it's a battle out there

It is amazing how God works....what the devils means for harm and destruction...can draw you closer to the almighty savior.... Last Thursday in my update I wrote:

"I am feeling like tomorrow night is going to be busy, this is a spiritual warfare that is going on but prayer is the most powerful weapon that we have as Christians"

I had no idea how true this would become the next night as I was on outreach. we were stepping on territory and crossing boundaries that have not been passed thus with the men's ministry they were preaching and opening up in ways like never before to the two B and D who are the men's leaders who work in the pimp outreach ministry. they were stepping and breaking ground it was amazing to hear.

Some of our Girls had exciting news, it was a slow night but we prayed and had community on that corner... most of the girls left the streets and went home because of the increased police activity. it was amazing to see. it was a totally different night then the other nights that I have been out.

We left the streets about 2:20 went back and closed up in prayer. D was giving B and I a ride home. all the way to B's house they were laughing with joy because of the amazing ground and progress they have made they said it was like a break through that they had been praying for...

fast forward about 15 minutes later and D and I were at a stop light it had turned red to we were stopped, about a minutes later it turned green and then out of NOWHERE a car came and flew into the back of D's car and we went flying in the intersection, D couldn't put his feet on the break but thankfully he had automatic lock in his car. we sat there breathless and without words.

we were shaken up I reached into my pocket of my coat and called 911 at that point I only felt a little pain but D automatically felt the pain and could barely move. I asked for the emergency cars to come. we sat in the car just waiting finally, finally after about 10 minutes aid and police cars came.

The cars behind us was a mess it was crashed all the way to the window shield and D's car is a brand new car and unfortunately is totaled. I called D's wife letting her know of the accident, called again then she got it and woke up. I finally called my dad letting them know having him come to the scene of the accident. at that point I was shaking and really not in any pain I was worried about D getting out of the car safely, the car being taken care of, D's wife knowing where he was going to be at, getting all of his valuables out of his car... lets just say I was being me making sure that everything else was taken care of before I took care of myself..

about 35 minutes after the accident I was standing there shaking and freezing cold like never before I started to feel the pain and decided to seek medical attention... I hopped into the aid car and within 5 minutes my neck, back, and head where hurting with pain like I have never felt. I was still shaking... we had to wait for a back bored to come because apparently you have to be on one if you seek air after an accident.. "It is standard procedure"... finally they came and they strapped me to a bored and at that point I had a neck brace on. I was sitting in the car and I told D, "This feels like a dream" he said "I know it has happened so fast" mind you it was 3:30 in the morning when the accident happened...

I will never forget laying on the stretcher and God showing me, "Lindsay this is how the girls feel, they feel like they are stuck in bondage".. It amazes me still that in that moment he chose to show me what it was like.. It was real and I felt the pain they were in.. The bondage and helplessness that they are experiencing, as they are living this life. it was painful and it has brought me to my knees even more.

As we rode in the ambulance D said that is felt like we were riding on a sleigh backwards... lets just say we were tied and in pain, but we were laughing hard I don't remember about what but we were laughing.. At one point I said "Stop making me laugh it hurts to much" and we just laughed more. It is true that the Joy of the lord it your strength!!

as we got to the hospital I was shaking still, it turns out I was in complete shock and my temperature was dropping rapidly.

after x-rays, blood test, urine test, other test that are to uncomfortable to talk about... we were set free to go home.. ALL we have severe neck and back whip lash..... and let me say it is painful but I have to give God the glory because it could of been a lot worst than what it is. I have stayed home all week to rest and recuperate from the injury's. unfortunately for us and the other guy he had no car insurance... which in the end D's insurance will go after the other driver. it is sad but their is a reason you have car insurance.. although it cost to much and usually nothing happens, it is for that one time when something does happen.....

It would be easy to cry and scream at God as to why this happened but I have to say it was an attack it was meant to bring us down. it is an attack on D because of the places he is taking the church, with work and late night outreach with the guys....and on me because of how God is working and changing my life. it was clearly an attack but to be honest it has helped me to see God in a much clearer way and know that this is what he wants me to be doing. there is so much going on and with ministry and school....

It is a reminder that their is a spiritual battle going on with peoples life, and when we are going to reach out and claim Gods glory by building life changing relationships we are going to be attacked but we can not let that stop us.. it is only a confirmation like I said that God needs us to be working in our citys.

I need to head to bed it hurts to sit to long... but I am excited to get back out there but my supervisor has already made it clear that I am not allowed to go out this friday.. I am going to stay at home and pray!! Because honestly I love being out there, although I almost cry everytime out of compassion God has given me a heart for those women.

outreach update

Today I am heavy with the weight of so many things...
I can feel my heart breaking for the woman that I work with
I have been involved with the Late Night outreach(LNO) since November of 2009 which works with women who are involved with prostituting. I can tell I am not the same person I was that street corner has changed my life.

But tonight I am extra heavy I am carrying a burdened for those woman who I see on the Friday and Saturday nights that I am out there. I am aching inside for the life they are living. The pain they are going through. The kids who are left at home. The men who are deceiving them. The police who are arresting them giving them Justice but that they could be fair and understand the lives of these Woman.

But there are AMAZING things that God is doing in the state there is a law that is going to the senate (Cant go into details but be praying for the Law that might be passed), there is a conference in Washington DC with Police, Lawyers, prosecuting attorneys, ministries, social services meeting together to rally and learn more about the issue of the Life.
God is moving in a miraculous way!

More and more of our young Woman involved in the life are saying they want to leave the life, they say it laughingly but deep down they Do... we have and know of resources to help them get out of the life if they want really want to...

God IS moving! all around the world, in this country and in the state of Washington.

I am feeling like tomorrow night is going to be busy, this is a spiritual warfare that is going on but prayer is the most powerful weapon that we have as Christians, I know when I am out on the streets I will see a girl and begin praying for her I may not know her name but God does and he hears those prayers. If you feel lead to please pray for these Precious Ladies that God can grip them and show them what real love is.

come on...

Dear state of Washington,

Can you please just make a decision as to whether these children are moving away or Mr, feisty is living with us forever... or if maybe just maybe Feisty's sister shebebob can come and live with us?? I mean he has been in our care for almost 2 years.... but for his sake so that he can have permanency in his life..and in the life's of his 2 other siblings... can you PLEASE hurry up?? this stinks I want my parents to adopt him he is clearly attached to us.....technically the state is supposed to have permanency with 18 months of placement..and well we are beyond that... I cant imagine saying goodbye to him..it would be heart breaking...for my family and Mr, feisty.... but seriously state... these mixed emotions of knowing the possibility of him leaving the last 6 months have led us to be scared of losing and not knowing what is to come..and it hurts..

I Understand that Anthony's adoption was on the fast track because of his transplant and the state did not want to have the responsibility for making those life changing decisions but seriously, can you begin to move this case little faster??? can you please just be fair to these children they have lost so much already... They don't need to be waiting and not knowing where their forever home is going to be...whether in Washington or the other side of the country

maybe state this is why you loose all your foster good parents...because you burn them out..

sincerely,
A foster sister

Give it all away

Tonight I was trying to really thing about where God is leading me this year and beyond as I get ready to graduate college, kind of scary!! but when I heard the song "Give it all away" by Aaron Shust it stuck out because it is talking about laying all your dreams, plans,time and everything that I have to a lay it down at the foot of the cross and submitting them to God..
the song goes on to say that God gave it all away for me!! what more can I do? lay all of my plans and dreams at the foot of the cross..

It is not hard doing that! it is hard letting go because I will be honest for a second..I love to plan and have plans about what the next step is going to be but also to be brutally honest none of my plans that I thought were sooo perfect have ever happened..somehow God has taken charge and said "NO LINDSAY I don't want you to do it your way.....let me lead and you can follow"

so this year my goal is to give all my plans and dreams to God and allow him to work through me... is it easy? no but this journey of being a believer is not easy but worth it! what is better than allowing the Creator of the universe use you and transform your life!

2009 in a nutshell

2009, what a year it was! it was full of tears and laughter. in the beginning of 2009 I had a fear of my brothers upcoming transplant not knowing what the outcomes. the fear and worry that I had was hard to say the least. the continuing of chemo every other week, medicine that would make him sick to say the least it was hard but it is what we were used to just surviving and living on the hope that Jesus alone can provide.

It was a year of lost and letting go of close friends and although this was hard at the time I am thankful to not have that burdened on me any longer. it is not me that can save people from their bad choices but God and with that I am thankful and free from that situation!!!! in fact on her wedding day I got my drivers permit, a symbolism of being free..haha :)

It was a year of finally after the swine flu and blood infections, Anthony finally received his life saving transplant!! I will never forget watching those blood cord cells going into his little body, knowing that in that moment he was given a second chance at life! at times it was rough and hard but God blessed us with a miracle and today he is 100% en grafted with his new cells and is HLH free!!! we still have the occasional hospital visits for blood infections.

I stayed in school for summer Quarter, and pretty much kicked booty! I ministered on my campus along with an open air preacher. in that moment I gained my passion for serving and telling people about Jesus again. I prayed for so long and asked God to show me where he would have me work for him, and he told me to wait...

we received news that Mr, feisty had "relatives" that would be willing to take him, the thing is they are not blood and he does not know or really care about them, we don't know where he will end up....still we pray and hope that God can work in this situation.

My parents adopted Anthony!!! (the Governor of Washington was relieved)

I got accepted into the Sociology major! I am planning on being done after winter quarter 2011 and attending community college for a year or so to get my certificate in chemical dependency and to full full some classes that I will need in order to attend graduate school. (those classes I need are offed at UW but there are SOO Many people that I would rather take it in a smaller setting)

I turned 21!!! nothing to exciting but during that time I was praying about what ministry God would have me do, and he still said nothing.....finally around that time he said "women" and that was the only word I heard... I was like OKAY.... A few weeks later I got a call from My mentor Sheila asking me if I wanted to be a part of Late night outreach....and of course I knew it was where God wanted me to volunteer.....three nights out and a Christmas party later I am simply in love with that ministry and all that we do there......

To say the least God has transformed me and renewed me in so many ways this year! he has definitely been working and maturing me this year, I am no longer a teenager that wrote in this blog but rather a women that God is changing and using!

I am excited for what 2010 holds in store, I am excited to be getting closer to graduating, buying my first car, working late night and the passion and opportunity's that can come along with that! simply I am in Awe of what God has done and will continue to do in my parents, brothers and my life!