Casey's Journal - Washington DC & Baltimore, 2010

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Today is our second day into the Washington DC campaign. This campaign, Janice and I are working with Rock of Israel Ministries.

Yesterday, while Janice was doing some on the spot training, I was on a team with Hal. We were in Chinatown during the noon sortie. The area was full of tourists and a big Microsoft conference was going on, so it was a crush of people. Tract take was pretty good, but the sweetest news was that of Glory, a Hispanic lady who took a tract, and stopped by the wall to read it. I noticed a look in her eye when she took it, that led me to take note….a certain….hope/hunger/need. So, I was watching her pretty closely. As she finished the tract I wandered over to her and began asking her some questions and trying to minister. Glory did not know Jesus, but she really did have a realistic understanding of her state of sin before God. The thought that she could be forgiven was such a bright hope to her….it made her eyes swim with tears. She wanted to accept Jesus as her atonement, her Lord and Savior right away, so we prayed together. Afterwards, she was crying, and she threw her arms around me and thanked me…..she looked like a brand new woman, with such a joyful countenance! It was such a blessing to watch that transformation take place!

Jonathan, on the other hand, was quite a skeptic! He had been raised Orthodox Jewish, but had decided on his own to become an atheist. We had a lively, but friendly discussion, where he went from being as outrageous as possible in his responses to actually listening and becoming quite thoughtful. He had had a lot of pain in his life, according to him, and it really interfered with his belief in God. I offered to pray for him, but he said that would really creep him out!!! I laughed….but I have to tell you, I did pray for him anyway!!!! I hope you will as well. It feels so strange see such two opposite reactions to the gospel….but, at least Jonathan was pleasant.

Today, on my noon sortie, Janice and I were stationed at M and 20. It was to be more of a conversational sortie, so we began sweeping up and down the streets, using our tracts as ice breakers, and trying to engage people in a discussion about Jesus. It was apparently Muslim Day, for me, as I was approached by Muslims almost the entire sortie! I had 6 discussions with Muslims alone, with 4 of them giving their contacts for more information! It was so exciting really! Then, my very last conversation of the day was with Jesse. He was a Jewish young man from Boston. He began being hostile, but as I spoke to him, the Lord enabled me to find some common ground, with someone he knew….and build from there. He had so many misconceptions about what we do, and why we do it. I was able to get him to see the outreaches in a new light, and he turned into a young man who was impressed with our heart for the lost, and our love for Jesus and for Jewish people. He did take some information, and I believe he truly will be more open to talk with other believers as time progresses. He left with a soft heart and a sweet smile, and shaking my hand. He said he could see in my eyes that I had love for him and others. He thought that was good.

I don’t have stats of campaign thus far, but in the day and a half of sorties for me, I know I’ve been able to distribute 1050 tracts and I think I’ve been able to get about 9 total contacts….which is so Jesus!!! Keep the team in prayer, as it doesn’t seem to take very long to hit the wall, so to speak….the heat and humidity are really difficult, and we have some pretty long walks to the metro station….up hill both ways….with nothing on our feet but potato sacks….nah, I’m making some of this up…..at any rate, pray for our stamina…..or maybe it’s just me with no stamina. Could be.

July 15, 2010

Wow. I just had the most amazing ice cold shower that ever was……pure delight. Because it’s hot out there folks….really really blazing hot! Yeah, I know, I whine an awful lot!!! But it still is really hot.

Yesterday, our sorties were sort of hit and miss with rain…..We only got to do about half our sortie times each outing because of it. So, it was sort of uneventful, except for the fact that one man did call me a terrorist, right at the entrance to the metro station….Now, this was distressing because, first of all, do I really LOOK like a terrorist? My hair was in braided pigtails for goodness sake! It’s like calling Pippi Longstocking a terrorist! Secondly, one does not want to be identified as a terrorist, in a crowded metro station in our Nation’s Capital. You get my meaning? Excitement can ensue more rapidly than you can imagine. Praise God, no one panic’d or got hurt….especially me! On a later sortie, I had one very angry man take a tract and tear it in my face…..this I am used to, but there was a Muslim guy behind me that was affronted on my behalf…..he told me later, “man, your job is hard!” which I thought was very sweet. We then had a long dialogue about Jesus, and he ended up taking literature and giving his contact for follow-up!!!

I noticed this morning that 99.999 percent of everyone I saw looked like they HATE their job….HATE their life…..HATE humanity. I was all the more determined to FORCE them to return my cheery “Good Morning” and smile……it didn’t happen, but I was still determined…..just ineffective. Can I say that I am observing a frightening spiritual darkness here in Washington DC? A hatred of anything Christian? I’m used to Jewish people being upset with me…..I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about John and Jane Doe on the street, sneering at the thought of Jesus…..their lips curled up in an imitation of Elvis…..only filled with great contempt. I can’t say it for certain, but I have concern that perhaps our capital has given some ground over to the dark side……seriously.

I did have only one encouraging encounter this morning, and it was a gentleman who refused my tract and greeting…..hurried off…..then rushed back and said “ Who can say no to Jesus this early in the morning?” It made my morning!!!

That being said, my noon sortie was a conversation one. Hal and I were at the Farragut North Metro station and surrounding park and streets. I wandered the area, praying and seeking anyone who would talk to me. My first go round in the park was not fruitful. I confess I was discouraged. So, I prayed some more. I left where I was and started a new street. Immediately, I encountered Alex. I don’t know if Alex is Jewish or Gentile. He could be either one. He refused to tell me his background, but I tried throwing out some terminology to see if he would betray himself, and I have to admit, he knew what Tenach was…..and mitzvot…..but that doesn’t necessarily mean he was raised Jewish. At any rate, whatever his heritage, Alex was a hot mess spiritually. And he did know that. He was trying so hard to maintain his coolness factor but was unable to disguise his absolute hunger to hear what I was saying. I offered to walk with him to wherever he was going, but at some point in our discussion on sin, salvation, Savior….he stopped (right in the middle of the hottest sidewalk in the sun on planet Earth) and prayed to receive the Lord!!!! He told me that what I shared with him was the best news he had ever heard, and who wouldn’t want that? How’s that for a sweet response? I encouraged him to get involved locally in a congregation and to be baptized and fellowship with others.

After that, I walked on and ran into Billie…..who was selling flowers. He was fascinated with my shirt. As I spoke to Billie I learned he was from Gabon, Africa. He wanted to see the world become a better place. I told him that it could start right within his own heart. He wanted peace, and forgiveness, and the assurance of his salvation and eternity with God. So, I got down on my knees in front of his flower stand on the hottest sidewalk in the sun on the planet Earth…..and prayed with Billie to receive the Lord!!!! I know right? I swear I could hear angels singing!!! Billie was thrilled and wanted a Bible, and anything else we could get to him!

After that, I had two separate conversations with Muslims…one went well, one went …..uh….poorly. “Nuff said. And then I met Nelson. He was the most adorable sweet young man reading a book on a park bench …..the hottest park bench in the sun on planet Earth. Nelson loves Jesus. He was raised Catholic but then said he realized that he wasn’t saved! He gave his heart to Jesus, and has been studying and reading and growing ever since. I am not a prophetess in any manner, but I can tell you right now, the spirit of God was all over this young man. I asked him if he had considered going into ministry and he said he and his wife were just praying about that very thing! He was getting misty on me!!!! So, right then and there, I asked to pray for him and we prayed together, and God just ministered to that man on that park bench, and I swear, it was the sweetest fellowship ever. When we finished, he was lit up like a candle…..and filled with hope. There is nothing like watching a person respond to the call of God on their life…..to put their “yes” on the table and not look back. I’m going to see Nelson again someday, and I know he’s going to impact a lot of lives for Jesus.

The divine appointments in the hottest place in the sun on the planet Earth just continued on and on. I could wax eloquent, but then I wouldn’t have any nap time left……so…..more later.

Ok….it’s hours later. I’m clean and cool again…..third shower of the day!!! My evening sortie was with Hal and we were deployed to Judiciary Square. My spot was near the entrance of the metro station, but to be perfectly honest, there were some seriously under-baked biscuits all over that location…..(crazy people)….so I moved on down the street to try to sortie in a sense of sanity. What transpired was a bit less sane than I would have scripted, and yet…..But God. That’s all I can say. And He’s got a sense of humor.

The first man who would take my tract was Hispanic. He appeared at first to be a believer….and in fact could be…..but he’d been seriously nipping at the bottle, and decided he had fallen in love with me. Sigh. Oh dear. While I was trying to extricate myself from his amorous intentions, I was still trying to pass out tracts. I gave one to a young man, who took it, and sat down nearby to read it. Instantly, despite my distractions with my inebriated paramour, my radar was on with the other young man. I very politely finally was able to break away….and get over to Garrett. He had read the tract by this time, and he was willing to chat with me, I think mostly because he’d witnessed the scene before him and was impressed that I’d been so nice while trying to escape the other guy.

I asked him who he thought Jesus was….and he actually was kind of dumbfounded. He didn’t know how to answer it at all, even though he’d certainly heard of Him. Garrett was seriously thinking about matters of life and death though, because he’d just lost his mother to a long battle with cancer. I began to share hope with him….and the Holy Spirit was truly working on his heart….when suddenly the air was split open with the sound of someone yelling “Casey…..Casey”…..and whistling for me. I turned around and from across the metro station, my little Hispanic friend was calling me and gesturing for me to come to him, frantically. Oy. I waved to him that no, I couldn’t…..and turned back to Garrett. He was laughing hysterically. Sigh. We began to get very near to accepting Jesus, when the shouting began again. I ignored it….and we began to pray. I wanted to get Garrett’s contact, but when we looked up, there was an Indian man in front of us, all a quiver. He was like stuttering in his excitement about me believing in Jesus….because he believed in Jesus too!!! Which was great……but…..um…..so I just was looking at him, and I asked if he would like a tract so he could be in contact with us…..and he grabbed it like it was diamonds. Ok…..he hovered some more, just vibrating with excitement. “Have you been to Israel?” he asks. Really? Now? I try to answer him, and my little Hispanic friend comes over and says “Casey, couldn’t you hear me calling you? I want to take you to dinner…..will you have dinner with me?” Garrett is just laughing so hard at this point….and I still needed his contact and to finish with him, but his boss rolls up in their work van, and rolls down the window shouting that he needs to leave. Unbelievable!

So…..Garrett was gone, poof, just like that. Jesus knows where he is though, and I pray so much that the decision Garrett made before he left will go into good soil and flourish.

I needed to escape the looney bin, so I went back over to biscuit central which was calmer by this point. I recognized that since I was in the Judicial center, that people would not be coming out of the metro there, but going into the metro to go home. The escalator on that side just happened to be broken….but God……and so the business people were queuing up to walk down that long long flight of stairs and so I stood by the top and just passed out tracts like shooting fish in a barrel!!! They had nowhere else they could go! It was awesome and I emptied my tract bag in less than an hour! It was nearing time to stop and Hal was several blocks away at another metro station, so I just decided to stand at the top and be a billboard, in my shirt. People had to read it as they walked by or stood in line to walk down the stairs….it was GREAT! Hal arrived after about 10 minutes. However, just as he was walking up I was approached by a young Jewish man named Brett. He said he loved my shirt, which stated that Jesus is the Rock of Israel. I was surprised and said “Really? Did you actually read all of it?” I held it out for him and he said….”Oh, well I like part of it!” But God. Because the conversation was on! And you know what? He got serious with me and wanted to know why I believed in Jesus. And I told him I could actually prove to him through his scriptures that Jesus was Messiah, if he cared to actually investigate it. He did want to investigate it, and asked if I had any materials. I had emptied my bag of every scrap of literature, so I just HAD to have his contact information so that we could send him information……Isn’t Jesus so awesome? And Brett does not have a Tenach but he said he would find one that very night, and so he wanted me to write down some references for him to read. Boy, was I happy to oblige him with that information. He began to get very excited, and finally, had to leave….but he asked if he could just hug me…..and I was like “of course!!” and so he hugged me and thanked me……it was just the cherry on top of a very very unusual sortie.

Tonight was our last sortie here in Washington DC. Tomorrow we move on to Baltimore, MD. I wonder what God has in store for us there??? Hopefully a nice ice storm!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I believe with complete faith that today is Saturday, but only because my trusty computer keeps telling me so. I want to remember yesterday to report on it, but I had to ask Janice to tell me what happened because my brain has lost all it’s moisture and has stopped working.

I know that I was in Israel for 5 weeks….and I thought it was hot there, but I have to tell you, this week’s heat has been absolutely bone melting. My eyes won’t even blink well because I have sweated every fluid out that existed in my body.

Ok. Sorry. I must focus. Yesterday. We arrived in Baltimore, which I may in fact refer to as the threshold to Hell for my own kvetching purposes in this email….or not. The art fair. Yes, we were there. Janice and I were on the same team and Robert assigned us to sweep a certain area of the fair. We decided our sweeping and sortie areas would actually consist only of those areas in the shade. God was faithful even in my non-faithfulness, because I approached a group of 4 men in orange shirts under a tree and began to share. Two drifted away, but two remained. Kevin was the first one. I actually was talking to both, but it was so loud that I asked if Bernard would hold his thoughts for a moment, and surprisingly he did and waited until I finished with Kevin. I normally would never do this, but God was merciful and it worked out.

Kevin did not believe he would go to heaven if he died, but he did believe God had spared him, because he had a recent accident where he nearly lost his entire left hand, but they were able to save all but his thumb. This was a perfect opportunity to launch into God having a special plan for his life, and that He’d been trying to get his attention…..that our meeting was a divine appointment just for the purpose of the gospel. Kevin did believe, and allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of his peers and co-workers and prayed with me under that tree right then and there to ask Jesus into his heart. It was so sweet!

I got his information to send him a Bible, and promised to try to find a really dynamic church to refer him to in Baltimore…..Bernard, meanwhile had been patiently sitting on the ground under the tree, waiting for me to finish with Kevin.
Bernard had obviously been into gang activity in his youth, and he had two completely filled in tear drops tattoo’d under his eye. I found out later from a policeman in the area that that meant that he’d killed two people…..unless it was just for show to appear tough. Bernard knew for sure he wouldn’t go to heaven when he died….but he did believe in God. He knew he was a sinner…..and couldn’t believe God could forgive him for his sins at all. He grasped that truth like a drowning man would grasp a life preserver……and he too prayed with me in front of his co-workers and peers to accept Jesus into his heart.

I know you can hardly imagine such an unlikely scene…..these big burly men, in their orange shirts, surrounded by other big burly men, who were scoffing and rolling their eyes…..had the courage and the desperation to grab hold of hope, on that hot hot day, at the art fair, sitting on the ground under a tree. I certainly do not deserve to witness such astounding acts of our Merciful and Mighty God……I am so unworthy and so so petty and human……but God allowed me to be there and watch darkness choose light.

I admit, everyone at the fair was a trifle heat exhausted….but tract take was relatively good. I do know that Robert had two very encouraging conversations with Jewish young men, who took prophecy books on Messiah and New Testements.
The evening sortie was much cooler, and the crowd was unbelieveable. God blessed me to meet a brilliant young Jewish man by the name of Kevin (a different Kevin that the earlier sortie). This Kevin was a man of science, philosophy…..and all things intellectual. I’m a fairly simple girl, so this is an intimidating person for me to talk with. All I know is Jesus and Him crucified. I know the Bible is truth and that God made a way for us through His Anointed One. That’s all I could share…..scripture. After a long long conversation, Kevin went from sneering and arrogant, to soft and willing to investigate, and considering our beginning, this was a miracle on par with the parting of the Red Sea. He was taking notes, guys!!! This simple Georgia girl doesn’t have a lot to say outside of my Messiah…..But God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And He proves it over and over again.

My last big conversation yesterday was actually unintelligible. Sigh. I am a biscuit attracter, that’s all I can say. This young man……I honestly could not understand a single word he was saying, save when he would thoughtfully mumble some gibberish then lay his finger on his chin….roll his eyes wisely and say “hmmmmmmm”. Then he would nudge me and nudge me until I said “hmmm” in agreement. This gentleman was stuck to me like glue for the rest of my sortie. I could not shake him loose. Thank God, I actually ran out of tracts and could hightail it to my partner and get out of biscuit town in Baltimore. Sigh.

Today, we are back at it. Wonder what that will mean for us???? More adventures later! Praying fervently for shade, breezes and coolness…..

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sometimes after I send out one of my prayer journals, I hear back from many of you with encouraging words which mean so much and help me each day to get out of bed and do it again one day….one more more sortie….one more hour…..it is so special to hear from you….

Sometimes as well, I hear from some that there is a wish to come out….to do a campaign…..or just to have more boldness to share your faith with someone you love so dearly. This morning, the Lord reminded me of that scared little girl several years ago…..going each day into my very first campaign in Atlanta, and how He gave me a special gift each morning to assure me of His precious presence…. that I wasn’t alone. I want to share this with all of you this morning….because I would never want anyone to ever ever think that I am not still that scared little girl, heading out each morning……it’s all God. The lyrics to this song that the Lord put on the radio every single morning for me on that first campaign are something I play now every day on every campaign…..maybe they will encourage some of you too.

“Should I Tell Them” by Shaun Groves

Walking with you is not without hazards; tripping’s this traveler's curse. The price paid for falling is more than my stumble, in a world that is watching and waiting for worse.
But I listened when You said to go.  And I set out in spite of my fears, about truth mixed with my imperfection, and the question of what to say when I got here.
And now that I'm here, should I tell them that  You are the one who has made me, and saved me and set up a home there inside? Should I tell them that I am a perfect example of all You can do with a life? What should I say to them? What if I'm failing them? What should I tell them tonight?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to be here  with this song to sing and a spotlight on me.  But lately I'm wondering if You are mistaken, if You're seeing all of me there is to see.
Cause on every face I detect the same questions I've posed to You.  Like do you speak through the imperfect? Are we too dirty for your light to get through? I want your light to get through.
What should I tell them when they're thirsty Lord?  My cup is empty Lord come and lead me here in this place. Cuz I'm honest, yeah, but I'm unprepared and I'm just plain afraid!!!
These words really felt like the cry of my own heart….and really are the cry of my heart every time I walk out the door to share with anyone. But God. He always always always shows up. His faithfulness is unwavering. He has never failed me. And He won’t fail you either. He won’t. That’s one of those money back guarantees.

Janice told us this morning of a scripture someone sent to her in an email. It was an excerpt from Isaish 30….and some of the most incredible analogies to our everyday experience on the streets are in this scripture…

…”Go now, write it on a tablet (or tract) for them, inscribe it on a scroll (or broadside), that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, “ See no more visions!” And to the prophets “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, (off this sidewalk or entrance to the subway or art fair!) and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”…..

Heartbreaking isn’t it? Where are they God….those who are seeking You? We have three more sorties on this campaign…..and then we leave.. Bring them Lord. We can’t seem to find them on our own. We need Your help! But God…. The Lord our God…the Lord of Hosts is with us…..

We finished in two sorties instead of three….which I confess to being happy about, as I sit here, showered and smelling of perfume as opposed to dripping with sweat and reeking of ….sweat.

The noon and evening sorties were crazy busy, but I have to say, I saw lots and lots more Jewish people today than yesterday. This makes sense as yesterday was Shabbat. I even got myself a tiny Hasidic fix, as I got to see some Ultra Orthodox today. Surprisingly, I saw nary a one in DC, but I understand that there are some areas here in Baltimore where they are settled in. Granted, they walked a wide path around me when they saw me, and were less delighted than I was, but that was ok. I nearly cried I was so happy.

I had two separate conversations with Jewish Michael’s today. Michael 1 was not a believer, but was not very observant in his Judaism, either. He listened to me for about 20 minutes and seemed quite thoughtful as I shared scripture after scripture with him. I literally drew out every apologetic I could call upon…..and he really listened. I almost believe he was ready to make a decision…..but I really didn’t want to push him too far too fast. He took notes as well….and materials. Sadly, he refused to give me his contact, but he thanked me profusely for talking with him. I wanted to thank HIM!

Michael 2 approached me with a bright smile. I figured he hadn’t read all of my shirt, but in reality, he had! He was a Jewish believer who had moved to Baltimore from Florida. He told me his step-mother was also a Jewish believer. He hadn’t really figured out where to fellowship yet, so I tried to make some connections for him. He was so happy to see us out there. He told me that it was great, what we were doing….to not lose heart, because it really does make an impact. Boy….that was so timely and such a great encouragement. I was so blessed by him.

I believe our stats are somewhere around 25,000 gospel tracts distributed….one at a time into a person’s hand!!! And, I know for sure of 6 salvations….I don’t actually have complete stats to share at this time, but this is what I know of for certain.

Once again, you all have pulled me through…..and Jesus was glorified and exalted in this area……people were challenged with regard to their relationship with God….and some were changed for eternity. It doesn’t actually get any better than that, does it? So, what’s our body weight in sweat anyway??? Who needs hydration? Um…..I won’t go that far.

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