Alexzandra from New Orleans

Hello all,

Today (Thursday, July 9th) the WDYBA team visited New Orleans, and God was with us.
The streets are full of every wicked thing man could seek. Alcohol, drugs, and witchcraft rule the streets of the inner city. We had the opportunity to talk to a lot of people that have very “interesting” theology to say the least. Some were open and had ready hearts. Some were closed and once it was known we were Christians, they told us to leave immediately. The best way I can describe their reactions is to say that there was a fear of the power of God. None the less, we listened to many opinions and shared the word of God.After we thought we had wrapped up our filming for the day Anna, Caitlin, and I started talking to a Mr. Johnny Balloon. He told us about the need for Christ in the city and that none of the churches in the area did anything about it. There were actually tarot card and palm readers who were based
right outside the doors of a Catholic church. He pointed to a bench where there a man sitting next to a woman who was passed out from alcohol intake. He briefly informed us on their situation. We learned that they were homeless and the man’s wife had recently died. After Johnny gave us a few pointers and multiple scripture references, which he recalled from memory, we began talking the people on the bench. Pastor Shaun prayed for him and it turns out that we were the 4th ones to do so that day. (Just another reminder that we are just 1 part of God’s plan and the work that He has for the people He loves.) The man told us that when people ask him if he has seen God he can genuinely answer “yes”. He pointed at us individually and said “I see Him in you, you, you, and you, etc…” He who is in us is GREATER than he who is in the world. We formed a circle around him and prayed for him. As the other girls were praying I had the most wonderful realization. I was thinking about how the Spirit of God does not indwell the whole of the city and about how the
darkness within it can consume lives, but I was reminded that the presence of God is not limited by or scared of darkness. God inhabits the lives of His people. If Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life you have the power of God with you continually. We are able to call the God who created the universe “Father”, and He hears our prayers. We were blessed abundantly by the opportunity we had to share the love of our Father with those who have nothing else.

Please keep the city of New Orleans in your prayers along with our brothers and sisters in Christ who
are lights in the midst of the dark.

“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you”, says the Lord “Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV

-Alexzandra