The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has send me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...
We're back from our trip to NYC for the Extreme Makeover weekend and it was amazing. We witnessed first hand the mission of For the Girls International in action!! On May 15th women took off for New York City with a purpose. To bring hope and healing to those in need. Cynda and I were in awe to see the variety of God-given gifts that were represented in the group.
The women in the shelter that we visited were hesitant at first but once they sensed the love coming their way they opened up and some beautiful connections were made. Some of them told us that for the first time in a long time they felt hope again. Others committed to renewing their relationship with their heavenly Father that discouragement had robbed them of. They allowed us to pamper them and pray with them and welcomed the encouragement offered to them from the ladies on our team.
Many of the women that traveled with us told us that the most surprising aspect of the weekend was the work that God did inside their own hearts. They came prepared to minister and ended up being blessed themselves. One woman shared with me her own shock at the depth of compassion that she didn't even know she possessed! She told us that as she massaged and soaked the feet of the women she felt God's love supernaturally flowing through her. As the women thanked her for scrubbing their feet I heard her resisting and saying, "no, thank you for allowing me to serve you".
It was a beautiful scene watching women connecting with women...telling and listening to each other's stories.
Saturday evening a smaller group of us went to a drug and alcohol recovery house in Brooklyn. Some of the women on our team shared their testimonies of how God delivered them from the grip of substance abuse. Many of these women in the program are at their rock bottom but were strengthened to hear how the grace of God had seen someone else through. We could see them grab onto the hope that they too would come through this chapter of their life stronger and free.
Freedom was the word of the weekend. Freedom from the chains of the past that would try to anchor us and immobilize us. Freedom from our own complacency in the face of the great needs all around us.
Greater things are yet to come...Greater things are yet to be done...
This is only the beginning!!
1 Corinthians 2:9
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him..."
There is NO ONE like our God!!
Check out the pictures by clicking on the smilebox below...
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6 comments:
Way to go girls. God must be very proud of your compassionate efforts. Glad you could get in a little fun time too.
You did a great job of putting the pictures and music together also.
God Bless you all.
Luanne
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It is awesome to be a part of ForTheGirls no matter where we live.
Love truly does glow from you ladies.
Cant wait to see ya'll soon
Shona
Tracey & Cynda (and all FTGI)- Thanks for the great pics! Great song choice to go with the wonderful message of the HOPE in JESUS to a hurting world. Keep running the race! You will be a blessing no matter where you go, though! Much love and HUGS-Julia
Okay, I am new to this group, I found you on meet-up just last night and just got the message that you will be pulling down. How amazing that I just found you by accident last night and got this e-mail today about you leaving meet-up. I NEVER would have found you otherwise. God works in AMAZING ways. I watched this video and was brought to tears. I have been a make-up artist and hair stylist for 17 years and would LOVE to be a part of something like this it looked absolutely AMAZING!!! How awesome is he that he lead me to your site!
Shelley :)
The NYC trip was awesome! We were privileged to share our gifts,time,and especially the love of Jesus Christ with many beautiful people. I could feel the Lord smiling!!
As far as the group of ladies we went with, I have to say you amazed me. The Lord worked through us all.
We had a total and complete blast! My sides still ache from the nonstop giggles!
...And this is just the beginning!
What an awesome experience I had in N.Y. I must admit I was a bit reluctant to go on this mission trip. I didn't want to see anyone hurting or suffering how would I respond. I must say the ladies at the shelter were a blessing to me. They shared w/me I shared w/ them it was humbling, some knew their strength and hope was in God. And we were there to affirm that Jesus is always there to hold our hand. The group of girls from FTGI were amazing new frienships were made that will last. I felt a bonding that was ordained from God.
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