This afternoon, I just finished reading this New Orleans book that AIM put together right after the trip. http://www.missionsresources.com/product/434.htm 

What timing! As, I’m getting ready to head down there for a month; I felt like I could truly prepare myself in reading that book. I cried as I read stories from staff and volunteers who ministered in the shelters right away. They saw miracles as families were united in front of their face. They saw Jesus, in one another, as the hungry were fed, the needy were clothed, the sick were prayed over. They stood side by side next to soldiers, atheist, Scientoligists, and in Jesus name, they ministered and He shined the brightest!

I confess my flippant attitude about going to New Orleans this summer and I am reminded that these are real people. While, it’s been almost a year since that book was written when the hurricane happened, the needs are still so great and there is still so many hurting. I want to be apart of that. I want to see Jesus. I want Jesus to work through me down there. There are so many details and logistics going into mobilizing that many people that it’s easy to forget what 2,000 people just being Jesus could do. He can transform the city.

I want to bathe these trips in prayer. I pray that every person will come, and be broken. I pray that all of us will be moved with compassion, just as Jesus would be. Will we be ready? No, probably not. There is no way to prepare ourselves for the stories we will hear. We’re brining the teenagers, the middle schoolers…what do we have to offer? “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) The best way to prepare ourselves: be with Jesus. Be willing; be sensitive to him; He will be ready to use you. Will all of the logistics be in place? Will cars break down? Will ministry opportunities fall through? Will housing have to be rearranged? Will meals be misplaced? Absolutely! And at the same time, I pray for that! I pray that God messes up our agenda and our plan. I pray that he alone will be in control. I pray that we will be weak and our resources used up! Because then he gets to shine the brightest.

Please pray that hearts will be ready to minister to people. Help us to look past the physical needs; yes, meet them when we can, but see that that is just a means to an end…to ministering to the people. An opportunity for Jesus to Shine brightly in the city of New Orleans!