SO my parents came down for my Birthday and to spend the week with Joel and I. The worked with us and helped up give out food on food ministry day. It was so much fun and miracle after mircles happened while they were with us.
During the week we got a call that one of our food contacts had plums for us so Mom and I jumped in the truck and headed for the Food Bank and we picked up 6 tri-wall bins of plums. Wow
But on Thursday we received word that the rest of our food contacts didn’t have anything for us (THIS IS VERY USUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT VERY UNUSUAL). So all we had for Friday Food Ministry Day was plums, a half of pallet of grapefruit and a half pallet of pears that we had from the week before and of course bread. It was so disappointing for one reason only: my parents were here and I wanted them to see the food ministry in full action. Otherwise it would have been fine to have what we did.
On Thursday Port Mercy (our Home base in Louisiana) called to give me a list of food items they needed for there upcoming medical mission in October. Two of the items were pies and cheesecake. They wanted Ray to try and contact our sources for those two items. I went to Ray and asked if he would contact his cheesecake company. Ray’s Response “We haven’t had a cheesecake contact since ’93.” “Well can you call your Pie Contact.” “Dess do you know how impossible that is. I can call the guy 50 times and he still won’t return my call. I had even called him last week and I still haven’t received a call back.” “Ray just call to at least say we tried, Please!!!!” I begged.
10 Minutes later “Dess you will never believe this I just called my Pie contact and the guy actually picked up the phone and said they have 6 pallets of pies for us.” Ray was in full shock. Flabbergasted you could say.
45 Minutes later on our answering machine “Uh Yes this is Ashley calling for Ray George, at the food bank we have cheesecake if you guys would come pick it up.” So whatever word would describe more than flabbergasted, that is what Ray was for the rest of the day while he and I went around picking up all the goodies.
So Ray and I went to the food bank not knowing how much cheesecake they had and we found out they had 20 pallets of the wonderful stuff. We ended up picking up 8 pallets. We were able to put a lot of cheesecake and pie away for Lake Charles as well having some to give out for Friday. Can I tell you we never even mentioned to the Food Bank we wanted cheesecake? It had only been an hour or more since I had talked to Port Mercy that the Food Bank then called OUT OF THE BLUE and said they had cheesecake for us. So Not only did God answer our prayers for the mission trip but we had a huge blessing for the food ministry and my parents could see more of what we did. God is so Good.
But just to add a little more humor to this praise report. The day we received all the pies and cheesecakes my parents took Joel and I out for my birthday. And they told the waiter it was my birthday. I was like “oh no they are going to sing to me.” But Praise God they didn’t and they did bring dessert. I am sure you can guess what they brought: CHEESECAKE.Thank you Lord for not only supplying our wants but in abundance.
But on Thursday we received word that the rest of our food contacts didn’t have anything for us (THIS IS VERY USUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT VERY UNUSUAL). So all we had for Friday Food Ministry Day was plums, a half of pallet of grapefruit and a half pallet of pears that we had from the week before and of course bread. It was so disappointing for one reason only: my parents were here and I wanted them to see the food ministry in full action. Otherwise it would have been fine to have what we did.
On Thursday Port Mercy (our Home base in Louisiana) called to give me a list of food items they needed for there upcoming medical mission in October. Two of the items were pies and cheesecake. They wanted Ray to try and contact our sources for those two items. I went to Ray and asked if he would contact his cheesecake company. Ray’s Response “We haven’t had a cheesecake contact since ’93.” “Well can you call your Pie Contact.” “Dess do you know how impossible that is. I can call the guy 50 times and he still won’t return my call. I had even called him last week and I still haven’t received a call back.” “Ray just call to at least say we tried, Please!!!!” I begged.
10 Minutes later “Dess you will never believe this I just called my Pie contact and the guy actually picked up the phone and said they have 6 pallets of pies for us.” Ray was in full shock. Flabbergasted you could say.
45 Minutes later on our answering machine “Uh Yes this is Ashley calling for Ray George, at the food bank we have cheesecake if you guys would come pick it up.” So whatever word would describe more than flabbergasted, that is what Ray was for the rest of the day while he and I went around picking up all the goodies.
So Ray and I went to the food bank not knowing how much cheesecake they had and we found out they had 20 pallets of the wonderful stuff. We ended up picking up 8 pallets. We were able to put a lot of cheesecake and pie away for Lake Charles as well having some to give out for Friday. Can I tell you we never even mentioned to the Food Bank we wanted cheesecake? It had only been an hour or more since I had talked to Port Mercy that the Food Bank then called OUT OF THE BLUE and said they had cheesecake for us. So Not only did God answer our prayers for the mission trip but we had a huge blessing for the food ministry and my parents could see more of what we did. God is so Good.
But just to add a little more humor to this praise report. The day we received all the pies and cheesecakes my parents took Joel and I out for my birthday. And they told the waiter it was my birthday. I was like “oh no they are going to sing to me.” But Praise God they didn’t and they did bring dessert. I am sure you can guess what they brought: CHEESECAKE.Thank you Lord for not only supplying our wants but in abundance.
Wow and my parents were blown away when we gave out the food to the groups, churches, and individuals. But my parents were more blown away by the prayer that each group recieves as they came to get the food.
It was so wonderful having my parents here. It was really sad to see them go.
So life here is hard but good. It is just like weight lifting. You have a goal of lifting as much weight as possible but you don't just go over to the heaviest weight and lift it. NO NO NO. You work up and push your self further each week. That is what I feel has happened over the last 4 years. GOd has been working us up to us being here as well as future things God has for us. And each time it was harder but God made us stronger and now that we are here it is REALLY REALLY REALLY hard but we have the strength to do it. Now if you would have given us this mission 4 years ago I would have probably of walked away from it along time ago. But praise God He knows what is best for us and will prepare us if we let Him.
It is hard in that we don't have friends here. Sure we talk to people all the time. But no one we can just share what we are truly going through. We need companionship. I am sure missing a friend. Some one that will understand me and pray with me and encourage me in the Lord. Most of the people we talk to, we are encouraging them in the Lord and they don't understand what we go through. There was one time I tried to share what I was going through with a lady that picks up from us. She kind of freaked out and didn't understand and then told almost everyone we give to what I was going through. Now a lot of people are coming up to me and telling me rumors they have heard. SO I have come to the conclusion that the people we give food to we can't confide in because we are the ones they look up to and need prayer from. So who is there. No one at this time. God and Joel are my only friends. But it may just be a season where God wants me all to himself. It happens. It has happened before, it can be now. God is trully all I need and will not hold anything good back from me. So I just lean on Jesus and say AMEN.
SO here are some pics of the food ministry.
HOPE CHAPEL PRAYING BEFORE GIVING OUT FOOD
LADIES FROM A CHURCH PRAYING FOR A WOMAN
BOXING PLUMS
A GRANDMOTHER AND CHILD RECIEVING FOOD
Love y'all,
Dess
2 comments:
WOW!! You move me to tears! Thank you Dess for being so neat and doing the work God has for you! I look at you and see a great role model for others. I now pray for you for a friend. I understand how lonely it can be. You are truly inspiring and thank you for being you and all you do and for your faith.
I really enjoy when Dess describes the food ministry because it was my favourite part of being in LA as well. Have you thought of trying to get in touch with Tim Chew or the Beakley's? Also, are you guys going to a regular church there? I thought you'd been going to Hope Chapel but now I'm not sure. I will pray for connections for you both as well. Sounds like you had a great visit with your parents, Dess!
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