ATOR Paradise, Day 4

 

Hey, we have a Cover Girl. The workers at this local Starbucks were so taken with the love and kindness our ATOR Team was spreading they decided to feature Fearless Leader on their Instagram page. Sorry gents–she’s spoken for!

 

Prayer & Praise

 

• We need lots of prayer for set-up for the conference on Saturday. Please do pray for strength and energy and focus for the team as we all work on preparing for the conference.

 

 

Daily News & Testimonies

 

 Stephanie: Tonight when we outside with the roses at the CMA church (Christian and Missionary Alliance)  a lot of people had already gotten roses so when they came up to me I said, “Have you received a rose yet?” And then if they had I would give them either a word of blessing like “God loves you” or “God bless you.” Some people would say thank for the roses and I would say something like “You’re welcome.” They were all short little moments but part of it all.

 

 

But when I went inside and sat at a table and there were 4 roses in the middle of the table. I basically introduced myself and talked with Jolene. She’s a member of the church and so I asked her about her story in regard to the fire. She had lost her home, but her family escaped and they all made it out alive. And now she has a new home and her family is nearby. She was very grateful about that. And I asked her, “Can I pray for you about anything?” And she was having health issues and so I prayed for her about that.

Jurgen: Today Evi and I went to the Sun Manor. (I met a lady a couple of days ago when we were giving roses away at a parking place. She told me that she is a care-giver of a German lady by the name of Ursula. She would be happy to see me.)

 

 

As we arrived at the manor we noticed we did not have enough roses so we went back and got more. People and staff were really happy to see us and received roses with joy.  I also met Ursula and found out that she was born in Augsburg, Germany, which is very close to the town I grew up in. Ursula is a believer in Jesus. We had a great time sharing and hugging.

 

Gary: I sat at two tables today at the Christian Missionary Alliance church dinner. At the first table, I met a woman whose house had been saved but she had a lot of trouble getting the insurance company to pay for the repairs from smoke damage. Raul and I prayed for her that the hindrances would be removed and that she would get the work done quickly. She was grateful.

 

 

At the second table I met a woman with two children, One in high school and one an infant. There was also a man named Mark there who was very open and friendly. I asked the high-schooler what the hardest part was for her post-fire and she said not being with her friends because they have scattered.

Then Mark volunteered that the hardest part for him was figuring out how to put a manufactured home back on the property where his house had burned. They were all grateful that we had come from far away.  When I told them the story of how Sally started A Tour of Roses, I talked about the forgiveness of God and how he can even use terrible and evil things to work for good if we let Him in. Mark nodded his head and seemed appreciative, and the young girl said she understood when I asked her if it made sense.

Joan: A young lady and I were sharing outside CMA church this eve. Having tried for hours to get our of the Camp Fire she did but lost  her home and has been going to counseling all year and is still suffering anxiety. She was speaking of believing in God and needing to get free of the stress she still experiences.

 

 

I shared that it is a safe place to share her pain and trauma memories and feelings with Jesus and He would help her to release it. Different than a regular counselor, He could take it away and actually heal her heart and give her peace.  We prayed together, she was gently weeping and received  love and encouragement. It seemed she had new faith to believe there really was help for her.

She stated she could hardly wait to get home tonight so she could take this pain which she was so weary from carrying, to Jesus. Her face was so filled with hope and she said after her terrible day she was so sure God was reaching  out to her and she was reaching back.  I assured her He would meet with her and already was. Today she was prayed for 3 times by people she met! Her face shone with hope and joy. She also said she would come Saturday.

 

 

Another lady I met began sharing about her loss and about how she hasn’t thought of it for so long…’I just ignore..it was so terrible…like a bomb blew up our town’.

I noticed the anxiety in her eyes and pain and fear on her face. Her name was Joy.

As I prayed she cried and I felt her relax in my arms as Father’s love began to flow.  Peace came over her face as I explained Father’s love and that she was not alone. She embraced me a couple more times during our conversation. This dear lady was receiving and experiencing a touch from Someone so Wonderful that she at first didn’t seem to believe existed. Brushing away her tears she shared more and we prayed more specifically.

 

 

Another lady was approaching Jurgen and I at the church front door with a group of five people for the fellowship and lasagna meal, and they said from afar that they already received roses from someone in the parking lot. I said, ‘oh ok good, but did you receive a hug?’ I smiled.   Her face lit up and ran to me, threw herself on me and again I felt love flowing out of me and a peace as well. She relaxed in my arms and held on as I quietly prayed for her.  I said, ‘God loves you, enjoy your meal. ‘  She thanked me sincerely and went inside.

 

 

Sally: Had a great time handing out roses as people drove in for the community dinner at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. Probably gave away about 300 or more roses just at that event tonight. I enjoy the short exchanges—looking someone right in the eye and saying, “This rose is for you because God loves you” or “Here is something beautiful for someone beautiful.” I have some fun with the guys when I have handed out all the roses to the women in the car and then give them one as well and say, “Well, God loves you also. He created you in His image.” A couple of younger women were very emotional and I prayed with them even though traffic backed up a little or detoured. Others were so blessed just to receive a rose, saying it was the best part of their day! Many couldn’t believe we were giving them away for free.

 

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Moon Over Paradise

 

 

ATOR Itinerary

 

2/7 – Friday

7AM – Devotions –Worship – Sally/Devotions – Stephanie
8AM – Breakfast
9AM – Drive to First Baptist & set up for conference in Fellowship Hall
Noon – Lunch
2PM – Finish preparations
6PM – Dinner
8PM – Prayer

2/8 – Saturday

6AM – Devotions – Worship – Dave/Devotions – Gary
7AM – Breakfast
8AM – Registration for Something Beautiful Conference @ First Baptist Church in Paradise
9AM – Welcome/Conference
5PM – Clean-up and set-up for Sunday
7PM – Dinner
8PM – Debrief

2/9 – Sunday

7AM – Devotions – Worship – Joan/Devotions – Mallory
8AM – Breakfast
9AM – Pack
10AM – First Baptist Church
11AM – Sally Klein O’Connor & Friends presentation @ First Baptist Church in Paradise
1PM – Lunch
3PM – Drive home to Southern CA

2/10 – Monday

Joan departs Sacramento Airport @ 12:45PM on Delta Airlines Flight# 3654 and arrives in LAX @ 2:20PM. Departs LAX @ 3:50 on Delta Flight #1005 and arrives @ St. Paul, MN @ 8:49PM. Departs St. Paul @10:41PM on Flight #2650 and arrives in Winnipeg @ 12:15AM, Tuesday 2/11. Mallory departs LAX on Delta @ 1:50PM and arrives back in Phoenix @ 4:22PM. Jurgen is leaving on Monday (not Tuesday) @ 7:35PM from Sacramento to LAX nd then onto MN and from there to International Falls and Fort Frances.

 

Photographs taken by Yara Panther. Thanks Yara!