On the morning of Day 3, we set-out for some good old-fashioned physical labor. Our project was to do yard work at the parsonage of our lodging/ministry partner. Our mini-group (2 Moms & 3 young girls) was joined by two teen-aged participants from the AIM Youth Team that was also serving in Appalachia that week.
The parsonage was located on a beautiful, steep-sloped, heavily-wooded lake lot. To say the lot was "overgrown," and we needed "more hands on-deck" would be serious understatements. Despite the intensity of the July heat and the enormity of the task, we quickly got underway. We put the girls to work on weed-pulling with Kris (the other Mom) taking on the heavy brush removal and supervision. The teenagers tackled the lawn-mower and clippers, and I grabbed the weed-eater. After multiple nicks from flying gravel along the driveway and a nice little cut that sent blood flowing down my calf, my spirit was still not dampened. But, by Noon, we were all physically exhausted, and the heavy-labor was just too involved for our girls. So, we stopped for lunch with the intention of switching to a different afternoon ministry.
After lunch, Kris and I were talking about afternoon ministry options. I brought up several different choices, but I felt the Lord nudging me to a prayer walk in Dandridge. Dandridge was the nearest town to our lodging, but we had not previously served in this area. My knee was swollen and painful (an old injury/surgery flaring up). I had it propped up with ice, and walking anywhere was the farthest thing from my own desire. Honestly, at this point in the day/week, we were all physically exhausted. But, Kris thought for a moment and in a rather positive tone said, "Sure, we could do a prayer walk." So, we rounded up the girl, piled in the truck, and headed for Dandridge.
The girls were eager to know what we would do next. During the ride to Dandridge, I began to explain the basics of a prayer walk. Immediately, Lily (my 7 yr. old) started chiming in and chattering on excitedly about doing a "Treasure Hunt." She was in a word relentless. The "Treasure Hunt" is a prayer/outreach ministry that Lily had experienced during a mission trip she had attended in June. She was so excited about how God spoke and used her and her teammates on her last "Treasure Hunt" that she wanted to share her God-stories with her new friends on this team.
I had not previously led a "Treasure Hunt." So, I was a little apprehensive about leading it the first time with a group unfamiliar with this form of outreach. Lily, on the other hand, was fired-up in her enthusiasm! Lily's God-story was helping to grow the girls’ interest in outreach! Kris was interested in learning more as well. So, Lily and I explained what we knew…
The "Treasure Hunt" comes from the book – The Ultimate Treasure Hunt by Kevin Dedmon. This outreach starts (as all should) in prayer. After asking God to silence the voices of the world, the devil, and our own flesh, we pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal clues to God's treasure. Clues are literally tidbits of information that God impresses upon our hearts/minds during prayer.
Sitting in the truck, I opened our group with prayer and after a few minutes of silent prayer, I closed our prayer in Jesus’ name. As we began to write down the "clues," a little bit of that pesky doubt crept into my mind. Why? Well, with a 6, 7, 8, and 9 year old girl in our midst … here is the bulk of our list: black/brown t-shirt, cups & vases, pearls and a tight-curly granny hair-do, zebra stripes, pink polka dots, and a Mom and Dad and their child walking into the courthouse. Yep, those are our "clues!"
We were parked across the street from the courthouse. So, I thought to myself that the courthouse clue could have been something our youngest participant had seen as we pulled up. (Hello "doubt," my unwelcome negative companion.) I proceeded to write down all of the clues as the girls said them. Then, I recapped by reading the list outloud to our group. By this point, with little girl giggling, questions, and comments on each list item, a few minutes had elapsed since the list had actually been written down.
As soon as I read the very specific clue of "a Mom and Dad and their child walking into the courthouse," the girls in the backseat excitedly broke in with a chorus of "there's a Mom and Dad and little girl walking into the courthouse!" I had been looking across the truck at Kris, and she was looking out the window behind me. Simultaneously with the girls’ exhortation, Kris's jaw dropped, and her eyes got that "deer in the headlights" look. I slowly turned and looked over my shoulder. There they were … just then … starting up the courthouse steps! Now, the girls were really excited! Sometimes, God just likes to WOW us! Seriously, "WOW!"
The girls squealed and bounced with excitement. "What do we do now!?" they asked. What a great question! … Now, we get out of the truck and walk in obedience!
Stay Tuned for Day 3, Part 2 … More of God's "WOW!" to come!
