Day 21
"I don't believe anyone who has truely accepted the LORD could come down to Louisiana and NOT be effected for life." -quoted by a departing team member.
Today I said goodbye to another Wisconsin team. Yet there is good news on the horizon... Today I receive a team from Lima, Ohio, tomorrow Kathie Endler arrives by train, and Chuck McDonald from Conover arrives for his 2nd week-long visit since February 16th. It is so exciting to watch the hand of God move so visibly in people's lives. (including my own).
I have been here for 3 weeks and the challenges have been many. Fatigue is my greatest physical enemy. Getting 8 hours of sleep for the teams is fairly easy because the lights go out at exactly 10:00 pm, but very often the work continues in the Compassion office until midnight. It was easy for me to get burned out. I try to keep spiritual weakness away with regular devotions
and reading, and fellowship with team members and new friends. Praying is the only solution I have found to stay in God's "zone". Emotions can run high when people are tired, and I am no exception. This week I had to take myself out of the work loop for one day. The one day off was a complete blessing. I slept, I read, I prayed and I looked to the Lord for some extra Power so I can run the race with endurance and finish strong.
Today (saturday) is a slower day, but still full of paperwork and preparations for the arriving teams.
I anticipate the arrive of the new teams like a little child anticipates Christmas morning. Each person is like a seperate gift, but when they are all placed together the 'team' is also such a great thing as well.
Speaking of special gifts, not too long ago, one very greatful homeowner brought many many lbs of freshly boiled crawfish. Tender and spicey! I am seen in the above photo playing with my food, before gulping down the little red guy!! Just behind me is John, another Compassion staff member confirming the righteousness of the meal.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2Corintians 5:7
-mj
Today I said goodbye to another Wisconsin team. Yet there is good news on the horizon... Today I receive a team from Lima, Ohio, tomorrow Kathie Endler arrives by train, and Chuck McDonald from Conover arrives for his 2nd week-long visit since February 16th. It is so exciting to watch the hand of God move so visibly in people's lives. (including my own).
I have been here for 3 weeks and the challenges have been many. Fatigue is my greatest physical enemy. Getting 8 hours of sleep for the teams is fairly easy because the lights go out at exactly 10:00 pm, but very often the work continues in the Compassion office until midnight. It was easy for me to get burned out. I try to keep spiritual weakness away with regular devotions
and reading, and fellowship with team members and new friends. Praying is the only solution I have found to stay in God's "zone". Emotions can run high when people are tired, and I am no exception. This week I had to take myself out of the work loop for one day. The one day off was a complete blessing. I slept, I read, I prayed and I looked to the Lord for some extra Power so I can run the race with endurance and finish strong.Today (saturday) is a slower day, but still full of paperwork and preparations for the arriving teams.
I anticipate the arrive of the new teams like a little child anticipates Christmas morning. Each person is like a seperate gift, but when they are all placed together the 'team' is also such a great thing as well.
Speaking of special gifts, not too long ago, one very greatful homeowner brought many many lbs of freshly boiled crawfish. Tender and spicey! I am seen in the above photo playing with my food, before gulping down the little red guy!! Just behind me is John, another Compassion staff member confirming the righteousness of the meal.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2Corintians 5:7
-mj
posted by Mark Jensen | 8:21 AM
2 Comments:
Praise God! Have you tired of hearing me express how incredible these updates are? Not just because they merely update us on what is going on (as great as that is), but there truly is a Spiritual Energy in these updates. They stir my heart to deeper levels of compassion, which spurs me onto deeper prayer for the work, the teams, the people…So, Mark, if I haven’t beaten it to death quite yet, here goes: These updates and this blog are saturated with the Living God…they are the “Inter-Office Memos” of the Kingdom of God itself!
Finally, Mark, I applaud your wisdom in taking a “down day”…even your decision to share that kind of information speaks volumes of the reality of what is going on down there. This blog is such a blessing in that it allows people like me to participate in ways I couldn’t imagine otherwise. Stay strong in the Power of God! Tell Kathie that Kelli & I are praying for her specifically! Keep bringing God’s Kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven, my man!
Mark, thank you for keeping us informed.
I'm so glad the Lord gave you some time of 'rest'.
Even our Savior had to seek out places of quiet in the midst of ministry. How much more do we finite human beings need that!
We continue to pray for you.....
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