God DID it!

Round 1:

God really showed himself to us today! When we got to the first park we began setting up in a pavilion across from the playground. There were a few people across at the playground but not many people seemed like they had an interest in any free food, or free entertainment. I know as the time started to come for our first outreach to begin my faith was getting though. Regardless we pressed on. Our leaders went to get supplies from the church and they were still gone as 12:30 rolled around (the time of our outreach) so the group pulled together to start it by ourselves. We gave testimonies, Gabby and Jenna sang their hearts out, Brad and Connor played the drums and piano as fantastically as they possibly could and the rest of us on the side clapped and made it look like a crowd! By the time 1:00 came our leaders were back. By the time 1:45 came the pavilion was jam packed with people. I STILL CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM! God really shut down my faith. We began serving hot dogs and watermelon. We did skits, sang songs, had a rapper guy named Dillon come and he sang his heart out. Then at our peak moment Pastor Blake had us do the “Everything” skit. While it is a very impacting skit our group was all a little hesitant because Tim had to dress in 4 more layers (may I add it is over 100 degrees we are soaked with sweat, dirty, and tired), Robert had to put on a heavy cotton robe. And all of us were already dog tired. But Pastor Blake was adiment so we pulled through! We messed up quite a bit but it really didn’t matter. God moved and 10 people gave their lives to Christ. I believe that 9 of the 10 it was their first time too! At 3:00 we were packed up and headed to good ole’ Sonic!

Round 2:

Our next outreach was in the words of a church member “The real ghetto, little girls get snatched up over here like candy!” And I don’t know about you but when I hear it’s the “real ghetto” I get excited! We began setting up our stuff again. They had a hard time with the movie screen but got it up for the most part (they thought). The girls began getting the food ready. And then all the guys went to the courts for basketball. I still don’t know how they did it in that miserable weather but they did. We all pulled through as a team and right before the movie did the “Everything” skit once again. It was hot, but we did good, except when Robert suddenly realized he had to go to the bathroom and started walking off stage during the beginning where he stands behind me and moves his arms. Then he suddenly realized he was playing Jesus in an important skit and came back to finish out moving his legs. One adult and many kids came to the altar after the skit. Then we showed Facing the Giants. In the middle of the movie the screen collapsed and Connor and a man from the church had to stand and hold it up for the remainder of the movie. It appeared that it was only church people there, but there was still a lot of us. But when the altar call was called people kept coming! Again, I really don’t know where they came from! At least 15 people got saved after the movie and many of them said they will be in church this morning!

At the end of the day we were tired, well until we saw that swimming pool and heard our stomachs grumble. We ran across the street to get some snacks Doritos and ranch, microwave pizza and sun chips, almond joy and cheetos. Then the rest of the group (I was out after those Doritos) went swimming.

It was a long, tiring, but very exciting day! We saw a lot of people get saved because of our labor and it really made it all worth it! God proved Himself to me time and time again today! I am so blessed to have been apart of such a rich experience!

-alainna