Printing out pictures for the kids :) #haiti #photography
Two 70lb suitcases full of donated supplies of medications, clothes, toiletries, tools, bags, first aid, etc to go to Haiti! Plus 6 bags of extra toiletries for Esteem Street Team ministry to hand out to girls in the sex industry this weekend! Beyond grateful. Many thanks to all those who helped make this a reality!
Esteem
Over this last month I have been able to be a part of Esteem Ministries as part of their street team. The Street Team is an outreach to women of Pierce County that find themselves working in the sex industry. We go out twice a month on Friday nights - offering a gift, and a message of love that we are ALL created with a good purpose by God himself. With partnerships in the community ESTEEM seeks to place women in Mentor programs that can offer help. But first it’s about building a relationship. 
I haven’t lived in Tacoma for almost 7 years, but I grew up here. So you would say I should know the city pretty well. Yet, I am astonished how I missed this happening in my own city. I am still trying to wrap my head around that the Lord brought be back here and that I no longer do this in foreign countries, but in my own stomping grounds.
Each time we hit the streets looking for girls I am full of many reactions. That yes indeed, this city is ranked the top 3 highest places in the US for sex trafficking - but I don’t just know it; I now live it. That every night we go out, it isn’t too hard of a search, and that it is typical for us to run into 5-8 girls in a 2 hour duration plus their pimps. That this group of amazing women I get to go out to do ministry with is totally a work of God - we all were called here in crazy ways and come from eclectic backgrounds. Only Jesus can wire that one. That the significance of divine appointments and prayer is essential. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’d never make any difference. That the Spirit is so active and we are just instruments. And ultimately that the love of Jesus is penetrating their hearts and areas for redemption and restoration is being open. I hit the streets and am totally in awe of Jesus’ interwoven complexities to make it all even happen.
Today I was even more blown away. It was a sunny day and the girls were out in force with their pimps not too far behind. I learned more about the specifics of how the Northwest industry runs. I saw beautiful broken faces and I love them all. Their were so many moments where the love of Jesus was so strong and powerful that it was hard not to tear up. All I can end with of how tonight went is WOW. That in the name of Jesus, He will set the captives free!!(and he already is!!)
Patience is not the same as indifference; patience coveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of all patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration.
Oswald Chambers
I am going to Haiti in a few weeks to help photograph and do media projects for an orphanage outside of Port au Prince. I have the privilege to bring with me two 70lb suitcases full of needed items for the orphans. Can you help me fill my bags? Below is a list of needed things that you are welcome to donate that I would love to pick up from you in the upcoming weeks if you are in the Seattle area! If not, you can donate monetarily through paypal! Thank you!
happy times in Oregon this weekend
A reflection on Luke 5:4-11
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.”
I read this and was blown away by how much I personally related to Simon and then how Jesus has related to him and I. I love this about the Word. I can read a passage thousands of times and continue to get different or deeper revelations out of it based on what the Lord has walked me through. For me today, I related to Simon. Simon was soon to become a disciple - he was listening to Jesus preach and knew is authority - even calling him Master before he truly knew him. How many of us are at this stage? We know Jesus, we may have heard about him, heard a few sermons or his Easter story and we may even have some belief that He really did exist and maybe we even think he is God. Then Jesus asks Simon to so something that he frankly thinks is a ridiculous idea. I am sure Simon was thinking after Jesus asked him that, “Go cast my nets again? I am a professional fisherman and all day and night I haven’t been able to catch anything! What makes him think something will change?” But Simon obey’s, which is the interesting part. He doesn’t talk back or just shrug him off. He steps out in faith and does it anyways, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.
Then Jesus pulls through. He fills their nets with so many fish that their boat begins to sink! And for me, the next part of the story is the most incredible part of all. Simon comes to Jesus, a disbelieving sinner and recognizes that he is not worthy of Jesus and begs him to leave him. I think this is when Simon for the first time understands what “holy” means and how sin truly separates us from the Lord. But Jesus doesn’t go away or condemn him. He tells him not to be afraid and speaks his God given calling over him. How redeeming! Simon’s only reaction was to give up everything, leave it behind and follow Jesus. Wow. How many of respond that way each time we are given grace and redemption from our Lord?
It brings me back to my own life. Jesus has asked me to do some pretty radical things throughout my life. There have been so many times where I have had less than $50 in my account and honestly to survive or get to whatever Nation he asked me to go to, I needed him to pull through or else I would be in some big time trouble. Or situations regarding safety, direction and even the messy stuff of dealing with my own wounds and sin. If Jesus didn’t come through, I’d be a lost case. There was some major faith stretching times where often, I like Simon, in my head would be doubting out the wha-hoo and having to repent for my unbelief. But those times made my trust in Jesus even stronger where the harder the situation, sometimes the easier it was to not be a stress case and just trust and rely on the Lord. It was easier to leave everything and just follow Him in whatever direction because I stood in confidence how how the Lord has conquered so many feats in my life supernaturally: provision (housing, meals, transportation, clothes, money, etc), to healing (physical and emotional), to redeeming friendships, to protection - so many crazy things and many stories to every feat. It is incredible and I am so thankful for these times where I simply obeyed not knowing really the outcome. But it has not only made my relationship stronger with Jesus, but I was able to truly become a disciple like Simon was. Where in your life do you see yourself as Simon?
An unexpected trip to Haiti is coming up! Click HERE for more info!
I heard this on the radio in my car driving to a bible study. I had to pull over because I was crying so hard. Why does the church always play the hate card? Not even that, but generations who fail to love over and over again. We choose intolerances and judgement because of our fears, our preconceived notions or our own unhealed hurts. My heart was ripping for the gay community; it was ripping for America; for my city; my Tacoma.
Jesus flood the hearts of your followers, help us to love more and to see through your eyes. To uplift, to encourage, to exhort in love. To be the glimpses of Love you have breathed into us.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whateveryou want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the fleshwith its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:13-26
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