Last week was so incredible! At every turn we saw God's hand of provision. We have all heard (and even preached) about how God has our needs met before we even know we have a need...that He's been there and paved the way, etc, etc. But whether or not we believe/believed it before, we sho'nuff KNOW it now!
It's happening in so many ways...lemme' touch on some of the big ones.
I've already shared about the computers, computer components, air conditioning units (x2), etc. Well at the end of last week it became
apparent that we were going to have to have more volunteers. This need was barely vocalized when we received word that 2 separate teams from Georgia were coming (one right away & the other a little later) and a group from Canada is fact finding to send a team to us.
Each group is going out of the box, on this, but let me expand on the Canadian Connection. During the summer of 2004, following a race at Toronto Motorsports Park, we (Team JAMA) were at the flying J in London Ontario. When you are filling a 90 gallon tank you are there for a minute or two (even if it's only half a tank). So...while filling the tank Mark became engaged with another gentleman in conversation. They exchanged their stories and he asked to be put on our "Trip News" mailing list. We've never seen him since.
Then on Thursday we received an e-mail from him stating that he was contemplating putting a team together (his ministry puts teams together for overseas missions) to come down and help. People let me tell you...when you're walking with God there are NO chance encounters. He knew what was coming and set that up over a year ago!
The Louisiana National Guard has loaned us a couple of guys that are helping with our overnight security.
FEMA is talking about putting temporary units (trailers) on the Church grounds so that we can shelter more.
We've had material shortages & then the stuff just "shows up"! (Pallets of MRE's, etc)
Saturday morning I received a call from an RFC Chaplain in the Commerce Georgia area. Seems a gentleman was compelled to purchase (what he called) a short-semi trailer and fill it with 11 pallets of non-perishable food products, paper products, toothpaste, razors, etc all from Cosco's. He
delivered it to Gerald to find a destination. The intent (also) was to leave the trailer down there to use as a storage facility as long as they needed it. Gerald's church will hire the truck & driver to take it over...his question was WHEN would we like it delivered.
I quickly called Mark and got his voice-mail. I e-mailed him, "CALL ME", and got no response. A while later, he called & apologized stating that they were in Staff Meeting. One of the big needs being discussed was some sort of outside storage...ARE Y'ALL GETTING THIS???...while they were discussing it God had it waiting for them to say "Send it"!!
Since this facility has become a distribution & communications hub all these things are going out almost as fast as they are coming in.
I mentioned the biggies, but the small miracles are equally important. A single item sent may be just the thing that touches the heart of one
of our guests, and that may be the catalyst that God uses to begin their healing. Some of their wounds are as deep as you have imagined.
A woman working beside Marietta (Pastor Broxie's wife) leaned in and proclaimed (with revelation) "God is REAL!" The woman had been churched all her life, but today her eyes were opened to a truth that had eluded her. Many others, both churched & un-churched, are seeing the undeniable reality of God's hand in this tragedy. Yes, God IS Real...
When Mark told me about this it brought to my remembrance a wonderful day in Norcross Georgia when I saw & tearfully proclaimed "You're really there, aren't You?!?" It changes your whole perspective, doesn't it? To know that He's here today (I thought I couldn't know Him until I died...and if I was good enough...)...To know that he knows how many hairs are on your head at each and every moment (regardless of how many you left in your hairbrush this morning). He is current with everything you are going through and is waiting for you to acknowledge Him and tell Him what you need!
The next wave is beginning to trickle in. We are told to expect an increase as those who fled to hotel/motels and have run out of money, and those who tried to stay in New Orleans are being more forcefully persuaded to leave make their way to us.
Thank you to all who are supporting our efforts, here. Don't forget to keep those prayers coming, too!
Love y'all,
joanne
BE WILD FOR CHRIST!
Joanne Walter
JAMA Base Coordinator (WR/GA)
www.katrina.jamaministry.com
478-238-0918
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