Evening-
We headed down to Central Park for the second day of the Festival. We got there early so we could go get some dinner- we walked over to Pollo Campero (better than KFC, I believe!) On the way there we passed an older lady with 4 kids, one of which was a baby that couldn’t have been over 4 months old. They were sitting up against the building just down the way from Pollo Campero, holding a up a bowl asking for money. Looking at that baby just lying in it’s mother’s lap, half out of it, broke my heart Lord! I didn’t know what to do, I had no money, so I kept walking. I am so glad that my heart was not the only one breaking for this family-Brian had compassion for them as well and invited them in to eat with us. It moved me to tears to see him work that way- Jesus, that’s exactly what you would have done! I was so proud of him in that moment! I’m sure you were as well, Lord! This family headed out with most of the team after dinner. Some of us stayed behind to help Lauren Anderson who was feeling dizzy and was obviously dehydrated. Helping Lauren walk back to Central Park we passed that family once again, they were so happy and blessed. Being a mom myself I instantly noticed that the mother was breast feeding her baby- such a peace came over me knowing that Brian had supplied the nourishment that mother needed to nourish her baby. Thank you for Brian and his compassionate, obedient heart, he is your true servant and I’m honored to serve alongside him.
Then there was the fesitival! Justin took me to get a coffee (bless his heart) and we got back just in time for me to jump into our hip hop dance that was starting off the festivities. The Unshaken 2 team did their drama, Austin Neufeild gave his testimony (totally rocked it, amazing story of redemption!)
Then we did “Reflections” and this time I did it with the girls- and I’m so glad I did, it was so great to worship you in that dance in front of hundreds of people. I didn’t hold back in my worship to you, God and I felt you looking down with a proud smile on your face and just faded everyone else into the background. It was you and me- I had to keep reminding myself to make sure I was together with the girls and the in the right place. I was even late at the end on a move because I got caught up in worshiping you. 🙂 Not sure that was a bad thing or not. It felt so good! I just cried afterwards, you are so good and I love worshiping you in my dancing! May you always be glorified through it!
Then the creation team went- I love that drama, it’s so powerful! After that, Reid Saunders stepped up to deliver the gospel- such a great speaker! The best part, Lord, was when you began to show your glory! Just as he was giving the invitation to accept you as their Lord and Saviour, lightning filled the skies! It wasn’t just a little bit, either, it was everywhere and at close intervals, it was breathtaking and beautiful! As Reid was revealing you to the crowd, you were revealing yourself in the heavens above us- it was perfect!
Some verses I found to fit the nights “heavenly showcase.”
“From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.” Revelation 4:5
” The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.” Psalm 29:7
“His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.” Daniel 10:6
When we went out to the audience to pray for the people, I got paired up with an older lady who had headaches for 3 years, and had two sons trying to find work in America. We prayed (Angie, Emma N., Alexa and me) for her as Patti translated for us. Lord, I pray that you would do a miracle in her life and in heal her of these headaches. Lord, there were so many people who gave their lives to you tonight. It was amazing! You are so good!
We all had to stick together behind the pillars of the building we were gathered at in order to keep us safe (the streets of Xela are not that safe at night time) and keep tabs on everyone. There were so many people and me being so short, I couldn’t see a thing. So, I stayed in the back where nobody was standing and I just danced to the Hillsong music playing for the Extreme Sports guys. It was such a great opportunity to just praise you and dance for you again in celebration of all you did in the lives of your people tonight. You are so good!
Later on, Tyler Erikson cam over to me and told me how beautiful my dancing was and how you were smiling up in heaven and how proud you were of me. That was so cool, to have someone else confirm what I was feeling for myself- thank you, God! When we got back to the Hotel and were heading to our reconnection spot, I talked with Cullen Webster, who had told me earlier that he wanted to talk with me about something. He told me that he was just moved to tears everytime he watched me dance, because of the passion I protrayed. he started to get teary eyed and as I gave him a hug, he justed cried on my shoulder. It was so cool to hear that my dancing would move a teenage guy to tears! Dance is usually a thing that guys overlook and the fact that a guy could be blessed by my dancing is so refreshing and fans the flame of my passion to keep doing what I’m doing. Thank you, God, for your encouraging me through Cullen’s tears! What an amazing night Lord! You Rock! Amen!
