prayer. prayer. prayer [Deanna]

Since Saturday, we have started 24/3 prayer. Today is the last day. One thing that has really touched me is when the Cao Ya kids came. They've been coming everyday i think. I had really been praying for a boy named Allen and a girl named Jenny. Allen is in elementary school still while Jenny is in junior high. I'm pretty sure I talked about him for a little bit in my last entry but right away, I saw in him a boy that loved to play and was loving towards the people he cared for. I thought to myself, he would have no problem being courageous for Christ. So I started to pray for him while doing the praise nights at Cao Ya and he accepted Christ on the last day we did the alter call. Joseph had talked about how he didn't pray because it wasn't "manly" and so I cried out to God that even though he is so young, let him fall in love with You and yearn to seek You out everyday so that everyday, he can give it back to You through prayer. Then him, his sister, jenny, and a few other kids came to our church praise nights and he'd be one of the loudest singers and he would pray. It wouldn't be for a long time but he's a kid and I think he really started to understand God's love towards him and how much He wants to have a close relationship with Allen. Yesturday night, Allen was so touched by the Holy Spirit that he was brought to tears. He went from trying to be a tough little boy to literally broken and vulnerable in front of a whole God through Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit is amazing and should never be doubted. Praise God.

I was broken for Jenny because I also saw in her a love for others. She also really cared for those who were close to her and I saw in her a really energetic spirit. Then I thought, if she used both these gifts for God's kingdom, she'd be a great warrior for Christ. Then she accepted Christ on the last day of Cao Ya praise night. Priscilla was more moved by her coming to Christ so she'd be a better person to know what got her to accept Christ on that day. Priscilla was also the one who prayed for her and helped her feel the Holy Spirit to get her to accept Christ. I really saw her on faith in Christ even though she just started her relationship yesturday at our praise night. She had a really really really bad stomach ache. Ai-hua prayed for her and so did I because it wasn't a type that could be fixed with a bathroom trip and when we started worshipping again, she still insisted on standing and praising God. I kept on praying and praying for God to heal her and He didn't at that moment but it really let me see how far she is willing to go to feel God's presence.

So 24/3 prayer...has been interesting. Doing the nightwatches are REALLY hard(midnight to like 6 am). 1 because I am not a night person. I've never pulled an all nighter and 2, everyone's sleeping schedule is completely messed up right now so when I go to my early morning sessions I just want to sleep. The first nightwatch I did was a 2-4 am. It was just me, christina, joseph leading, and deren there for the first hour, passed out for the next. We gave him grace since he lead the 12-2 time. But joseph was like really caffeinated and jumpy and there was me and christina, trying our hardest to stay awake to praise Jesus. That is where I learned that walking/jumping/standing. doing whatever on your feet is REALLY effective during those times. I could align my thoughts better and not drift off and not just worship for the whole 2 hours. As I am reading psalms, I am starting to see how much faith David has in God. I feel like he knows soooo much yet he knows to write out these prayers about everything. Praise, sorrow, joy, anger. Sometimes all of that is in one psalm and like David just knows that God is going to provide. His faith in Christ, when he didn't even know when Christ would come, really urges me to have a deep faith in Christ and His return on earth forever. Anyways, not sitting really helps during those times. Writing out prayers also really helps.

Priscilla, I think, said that our flesh doesn't like it when we pray so there is a constant battle between our flesh and the Holy Spirit. Because of this, I've been praying that I don't fall asleep for the rest of the time. 4 more hours! We're also fasting so that Satan will keep away and that Christ will remain in our hearts. We want to be connected with Him and with each other so that we can fight the good fight and WIN WIN WIN! YAY WE GET TO EAT SOON!

p.s. mackie: I WANT MY HELLO KITTY PILLOW. They're stealing my duckie pillow, calling it a cheese, and hiding it like emily's bear. THEY'VE PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR and i do not want them taking this one back too =(
p.p.s. alex: I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU DI DI. stay strong in your faith while I'm gone. press on and ask, seek, and knock for Christ. we can share with each other when we get back what God is speaking in our hearts =)