I had the great honor this year of being a volunteer at Passion. I was so excited!!! Angela L and I were volunteering and crashing with Booher, Lydia, Rachel, and Kaitlyn. I told them over and over again we weren't going to be their moms . . hee!hee!
We left early Monday morning because Ang and I had a 9:30 meeting. We drove my van and Lydia drove her car. Ang and I decided to get out of the car at a red light and just walk to the World Congress Center the rest of the way. Right after we got out, Joel D. was going to drive my van. Low and behold a cop pulls them over. Ang and I run b/c if anyone was going to get a ticket, it should be. We thought we were in trouble for getting out of the car at the redlight. The cop told us that my make and model of vehicle showed up on the low jack??? Still not quite sure what that is. . .anyway.. . it matched the description of a stolen vehicle and had 2 of the same numbers my tag did. The cop had to check the vin number. No worries. . . I knew the thing wasn't stolen. I just wanted to make sure Joel was okay.
Ang and I laugh and head to get our volunteer things.
Here we are in front of Kneel.
We then headed to an overall meeting
wtih 1800 volunteers. The amazing thing is we were both put in Do Something Now. . . talk about coincidence :)
They put us right to work. I was working outside under the tent. Originally they told me I would be inside. I just happened to be some of the coldest days of the year. I had my cuddle duds with me though.
They treated the volunteers so well. . . provided us with food, snacks, this great lounge
Ang and I got a few
Zsss. . . we are both early birds and it was past midnight every year when we got in. One morning it was even 2:30 in the morning. YIKES!
My sister is a big fan of Jasmine Starr. She's a pretty famous photographer. I saw this girl who looked like her, but her
name tag said Bianca. I went up to her and said, "I know this may seem weird, and you probably don't even know who I am talking about, but has anyone ever told you you look like the photographer, Jasmine Starr?" She snickered and then said, "
That's my twin sister." I told her she just had to take a picture with me. I was going to fool my sister who is a HUGE Jasmine Starr fan :) When I told Melissa she said she hated me :)
This was one of the inside Do Something Now areas. They were set up so the kids could actually see the different aspects of modern day slavery.
Amen!!!
We all also collected towels and socks for Atlanta's homeless. This is only a portion. WOW!
Some things made by modern-day slaves. . . stuffed animals, coffee beans, chocolate, rice, rubber, soccer balls, Christmas ornaments. My heart was broken.
I sat here when I was inside and not on a register. I would just talk and engage the students, which I absolutely LOVED!!! In fact, that was my favorite part
of Passion. The speakers and the worship was amazing, but honestly, I could have watched those with my family in the comfort of my home. . . I met the most amazing people during the week, both volunteers and college kids.
A hand was being constructed for modern day slavery. . . a hand of worship. . . a hand of freedom. After giving money, the students would write prayers or their favorite scripture on things made by modern day slaves. These things were making the skin of the hand.
I got to meet up with my sweet cousins,
Caitlyn and Laura Lee. They are both so precious. Laura Lee and I forgot to get a picture together :(
Here are the girls I love so much that had to endure seeing me walk around in my cuddle duds most mornings. Poor things! They are so hot inside in layers of clothing that I waited until we were about to walk out the door to put my clothes on over them. I told them I felt like Elastagirl :) That sweet Booher was precious. . . the first night Ang and I didn't get back until after 1:30. She called to check on us and not only that had BOTH of our air mattresses blown up waiting on us.. . . such a sweet servant's heart.
Here are
Lydia and I. I can't
thank God enough for her. First Guyana together and now Passion, and the fact that I get to spend every Friday
disciplining her and spending time with her is just icing on the cake. This girl is the real deal and has such an incredible heart for the Lord.
The hand as it is being
constructed.
All the volunteers and students were given a time to pray. After you prayed you put your sticker on one of the black letters scattered around the Congress Center.
Close up of the stickers
Here is the
amazing group of
volunteers I got to work with. There was roughly 15-20 of us, and I loved it. We all got to know one another really well . . . in the mix. . . an older lady who adopted 2 Korean babies, a missionary to Germany to prostitutes specifically, 2 missionaries to Iraq, a doctor, a homeschooling mom of 2 (Lorena) who I told her I just knew we would be good friends if we lived close to one another (we bonded instantly), an organizer of the organized who had such a bubbling personality you instantly loved her (Charity), a homeschooling mom of 6, a woman who goes to Swaziland several times a year and gets
products women have made and she sells them here in the U.S. so
these women will have a job.
Together we can make a difference.
Indifference is not an option.
About 11:30 one night the students were given a candle leaving their community groups.
They walked out to the Plaza silently. . . 44,000 college students quiet, lighted their candles, one-by-one . . .kinda like how we can make a difference . . . one-by-one TOGETHER. . . then the choir started singing, then the students started singing. It was beautiful. . . absolutely one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Then hand was lit. Then, we cashiers opened for donations. After we closed down and most students had gone back to their hotels, it was roughly 2:00 a.m. and there were about 40 kids still at the hand singing songs of praise to God. The thought entered my mind, "Lord, is this the narrow way?" (probably because I've been immersed in all 121 verses of the Sermon on the Mount since June). Looking back now I wish I would have sacrificed my tired, almost 35-year-old self and joined them. To say it was precious is an understatement.
I'm so glad God put me as a cashier. I wouldn't have had it any other way. . . to see the generosity of these students. . . some giving as much as $1000.. . .others handing me change saying, "This is all I've got. Will you help me count it?" I teared up many, many times as I thanked these kids.. . told them how precious they were. . .and how they gave this mom hope for the future. The thing I loved about Passion is they didn't want you hurrying the students through the line just to collect their money. They wanted you to engage them. I was so thankful. I love to engage people, hear their stories, hear their hearts. One precious girl, Morgan, asked me, "I know there is a long line, and I've got to hurry, but can we please pray over this money?" I thought I was going to bust into tears.
Some of the most amazing people I actually got to go up there with and come home with. One night, Joel, Josh,
Brannen, and
Dillion waited on
Ang and I at 1:30 a.m. in the freezing cold so we didn't have to walk back to the hotel by ourselves. These young men were precious. The wind was biting cold. . .like make your skin hurt it was so cutting. These sweet guys would get in front of Angela and I to try and protect us from the wind. WOW. . . warmed this mother's heart greatly.
Just like with Guyana, I feel the Lord is still teaching me things. What do I do with what I have learned? What do I do with what I've been exposed to? What do I do with desires God has placed in my heart to bring Him great glory? How does this fit into the life of a working/homeschooling mom of 3, discipler, Sunday School teacher, wife, and friend (although not a very good one at times). As this seed is watered and hopefully grows into something beautiful. . . I know I must be patient and wait on the Lord. . . all good things in His timing. Until then I am trusting, listening, and praising His name!!!!
