June Update

Orphan Justice Center (OJC)

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1:27


My first outing with the Orphan Justice Center was great! We took home-schooled kids, adopted kids (some with disabilities), and foster care children on a field trip Thursday. Kayla, an 11 yr old girl (one of 9 adopted children in the family) walked up to me and said “I’m going to hang out with you today.” They were all precious and loved the attention. What a blessing to be able to love on the kids and give the parents a break.

Even though I have no experience with children with physical or behavioral issues, I know the Lord will equip me. Through prayer He keeps showing me His love for children; especially the fatherless. He told his disciples to “become like little children”. Oh, how His heart aches for these little ones! He rescues them. He protects them. The Bible is full of verses about his heart toward the orphan. The OJC was founded by the late Derek Loux from IHOP-KC, who left behind two biological and eight adopted children.
(louxfamilyblog.com)

I haven’t gone through Foster Care classes yet, so I’m going to the prayer & training meetings and eventually I can get placed with a family. Until then, I can assist with field trips! :)


Tonya's Life Update



“whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt. 25:40

Tonya has been clean seven months now, and determined to stay that way. She’s strong. I’ve been giving her rides to work, to Hope City prayer meetings, a hair appt., errands, etc. and spending some time with her. She works a lot. Night shifts at McDonalds and barely makes ends meet. I met her sister, her two nieces, and her sister’s girlfriend who doesn't like Tonya living there. I’m looking into housing for her through IHOP’s Hope City ministry.

Tonya’s past mistakes with her children weigh heavily on her. All four of them were put into the system, adopted, and are now young adults. Two are in college, one in KC working, and one in prison. But she is so thankful to God that she is able to work, live, eat, sleep (she’s moved up from sleeping on the street to a couch!), to be able to share Jesus with her little nieces, and to have godly friends that love her. God loves her so much.! He will take care of her. It is by His spirit working inside her that has kept her from crack, alcohol, and prostitution all these months. He loves to love!!

Tonya wants her relationships with her four children to be restored. She said “I want to help other women know they can make it. They can get off the streets and stay clean. There’s hope.” She bought me $4 earrings last week. She said “I don’t ever get to bless others. Let me bless you.” Oh, Tonya, I AM blessed! I am blessed beyond measure:)


Pure Heart Finishes

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Ps. 24:3-4

Pure Heart finished well! Our last session ended with happy tears & words of blessing. One girl’s countenance changed in the short 8 weeks of the course. She makes eye contact and smiles now. Her whole face lights up! It is a miracle from God to see hearts healed and completely transformed by His love. I’ll get a new group of girls in August.


More Updates

• 3 friends visited me! Kara Hanson, Jess Stephens, and Kari Solheim all work together at UIU in Fayette, IA. They were encouraged and touched by God & are excited to come back! :)

• An IHOP (Exodus Cry) mission trip team led two women in S. Africa to a Safehouse this week! The two women were being forced to work the streets. The team even prayed over their pimp and he let them go.

• Evangelism training is underway. YWAM, IHOP and area churches are working together to evangelize the entire city of Grandview, MO (pop. 30,000) by the end of August. How exciting!

May Update

4-State Women's Retreat

“He loves us, Oh, How He loves us!” J. M. McMillan

It’s over. The 4-State Women’s Retreat at Village Creek Bible Camp went so well! I am still in awe of all that God did.

During the Retreat and the week after, I heard testimony after testimony of women impacted and changed by God’s love. A few women told me they had never felt the presence of God like that before. Some got freedom from years of rejection, shame and self-hatred. Some didn’t know God delights in them...that He likes them! Some felt the courage to follow the calling/dreams they knew God had given them. Many went forward for prayer for freedom, peace, and healing. One woman from Waukon told me “I have never really read the Bible, but I can’t wait to go home and read it now! “. One commented on all the tears during the retreat, “It wasn’t just emotions, it was the spirit of GOD.”

The IHOP girl band was a huge part of the weekend. They were incredible (I knew they would be)! Heather Deters led the worship
team, and the presence of God there was beautiful. Five other girls from IHOP came and prayed for and with many of the women throughout the weekend. What a blessing! And I get to live near them:) You can see some of the girls sing in the prayer room. (www.ihop.org/prayerroom)

My mom and sister Tracy did an excellent job hosting. My aunt Alice played beautifully. I am so blessed to have such strong women of faith in my family:)

God did a huge work in me as well! Thanks for your prayers. The week before the Retreat, I hit a huge wall of discouragement. Then the Lord’s presence fell on me so heavily, my only response was to weep for an hour! In that moment, I knew I was free from fear of failure, fear of disappointing God. When my heart is toward Him, there is nothing that can separate me from His love!!! I was able to speak at the Retreat with freedom and joy! I am SO thankful to Him! Words cannot express... He continues to amaze me day after day.


Tonya

“I, the LORD, have called you...to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Is. 42:6-7

Last Friday I went to Hope City (IHOP’s inner city ministry) with Eunice, who wanted to go encourage a woman that had recently come off the streets. That woman, Tonya, immediately recognized me. I realized we had met last October when I was walking around downtown Kansas City with a friend. She approached us, asking for money, and I prayed with her. She was touched by our prayer and told us how she wanted to get off the streets but she couldn’t get clean. She cried, hugged us, and called us her “angels”. Now she’s been clean from crack and alcohol and off the streets for six months! She lives with her sister, works at McDonalds, got baptized at an IHOP service, and attends a Bible study. God is so good! She wanted me to take her picture so I can draw her portrait:)


Pure Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8

I have been an Assistant Leader now for three weeks, and it has been intense! I realize how much I need to learn, but I am also amazed at God’s work in the girls’ hearts. Already I’ve seen them
receive freedom through confessed sin, healing from wounds from childhood, negative words, abuse and neglect. How beautiful to see them free of shame and condemnation and able to receive God’s love! I want everyone I know to take this course :) It’s so good.


Mom Visits IHOP-KC

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10

My mom brought me back to Kansas City last week and visited IHOP prayer room and an awakening meeting. She loved it. She said “There is such a sweet spirit in this place.” Before she left to go back to Iowa, she said, “I will never be the same!” :)


More Fun Happenings

• I ran a half marathon (13.1 miles) May 1st in Prairie du Chien, WI
• Joined 1st Baptist’s 24 hr prayer event in Elgin, IA
• Got to celebrate my sister Tracy’s milestone Birthday while I was in Iowa.
. 800 Koreans are visited IHOP-KC May 11-15th for a Passion for Jesus conference.