Flower City Work Camp...A Time of Reflection

So many things are still running through my mind since serving during Flower City Work Camp.  We witnessed God stirring in many hearts.  Over 645 children heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.  75 prayed to receive Christ.  Relationships were formed.  I did not want it to end.  The faces of so many are still engrained in my mind.  My prayers have been propelled to a whole new level.  A place that I have desired for quite a while now. To get to that place where it is not all about "me".  To stop going through the motions and to see the bigger picture....

It kind of reminds me of the Matthew West's song, "My Own Little World".   

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now

Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world

I don't want to miss out on being used.  Being the hands and feet of Jesus.  It is such a sweet place to be.  Learning to die to self.  Love God; love others.  Serve God; serve others. "Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours..."

Anyway....here are some photo highlights from FCWC last week!

Setting up sleeping arrangements at our home based church for the week.

 

Sylus and Turner waiting for worship to begin.

Sisters....Taryn and Tori relaxing.

Cousins....Joey and Ben.

The first night of worship.

Decorating the cars before we leave for our sidewalk club....Kiki, Becky and Anna.

We were blessed with GREAT food....

Anna loving on the kids at sidewalk club....

Kiki....

Katie and Becky with some of our teen sidewalk club campers....

Katie sharing the gospel with this sweet girl....

Getting my hair fixed by the campers.....

At our sidewalk clubs....Monday was 80 degree weather.  Tuesday, it was snowing....only in Rochester!

Our group rehearsing our skits before we head out.....

Our fearless leader....Liesel!

Emma and Beka....

Beka and Olya....

Gathering kids for the sidewalk club....

Sharing the gospel one on one with the kids using the flipper flapper.....

Group G at our first sight on the last day of the club.....

Patricia and her grandson Kamar....such a precious lady whom I befriended.  She sacrifices so much for her family.

Nicky and Justin hanging with Tamare, Jamare  and Jeremiah.  Jeremiah (the one with the hoodie on) asked Jesus to be Lord of his life.  Justin said that he was so excited about his decision to follow Christ!  Tamare (in the camouflage jacket) was very interested and kept asking questions about Jesus.  He eagerly memorized his Bible verses everyday.  I asked him on Tuesday if he would like to have Jesus be Lord of his life...he hesitated and  told me that he wanted to give it some thought and promised me that he would be back the next day.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to talk with him on Wednesday due to another person that I was in conversation with.  However, a seed was planted and I believe that Jeremiah's excitement will spill all over him and his twin brother, Jamare.

 

Sisters....Molly and Addy.

Micah...his first experience at Flower City.

Wonderful godly teens!  I love their zeal for The Lord!

The wonderful lady to the left in the photo is the mom of the girl on the other side of me....Mimi (the mom) and Meghan (the daughter).  Meghan was on my team last year.  When she found out that I was from Alabama, she asked me where I went to college.  I told her Troy University.  She squealed and said that her mom graduated from Troy.  While our paths never crossed at college (that we know of), we know so many of the same people....small world!  I am SO blessed to know this family!

The Camp ended as it always does with praise and worship to The Lord.  Kevin Maloney, my pastor, was the main speaker each night.  Through the messages, many students surrendered their lives to follow Christ.  It was a very powerful, life-changing week for ALL that were involved!

To God Be the Glory!