Connecting the dots...

Happy December Everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely turkey day filled with great food and fellowship with family and friends! I was able to run a 5-mile turkey trot (so yes I still like running...for now) and spend time with Castle Rock families and the McCain Family.

The McCain family and friends (pic right) come down every Thanksgiving to serve a thanksgiving meal at a diner in the 9th Ward. It was through this family that we made the connection with Pastor Gerald of House of Hope and began to work on the church. "What had happened was" (a common nawlins saying), last year Jennifer noticed Pastor Gerald at the diner reading a book on the Holy Spirit. Jennifer was also reading a book on the Holy Spirit and approached him to discuss the book and the conversation went from there to Jennifer emailing us about helping him rebuild his church. It was great for them to see the church and see how their desire to serve the LORD last year created a connection between us and Pastor Gerald that begin the restoration of House of Hope. God is soo cool in how He connects the dots!

A cool bit of fruit from my trip up to PA is that a college ministry I spoke with has now decided to come to New Orleans for their spring break trip! Praise God for moving in their hearts to come serve in NOLA!

Praises:
1) God continuing to provide for my needs at the right time!
2) Excited to head home next week and be around for 2 weeks! Well this is bringing up mixed emotions...my parents have decided to move next year and this will be our LAST Christmas in the house I've lived in my WHOLE LIFE! I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry and I've already asked if I can buy it but it's way out of my price range...haha. No matter what we'll enjoy the Christmas season together!
3) My first committed intern had her interview with the Engage team this week and it went well. Another committed intern has turned in her initial application. There's 2 more who have shown interest so yay God!

Prayers:
1) for safety traveling home!
2) It's easy for me to whine and complain about the workload but that's the opposite of how I should feel so please pray for my attitude towards the work I have on my plate right now:
a) long term application - going to keep moving forward unless God says otherwise
b) equip online course on healthy missions partnership - really neat course on how to build healthy partnerships which is what our ministry is all about
c) the homework for my Body Builders conference which is in mid-January in Dallas on how to raise a healthy support team - I could always use help in my methods for raising support.
d) the internship program - banging out more of the fine details and pray that God would raise up the interns He wants for the program.
3) I really want to grow in my walk with God and get to know Him more and more and use this knowledge to love and serve my neighbors near and far. Please pray that this desire would grow and when I hear the Spirit prompting me to do or say something, I obey right away. I find that in the moments I obey Him, this is when I know more about Him and grow the most.

Thanks for praying and let me know how I can pray for you!
In Christ,
Katie :)

Devo from Oswald Chambers:
To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

Vision to Reality??

Hi Everyone! Hope this blog post finds you well! Sorry for my lateness in getting this out! It was so nice to not be living out of a suitcase I guess I forgot to blog..haha.

Firsts from travel week 2:

1) Went up Mt Washington to see a great view of Pittsburgh

2) Played an awesome game called “things”with the very awesome Walsh family!

3) Saw the Riverwalk and the ALAMO in San Antonio!

4) Ran a Half Marathon in San Antonio in 2 hours 2 seconds!

Recruiting Thru My Cold…

My second week in PA was another amazing testimony of God providing opportunities to speak to students about what He’s doing in our ministry and to catch up with friends I had met in New Orleans. Unfortunately I had a cold the whole time but that didn’t seem to stop people from hanging out with me..haha. I hung out with my friend Kim who is the reason I was in PA in the first place! I’m grateful for our friendship and loved seeing how God is moving in her life in PA! THANKS for everything girl!

One of my favorite experiences from the trip was the chance to share my testimony with InterVarsity at Pitt. I love telling people how God called me to the mission field and how He really can use anyone to do His work! I shared how it’s on us to join God where He’s working so no matter where you are God can use you now! One cool part was my friends Kim and Ross shared how God connected the three of us together in New Orleans, how he allowed our paths to cross, and how He grew us in our faith there. It really is cool to think how because of the call to serve God in New Orleans and my obedience, I now have friends not only in Pittsburgh but all over the country! Thanks be to God!

Howdy Texas!

Another great time on my trip was reconnecting with Ben and Emily in San Antonio..they used to serve with our ministry. I’m also stoked to be in their wedding on Jan 1^st and enjoyed running the half marathon with Emily. She did a great job of pushing me to run faster than I thought I could!

God also allowed me the chance to speak to the youth group at Northwest Community Church and be encouraged by Scott and Ruby, the youth leaders there. It’s awesome to see how their week in NOLA has spurred them on to work in inner city San Antonio! Their desire to take back what they learned on their mission trip reminds me why we host teams in the first place! We want teams to take back what they learn in NOLA and apply it to their lives back home! It’s not just suppose to be a one week experience but a life changing experience that brings God glory!

NOw what?

I’m back in the NO for the next month. While I’m here I’ll follow up with the connections I made in PA and continue to get the word out about our internship program. Let me know if you want any info on the internship program, I’d love to share with you more about it!

I’m headed home for two weeks for Christmas so if you’re in the NC area I better see you!

Please keep praying for:

1) Interns to come and serve in New Orleans, Haiti, and Peru

2) The internship program itself…that it glorifies God and grows the interns closer to God

3) My decision to fill out the long term application and to fully trust God with my future plans

LOVE YOU ALL! thanks for taking the time to read this and thank you for the prayers!

goodnight!

katie :)

Devo from Oswald Chambers that speaks to the internship program and my role in it:

Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision (for the internship program) but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God?

Praying I'm willing to let God mold me, beat me, batter me, and stretch me to make this vision a reality! Praying I don't let the thoughts of inadequacies and inexperience paralyze me from running the race He's marked out for me! Praying I do not turn back!

Hey Yall!

On the bus right now from Philly to Pitt. I wanted to share praises for how the first week in PA went and how to be praying for next week!

So far I've had a couple of Firsts:
1) saw my first amish horse and buggy!
2) ate scrapple??
3) visited Philly! (got to walk up the Rocky steps, saw the Liberty Bell, and walked around lots!)
4) went to Chocolate World in Hershey PA

God's Provision!
God has really blessed me this week with having food to eat, rides to places, students to talk to, and homes to rest in! As I think back to the last 2.5 years, God really has been working in the midst of the relationships I made in New Orleans to aid me on this trip in PA. Everyone I've stayed with thus far is someone who came down to serve the Lord in New Orleans! I've been able to meet up with a few teams that have been down and it's been so encouraging! It really is remarkable what God can do when we let go of the control and allow Him to work!

As for the college tour...I'm learning LOTS! I've been able to connect with the faculty in the career services departments and had tables in the dining halls presenting our info to the students. Recruiting is not really my gift to be honest. I'm not a salesperson. So this week has definitely been stretching me and I ask for prayer to continue to trust in God to speak through me to the students He puts in my path.

Story from Lebanon Valley College:
While at my table at LVC, I was flipping through my Bible and came across Luke 18:5, "yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice." So as I was meditating on this scripture I began to pray continuously for God to bring people to my table..7 people to be precise. As I was talking with the first couple of students, in my head I was still praying for God to bring people to my table. I think it's easy to forget sometimes how much we need to depend on God because only HE can deliver...I can do nothing on my own. Sure enough the last girl I spoke with (#7) ended up being the VP of the InterVarsity Chapter at LVC. We ended up talking about IV, being a senior, future plans, and before she left she wrote down her email (something she had been reluctant to do at first). I'm looking forward to staying in touch with her to see how God uses her at LVC and post college. God answers prayers people! Just continue to ASK!

So on that note, I'm ASKing you to pray for this coming week in PA:
1) Visiting Chippewa EFC tomorrow and hanging out with my girl Kim!
2) Colleges: Nov 9th - Geneva, 10th - Malone, 11th - Grove City and InterVarsity at Univ of Pitt in the evening
3) safe travels between colleges and to San Antonio then back to New Orleans.
4) pray God would continue to show up on these campuses and many students would commit to serving with our ministry!

Love yall and thanks for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
Katie :)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

God is IN the Details!!

So most people know I am the furthest thing from a detail-oriented person that you can get...so planning a 2 week trip to 8 different colleges and meeting up with about 3 or 4 churches is not really my strong suit...once again God has shown himself faithful and has provided many opportunities for me to share what He is doing through this ministry He's given me...THANKS BE TO GOD!

So the details...
This weekend I'll be in Chapel Hill visiting my babies and hanging out with my MATE, the Allie B!! Then on Sunday we'll make our way to VA then my friend Carole will pick me up to take me to PA on Monday!
College Visits:
Monday - Elizabethtown College 4-8pm
Tuesday - Messiah College, seeing Brookfield Church crew
Wednesday - Lancaster Bible College with the amazing Julie S as my sidekick recruiter!
Thursday - Lebanon Valley College, seeing Conestoga Church crew
Friday - possible trip into Philly!
Saturday - making my way to Pittsburgh
Sunday - Chippewa EFC
Monday - hanging out with my girl Kim!!
Tuesday - Geneva College
Wednesday - Malone University
Thursday - Grove City College, speaking at Univ of Pitt's InterVarsity in the evening
Friday - Monday - San Antonio TX to see staffers Ben and Emily and Northwest Community Church...oh and run a half marathon on Sunday :)

PLEASE PRAY!!
1) For Safety and protection as I travel (I'm sitting at the NOLA airport now about to board my first flight)
2) For God to receive ALL the glory and praise!
3) For God to prepare the hearts of the students I'll be connecting with and that He will give them a heart for missions and serving with us in the future!
4) For energy and motivation....that I am spending quality time with God everyday to be refreshed in Him so I can serve wholeheartedly for Him!

Thanks for everyone who helped me gain connections and thanks for your prayers! They mean ALOT!

I'm heading out today knowing that God has gone before me and according to this verse below, He has already led me in a triumphal procession! AMEN!

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 2 Corinthians 2:14

I can play the background...

So God blessed me on Tuesday with an opportunity to go to the Unashamed Movement 2010 with amazing artists like Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Lecrae, and more. This is one awesome song that just speaks to how we're not meant to take the lead..that is God's place...we just play the background and let God take the lead!

to view the song/video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE

Take time to read the lyrics below!

I could play the background.
I could play the background.
Cuz I know sometimes I get in the way.
So won't you take the lead, lead, lead.
So won't you take the lead, lead, lead.
And I can play the background, background.
And you can take the lead.

Verse 1
It's evident you run the show so let me back down.
You take the leading role, and I'll play the background.
I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines
I'm sticking to your script, and I'm reading all your signs.
I don't need my name in lights.
I don't need a starring role.
And why gain the whole wide world, if I'm just gon' loose my soul.
And my ways ain't purified, I'll live according to your Word.
I can't endure this life without your wisdom being heard.
So word to every dancer for a pop star
Cuz we all play the background, but mine's a rock star.
Yeah. So if you need me I'll be stage right.
Prayin' the whole world will start embracing stage fright.
So let me fall back and stop giving my suggestions
Cuz when I follow my obsessions I end up confessing.
That I'm not that impressive, matter fact I'm............
A trail of star dust leading to the superstar.

Chorus.

Verse 2
I had a dream that I was captain of my soul.
I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank.
So I don't want to take the lead
Cuz I'm prone to make mistakes.
All these folks that follow me gon' end up in the wrong place.
So, just let me shadow you. And just let me trace your lines.
Matter fact just take my pen.
Here, you create my rhymes.
Cuz if I do this by myself I'm scared that I'll succeed.
And no longer trust in You, cuz I only trust in me.
And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction.
Paving a road to nowhere. Pour your life out for nothing.
You pulled my card, I'm bluffing
You know what's in my hand.
Me I just roll to trust you to cause the dice to land.
I'm in control of nothing. Follow you at any cost.
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is you the boss.
And man I'm so at ease. I'm so content.
I play the background like it's an instrument.

I know I'm safest when I'm in your will and trust your word.
And I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself; my vision blurred.
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games.
Got plenty aims but do they really glorify your name.
And its a shame the way I want to do these things for you, yeah.
Don't even cling to you. Take time to sit and glean from you.
And its seems that you are patient in my ignorance.
If ignorance is bliss, its cuz she never heard of this.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring EVERYTHING UNDER HIS CONTROL, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21

SHOUT OUT TO KIM!

So my blog today is dedicated to my friend Kim! (pictured right...haha she doesn't know I'm doing this! )

Kim is one of my close friends who lived in NOLA last year and we got to know each other quite well! She recently moved up to the Pittsburgh area to get her masters in Reading Education. In her attempt to get me in the Northeast, she has become my agent for Christian Colleges in the PA area. (maybe you want to become an agent in your area??)

She began making contacts with career development offices and right now I'm due to speak/meet with a number of different colleges in the PA area for the first two weeks in November. GOD IS GOOD! Not only do I hope to connect with colleges in the area but churches as well. Please let me know if you're around because I'd love to see you!

I'll start my travels in NC, going to the UNC homecoming football game with my bestest mate Allie B!! GO HEELS! Then spend close to 2 weeks in PA. Then, I'll end my trip in San Antonio TX running a half marathon with another close friend Emily who used to work on our staff in Galveston. YAY RUNNING!

Please let me know if you have any connections at the colleges listed below or around that area. I feel the best way to get the word out is through pre-existing relationships. My boss says that more than likely I'm only one relationship away from connecting with students and professors and maybe you're my one relationship! The colleges I hope to share what God is doing through our ministry and share with them about our positions available for interns and staff are:

1) UNC (of course!)
2) Messiah College - PA
3) Lancaster Bible College - PA
4) Geneva College - PA
5) Malone University - OH
6) Grove City College - PA
7) Univ of Pitt - PA
8) any others you know of!

My friend Kim rocks because there is no way I would've gotten these appointments by myself and it has given me a deadline (a very soon deadline) to get as much squared away with the program as possible before starting my recruitment adventures. I'm very grateful for her and again to God who continually provides the right people in my life to help guide this internship program! There is no way I would've thought to myself to call Kim and ask her to do this but God put it on her heart to help me in this way and for that I'm truly thankful to Him and to Kim, for her obedience to serve the Lord! LOVE YOU GIRL!


PLEASE PLEASE PRAY!
1) Pray that God receives all the glory for my trip to NC/PA and He prepares the hearts of the students, staff, and professors to hear what we're doing and spark their hearts for serving with us
2) Pray and ask God if He would give you the desire to become an agent in your area for my internship program - Kim just started calling Christian colleges to see if they'd be interested. I, alone, cannot call every college in the country but perhaps you could support me by calling colleges or students near you or utilizing the connections you already have to let them know about what God is doing thru this ministry. I NEED your help and this would be a great way to support God's work through me!
3) Continue to pray that God gives me wisdom and direction as I continue to develop the program that He wants!

Contact me at katie.hooks@efca.org if you want more info about the program or want to meet up while I'm traveling!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow and Praise God for great friends like Kim!

Love yall!
Katie :)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Take My Life

ya know when you wake up with a song in your head that you haven't heard in a looong time that maybe just maybe the Lord put it there...this was my song today :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEzbwcMG9Gc (to hear the song)

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
x3

(Take my life, Lord take my life. Take all of me)

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my life and let it be,

Consecrated Lord to Thee!

-Khooks :)

HOLA!

Just a quick update:

Me Gusta Costa Rica! The Duggans have been such a welcoming family to stay with and I can't thank them enough for their hospitality and generosity!

This week I've been practicing my spanish with Anna Duggan's next door neighbor Fernanda who is 8 years old. It's been so much fun to try out my spanish and she helps me with vocab and laughs when I say something completely off...which is quite often!

Today Brian took me and Sarah to SonLife ministries. This is an awesome ministry that is seeking to train youth leaders in how to minister to the youth in not just Costa Rica but globally as well. We got to spend the majority of our time with Ernesto who is on staff with SonLife, has a youth ministry, and is a husband and father of 2 cute little girls! He loves youth and desires for the youth to grow closer to God! Please pray for Ernesto who is raising support and balancing his responsibilities to his family and to the ministry.

On the way to SonLife and back, we were able to discuss interns and looking how the internship program could not just be used in NOLA but in Latin America as well. So God definitely seems to be working at expanding the internship program so please continue to pray for wisdom, guidance, and for more hands who have a passion for leading and loving on interns...and pray for interns as well :)

On a personal note, God is showing up big here for me. Everyone knows I'm not a morning person but here, I'm getting up very early to spend time praying to my Father in Heaven and spending time in His word. Praise God and Thank you for those who were praying for that. It's definitely been answered! Reading Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest and Celebration of Discipline have been great in helping me remember that out of my love for Jesus and fixing my eyes on Him comes an ability to "overflow with streams of living water" to others and work on utilizing the spiritual disciplines that will glorify God!

Please keep praying that I would continue to have my heart, eyes and ears open to whatever God is teaching me here. Tomorrow we're off to La Cumbre (mountain retreat place that is 9000 feet above sea level..oh my) and doing more sight seeing next week.

(haha okay maybe this post wasn't that quick...)

paz y amor!

buenas noches!

katie :)



"Prayer doesnt change things...Prayer changes me so that I can change things." Oswald

Costa Rica muy pronto!!

Katie is off to COSTA RICA on Monday with Sarah who is on our staff in Texas!! I will be staying with the Duggans, a missionary family who is from Charlotte! I will also see Melissa Putney who came down to NOLA back in February to help after I was overwhelmed with NOLA and Haiti responsibilities. I'm excited to be in a different culture, be stretched, practice my very limited Spanish vocab, and see how God is working in Costa Rica.


Brian Duggan is actually the one who got me thinking about interns so getting to discuss with him more of the idea of interns and maybe how interns can be utilized in Latin America will be great!


I will be spending intentional time with God, in God's word, praying, and focusing on Him to determine what this 3rd year in ministry looks like. In mid September our staff will hold our annual Key Result Area (KRA) meeting and I need to rewrite my KRA's that includes interns, NOLA, Support Team Building, etc.



Please pray:

1) for Safety traveling

2) for intentional time with God for wisdom and guidance

3) fun memory making moments

Thanks for your prayers and support! Thanks for being a part of God's work here! It was an awesome summer and I'm excited to see how the fall will unfold so stay tuned...

Love yall!

Khooks :)

Amazing Time on the Hill!!

Hi Everyone,

I arrived safely back in NOLA after a restful, fun time at the beach and a great time celebrating Alysha and Austin's wedding to find an email in my inbox to come up to Chapel Hill Bible Church and speak at the church services where they were celebrating the 5 year anniversary partnership with New Orleans! It was a huge blessing to thank the church for being obedient to God's call to respond to those in need! I also was able to see my cousin and a few of my fellow 08 grads!

One of my favorite parts of the weekends was getting to spend time with my small group girls (pictured below) aka my babies!! who are now SENIORS!! They were just freshmen when I was their small group leader my senior year and getting to talk to them, encourage them, and laugh with them was just a HUGE blessing! To see how God has worked in them, united them, and grown them over the last 2 years just encouraged me to continue to pour into my teams/friends here in NOLA and teams that come because you have no idea how God is going to work in someone after you're not in the picture.

This trip reminded me of how much I do LOVE the "mentor/mentee" or "discipler/disciplee" relationship which is exactly what I want to do with interns that come to serve with our ministry. I LOVE getting to walk alongside people and encourage them to grow in their walks with God.

ONE HUGE PRAISE: I have someone going through the application process to be an intern next summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot thank God enough for providing my first intern and I just ask for prayer for more interns that God would lead.

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 19-25

In Christ,

Katie :)

BeachMass!!

Hi Everyone!

Just letting you know I'm off to spend quality time with my family in NC starting tomorrow for a week! Can't wait to see them and the Atlantic! From there I'll be flying up to Mass to support my girl Alysha who is getting married!!!!! YAYA!!

I'll be back in the southland August 16th!

Please pray for rest and refreshment for me while I'm home. Please pray for wisdom as I think about my 3rd year in ministry and how I can use this year to glorify God in all I do!

Praises:
1) There are some people interested in internships next summer! yay God!
2) I had an awesome week in Galveston serving the community there and getting to reconnect with staff and homeowners I'd met before
3) Moving this August down the road to live with my friend Eliza! Can't wait!

Thanks again for reading! Let me know how I can be praying for you all!

Love you!
Katie :)

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18

Blog: FAQ Style

Instead of walking through the last couple months I'm going to hit the big rocks...Q and A style!

Q: What is Urban Impact?
A: Urban Impact Ministries began 20 years ago as a ministry to reach the people of Central City New Orleans for Jesus Christ. 10 years ago, the ministry planted Castle Rock Community Church. I'm a member of this church.

Q: What is TouchGlobal Crisis Response?
A: This ministry was birthed out of Hurricane Katrina and seeks to reach those in times of crises with the love of Christ. For the past 2 years, I have served as the volunteer coordinator for this ministry serving not only in New Orleans, but helping with our efforts in Galveston, North Dakota, and Haiti. We partnered with Urban Impact after Katrina to help rebuild their community.

Q: Is there still a partnership between Urban Impact and TouchGlobal Crisis Response?
A: Yes but it looks different from before. We will continue to aid each other in God's kingdom work in New Orleans but it will take two different shapes. Urban Impact will focus on central city New Orleans and continue to host teams like they did before the storm to help reach their community for Christ and (prayers needed) for the renovation of their new church facility. They will host teams in the yellow house and focus on evangelism and discipleship.
TouchGlobal Crisis Response will also continue in the efforts of rebuilding after Katrina and begin focusing those efforts in the outer areas of New Orleans such as Gentily, New Orleans East, 9th Ward, etc. We will also begin focusing on church planting. We've seen God provide the foundation of contacts made after the storm and will host teams to help us build the walls around this foundation and growing the outer New Orleans community closer to Christ. We will host teams on the north shore and hoping to acquire another ministry housing site in the outer New Orleans area. We have partnered with a church in the 9th Ward, House of Hope Fellowship, (pictured below) to come alongside them in reaching their community for Christ. We hold prayer walks in the community and assited them in their first youth celebration Sunday. We've been working on their church since mid-February and the church is still in need of funds to complete the interior. Please pray to our God, the ultimate provider, to bring the funds needed to see this church completed and shining brightly for Jesus!

Q: What does this mean for Katie??
A: I will continue to live in central city New Orleans and attend Castle Rock Community Church. I will continue to love on whoever God puts in my path. I will continue to work for TouchGlobal Crisis Response ministry for who knows how long...This coming year will most likely mean more trips across the causeway (the 24 mile bridge over Lake Ponchatrain) where our Crisis Response office is located. I am still in the process of handing off my volunteer cooridnating duties to whoever God provides. He is FAITHFUL and provided Laura and Allison this summer to host teams and I'm eternally grateful!! He also provided Christine to help with the coordination of teams to Haiti!! GOD IS GOOD!

Q: Is Katie still developing the Crisis Response internship program?
A: Time for honesty....I'm not an initiator...I don't start things...I like to come in after something is already going and make it better and keep the ball rolling. So even more reason why I know God has put this on my heart because I'm very very very unqualified and don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. If and when this does take off, it'll ALL be because of Him and nothing I've done. So yes if you'd like more info on what I'm thinking or can help with ideas all are appreciated..email katie.hooks@efca.org I'm looking for young adults who have just graduated from high school to graduated college (not sure on max age yet) and want to take some time off (either 3 months, 6 months, or a year) from school to serve in our ministry for either college credit or just to gain ministry experience. Come get a taste for working in a crisis response ministry, serving in a cross cultural setting and growing in your walk with God! :)

Q: What's going in the next couple of months in the life of Katie Hooks?
A: Next week we have 84 volunteers in New Orleans...oh yesss! (July 23rd = my birthday!!) Working on the internship program. As far as travel plans: I'll be popping over to Galveston the last week of July to visit our ministry site there, then headed to Sunset Beach NC beginning of August for a family vacation. I'm possibly visiting some missionary friends in Costa Rica in September with a possible trip to Peru to visit our ministry site this fall. And yes all the while learning every day what it means to find my security in Christ and planting my roots in Him so I can bear fruit to show His love to everyone I meet.

I'm very grateful to all of you who have been praying for me. I could tell recently my worries and burdens were greater than usual because I hadn't been asking for prayer. I'm grateful for our friendships and all the more grateful to see how God continues to use a storm to bring us closer to Him!


So Prayer Request:
1) the internship program - that I stop focusing on the fact I'm unqualified and let God use me. That God would bring exactly who He wants to serve as interns for us.
2) to see God as my ultimate security knowing He never changes
3) for strategic church partners in the outer areas of New Orleans who want to see the gospel spread!
4) future traveling plans - safety and provision of rest
5) I'm currently at 85% for monthly supporters...please pray about supporting me for God's work here in NOLA.

and to end...PRAISES!!
1) God is goood all the time!
2) for my awesome hostesses this summer
3) for the teams God has provided to come serve with us! LOVE THEM!
4) time to reconnect with New Orleans crew (pictured below) in Chicago!
5) for all of you who pray for me and who take the time to read this entire blog! you're my heroes! :)

LOVE YOU!!!

Katie :)

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"

Philippians 2:13

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44

Empty Me

Sorry I haven't blogged more. It's been an interesting couple of months. Lots of change came my way and more transition is coming my way. All I want through all of this is for God to empty me of anything that is not of Him and is of me...I want to be filled with Him! more details in next blog. Goodnight.

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.

Holy Fire burn away,my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me,
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,Empty me, yeah,
Fill, won't you fill me,
with you, with you, yeah.

Well won't you empty me,
well won't you empty me now.
I want more, I want more, I want more of you, Jesus.
I want more, I want more, oh.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, oh yeah,
Thank you, Jesus, yeah.
Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire.

Empty Me by Jeremy Camp

For Christ's Love Compels Me!

[Teams learning the Challenge Circle Cheers!]

Hi Everyone!

Wow I can't believe I have one more week of Spring Break Rush 2010! It's been quite the doozy but o what a blessing! Close to 500 volunteers in 10 weeks! God is good!

Prayer Requests:

1) Need to get my April newsletter out by mid-week.

2) 52 volunteers are here this week, 3 different churches all from Connecticut! Pray they have an awesome week in the Lord!

3) Strength and energy to finish strong in the Lord!

4) For my upcoming time off..i have 3 weeks off then teams the week of May 17th and more time off. Pray I am able to truly rest and refresh myself in the LORD! Not exactly sure what I'll be doing in that time, spending time in NOLA with no teams is one of them...let me know if i can come talk at your church :)

Since I posted last, we had close to 70 volunteers, 60 from IN and 11 from NC! It was a great week and the IN team has already called about coming again this summer! How sweet! Last week we had 50 here from PA, CT, AL, and IA. Again such a blessing to see God use these teams and I was able to venture out on a prayer walk last week and really got to see God at work in the community we're working in. I got to speak and pray with Ms. Veronica who is looking for some volunteer work so hoping to get her connected with us.

[Chris from NC playing with a kid at the challenge circle!]

Let me know how I can be praying for you!

[Praying it out after the block party!]

Thanks so much for your prayers! I definitely could not have made it without them.

In Christ,

Katie :)

[My friend Kristen from Denver came to visit!! We're tag-teaming caulking the siding at House of Hope Fellowship...it's a church we're rebuilding in the upper 9th!]

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." 1 Timothy 1:12

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

Hello Blog Readers!!

I hope this post finds you all well! Last couple weeks have been busy but good! Lots of teams and lots of ministry opportunities! This is now week 8 of 10 for my spring break rush. We have 80 volunteers in this week so please keep praying for them to have flexible attitudes and they'd have their eyes and hearts open to whatever God is teaching them!

Story Time!
Last week we held the block party at Gayle and Brock's home. We are currently painting the exterior of their home. Gayle is a grandma and currently watches 3 of her grandchildren along with having other family come and go. Usually when we have these block parties, it's just hot dogs and chips. Gayle decided on her own to break out her canopy and grill up chicken and ribs and cook red beans and rice for us on the team as well as for the community! Gayle showed me what true generousity looks like. Here is someone who doesn't have a whole lot expressing her gratitude and love in a BIG way! I thank God for Gayle and her example of kindness and pray I can show that same generousity to others I meet!

Praises:
1) 80 volunteers this week and the next 2 weeks of 50. Praise God for sending laborers
2) HE IS RISEN!! It's because of what He chose to do that I can have this personal relationship with Him! Praise the Lord indeed!
3) God is good! all the time!

Prayer Requests:
1) the 80 volunteers this week and the next 2 weeks of 50! please pray for their attitudes and pray God stretches them and teaches them more about Himself this week!
2) for energy and motivation to finish these next 3 weeks well and on fire for God and His kingdom
3) My family member Mary Louise Griffin past away last week. I was able to see her in the hospital when I was home at Christmas and I praise God for the time I had to visit with her before she went home to be with the Lord! Please pray for comfort for her immediate family and praise God she is now in a place with no more suffering and no more pain!

Love yall!
Katie :)

"Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

For He is Good!

Hi Everyone!

I hope and pray you are all doing well! I'm sorry I haven't blogged sooner.

Katie was in Haiti
Yes I did return safely from Haiti. It was such an awesome growing experience to be able to see firsthand what God is doing in the wake of the earthquake...ministry partners being formed, lives being touched, God's word proclaimed...it was truly a blessing. I really enjoyed being able to worship with other believers at a nearby church on Sunday. We sat out under the trees and sang hymns like "I surrender all" next to a building that was completely collapsed. To see their joy in the midst of something so horrible is such a huge testiment of what happens when our hope is in God and nothing else! We are still taking teams, construction and medical, to help in the relief efforts so contact me at haititeams@efca.org if you want more info. You can also check out this blog: www.lifeatthehaitianqueen.blogspot.com This is an up-to-date account of what is going on at our ministry house in Gressier (also known as the Haitian Queen).

BACK in NOLA
We began our 2 week task called Blight Busters last week...this is where the volunteers have been cleaning up vacant lots in the lower half of the Hoffman Triangle, my neighborhood. Click this link to see the news footage from the Blight Busters. It's been a real visible way to make a difference in this community and there has definitely been life transformations in the community's lives and volunteers' lives as well. For more stories you can check out the Greenville College blog at www.gcneworleans10.blogspot.com Every night at dinner, the teams have soo many stories to tell me of who God put in their path and it's such a blessing to see how much God is using them to love on this community.

Be in prayer for those who have told me they'd like to come back and serve for a longer period of time. It's no secret that I'm recruiting around here, especially with 4 colleges here this week. We have Greenville College, Harvard, Bethel University, and Dordt College. I'm praying for God to raise up His workers to continue loving New Orleans like I do.

Praises:
1) My March Newsletter is complete! Let me know if you want one! katrinarelief@efca.org
2) It really has been a great week! God has really been moving in the lives of volunteers here and us on staff. Praise God for continuing to use a hurricane 5 years ago to transform lives!
3) Looking forward to seeing who God brings back to serve with us this summer or longer term.

Prayers:
1) Continued energy and motivation for the next 5 weeks of teams!
2) MORE Staff!
3) We have 34 volunteers in next week from Wisconsin and Indiana. Please pray for them and that they would be willing to have their hearts and lives transfrormed while serving the Lord here!

Thanks everyone for reading and praying!
In Christ,
Katie :)

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing." 1 Corin 13:1-3

Katie in Haiti Day One/Two

Bon Jou! Como yay? (Good Morning! How are you? - In Creole)

I have safely arrived in Gressier Haiti. I am staying at our compound where we've leased a house and built 2 bunk houses. We flew into Port au Prince and the devastation from the earthquake is throughout the city. One house is sandwiched while the building beside it stands firm. The Haitians have moved into tent city's and they go for miles.

Home completely collapsed

Guys on top of rubble trying to scavange for rebarb wire.




Pictured above is Rick from WI, Trinity from CA, Wes from Canada, and myself in the kitchen after lunch. Rick is down for a few weeks to help with the construction of the bunk houses and help out in anyway. Trinity has been acting as the volunteer coordinator here since mid-February! She's doing a great job but is leaving on Tuesday because she's not feeling well. Please pray for her health. Please pray for someone to step into this role long term! Wes is here from anywhere from 2 months to 2 years and he'll help with digging the water wells and any other construction needs. God is awesome at providing workers for His harvest! Please pray for His continued provision of laborers! Let me know if you're interested in sending a team, haititeams@efca.org

Thanks for your prayers! It's been a blessing to be here! Keep praying and let me know how I can be praying for you!

Katie :)

Katie in Haiti

Hi Everyone!

I completed my first ever marathon on Sunday with a time of 5 hours and 5 minutes! Praise the Lord! I never thought I'd ever say I've done one but I'm glad I did and it's over! haha, Thank you for your support of me through prayers and financial giving. I'll keep you posted on how much God has raised for Ms. Simms but know you can still give if you haven't already. Just make your checks out to EFCA and put "donation to ms. simms" in the memo and mail to:

Katie Hooks
19380 N. 10th St
Covington LA 70433

I'm off to Haiti bright and early tomorrow (March 4th) and return Sunday March 7th at midnight. I fly from New Orleans to Miami at 6am then off to Port au Prince. From there we'll drive 2-3 hours to West Gressier where our volunteer housing is located. Please pray for safety traveling for myself, Sarah, Kevin, and Mark. Please pray God would guide us and give us wisdom as we serve in Haiti. Please pray for open doors for the gospel message to be spread through the arm of compassion. Please pray!

Thanks!
With love,
Katie

"IN HIM, we live, and move, and have our being." Acts 17:28

2 Firsts in 2 Weeks!

Hi Hi!

Praying everyone is having a great weekend and spending time with God!

I got to spend the week with a returning team, Black Rock Congregational in Fairfield CT. It was awesome! They are such a great group and they had another great week in NOLA. God really taught them the importance of compassion and how to love each other along with the people of NOLA! I'm soo grateful this church is a part of my life! We have 2 returning teams this week: Trinity EFC from Plainview MN and Trinity Western University from Canada! Good to reconnect and please pray for their time here as well!

My momma is coming Thursday! hollerrrrr! Can't wait to spend time with her and I'm glad she's coming to catch me after my marathon! hehe.

yes my FIRST MARATHON EVER IS SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28TH!!! Please please please pray! I got up to 19.5 miles so please please pray God will give me the strength to complete this race He's given me! If you'd like to pledge for my race, there is still plenty of time! Just send me an email at katiehooks@gmail.com

I'M GOING TO HAITI for the FIRST time! March 4th through the 7th! Please pray for my trip! Please pray for my time there. Please pray for protection! Please pray that my trip to Haiti will open my eyes to the sufferings of God's children and will transform me to love God more and love His children more! Pray I will see God's greatness and goodness in my time there! I'll be headed there to train Trinity who is taking on coordinating volunteers and help set up our office. I'm excited to see everything first hand but also realize how challenging it will be as I've never been to a 3rd world country especially not after a major crisis so please pray God would prepare me for what I'll see and experience in Haiti.

I finished my February newsletter so let me know if you would like one! katiehooks@gmail.com

Thanks for being a part of my life and for your prayers! Please Please let me know how I can be praying for you!

Love ya!

Katie :)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

SAINTS!! Here we come to get YOU!!!

Hello Faithful Blog Readers!

I have NO teams this week! So you might ask, well what do you do?? Haha, catch up on everything I haven't done yet, like Feb newsletter, thank yous, preparing for the next TEN weeks of teams...and have fun catching up with my NOLA girls I don't see much when I'm working...God has really blessed me with solid girl friends here who I can talk with, vent with, pray with and I'm super blessed to have them in my life! Me and Eliza below after the first Mardi Gras parade of the year! (yes it's a family-friendly parade!)

PRAISE:
1) God gave me the strength to run 19.47 miles on Saturday! There is NO way I did that on my own!
2) SAINTS WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!! yayayay!
3) Bringing awesome teams last week, Meriden and Chippewa (pic below)! And for Ms. Jeri, SueBeth, Lori, and Chase who rocked in the kitchen and rocked in general! Loved having them here too! PRAYER:
1) Get my newsletter finished this week!! Write my Thank Yous!
2) I'd be less selfish with my time and more giving of my time to serve God in whatever way He asks.
3) I still need to multiply myself...basically work my way out of a job as my boss says...so please pray for wisdom and guidance as the spring break rush begins that God would begin working in someone's heart to come down and do what I do...releasing me to be involved in other parts of the ministry.

HAITI UPDATE:
We are still developing partnerships and logistics for taking teams to Haiti. Right now our need is for small constuction teams WITH 3rd world experience. contact me at haititeams@efca.org if you can help in this way! Also contact me if you would like more info on how to help in general!

Thanks so much for your prayers! I definitely love it here in New Orleans and I thank God for giving me the chance to be here! More than likely, I will be staying longer than the summer...but pray as well that I give my future to God and allow Him to work out the details!

Saints Superbowl Champs!!! :)

Love,

Katie

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Never Satisfied But Always Content

Hi Everyone!


I hope you're all doing well! It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I'm now starting to recover from the mad-rush of coordinating medical teams which we ended up cancelling due to the change of needs...I'm now focusing on coordinating construction teams down to Haiti, with possibly having help from another missionary that is here to help multiply me! If interested in going, please email haititeams@efca.org.

The title of my blog comes from a devotion I did. It says, "While we are never satisfied with our spiritual progress, we're always to be content in Christ." So yes our spiritual walk with God will always be a long process of us realizing we have so much more to learn about God, so much to learn about how we should live, we're constantly pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (phil 3:14)....BUT we can always be content in Christ no matter the circumstances (phil 4:11). So yes continue pressing on knowing that we can be content in Christ...Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6)

Praises:

1) On Saturday I took 24 hours off from work for probably the first time in a while! It was great! Rest is good! Helps me learn to trust God more because I can't be responsible for everything.
2) Up to 15.5 miles for my marathon..woohoo!
3) God really has multiplied us here on staff and excited to see the body of Christ rise up to help us!

Prayer Requests:

1) the Meriden EFC and Chippewa EFC teams that are here this week! Pray they learn more about God this week and grow closer to Him!
2) My boss Mark Lewis is returning from Haiti tonight...he was there for 2 weeks so pray he can find rest at home with his family and spend time with the Lord!
3) Next week we have no teams, then we have 10 straight weeks of teams...please pray that I would spend next week preparing for how God would use me during this time..that I would be praying for God to work in the volunteers' lives (which may lead some to join us here on staff)...praying the community would come to know Christ and put their hope in Him...praying I would seek God and continue to rely on Him!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please pray for me and God's work here!

Love,
Katie :)

“However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"" 1 Corin 2:9

Praying, Waiting, and Asking!

(picture above: people waiting in line to receive medical aid in Haiti)

Hi Everyone!


I'd love to update you on what is going on in Haiti and how it has changed some of my roles here in New Orleans.

I am now the point person on coordinating medical flights to Haiti. We have teams going for a week at a time and if you're medically gifted please contact me asap as we NEED docs and nurses and more!!! email haititeams@efca.org (I check this account) You'd fly out of Fort Lauderdale to Cap Haitien (300 miles north of Port au Prince) to work in a hospital there that has been overflooded with refugees from PaP. PLEASE contact me for more details and give my email out to those interested. I'm putting this in God's hands! It can be hard to wait but I know His timing is perfect and I must trust Him!

ONE of our HUGE needs right now is monetary donations to continue supplying aid and medical relief to Haiti. Please please give to help the body of Christ come alongside those in need! You can click here to give to the Haiti Earthquake relief. Email me if you have any questions. You can also mail donations to:


EFCA Crisis Response

19380 N. 10th St

Covington LA 70433

and write 21709-3970 in the memo.

SECOND I need to multiply myself! God is already proven faithful that if we just pray for Him and ask for help He comes through. First off, Ms. Jeri is here to cook! YAY! I have several friends who have asked to help with data entry and team stuff and I'm very very grateful to them! BUT I'm STILL asking...I need help!!!!!!!!!! Please let me know if you can volunteer your time and efforts here in New Orleans! I need a cook from March 26th to April 26th in the city. We need funded jobs so if you can scope jobs and go around asking people if they have work that'd be super!


Please pray I can balance my responsibilities and find time to rest!

Please pray for the people of Haiti!

Please pray that "the islands will see God's light!"

Asking may be hard to do because it means I can't do it on my own but I know God wants me to ask Him and ask you to help!

In Christ,

Katie

Ministry blog updates: http://www.efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com/

"I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD." Ezekiel 36:9-11

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it." Ezekiel 36:33-36

Interested in Serving in Haiti..

At the moment our leaders within the crisis response ministry and the southeastern district of the EFCA are going to try (God willing) to get into Haiti Sunday to make contact with our ministry partners already on the ground. The situation is unstable at best as the entire infrastructure of Haiti is compromised.

TouchGlobal Crisis Response Ministry is a long term recovery ministry and we are formulating what type of response would best suit the needs of the Haitian people. Once a secure base can be established in Haiti, we will be sending teams to help in the long term recovery efforts and more importantly, to show the love of Christ to those in need through the holistic healing of His people.

The most current need right now is funding to support the efforts to establish a base of operations to send teams. Our warehouse in Covington, LA will begin accepting bulk donations when the determination has been made as to what is needed most and a viable method of transportation has been established.

Please be in prayer for our leaders as they also pray for God’s wisdom and discernment on how best to serve His children in Haiti.

We are urging everyone to get the word out about the situation in Haiti through email contact lists, facebook accounts, etc. Money can be donated online at the www.efca.org website with the memo line designating the earthquake relief fund #3970. Please also visit http://efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com to get the most up to date information from our director.

I can add your contact information to our database that has been established if you want to be kept up-to-date on what we're doing. Please stay posted to the website and continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

We will contact you as soon as it is a plan has been developed to send teams of volunteers to help in Haiti.

In Christ –
Katie Hooks
Volunteer Coordinator - New Orleans
EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response Ministry
office: 985-893-0218

Pray for Haiti!

Hi Everyone,

In case you are not aware, an earthquake registering 7.0 on the Richter scale devastated Port-au-Prince in Haiti. You can find out more info on our blog www.efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com about our response and how to give financially at www.efca.org

My boss Mark Lewis and another staffer Kevin are looking at flying there Sunday to access the damage and discover the needs there. Please be in prayer for their trip and that God would open doors for short and long term recovery efforts to reach His children through the arm of compassion.

PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!
Katie :)

"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
1 Corinthians 12:26

ROAD TRIP!!

Hi Everyone!

I must say today was probably one of the most productive days of my life...I won't bore you with all the details but just know in one day my newsletter was written, envelopes were labled, stamped, and stuffed! Praise God! Remember email me if you want one, katrinarelief@efca.org

Tomorrow bright and early I'm off to Galveston TX. I haven't been there since April 2009 and I must say I am excited to see all the progress and visit with homeowners! I'm also excited to see the staff there and maybe connect with some of the church members from Galveston Bible Church. Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston in September 2008 and I was very blessed to have been on the scene a month after the storm to help set up our office, delegate teams to jobsites for gutting, and help train Sarah who is now the on-site coordinator there. Please pray for safety driving there and for when I drive back on Friday!

Last week we had a team of 6 guys from Wyoming and it was truly a blessing to get to know them and hear how God is working in their lives! Praying they take what they learned home with them and they come back soon!

Please pray I can continue my training in Galveston, need to run 14 miles this week. oooo golly!

Let me know how I can be praying for you and call me if you want to keep me company on my ride over to Texas!

mucho love!
Katie :)

p.s. Go Saints!

"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." 1 Tim 4:12

Analyzing is Overrated...

Hi Everyone!

First off thanks sooo much for the prayers last week! Monday may have been one of the busiest days of my life but I got through it and I know it's because of your prayers!

Trust > Analyzing

So I don't know if it's a girl thing, or a me thing, but I probably analyze stuff wayyy too much. It's not like analyzing something to death will make me feel better or feel like I've accomplished something...just wasted time in my head more like. Probably if I analyze everything it's my way of controlling the situation or allows me to hold on to something for a little while longer. I think in the end, analyzing every little moment or every possible moment takes away from trusting God. The verse God has laid on my heart isn't a new one by any means:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Before God can make my paths straight, there are 3 things I must do:
1) Trust Him
2) Lean NOT on myself
3) Acknowledge Him in EVERYTHING!


So by acknowledging Him throughout my day, be it in prayer or spending time in His word or taking 5 min to say hello to my neighbor, I am telling God "I trust You. I depend on You!"
Take time this week to truly put this into practice and give up on analyzing everything, but TRUST God with everything!


Praises:
1) Teams were great last week! Thank you for coming to serve the Lord!
2) Ran 10 miles on Thursday and didn't die
3) For God's Son and that once we believe, we are a new creation in Christ!
4) All the awesome support I've been getting from you all, not just money but prayers as well. I'm very very grateful for each of you! Thank you Thank you thank you!


Prayers:
1) Must write thank yous and January newsletter by end of the week. let me know if you want one katrinarelief@efca.org
2) Possible travel plans next week. I'll keep you posted.
3) I continue to trust God with everything, lean not on myself, and acknowledge Him in everything!


LOVE YOU!
khooks :)