A Thanksgiving to Remember

Click here Before I tell you about the crazy Thanksgiving I want to tell you more about my time in North Carolina. As you read in the last blog I was there in Sophia with my friend Jonathan and Melissa Helser. They have a farm there that Jonathan's Dad has had for years called A Place for the Heart. Truly I have never been anywhere like it. This is the longest I have stayed there and I loved every minuted of it. Its a "thin place" between heaven and earth. The land has a song and you can't help be caught up in its unsung melodies and have creativity released inside of you. The most precious thing to me there is my friends. I have known Jonathan and Melissa for 13 years now and we have stayed in touch but a year and a half ago we really connected again. I just love them so much that I don't have words but just being with them awakens my heart. When I am with them somehow it brings confidence in my own life and in my journey. There children Cadence and Haven are some of the most amazing children I have ever known.
While I was there my friend Andrew York met up with me for second half and it was fun having him enjoy the time with me. We also had another friend from the Boiler Room in Kansas City come out, Adam Cox and his family. So it was just such a great time of kingdom connections and ministering one to another.
The Helser's run schools and internship and I got to hang out with their internship and minister to them and that was so much fun as well. I feel like the Lord knitted my heart to that place and people so much more and I am already planning the next time to get out there. I feel like its a place I am meant to be often . I am looking at a week in March if it all works out.

I knew that being in that place would stir my heart for my future as well. I felt like the Lord spoke to me that it would be a significant part of this journey I am on. It was. There is transition in my life and my time there really confirmed that in a whole new way. I felt like for the first time on this journey I got a bit more understanding of what that it is, only to open up another chapter of questions. I wish I could share more but at this time everything is still to vague and there is a lot of activity but not clarity. Things will unfold in the timing of God.

On Monday, Andrew and I flew to Biloxi, Mississippi to meet up with the Sex & Money documentary team. I think all but one is a YWAM'er and they have made an excellent documentary on human trafficking in America. They are on a 50 state tour screening the film. They have been on the road now since I think Aug. and they have a few weeks left. Our time there was so amazing!!!! We went to do a pastoral visit to just minister to the team and be there for them. It was one of those sneak attacks of God where you think "oh this might be cool" and you leave going "that was amazing"!
First of all we where staying in a building used for housing workers for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort so think of a simple dorm style building with a kitchen and a big open area with white walls an folding white chairs and tables. I was blessed to have a nice bed. Then this team is amazing but oh so funny and crazy. Rarely a dull moment to say the least. Half of them where my former students. I was a proud momma. Then of all places we are in Biloxi, Mississippi and I have never been anywhere like it.

First night we are screening the film in a University and we decide to find some dinner. So we search on our phone and find a cajun place and think "when in Mississippi, might as well eat some cajun". We pull up to this place a bit of the beaten path that looks like a lit up carnival. Neon signs and lights everywhere. We pile out of the van to the sound of some music to which the style I could not identify but sounded southern in some way. The music was coming from a lit stage outside. We order and sit outside to take in the full ambiance. Around wooden tables and crazy lights strung outside in the Mississippi warm/sticky air. The guy playing the guitar was singing to beat the band and another person (never figure out if it was a guy or girl) was playing the Kazoo in a elf hat. Wow! It was truly an experience I won't forget.
The day before Thanksgiving our host takes us on a swam tour in Louisiana. First we go to an all you can eat joint in Mississippi serving authentic food like friend green tomatoes and gizzards. Then off to the swamp. We where in a little tour boat and we got to see some alligators in the wild. They where pretty calm this time of the year but it sure was fun and unforgettable.
That night we did a ministry night with the team. The Lord showed up in a powerful way and people's lives where changed. Its hard to he get into the details but it was very powerful and touched my deeply to see people encounter the Lord the way they did. Our time there was so strategic as we where able to help bring perspective and life. I feel like what happened with this team with have huge effects for years to come.

Thanksgiving day was chill as most of the girls cooked and some went to the beach. That night the white tables where transformed into a beautiful table adorned with candles and delicious food. Most of the guys on the team wore suits. Some of them in 3 piece suits. In all my years of thanksgiving I have never been at one where they guys wore suits. It was great! They all looked so debonair. We ate, shared what we where thankful for, talked of the goodness of the Lord, played games, laughed, prayed and enjoyed our company and this Thanksgiving emensly. It was great in every way!!!!
The next morning Andrew and I headed to Denver where his family lives and we had Thanksgiving number #2 and it was great. I am just enjoying this family that I kinda call my family. Its a relaxing place for me.
On Wed I head to Wasilla, AK where I will be for 5 days. I think I am doing ministry almost everyday. Strait from the airport to a youth group then the next night a ministry night at Northgate. If everything goes well I get to release my album that night, I am so excite about that. I head to Petersburg, Alaska on the 5th and am there 2 nights have a album release there as well. Then to Pt. Agassiz where I grew up to be with my sister and her family for the rest of the month. I am so looking forward to it!!!!!!