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.