God called 'em too West VA. a few years ago. So it was very good to be with family and encourage them. Uplift them, bring some Holy Spirit energizing. All that good stuff.
Monday we arrived and had a youth service right away at the church we have been staying at. It was very good. We had a plan of action, but God switched that all up and it went awesome. Had an awesome time of worship. Did The Challenge and went straight into intercession with the kids. Definitely have some prayer warriors here.
Tuesday we went to the college here. It's a branch off of West Virginia college. Patomic State. Very nice campus, pretty small. But we were doing a program Thursday there. Kind of a chill cafe atmosphere with us playin music and we also were doin or drama. That night it started snowing, we were supposed to go to a troubled kids home. But it got canceled because of snow. So Jason, the director of YWAM West VA here, took us around town to the different buildings and facilities he is believing God for. It's crazy how strategically placed these buildings are. But if they got them all it would be AWESOME. YWAM infiltration fillin this town with the presence of Jesus. Be prayin for YWAM West VA and the Whitlock family. Their vision for this area is so God breathed.
Wednesday we were hooked up with a local church and we did a kind of dwell night there. Youth and adults came. As well as other churches from around the area. 2 hours of worship to our King. Honestly, I don't know what gets better than that. The Youth were stirred up, Holy Spirit came, conviction, repentance, surrender, and our Father was glorified. I love hanging with God. Being on this outreach, on a worship team, having the PRIVILEGE, with my brothers on stage with me to lead people into His courts. I don't understand how good He is. But He is so, so good to me. "Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere." - Has truly come alive this trip. My own personal time with the Lord, conversing, singing to Him. Expressing my new found love for Him, finally. It's been so freeing and so beautiful at the same time. Still can NOT believe how far He has brought me this past year and a half. Truly a good Father I have.
Thursday was our day at the college. It was a very weird day to begin with. I was so exhausted, drained spiritually and physically. As was my team. We spent at least 3 hours at the college just chillin there. Just chillin, doin nothing. Expecting to go right into our whole 'shabang'. Bad mistake. We played a few songs. Did our drama, soon as we mentioned Jesus, 95% of the room was cleared. Very discouraging, but very eye opening. 3 people stayed. And we were able to pray with them, plant seeds in their hearts. If only one was saved on this outreach it would be worth it. Jesus is worth it. I wasn't prepared for that day. Even if the outcome was the same, my heart needed to be in the right place. Not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit indeed. We went into an intense battleground. Colleges are very intense area for ministry. What we did was the first time anyone had done something like that at the college, ministry wise. Prayer changes things though. I know that I know it does. I know something has started at the college and it will become fruitful.
Friday and Saturday were relax and hang out days. Being snowed in, a good 36 inches to be exact. Everything this weekend has been canceled. But I'm glad it was. Being able to rest. Re-energize. And hang out personally with God. After 5 weeks of constant pouring and pouring you start to feel the fatigue. God really poured into us through rest and dwelling with Him.
This trip has been so much pruning and tuning. Very much needed, but very painful at times. I'm moving into a delicate area in ministry. I need to truly reflect my King. And He knows it.
Monday we head back to Pennsylvania. Pottstown, PA. Looking forward to it. Love Pennsylvania. Only one week left. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Feels like I started this outreach yesterday. Hmm, God is so cool.
Be blessed, please continue to pray for me and my team.
-Aaron
P.S God has blessed me ya'll. Brought a very cool girl by the name of Ruth Valeria Molina into my life. She has grown on me ;) in a good way of course. I love her to death.
Monday we arrived and had a youth service right away at the church we have been staying at. It was very good. We had a plan of action, but God switched that all up and it went awesome. Had an awesome time of worship. Did The Challenge and went straight into intercession with the kids. Definitely have some prayer warriors here.
Tuesday we went to the college here. It's a branch off of West Virginia college. Patomic State. Very nice campus, pretty small. But we were doing a program Thursday there. Kind of a chill cafe atmosphere with us playin music and we also were doin or drama. That night it started snowing, we were supposed to go to a troubled kids home. But it got canceled because of snow. So Jason, the director of YWAM West VA here, took us around town to the different buildings and facilities he is believing God for. It's crazy how strategically placed these buildings are. But if they got them all it would be AWESOME. YWAM infiltration fillin this town with the presence of Jesus. Be prayin for YWAM West VA and the Whitlock family. Their vision for this area is so God breathed.
Wednesday we were hooked up with a local church and we did a kind of dwell night there. Youth and adults came. As well as other churches from around the area. 2 hours of worship to our King. Honestly, I don't know what gets better than that. The Youth were stirred up, Holy Spirit came, conviction, repentance, surrender, and our Father was glorified. I love hanging with God. Being on this outreach, on a worship team, having the PRIVILEGE, with my brothers on stage with me to lead people into His courts. I don't understand how good He is. But He is so, so good to me. "Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere." - Has truly come alive this trip. My own personal time with the Lord, conversing, singing to Him. Expressing my new found love for Him, finally. It's been so freeing and so beautiful at the same time. Still can NOT believe how far He has brought me this past year and a half. Truly a good Father I have.
Thursday was our day at the college. It was a very weird day to begin with. I was so exhausted, drained spiritually and physically. As was my team. We spent at least 3 hours at the college just chillin there. Just chillin, doin nothing. Expecting to go right into our whole 'shabang'. Bad mistake. We played a few songs. Did our drama, soon as we mentioned Jesus, 95% of the room was cleared. Very discouraging, but very eye opening. 3 people stayed. And we were able to pray with them, plant seeds in their hearts. If only one was saved on this outreach it would be worth it. Jesus is worth it. I wasn't prepared for that day. Even if the outcome was the same, my heart needed to be in the right place. Not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit indeed. We went into an intense battleground. Colleges are very intense area for ministry. What we did was the first time anyone had done something like that at the college, ministry wise. Prayer changes things though. I know that I know it does. I know something has started at the college and it will become fruitful.
Friday and Saturday were relax and hang out days. Being snowed in, a good 36 inches to be exact. Everything this weekend has been canceled. But I'm glad it was. Being able to rest. Re-energize. And hang out personally with God. After 5 weeks of constant pouring and pouring you start to feel the fatigue. God really poured into us through rest and dwelling with Him.
This trip has been so much pruning and tuning. Very much needed, but very painful at times. I'm moving into a delicate area in ministry. I need to truly reflect my King. And He knows it.
Monday we head back to Pennsylvania. Pottstown, PA. Looking forward to it. Love Pennsylvania. Only one week left. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Feels like I started this outreach yesterday. Hmm, God is so cool.
Be blessed, please continue to pray for me and my team.
-Aaron
P.S God has blessed me ya'll. Brought a very cool girl by the name of Ruth Valeria Molina into my life. She has grown on me ;) in a good way of course. I love her to death.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Another song.
Verse 1
Your heart beckons me
And I will answer
Your love says come to me
And I will run
Your grace has captured me
And now I am home
Verse 2
Your sweetness overwhelms me
I can not run from it
Your presence draws me in
And at your feet I will stay
Your beauty is beyond all words
And I stand amazed
Chorus
I want more, I want more
I want more, oh I want more
Will you grant me one wish
And show me more
Bridge
I am madly in love with You
I am madly in love with You
Your heart beckons me
And I will answer
Your love says come to me
And I will run
Your grace has captured me
And now I am home
Verse 2
Your sweetness overwhelms me
I can not run from it
Your presence draws me in
And at your feet I will stay
Your beauty is beyond all words
And I stand amazed
Chorus
I want more, I want more
I want more, oh I want more
Will you grant me one wish
And show me more
Bridge
I am madly in love with You
I am madly in love with You
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