Nothing Like Prayer Walking in New Orleans...

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to keep you updated on what's been going on with teams this week! For starters, it's been a BLAST getting to hang out with these teams! It's so awesome to hear how God is working in their lives and to see them serve wholeheartedly for the Lord this week!

We really encourage the teams to take time out of their work day to prayer walk around their jobsite. On Monday I was able to take 3 girls from Dordt college around and we were able to stop and pray for Ms. Ruby and Ms. Hazel. I've always loved this characteristic of New Orleans...that even though they don't know me at all..they still let me pray with them! How cool is that!

I wonder if people would be like this everywhere if I would only take the time and ask them what their prayer needs were and if I could pray with them. I have no idea but I definitely LOVE the fact that I can in New Orleans. Maybe you guys in other places can try it out and let me know!

Tomorrow is our block party and please pray for us as we proclaim Jesus Christ to these neighborhoods and pray for boldness as the volunteers continue to step out of their comfort zone!

Love you guys!
Katie :)

"LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37

LOVE this week!

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to update you on the teams we have this week serving the Lord in New Orleans!

There is:
1) Greenville College, IL
2) Dordt College, IA
3) Clear Lake EFC, IA
4) Northwest Community, TX
5) Community Church, SD
6) Tri-State Fellowship, MD
7) Stanwich Congregational, CT

This all adds up to 77 workers for God's Harvest here in NOLA this week! Please be praying for these teams and for God to use them in mighty ways to proclaim Jesus Christ to the people of New Orleans!

I'm so blessed to be here and excited to see returning teams and meet new ones! Praise God for bringing His children from all over the country to UNITE and SERVE under His name!

Love,
Katie :)

“LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37

Do You Love Him?

Do I love Him enough to live for Him today?

Do I love Him enough to feed His sheep?

Do I love Him enough to consider my life worth nothing, if only I can finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace?

In my devotions by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, he spoke of the verse in Luke 12:8 where Jesus says, “Whoever confesses me before men [that is confesses HIS LOVE by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God.”

What stuck out to me in this devotion is that my love for God should be my motivation for how I live my life each day. Do I love God enough to let that love affect my thoughts, my actions, my words, my life?? Is my love for God just something I talk about or do I actually put that love into action? I want everything I do and say to stem from that LOVE I have for my Father in Heaven who LOVES ME! 1 John says I love because He FIRST loved me.

So the question that has been challenging me each day is “Do I love God enough to live for Him TODAY?” Tomorrow has its own problems and yesterday already happened. So then…do I love God enough to live for Him TODAY?” Where I’ve seen God challenge me with this question is with my newest roommate. I didn’t really know her before she came in January and I had not taken the time to spend one-on-one time with her. So the day God put this question before me, I heard him say, do you love Me enough to make time for Bryn?

I wanted my answer to be yes so I asked Bryn if she wanted to have lunch this week. She said yes and at lunch she opened up to me about what was going on in her life and sure enough, in that moment I knew why God wanted us to have lunch. He wanted me to be there for her, to encourage her to live for Him every day out of her love for Him, and to encourage her to blossom where He has planted her.

I’m so thankful for God for my new friend Bryn, for God given me that question, and so thankful that this time I was obedient to His voice…it always works out better that way.

So my question to you is: Do you love God enough to live for Him today??

Change...

The only constant in life is change...someone told me that one time and I'm pretty sure they are correct.

So here's to change...enjoy the new blog layout and colors!

More update on my week back in NOLA to follow!

Katie :)

Midwest Winter Meets Southerner DEBRIEF

Out to dinner with the team from Brooklyn Park, MN! Love these guys and gals!

Hi there!

Right now I'm sitting at the Chicago airport, patiently waiting for my ultimate flight to New Orleans!! After being gone for so long, a part of me feels like I need to debrief from my travels.

1) What were my expectations? Were they met?
-God raises up new support team members - He did!
-God creates connections between myself and churches/colleges - He did!
-God ignites the desire for teams to come back down to NOLA - He did! For example, the team from Clear Lake IA that usually brings around 9-10 volunteers had SEVENTEEN people sign up to come down! God is soo good!
-God raises up more interns for this summer - Still praying!

2) What did God teach me?
-Trust God to provide!
-Spend daily quality time with God or I'll burn out and run on fumes
-No matter where I am, I am called by God to love and serve Him and His children...even if my trip is extended...there is JOY knowing that God's plans are higher than my plans!
-When going on a trip this long, schedule a day of rest! A day of no appointments, no church visits, no wedding planning, just a day to sit at the Father's feet!

3) What will be different when I go back home?
-the weather (haha yes obvious but true!)
-I will appreciate more how God has called me to do His work in New Orleans and try not to take for granted even a single day I have to serve Him there!
-I will have more reasons to go back and visit Iowa/MN and looking forward to staying in better touch with my Iowa/MN brothers and sisters! Love you guys!
-I will continue to trust God with my time, talents, and treasure and realize everyday my utter dependence on Him!

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for your prayers for me during this trip!! God has heard them and answered and I can't thank you all enough! THANK YOU to everyone who provided for me on this trip! Anyone and everyone is always welcome in New Orleans!

Love yall!
Katie :)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

Mark, Mary, and Me enjoying some New Orleans Mardi Gras beignets in Spirit Lake IA!