This week has been a tough one. Our first piece (out of five!) of the portable building showed up. And then the next day was promptly taken away. We had a tropical storm warning. Everyone thought that Tropical Storm Nicole was really going to hit us hard. However, she actually just turned into Tropical Depression #16 and dumped some rain around the area. Needless to say, yet again, I was fooled into thinking I would get a day off of work and some quiet time while listening to the rain. We were also, again, fooled into taking down the tent only to have to put it right back up the next day.
For weeks, my boss, her husband, and I have been participating in the Daniel Fast. It's a fast based on the Biblical book of Daniel in which he fasts from all "choice foods" for 21 days. It's been an interesting fast, one that makes your body feel good, but also leaves you spiritually and physically wanting more. My boss and I sat around often discussing the fast and how it's made us feel, or what we were thinking. We both often expressed frustrations because at times it can just seem like a bad diet. The fast ended on Thursday. We didn't think much would come out of it. We didn't think about the power of God.
So, after 21 days of fasting, and a really tough week, a lot of us were just hoping to get through Friday night. Get through it so we could sleep in and gather some rest on Saturday. However, we had planned an amazing night. It was the Oasis Kick-Off Jam, meaning we were supposed to spend the night getting our youth pumped up about our spring break camp Oasis. We had many visitors hanging out with us that night and had even hired a Christian rapper known as "Chirstaholik" to perform. It was shaping up to be a good night. Then, about half way through the "fun and games" portion of the night, we see cop cars show up on the corner. My boss tells me to go see what has happened and before I can even get outside of the tent, I see a mob of about 500 people walking down the street straight at us.
It's pretty funny to hear the different stories on what people thought was going on. These stories are usually centered around how long you have been in Florida City. Some of our new and naive staff members thought nothing of it. They thought, "oh, something's going on..." Where as my boss was certain it was a riot and we were all about to get shot. No matter the first impressions, we were quickly surrounded by this mass of people who started immediately disassembling our stage set up and bringing out their own instruments and sound equipment. My boss quickly recognized some members from a partner church, The Vineyard, up in the Kendall area.
It took me quite a while to come to grips with the fact that we were not actually under attack. However, once I discovered that these people "came in peace," things started to click and I realized that I must be in the midst of witnessing something powerful.Powerful, indeed. From this point everything kind of seems like a blur of news cameras and camera flashes. But, I do distinctly remember my boss being handed a large, wrapped present. I also very vividly remember their pastor telling us that they took up an offering for us last Sunday and decided to give our church everything. Everyone began chanting "Open It!!" and Kim and Audrey pulled off the wrapping paper to reveal a giant checked marked for $80,377.03. And yes, please do look at that number again. There is not an extra zero.
This church gave us $80,000, because they knew we were in need. They knew of the work we do and they knew of the fire. They knew it was what needed to be done. What they didn't know is that Branches has an anonymous Christian organization that triples every dollar donated to the building campaign. Meaning what this church actually did was donate almost a quarter of a million dollars!
We have been "going through the wilderness" for about four months now. Trusting God and having faith, but living every day discouraged and frustrated at work. Knowing that our ministry could do so much more if only we had the space. If only we had the staff. If only we had the resources. If only... But if there's one thing that this experience has taught me it's the fact that if you seek His kingdom first, everything else will fall into place. We should not worry about what will come about tomorrow, for tomorrow has it's own worries. We should be content knowing that God will always provide what is needed. He knows. He always knows.
Now my boss and I are just trying to figure out how to top that Friday night...any suggestions!?
