All week I have been preparing for Cheri & Christy’s visit. They are arriving tomorrow and I just couldn’t be more excited. I am ready for some girl time! I told Nik that I would see him when I crawled into bed each night and to otherwise have a good weekend. Roman Street is playing a ton this weekend anyway, so I doubt he will miss me and my usual Saturday routine.
My week has been filled to the brim. I came off the weekend with about 1500 pictures to edit and sort through. Work is definitely pushing me to the max as I’m working to kick-off my event season with our Egg Hunt next Saturday. On top of that, I decided that I should repaint our old dining room table to lighten up the space. In theory, this was a GREAT idea. However, like almost every household project that I take on, I enjoy the first 1/2 of it and then want to through up my hands at about the midpoint. When I started the adventure of painting the table, I didn’t really consider the chairs and how difficult they would be to paint. I obviously didn’t think this one through, time wise, either. My project that started on Tuesday evening is still at the 1/2 way point, with the deadline of company quickly approaching. I begged my sweet hubby to finish priming the chairs today, so that I could, cross your fingers, finish tonight. I will post pictures soon…if they are worth posting. Ha 
You can check out some of my Easter sessions here.
Nothing that could separate You from me.
This whole world could fall to pieces, but You will stay with me.
I worship You, my Love, my Everything.
Words from Stay With Me by Nik.
This morning, I woke up late, couldn’t find my shoes or my shirt, broke a nail, spilled granola, and got in my car to realize I didn’t have any gas. I wasn’t so sure today could be successful after that. But, as I was pumping gas this morning, I stood in the warm air, sporting my flip-flops and a summer skirt and had an overwhelming sense of peace. My Lord will stay with me. Through the chaos, excitement, disappointment, hardship, happiness, joy, sadness…through everything He will be there. I started my morning out listening to the song that Nik & I recorded in Nashville last fall. I know it sounds silly to say that I listen to Nik & I sing, but there is something really sacred about listening to my husband and I, together, singing God’s promises. Knowing that He is a God that takes care of all the pieces, and if we stay true to Him, we will not be separated from His love.
If you’d like to hear the unmastered version of this song, click here.
On Monday, the White House released the a Presidential Proclamation setting January as National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Since learning of the Grant’s Project Rescue organization a few years back, I’ve been shocked with the amount of Sexual Slavery that happens around the world, and yes, here in the United States. Its a horrific epidemic. One that makes my heart so sad and leaves me questioning how any culture can stand for such a thing.
If you’ve never read about Project Rescue, you should certainly check it out. You can also read about our Anthology youth group and their efforts to support the cause last year here, here, here and here. I’ve been praying and thinking about our next youth missions project, and maybe this is a cause we need to revisit.
Over most of my life, I’ve been the one to leave. I am not very often left behind. I’m usually the one going. This week, however, I got left. We had a pretty substanial group of guys leave for college this week. Most of these young men have been with Nik (in youth group) for the past 5 years. These are great kids and over the last 2 years I have grown to love them. And I already miss them. Haha. I am a sucker. I really had to swallow back some tears on Wednesday night as I said goodbye to the last of them. I’m just so used to them being around. Our youth group is making a major switch this fall. We’ve lost a group of senior guys and a big group of junior high girls are coming in. Its interesting to be on this side of things now. Youth ministry is so cyclical. Its constantly rebuilding itself with new faces and personalities. This last group definitely marks the end of an era for Nik. They were in 8th grade when Nik became their leader. As we drove away from them on Wednesday night, Nik said “there’s 5 years.” I have to say that Nik has done an amazing job with those boys. Sometimes we don’t always see the fruits of our labor, but I think Nik can look at them already and know that the time he gave and the effort he put into them was well worth it. 
It’s hot down here. And water is the perfect answer.
Admidst the chaos of our lives lately, God’s blessings have been pouring out. And I feel as if I am standing outside, staring at the sky with my arms wide open, saying “I’ll receive, Lord. I’ll receive all that You have for me.” And, can I tell you - it feels awesome.
Here a few pics of my evening. No photoshop. No editing. Just God’s great masterpiece of an earth.
As I have posted earlier, our youth group (Anthology) raised money for Project Rescue as a Christmas Service Project. We were able to raise $1500 for one of the organization’s Homes of Hope in India. We were so proud of our students for stepping outside of themselves and giving to children that are far less fortunate then themselves. Project Rescue helps women and girls get out of sex slavery and gives them the resources to have a new life. For more information on Project Rescue visit http://www.projectrescue.com/.
Above are pictures of the thank-you cards we received today.
Here is the email that the Home of Hope coordinators sent to the Project Rescue office.
Dear Sis.Ginger,
Blessed New Year Greetings! We thank Bro David & Sis Beth Grant for the entire efforts taken to see and fulfill the needs and to run the project 365days.We are thankful for the support raised for Christmas towards the children of Sharansthan & Staffs from the Youth of Daphne, Alabama. Children are sending their thank you cards drawn by them. Here we are sending you a brief report and also some photos so that you can tell the church how we used their gifts. We could purchase new dresses for 43 girls and 21 boys. Out of this 23 children are complete orphans the rest are much needed ones. For few girls we could purchase sandals too and the Christmas program was also organized. Sharansthan arranged Christmas celebration program for the community on 20th of December like every year to reach out neglected community with the Good News of our Lord Jesus. In this celebration around 100 sex workers and around 160 of their children along with few Pastors, Sister Alice and team (our daughter’s school principal and teachers) and some of our friends took part. Aunty Getzial Mohan from Chennai was the guest speaker. Our entire residential care unit as well as our day-care and educational program children took part in this. After the prayer program started with praise & worship (led by our girls) followed by sharing the word by Aunty Getzial Mohan. She preached Jesus as Savior, Redeemer & Emmanuel. All our daughters & sons ministered through dances, drama & songs to their mothers. Two children shared their testimonies; Mother of one of the girl was seen crying hearing her daughter.The program ended with prayer and dinner served to all of them.Along with the cards we will be sending you the DVD of the entire program.
With love and prayers
Easo & Leela
1 John 3:16-18: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. Actions. In truth.
Last night at Anthology, we presented the subject of Project Rescue to our students. This is an organization doing great things for women and children that are in desperate need of help. But all too often, we fail to understand the depth and severity of the problem at hand. Last night, I encouraged our students and leaders [as well as myself] to try to see outside our plush lives and into the horrific conditions of sexual trafficking.
Project Rescue defines sexual trafficking as “the movement of women and children, within national or across international borders, for the purposes of prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. It includes the recruitment, transportation, harboring, transfer, or sale of women and children for these purposes. The ultimate end of sexual trafficking is brutality, sexual slavery and not infrequently, death.” This prostitution usually beings at the age of 13. There are 10 million prostituted women and children in India alone. Many of these girls have been kidnapped, sold by parents or tricked into a prostitution that is nearly impossible to get out of. If a girl wants to work off her debt and be free, it will take her up to 15 years to do so. And then, if she isn’t too messed up emotionally, isn’t pregnant or isn’t infected by STD’s or AIDS, she just maybe has a chance for a normal life. Some of these women are even brought into the U.S. [yes, I said the United States] and forced into prostitution or slave labor. This is an epidemic that is happening all around us.
Thank God that He laid this incredible burden on the founders of Project Rescue [David & Beth Grant] and that He has given Project Rescue favor with the governments of many of these countries that are in need of help. Project Rescue has been able to Rescue, Restore and Prevent lives of many. But there is still much work to be done.
What can we do? Maybe we can’t personally go out and rescue a girl from a brothel and bring her to a Project Rescue Home of Hope [although, that would be so incredibly amazing to be a part of]. But we can give ourselves in prayer, and give ourselves in sacrificial giving.
Nik & I challenged Anthology last night to give to our Project Rescue Christmas Project. We handed out committed cards and challenged everyone to pray that God would give us a burden for these women and children. We are believing that our group can raise $1000 to give a Home of Hope in Nagpur, India a wonderful Christmas. We have so much. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
Even now as Nik & I prepare for our wedding, honeymoon and new home together, I am beginning to re-evaluate our material possessions and what we think we “need.” We don’t need everything that we want. And although its great that we are given opportunities to sow our money into this project here and that project there, is that enough? Shouldn’t it be a lifestyle? A way of living? I think so. I am going to take on this challenge; and I hope you’ll consider joining me.
The high school girls group is going to head up our Christmas Service Project. Anthology is going to raise $1000 for Project Rescue. Its an organization that rescues young girls and women from prostitution and sexual slavery. The money will go to a place called Nagpur and will be giving all the girls there a wonderful Christmas that they wouldn’t have otherwise. I am very excited about it! We’ll be bringing everyone more information about it, but in the mean time you should check out www.projectrescue.com. Start brainstorming about ways to raise money for the cause. And start praying that God gives you a burden and passion for these women. Our group is in charge of motivating everyone else to get involved. Its time for us to do something outside ourselves, don’t you think?
On another note:
Hannah, Heather, Amber and I have been talking about spiritual gifts the last couple of weeks. They made the point that maybe our group doesn’t get excited about functioning as a church [or youth group] because we don’t understand the gifts that God has given to each of us on a personal level. Its hard to be excited about something that you might not fully understand about ourselves. Romans 12: 2 says “Do not coform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and aprove what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Amber pointed out that its hard to not conform to the patterns of this world if you do not fully know what your giftings are. So, I have a quiz that you can take to find out what yours is. PLEASE do this before our next small group meeting. Print it out and we can discuss it. Its really cool to figure out what gifts God has given you and confirm what your strengths are. The site is
http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/. Let me know if you have any problems getting to it.
As I have posted earlier, our youth group (Anthology) raised money for Project Rescue as a Christmas Service Project. We were able to raise $1500 for one of the organization’s Homes of Hope in India. We were so proud of our students for stepping outside of themselves and giving to children that are far less fortunate then themselves. Project Rescue helps women and girls get out of sex slavery and gives them the resources to have a new life. For more information on Project Rescue visit http://www.projectrescue.com/.
