Testimonies

 Here are just some short testimonies of only a few of the amazing things that the Lord did in us on tour!

Ryan Ellis                                                                                            

 Something that I was impacted by was when we were in Cartago, Costa Rica at the school ministering to all the kids. I was so surprised when we were asked to do the full performance instead of just one dance because it is very intense. The Principle said that even the little kids families have gone or are going through divorce. So after we did the play, and we were praying with everyone. A little 10-year-old girl came up to me with a teacher and wanted prayer for her parents because they were going through a divorce.  I was able to pray with her and impart the love of Christ from what God has done in my life and family to her.  I asked her after praying how she felt and she said she felt more at peace and love in her heart for her parents. She also felt hope for her parents and their marriage.  I believe that God really awakened a father's heart in me and a great and deep love for the nations, Latin America, and Costa Rica.

Laura Straessle

Last year during tour I had to deal with my knees going out on me and I learned how to let the Lord pull me into him and use his strength. This year going into tour I had 12 pinched nerves spread throughout my spine. I couldn’t understand why the Lord was letting this happen to me again right before tour. But through all the confusion and hurt, I once again relied on the Lord. His grace knows no bounds and I believe he took me to a different level of relying upon him. There is no way I did any amount of dancing or relating of my own accord. Every move I made happened because of Christ living in me and having grace on my body. Through the pain and tears I was able to see the Lord’s hand in everything. Lives were touched through the dances and I can’t take any of the credit which is how it should be. Because of this, ALL of the Glory had to go to the Lord. There was no saving any of it for myself, I couldn’t claim anything. It was cool to see that people were responding to the God in me, instead of just a cool move I’d learned to do. And because of the grace he poured on me, I had an easier time than I imagined focusing on other people instead of just my pain. The Lord is good and his mercy really endures everything.

Costa Rica was a different experience than tour in drastically different ways and I cannot really compare the two and still do justice to either. I still had pain but had learned to push past it with the Grace of God. There was more grace to dance freely and not be afraid of the pain. It was easier to allow myself to be swallowed by His Grace in order to move which left me able to focus more on what he wanted to tell others. And they were desperate. The people of Costa Rica left such an impression on me that I felt convicted. Here these people were, running to the Lord for any type of prayer they could get. Several people on several occasions had no complaint or purpose for asking for prayer other than the soul reason of seeking an encounter with God. Do we do that here in America? I know I don’t. Normally it takes a moving of the Lord to get me to go up for prayer…or for that matter, it takes someone coming and getting me! How I want to be that desperate! To be a sponge that will soak up any drop of water someone decides to let drip. They were truly precious and I know the Lord had encounters with those people. How do I know? Because they were desperate for one and kept seeking until they got it.

Melissa Camenisch

On tour one of the most awesome and incredible things for me this year was getting to minister in schools at every stop, minus one. It was so awesome getting to talk with the kids and pray with them and just be an example to them of someone that is choosing to live their life for the Lord. I was able to encourage and love on so many kids it was amazing. I was so grateful for the time and experience. It was obvious the Lord sent us to each school at the perfect time because of  the amount of pain and hurt we felt upon entering into each school. I was able to pray and speak identity into several young girls and help them hear the Lord for themselves. It was such a humble and unforgettable experience. I really want to Thank all of you for all you're prayers for me and the team as we went. We couldn't have done what we did without your faithfulness in prayer and your love for us. We truly are a blessed  people. Thank you again.

Laurie Cleek
The Lord asked me, "Do you practice what you preach?" I have said to other people, "What the enemy intends for bad, God intends for good," but the Lord wanted me realize that I needed to find him in every situation.  I lost three valuable items in Costa Rica.  A door was opened for me. I had the choice to have a bad attitude, or I could find the Lord in this situation and have a good attitude.  I am so thankful for the Lord's grace upon me because he showed me that I need to put into practice what I say. Did I use my own strength and positive attitude, NO. I used the Lord's strength and positive attitude because his is what lasts, not me.  



Melissa Wygant
Our time was truly blessed on our trip to Costa Rica. The Lord really met us every step of the way, especially in the schools. We could really see and feel the Lord work in our favor as we were welcomed to each school through the teachers, the principals and the performances. I truly believe that many lives were touched through the play, our testimony’s as well as the rhythms. So many people that we encountered were thirsty for the Lord. I had many people just come up and ask us for prayer, nothing specific just prayer. I know one instance that really touched my heart was when we were in Cartago visiting Ariana’s church. After our performance on Sunday morning my host mom came up to me and asked for prayer on her throat, among other things. As I began to pray I put my hand to her neck, however I didn’t fully touch her due to my hands being cold. I began to pray in the spirit and within a minute or so I felt my hand get warmed so I put my hand against her throat and continued to pray in the spirit. That was a moment and an experience that I will never forget. Feeling the holy spirit move through me to heal her was awesome, but it really touched me that I was able to do that for my host mom, it added an extra special touch to our visit. Thank you Lord for the momentous experience, its something I can carry with me always.

Tim Cunkle
      The trip to Costa Rica was absolutely incredible from the very beginning. It almost makes it difficult to share because you just don’t know where to begin, but a good place to start is to share what God did. We received several words about God meeting us in our lack, which is something that thematically stood out to me on tour, but this was on a completely new level. We were going into a country not really being able to speak their language, and performing a dramatic piece of material that was primarily in English. Not to mention we hardly performed perfectly. How were we going to communicate the message in the first place, and if it was communicated, how were we going to pray for people who were touched? Well, God provided the response, and he didn’t just provide it, I am willing to bet he shocked almost every single one of us. People were incredibly receptive, and then to reach those people, God provided us with Costa Rican voices. I know for me personally, it was in Costa Rica that I experienced my deepest ministry times not just this year but of my life so far, and more than one of those was through a translator. The entire trip was definitely a lesson in dependence on God, but it was only encouraging because he gave us strength where we had none to begin with instead of having to show us our lack.

Hannah Hall
On tour the Lord taught me more about trusting him. Often I would find myself having to look for people to pray for which led me more and more to trusting father that he was leading me to the right people. Through that I got to pray for many people who otherwise might not have gotten prayed for. I saw this continue in Costa Rica in a different way. Though I rarely had to look for people to pray for because they were so hungry, the Lord still led me to people he wanted to touch. At one place I prayed for this 6 year old girl who wanted her family to be happy again and her mom (also a teacher at the school) happened to be one translating for me and through that, I was able to then talk to the mother who had been divorced and hurt and felt the Lord wanted to do something in her. The Lord gave her some encouraging words about restoring to her joy and peace and giving her new dreams. Through this experience and many others, the Lord is teaching me again and again to just trust him and follow where he leads me.

Levi Lamy
For this year's Tour Father told me He would re-enforce to me being a son. In ministry, the theme I saw was guiding people into hearing God for themselves. It was so exciting to see people come up, expecting to receive a prophetic word, and instead, they were introduced to Father and were able to receive directly!
One of the many times this happened was in NY, and I was brought over to a lady who had just gone through divorce, was weeping, and worried about how it would affect her kids. She was very distraught, and could list off many terrible things, and the ladies there were doing a good job of comforting her. But I felt like Father wanted to do more. So I talked to her about how God wants to talk to us, and how He loves us, desires us, and then asked her to ask the Lord what He wanted to say to her. So, she asked, and she heard Him! He told her that she didn't have to worry, that He has a plan, and that He is giving her peace. It was so encouraging to see her realize that she could hear God, and it was encouraging to me to be able to guide her to that!
The concept of asking God for something and expecting a reply is something that I can take for granted, but to most is not very common. I think it should be, and I think that we were able to plant the seed and idea that it is something that God wants to do. Father used me as a son, as I was led by Him, to help others be led by Him too!

Home from the Jungle!

We have arrived safely back in OKC!! We started our long journey home about 9pm Costa Rica time Sunday night, and arrived back in OKC around 2pm Monday afternoon.


The Lord worked mightily in us and through this dream come true for MCOKC. We truly saw his kingdom come to earth and in his hungry sons and daughters. We are greatly humbled that he chose us to go on this mission, and speak him kingdom in another country. We all have many stories of how he worked in us, ask us for stories!! There is also many pictures and a few videos on facebook of our many adventures.

We want to thank you all for all the prayers and support we received from you in our preparation and during the trip. We would not have been able to see what we did without it. Though you were not all with us, we believe you were a huge part in how the Lord was working in Costa Rica! So thank you again for all your support!!

We only have 7 weeks left now! Graduation is coming fast! But we still have much to accomplish and we believe the Lord still has many things for us to do. We are going to through a few books about the authority we have in prayer and the kingdom of God. The students are also preparing to write their covenant so pray for them as they take this big step in their year! We have one more show to work in a few weeks, and a few more ministry times at churches in Oklahoma. Here is a list of the upcoming events:



• July 6 Vinita, OK

• July 10 Hope Church (Here is OKC)

• July 22-29 Microsoft MGX Denver

• August 5th-7th Graduation weekend

Pictures!!

Ministry time and meeting new friends

Group Photo in the mountains of Cartago, Costa Rica

                                                           

                                                            Relaxing time at the beach!!



Costa Rica Part 2

Here are some email updates from PD through the week we were in Costa Rica:

Monday, June 13th

I arrived at diaz home around 2 am (3 OKC time)
and will join the team for lunch at Arianna's church.  Friday they did some shopping, changed money, had time with Pastor Ronnie Diaz (Moses' father) Saturday they feed some poor children, ministered to youth at Moses' church then ministered that night to youth at Arianna's church.  Sunday am they did the service at Arianna's church and this morning their school.  Moses said the testimonies that about five of the MC's wrote and delivered in Spanish were very impressive. You will see them on video when we get back and post them.  Ronnie's wife said she is very impressed with the team.


June 15th
Today made 18 complete ministry times since Saturday!! Fri we drive to the coast and swim so please pray it doesn't rain all the time.  It has rained nearly everyday here at some point because it is the rainy season.

June 18th
Happy Fathers Day tomorrow!!

I have posted new pictures of us at beach and pool on my Facebook.

Fri we started carpool 8:15 am and arrived at little condos a few blocks from ocean at 12. All sixteen of us in one 15 passenger van with little air-conditioning so was hot, very crowded with our overnight bags.

We stopped and saw alligators by a bridge.

We walked to eat at a Soda (cafe) and do some shopping. Then straight to Centeal Pacific Ocean. We were careful because of undercurrent riptides that sometimes occur So I told them to stay near shore line. I grew up body surfing so I stayed with them as long as I could but the waves were big and finally I started body surfing just a little ways out. I loved it. Felt young again except for the very pebbly bottom-hardly any sand where the waves break. It was joy to be slammed and dive over and under the waves. But you know me. It was restoring to my soul though now my body feels old again.

We pray for refreshing and safety today that Satan has no door to come in and that we be as Psalm 121 blessed coming and going.

We go back this afternoon then Sun AM minister in the two services at Moses' church. Then fly all night and drive home from Dallas returning early Mon afternoon.

Thank you for your prayers that we finish well and in good health.

Pictures!!

View more pictures of our trip here:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150204678142011.312326.163697507010

Costa Rica!!!!! Part 1

The trip is going wonderful!! We are blessed by our host families’ hospitality and by the beauty of Costa Rica! A great surprise to us though is how responsive are all ages including youth. They are deeply open to share and ask prayer. We feel their FAITH to receive from God through us, so we feel God’s Spirit working through us (Isaiah 61:1 El Espiritu Senor omnipotente esta sobre me). As a result, they experience his healing love in dramatic and visible ways. God is exchanging beauty for ashes.

Saturday we got the opportunity to minister with rhythm to a group of Children from the poorest part of the city. We also played some fun games with them and as we left they all wanted us to sign their shirts! Then we to ministered rhythm, dance and testimonies to the youth group in Ronnie Diaz’s church. Because of the small size of the group, we had some discussion time about what it means to be a son or daughter in the kingdom of God. Then we traveled about 45 minutes to Cartago, Costa Rica where we jumped right into doing the youth service at Arianna’s church. A few of us joined alongside them in worship which was in English and Spanish! After that we were able to minister to their group of around 30 and the response was incredible! Many people wanted prayer for their families, relationships and healing. With the help of interpreters, we were able to pray and minister to many hurting youth. Again on Sunday morning we did the drama for their whole church as well as Monday morning for their 1-12 church school. We had a wonderful afternoon on Sunday spending time with our host families and many of us got to see a few of the beautiful sites of Costa Rica.

On Monday, after doing the drama for The K- 8th grade school, we had 4 activity tracks with them- songs, games, art and rhythm. We very much enjoyed getting to minister to the students and spending time with them. Monday afternoon we had coffee at the beautiful Camacho family home (Ariana, who some of you will remember from last year’s class) then headed back to San Jose to rest up before a busy week. We were so humbled and privileged to go to Cartago for the weekend and we greatly anticipate the amazing things the Lord has yet to do this week.

Here are some short testimonies from the weekend:

Melly - The trip has been amazing so far. We have gotten to minister five different times already and each time the Lord has just blown me away with the way the Ticos respond and come up to receive prayer and words. It is a very humbling and awesome time.

Melissa- I am truly thankful for the opportunity to go on this trip. The Lord has done so much in such a short time with so many people. I am thankful for the team and the working of the Lord through our many talents and abilities. Thank God for the amazing host homes and the many lives that have been touched and hearts that are being changed.

Laurie- I prayed for a girl’s father. I sensed there was something deeper so I asked her how she was doing. She opened up and told me that her family is not happy. The Lord brought healing and freedom to her because she finally talked about her struggles. I could tell the difference in her spirit after we prayed together. She was happier and more joyful. !Gloria a Dios!

Joseph- I was able to connect with a guy who was at a hard place in his relationship with God. It was very encouraging to him that someone from so far away was going through the same thing so that he was not alone in it.

Timothy- we got the chance to go and perform a little for children in one of the worst neighborhoods in San Jose, and the kids seemed to be responding a little, but then afterwards they were having everyone from our group sign their clothing. One kid even rode his bike back to his house, got a white t shirt, and then came back. Another time a large youth came to me after the drama and just held me for a long time weeping. The interpreter kept saying that the Lord is holding and hugging you. Others were amazed how he opened up and received so much. It was one of the most impacting times for me of all our tour stops.

Levi – I prayed for a man who cheated and is now divorced and with the other woman, who wanted to know what to do. I also prayed for a boy who is hated by his father, and he doesn’t know why.

Ryan – at Ariana’s church I prayed for a little girl that was going through a divorce. I prayed love into her family and prayed that the Lord would be her father because her earthly father was gone and then we hugged for a while and she cried.

listen for what God would say in exchange for his hurt the Lord told him he was like Joseph in the Bible. He smiled when I told him Joseph’s story. He said he felt special to the Lord then.

John and Larissa – We got to pray for Ariana’s brother Diego. He asked for prayer for something general and Larissa had a sense to ask a question and he said that was exactly the problem. We also got to pray for some people in such deep pain - a woman who had been divorced and was experiencing a lot of struggle in her current relationship, as well as a man who came up to us crying. His wife had recently abandoned him and his 11 year old son.

Hannah- I feel so blessed by the people of Cartago and was deeply impacted by their response from the play and their hunger for the Lord. I was able to pray for a woman and her daughter whose family has recently been broken up by divorce. I spoke Joy and peace over them and got a word for the Mom that the Lord wanted to restore her dreams and believed the Lord was encouraging them through it.

All – Each team member received a prophecy from a woman in Ariana’s church.

Home Again :)

10 Cities
15 performances

8 Christian and public schools

27 days

1 Microsoft show

Over 4,500 miles!! (which by the way, is the equivalent of driving from New York to California, and then to OKC)

All in 1 van with 12 amazing people full of the grace of God!!

Countless people encountering the Lord and hearing him speak to them and healing deep brokenness.



Over the last few weeks we have seen many lives touched by the Lord. It’s nothing we have done, except willingly open our hearts to Father so he could fill us so we could spill out all over the people he had us touch. All the Glory goes to Father for all that has been done!

Sunday evening, we arrived safely and happily back into OKC! The next morning, we had the wonderful opportunity to go to Kaiser Elementary School, that is right behind our church and who we do Whiz Kids with! So for many of us, this was our chance to say goodbye to the kids we have worked with all year. We had the largest crowd yet with close to 600 kids and teachers!!! The Whiz Kids sang one of their songs, we did some rhythm, a dance, and some testimonies followed by a time to greet them and say final goodbyes. We greatly enjoyed our time there and though it was short, we made many good connections with the kids and teachers and we so appreciated their excitement and energy, and gratefulness to us for coming. We are excited to go back again in the future!

We got a few days off to rest, settle back in and enjoy time with host families before returning on Wednesday afternoon for a half day. We have now jumped back into preparations for Costa Rica, and the book Covenant Relationships.

We have several small performances around the city and state planned for next few months. Continue to pray for the people who were touched by the Lord and those who he still has to touch in the future.

Bryant, Arkansas

The last but not least stop of our adventurous tour was the town of Bryant, Arkansas. After a day of travel we were welcomed with a dinner provided by Victory Fellowship Church pastured by Paul Doherty. With a good nights sleep under our belts we were able to start this tour stop off right by rolling up our sleeves and lending a helping hand painting! The MC crew along with members of Victory Fellowship worked together to repaint 2 bathrooms, a foyer and a hallway. When all was said and done we were all blessed by the team work!!! Not only were we able to lend a hand, but we were all able to spend some bonding time with our host homes in the afternoon on Saturday. Much of the afternoon involved either outside activities such as swimming, or eating hamburgers and hotdogs and enjoying time with them. A number of the MC students were even blessed enough to receive prophetic words during our short stay. With our stay winding down we were able to give and receive blessing to the church by worshiping with them on Sunday morning. In addition to our time of worship we were able to provide ministry through our rhythms’, dance, testimony’s and much anticipated play “Family Portrait”.


Through the play the Lord was able to touch numerous hearts and minister to those awaited healing. At the end of the play, Pastor Dwight gave a call to prayer for anyone that might be in need of personal healing and or prayer. Through this simple heartfelt invitation, many individuals of the congregation were able to come forth and receive prayer from member’s of our group. Levi was able to pray with a boy who was experiencing feelings of resentment towards his father due to a past divorce. Tim was able to speak and pray over a gentleman who had been deeply impacted by the play because his dad hadn’t really been present in his life. Tim prayed for the Lords voice to be clear and his love to be solidified. Melissa prayed for a woman of the church where she lead her into a fruitful exchange with the Holy Spirit of what burdens she was carrying for what God had for her. Laurie prayed over a young lady of the church who’s parent’s had gone through a divorce. She prayed that an exchange would be made of “ashes to beauty” and that the young woman would be able to forgive people in her life that had hurt her. Laurie ended the pray with affirmation from the Lord that he was pleased with her and that she was a warrior that feared the Lord.

In ending our time of ministry and prayer Tim had a woman come up and give us a word of encouragement saying that “The play was one of the most powerful things I have ever seen!” This was both uplifting and humbling knowing God allowed us to be apart of something so impacting and touching to the hearts of God’s children.

Summerville, PA

As we finished the first leg of our tour we were able to spend some time in Summerville, PA with Living Church pastored by David Shay. They welcomed us with open arms and open hearts through their most gracious provision of made-from-scratch breakfast, lunch and dinners, which was greatly appreciated. There was a genuine feeling of honor in our stay both from the students and staff which results from a form and standard they have set for themselves in honoring Christ our Lord. It was truly a blessing to minister to the school children by way of dance, rhythm and testimony. After performing we were given an opportunity to spend some time talking and praying with the students. This time was very fruitful as we were able to get to know them on a personal level and having that time of interaction made an impression on all of our hearts. We were also given an opportunity to do some cleaning in the school. The guys did some manual labor moving shelves and pouring concrete in a crawl space, while the girls spent time cleaning the new shelves for their library. In the midst of all of our work we were able to spend some time with Pastor Shay’s brother- in- law Jeff Shaffer who gave us an eye- opening world view on why we are the Antithesis, a very convicting and enlightening discussion that inspired us all. In addition to the visit with the church and the children, we found ourselves truly blessed by the gracious hospitality we received by the Shay family and church. We were truly touched by their love and service to the Lord, but above all, by the abundant faithfulness and hope we encountered by them in the midst of their recent loss of their house to a fire. Before we left, through the Lord’s provision we were able to bless the Shay family by going to Wal-Mart and supplying them with some items that were lost in the fire. Although our time in PA was short, the time we shared and the relationships made will be long lasting.

Freeville, NY

May 8 and 9 - Freeville, New York


Sunday was Mothers’ Day and we spent it in Freeville, New York, home to Student Laurie Cleek. Covenant Love Church welcomed us with open arms and hearts as we brought the message of the Lord during their Sunday morning service. Levi was able to minister to a young man whose parents were divorced and he felt doomed to the same fate. He was encouraged by words from the Lord and even prayed for Levi as well. A young man really connected with Tim’s character Travis and came up to Tim for prayer. They connected on a couple of occasions afterward where the young man got encouragement from Tim and heard the Lord tell him that the things happening in his life were not his fault. Later the young man told Tim he felt different and could now even talk about things with his sister instead of holding all the anger inside. Melissa Camenisch had the opportunity to pray with and comfort a young lady who had some worries about being a single mother. Larissa was able to speak Life into the Pastor’s wife about some family issues that had been weighing on her, the words were very encouraging and the woman received them with open arms and felt some release as the Lord touched her.

That night several of the MCs were treated with going to see Ballet Magnificat, a Christian based organization of Ballerinas. It was truly a gift to watch men and women of all ages give Glory to God on a stage. It was truly a refreshing and rejuvenating time for us. After the production, we were given the privilege of helping them strike the stage and load up their equipment.

Monday morning before we left Freeville, we did a couple rhythms and a dance for the school that Covenant Love has. The kids, ranging from Pre K to 8th grade, really enjoyed the rhythm and were very enthusiastic about speaking with us afterward. It was enjoyable to relate to the children and love on them with the love of Christ.

After all that hard work for the Lord, Pastor Dwight took us to purchase some Purity!.... Purity Ice Cream! It was a delicious smorgasbord of flavors such as Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and Madigan Mint.

Freeville was a very Free place and we continue to pray freedom and peace on Covenant Love Church.

Middlefield, OH

May 6 - Middlefield Ohio




Thursday afternoon we traveled to Middlefield, Ohio where we had a small reunion with Alumni Sarah Sundberg. We were met at Christ Covenant Church by her and Mike Southern, a leader in the church. We had a small tour and then headed to our host homes for the night to rest up for Friday. It was like a small reunion as some of us stayed with Sarah. Friday was a big day for us— full of many plans. Christ Covenant Church shares its building with a Mennonite  School. Last year we were blessed with the opportunity to pray for the Principal of the school. The Lord touched his life in such a way that he wanted us to come back and pray with his students. It was a difficult time for them as the school is closing and the students have to find new places to continue their education. It was a good morning and we believe the Lord spoke to many of the students. Hannah had a word of knowledge for several of the girls that the Lord wouldn’t let them make the wrong choice about where to go to school next year. The girls confirmed that they needed to hear that and were grateful. From there we then went to another school that Mike works at called Agape Academy. There we did a couple of rhythms and a dance for children ranging from the ages of 9 to 12. Afterward, we mingled with the kids and then played a fun game called Fireman, Cowboy and Knight which Levi and his partner won.



In the afternoon, we had the chance to have some fun at an old-fashioned General Store. There we all got some unique sodas like Sarsaparilla, Birch Beer (like root beer), and Maple Cream Soda (tasted like pancakes in a bottle!) We enjoyed things like penny candy and other unique items. After that fun and refreshing stop we got ready for the service that night. They held a special service for us that evening which started off with awesome cooperate worship. There was a small turnout but the Lord knew what he was doing. All of the young leaders of the church were there and the Lord has specific things to say to each of them through the Play. Each couple got the chance to talk and pray with at least one MC. Tim had the privilege of doing his first Prophetic Painting there and was given the name Rachel before we had even reached Middlefield. One of the leader’s wife was named Rachel so Tim gave the painting to them. He spoke that the Lord was going to uncover some treasures for them; the painting displayed four marbles that had been unearthed from the sand by a mighty wind. The couple was very appreciative and excited as it was the first time they had received a Prophetic Painting. Laura had the chance to speak to a young girl and her mother, who almost went somewhere else but they felt the Lord pull them to the church that night. The little girl had a lot of pain from an older brother who was acting out in anger. Laura led her through the exchange and the little girl saw God give her a bigger heart for her brother and a crown to say she was his princess. The girl said afterward that it was cool that God talked to her. Hannah was able to speak to a couple we prayed for last year concerning trouble having children and was given the exciting news that they were signing final adoption papers for a child in a few weeks. Looking back on that night, the Lord did amazing things and everyone at that meeting definitely got a touch from Him. Praise the Lord! It was a busy day but so worth it when working alongside the Lord.

May 3-5 Lansing, MI

   Tuesday afternoon we traveled to Lansing, MI, home of Extern Hannah Hall.  We had a relaxing evening with host families at the Hall’s house and got some rest before our big day on Wednesday.  We started the day early on Wednesday with New Covenant Christian School’s weekly chapel.  We were able to do rhythm, the dance, and a few pieces from play for their K-12^th graders and we also got a chance to talk and pray with many of the kids before they had to head back to class.  We had a word from one of the elders in the Church there that Father’s love was so strong in that place, and we needed to receive it.  He also said that all through our performance he could feel the Lord’s love and his presence in that place!  We also got to spend some more time with them at lunch where we ate with them and made some deeper relationships.  In the afternoon, we spent some time helping them with some work around the outside of the church.  We trimmed many bushes and helped patch up the parking lot. 

Wednesday evening is normally when the youth group meets but for this night they invited the whole church to join them.  After worship by their worship team, we did our normal rhythm, dance, testimonies and play.  The Lord was really touching many people that night, many could relate to the people in the play, and the pain it depicts.  It was cool to hear how the Lord was taking the darkness and exchanging it for amazing pictures like Jesus healing a young boy’s sick mother, the hand of God pulling them out of junk, and freedom from shame and performance.  Also, we got many prophetic words and words of knowledge for people.  Laurie had the word Joy for a young lady, and turns out, her middle name is Joy!  There was also a lot of encouragement there, we received many words of encouragement for us as a group.  One word was that we are on wings like eagles, and the Lord would be sending “warm updrafts” of grace, and we would not have to strive, but just rest in it.  Though it was a long day, we felt the Lord moving there and received much encouragement throughout the day which was only confirmation for us that the Lord was present with us. 

NEWPORT KY!!!

During our tour stop we visited Newport Kentucky were we got to spend a night of worship with Pastor Dennis Cole's church New Life Covenant. After worship and the performance of our play Family portrait, we had a call to prayer which had a great response. Many of our MC students were able to pray for members of the church. One of our MC ladies was able to minister with a young lady of the church who identified with the Family Portrait and Melissa prayed over the girl for emotional healing from the divorce. Tim was able to pray for a gentleman of the church who connected with the Travis Rap and Family Portrait. His parent’s are going through a divorce and he and his brother could identify with both the character’s of Amy and Travis and there inner struggle. Laura prayed for a woman who’s son was using drugs and alcohol. Through this encounter the Lord was able to give Laura words for the family, especially the children. Laura prayed with the mother that the Lord would exchange the present sufferings in her life for freedom and the woman said that she was able to receive 3 flowers from the Lord, one for each of her children. The Lords spirit was very evident that night, as many members of the congregation were met by the Lord through prayer and were healed through his love and mercy.



Monday afternoon, after getting to rest a bit in the morning, we went to a school that we had prayed in at a conference previously in the year. This school for kids who are struggling behaviorally and academically as a result of their rough home life for many of them. It is a public school, so were asked to not say Jesus and other words that have to do with the gospel. We did rhythm, a dance, and testimonies encouraging them that they have worth and people care about them! The principle told us, people don't really come to this, it is often passed by, so this was a big deal to the kids. Though many of the kids didn't really respond, we know the Lord was touching the kids and believe they were encouraged through us being there. New Life Covenant church has done many things in this school, including many pieces of art to brighten up the dark hallways. It was a great experience for us to get out of the normal routine and really act as sons and daughters.



After that we got to spend some time with pastor Dennis and his wife Sheila they encouraged us in the times we minister. They gave us some direction for the best ways to minister and prayed over us that the Lord would cleanse us from the things we are ministering about. In the evening we got to hang out with some families and young adults from the church for a great time of fellowship. We are now in Lansing, MI where we ministered this morning to the K-12th grade school this morning, and will be doing a service tonight for the youth group and church. Continue to pray rest and renewing on us as we travel and bring his presence.

More Pictures!

We have good news!! We have more pictures from our tour so far on Facebook!  Melissa has been working hard on getting up so more pictures for you all so you can see some of the things we have been doing!  Here is the link and you should be able to see them there:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150169260197011.301569.163697507010

Two claps for Mel!!!  *clap, clap*

Winchester Fun!!!!

Friday afternoon we spent some time with Pastor Steve Humble, where he shared with us about the drug addiction stronghold that they have in their city and how he is connecting together with other pastors in the city to fight it. They’ve made great progress this year with building unity between the church, government and community to counter act the destruction and deaths (80 this year) in the state of Kentucky and specifically in Clark county. Then after some time with our hosts to rest, we all came together for dinner, and prayer with some of the elders in the church. We also had the opportunity after that, to go with the elders and some people from the church to go to college park where a lot of the young kids hang out in the evenings. John and some of the guys played rhythm, while everyone else just walked around the park praying. A few of us talked to some people around the park, and one guy, even joined in the drumming and Tim and a few other guys got to talk to him a little more. It was cool for us to join alongside something the people are already doing there.

Saturday was a pretty relaxing and refreshing day! We all came together for a few hours to watch a documentary movie about some churches that had come together to change a city of drug addiction and substance abuse, to a city of hope! It was very inspiring and encouraging for us to see how the Lord is moving through churches coming together. The rest of the day was free for us and we enjoyed time with our host families and resting. In the evening, we all went to the Marlowe’s home and enjoyed an evening of 4 wheelers, guns and a huge bonfire! It was very, much needed relaxing time for us.

It was exciting to be there on a Sunday morning since we have three people from their church: Melissa Camenisch, Levi Lamy, and first year student, Melissa Wygant. It was encouraging to us to not only be able to encourage them with words, but they prayed for us and gave us words as well which is always encouraging when you’re on the road constantly pouring out. We received a word that our ministry, is doing more than we will ever see and impacting more people than we will ever know! Laura had a painting for the church about them being connected together and connected to other churches, and how that will connect people from outside the church. A lot of people said they couldn’t directly relate to the play, but felt that through seeing it they wanted more compassion and encouragement to relate to people outside the church who were dealing with that and other struggles. Many people came and asked us pray with them for loved ones and people they knew who are broken and lost and that they are trying to reach out to. We also got to eat lunch with them after the service for a great time of fellowship! We were very encouraged again to go to Winchester, and it was a wonderful time!

Thursday night before we left Louisville, Jordan and his wife Mellissa Sandquist, shared with us about acting out of relationship with Father and not just allowing him to use us as a tool, but doing things because we are sons and daughters. Laurie got a great picture of this when we were ministering in Winchester. She got a picture of a big two sided saw, and the Lord is constant and we can choose to either be the saw that is only going to be worn out and get tired, or choose to work with him on the other side, as a son or daughter. This is a picture the Lord has given us, and we so excited as we continue to minister as sons and daughters, instead of just tools.

Here are some pictures from our fun time in Winchester. 

Winchester Christian Academy

Friday morning we set off from Louisville and headed to Winchester.  We went right to Winchester Christian Academy: a 7^th – 12^th grade school.  This is the second time MC’s have gone to this school, and it was a few years ago so this was a new place for most of us.  Talking to the kids after the play, many of them related to the play and were touching true brokenness.  Many of them were fatherless, facing divorce and illness in their families, cutting, had low self esteem,  and many more things.  They were truly broken, and the Lord was really touching them, even though many of them wouldn’t show it.  We got to pray for many of them and encourage them in who they are and the Love the Lord has for them.  They were very hungry people, and we hope to keep up some of the relationships with them.  A small group of young people from Winchester Covenant Church go there weekly and lead worship for them and we pray they can continue to reach the brokenness many of those kids are experiences.  It was a good experience for us to be able to break through  hardness and brokenness that many of us can’t even relate to.  We believe the Lord is going to continue to work through the kids and teachers in that school in the months and years to come.