The Smokey Mountains and Baltimore 2009 #2

Posted August 6, 2009

Dearest Friends,

WONDERFUL STORIES

I still have so many amazing stories to share with you about what we saw the Lord do in Baltimore, Maryland and in many cities in the Smoky mountains of Tennesee. You are going to love these stories and have more reasons to thank God for His love toward so many children and adults. Praise God!

HOMELESS GENTLEMEN

Yes, we did a show for 50 homeless men and 25 other men who were learning to live a different way. Okay, I can guess that you are thinking the same thing that the men who came were thinking. I heard them complaining that they were being forced to watch a puppet show just so they could eat and sleep for the night. As I was listening to the grumbling before the show, I began to pray, asking God to make me wise.

After talking with the Father, I decided that the best way to deal with this problem was not to ignore it, but admit to the men that I had heard their complaints. I said, "Gentlemen, I know that you are unhappy, but I beg you please to listen for just 5 minutes and see if God might use us to speak to you." Then, I began to tell them stories about the children that we serve. It is an unbelievably tough man that can resist the suffering of children. Though these men had experienced very rough lives, some had even been in prison, I watched as their attitude changed. First, they smiled, then laughed, and finally some prayed in soft whispers, calling on Jesus to save them. Awesome!

All of the men were very encouraging to the young people as they shared their testimonies. More, they all clapped at the finish and gave us a standing ovation. What a change God had made in their attitudes. Who would believe that God could use such simple, foolish things for His purposes?

One man pressed a handmade cross into my hands as he thanked me. He said, "Your face is full of light. Thank you for coming." We all felt that we left that place with the men giving more to us than we could give to them. The Father had blessed all of us!

Please pray for the men at the Helping Up Mission and their Director in Baltimore. This is a very hard place and God is faithfully calling many to faith. I have all hope for these men because I see in my own life how God does not give up on me and deals with my sin. Pray!

The Christian Community Center

This is another very special ministry in Baltimore. For so very many years, The Christian Community Center has loved the families in this very hard part of Baltimore. I always love doing a show for these children as they are always grateful. One little girl especially blessed my heart as she came and told me that she remembered the story that we had told last year. I had given her the pictures and she had them all on the walls of her room. More, she was excited to get a new story to add to her collection. Her enthusiasm for God’s stories made my heart sing.

TENNESSEE

Each year, 20 million people make this area of Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains their vacation destination. Why would we go there to do shows? Well, we were not there for a vacation, though our friends did treat us to a free game of PuttPutt golf and go cart rides. I really loved the go cart rides though I was going so slow that people were pointing at me and laughing. More, I was the only white haired old lady on the track. We were also treated to a special time enjoying God’s creation on the river as we tubed thanks to the kindness of a prayer partner.

Yes, this area is full of tourist attractions, but it also has so many children that are not a part of this world. Many are from broken homes and too many are being raised by their grandparents. We shared with hundreds and hundreds of children. Sometimes, when we were allowed to pray, we heard children softly praying. Others told us that they had prayed.

One little boy touched my heart. I was talking to the children about how God loves them and cares for them. He raised his hand and said, "My Grammy loves me." He could understand God’s love because his grandmother loved him.

So many children welcomed us and told us that they remembered us from last year. More, they remembered the stories that they had heard. Children said, "You told me about Jesus!" I can not think of a better way to be remembered! Gofd is so good to me!

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Please begin to pray for our time in Ireland as we leave on the 14th of August. September will find us in Uganda.

2. After receiving so many notices from friends and churches that are cancelling their support or greatly reducing it due to our current economy, you probably think that this request would be devoted to that problem, but no. I am completely sincere in asking you for a more important request that supersedes economic concerns. I have felt a real urging from the Father to ask that our prayer support be doubled. Presently, 1341 people receive our letters and it is because of their faithful prayers that so many children all over the world hear about Jesus. I beg you to contact your family and friends and ask them to pray for us. Prayer is the key to everything. I want to see this list doubled in the next 12 months. You can help! Please, with your friend’s permission, send me their email addresses. Talk with them about the children that we serve. Think about all that we have seen this past year. What will God do as we increase our prayers for the children?

In Jesus, Linda for all of us who have the delight of sharing with the children, teenagers, and adults in the world

Posted July 28, 2009

Dearest Friends,

THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS...YOU TOLD ME ABOUT JESUS!

No, this is not the view that the children in inner city Baltimore have, but their needs are the same. I talked one on one with so many children yesterday after the show. Some children asked me if they could come with me. One little girl begged me for the pictures after the show. She especially wanted the the page that had the broken heart and the healed heart. It was an illustration that I used to explain to the children how they could know Jesus. I told them how Jesus could heal their hearts and give them hope and love. More, He can take away their fear. I asked her why she wanted that particular picture. She told me that it spoke to her heart.

A little girl with a big smile came to me yesterday and said, "I remember you! You came last year. You told me about Jesus!' My heart wanted to sing! She remembered what she heard.

Ask the Father to help these little girls and all the children that we speak to today to hear Jesus. Ask the Father to hel their broken hearts!

In Jesus, Linda for Lindsey, Naomi, and Malachi

Posted July 21, 2009

Dearest Friends,

YES, YOU CAN PRAY!

Yesterday afternoon, I saw the Father do the sweetest thing. We were in a very difficult place for children. I was told that the police and fire departments do not want to go into this area and many of the areas where we have been doing programs. The homes are very small, all connected to each other. They are called row homes and about every third one was boarded up. Some of those still had signs on them offering them for rent.

As I went into the building where we were going to do the program,I heard 2 adults talking. They were using so many curse words, that I could not understand what their conversation was about. Little children walked by them without comment. This is a hard place to be a child. Everything that they see and hear is ugly. The director loves these children and really cares that life is so hard for them.

The reality is that the world these children know will not change. It is a loud and noisy place. There is no peace in this place, When I look out my window at home, I see fields and trees, I can hear birds singing. These children see gangs and watch women selling themselves. It is normal to see drugs being sold and see people drunk. Children do not live with 2 parents and many of their parents never married.

As I was telling the story yesterday, I described how Joseph's brothers treated him. I said,"They were his family, but they betrayed him. They hurt him and did not care for him. All they could think about was themselves." As I spoke, a precious little girl with lots of bright colored beads in her hair listened intently. She nodded her head to everything that I said. What is her life like? What does her family do to her? God knows her name. Please pray for her. Yesterday, she put her trust in Jesus and found the Father she so desperately wanted.

We heard so many children praying. All of them need your prayers! I believe that the nice lady that we met will encourage them in their faith. She gave me permission to pray with them, knowing that they need Jesus, Praise God for such a wonderful opportunity to be light in the dark. Please continue to pray for these children and all of the others that we have been telling about Jesus.

Each day for us is a great adventure as we share with so many children, doing 2 or 3 programs each day. Today, Tuesday, is our last day to work in Baltimore'sinner city. Please pray!

FUNNY THINGS

1. A lady watched the program and then asked me if I did birthday parties. I explained that I was 12 hors of driving from home, so I did not think that I could come.
    
   
2. These children understand little about God and so they say ask some funny questions. One child asked me if I had known God since He was born. I looked very old to him.
    
   
3. As I told the story of Joseph, I said,"What can you do when you are little and afraid?" Immediately, a little boy shouted out, "Call child protection services." Another little boy said, "Beat the **** out of them."
    
   
4. Georgraphy is a mystery to these kids, As I put a hat from Turkey on a little girl at the start of the program, a little boy started to laugh. He said ,"Turkey? I eat turkey. It's good!" I often get asked if I drive to places in Euorpe or Asia. I smile alot!

In Jesus, Linda for Malachi, Naomi, and Lindsey