Alabama has come and gone!  What a whirlwind.  I am sorry for the lack of updating.  I quickly got annoyed with typeing out messages on my phone.  So next trip there will hopefully be a Mac along for the ride ;). 
I have sat down several times to try to journal my thoughts.  There is just a place I come to sometimes where there are so many jumbling together, I have a hard time sorting them out. 

Where to start...
Why not from the beginning...
Our original plans were for most of the group to travel ahead of my vehicle so that they could get there before dark and be able to unload and get settled without it getting too late.  Travel day is always exhausting and to be able to get a good night's sleep before church is a bonus!  My vehicle was going to stay behind to take some of our kids that needed to leave a little later.  When it become known that only one kid would need to stay, we decided to have the whole group stay so that my vehicle wouldn't need to go at all...saving a few hundred in gas.  Little did i know that the day before we left my trucks transmission started going out.  Had we still planned to take it, we would have been scrambling to get a different vehicle around.  God moment #1 ;)

We lose a hubcap on the way down...no biggie, the biggest headache were the small bladders and the big drinks that the kids had.  Next time i am pretty sure we are either going to bring depends or ban the drinks!  haha...in reality the trip went pretty fast...high pitched singing coming from the girls van, and you can only guess what was coming from the boys...

We made it there and met up with our 2 stragglers, Adam (from virginia) and Lindsey...aka LC (coming home from georgia)

A complete team finally, we begin our week.
Sunday starts off on a great note because we all gained an hour.  Gotta love that...church was great.  Worship in one word was amazing.  Our own Payton Lantz after worshiping the night before got up on stage and led everyone in a song of worship.  I tell her often, but it is true...she has such a gift of leading us to the throne!  I was in tears to watch all the youth in front of me belting out worship, raising their hands in surrender and closing their eyes in awe.  Jesus has that effect on you :)!

We had three people receive a really encouraging word from some of the members of the church.  It was a message that they will tell you came straight from God.  To see young men and older ones rocked to tears, and confirmation ringing in their eyes, you quickly stand in awe of what God is building. 

After having that service with people rocked,  on day 1, I had to ask God, What are we in for this week?"  I can't tell you how my heart starts hammering even just sitting here remembering!

We were studying 1 Timothy this week and every night there was a different speaker.  After we were done talking, the kids broke up into small groups to talk about the chapter or really anything else they wanted to talk about.  I know I know...it's hard to imagine them doing that ... you are probably thinking that they went to mess around...you couldn't be more wrong...the guys split up and went in their own groups and talked and talked and talked...i heard of some conversations lasting 3 + hours!  you wouldn't believe it!  The girls didn't have any trouble splitting up cause they chose from the beginning to stay together as one big group.  and that is what you saw wherever you went.  one unit.  So cool how a group of girls that didn't really hang out before become inseperable. 

Work day one started off in 4 different groups.  the girls went to scrape and paint and clean, boys to roof and other jobs that us girls wouldn't have a clue how to do.  (that's what they said at least).  it's hard to write about every day because so so so many things happened!  the unity was amazing...the kids work ethics were amazing...the people we all got to work for were amazing!  and at the end of the week, we all accomplished what we set out to do!  one home owner was crying as soon as we got there cause she didn't want us to leave!  Mama Miller...

New Years night was brought in with the kids circling up and worshipping...gotta luv them!  it was their idea too!  o and some went to the basement...they were pumped when they got home!

Work day 2 was slower cause it was Raining and raining and raining...but it was also new years day so to say we were a little slower would have been quite accurate.  We went out to eat after the work day and enjoyed the southern barbecue! 

on wednesday we got to enjoy more work, and also got to go to church with the elderly and enjoy a lunch made by them.  much to hannah's pleasure she found herself volunteering to mop up the overflowing toilet that made it's way out to the dining area in pretty much a tidal wave.  soaking everything!!!!!!!  her and tianna were great though...

in between all these days, little things were happening...kids are asking for prayer...we were learning so much about spiritual warfare and how to fight it...together!  hearing God's promptings and listening...i mean seriously, i can't even put it into words...God just was rocking...and changing hearts and confirming what some already knew to do and bringing light to new callings of ministry back home. 

There were definate confirmations for the ones who came that they were hand picked because He had something to show them...and show them He did!  For those that stayed back, I just can't tell you how thankful we were and are that you were battling for us on your knees!  O my word we needed it and felt it with the victory and favor that just kept sweeping over us!  every day there was some battle and every day there was some victory!  God is good and the body of Christ is so awesome!!

We are in our recovery week (it is still a culture shock coming home...have you heard LC talk ?)  jkjk...no but in all honesty we still covet your prayers!  we are coming home changed.  There is no way that anyone can witness what we did and come home the same.  NO WAY!  so where does that leave us?  right where God wants us.  surrendered...willing and ready to go and do and love when and where He says to!  Be patient with us as we might be grouchy, tired, or quiet.  It truelly was so much to take in and absorb in a week.  We all know that where we are right now is where God has us at least for right now...and where we are, there are others who need to hear about Him.  With our gifts and talents, we want to make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, neighbors, schools, work places, etc...  We want to be the vessel that God uses...Pick me Jesus!

Thank you all for your love and support!  Please be praying for our team that is in Africa right now, the Team forming to go to jamaica in june and haiti in july.  2014 trips are being formed too!  So many oppurtunities to step out and serve.  But even more to build disciples so that when they get back home, they will multiply!

We love you!

in HIM
Luke and Tina
and the alabama 2013 crew ;)
Joshua 1:9