A soggy, moldy and wet testimony. Just the way we like it.

 I wrote this April 6th, but with life moving so fast, I forgot to post it here. For context, my church went back out to revisit Staten Island, which was hit especially hard during Hurricane Sandy, to help in the continued effort there. Although the media and people's attention waned from the sore subject, these people are still hurting and in need of support. I've said it before and I'll say it again, these outreaches are the reason why I love Liquid Church so much. It's a church filled with members who don't just read the bible, but they act out their faith each and every day of their lives. That being said.. enjoy :) Also, apologies for the entry feeling so disjointed. I wrote this as soon as I got home from the outreach and just wanted to put down my thoughts on paper.. Plus I dare not edit it, so that it lose it's authenticity.

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With two houses down, we were well on our way of picking up some serious momentum in today’s outreach. Handed a big ol’ sledgehammer, some crowbars and shovels, we were told that our next destination would be a tough one. Untouched since Super Storm Sandy, we were tasked to muck out a house that was riddled with mold, mildew and abandoned belongings. 

As we walked into the house, we were greeted by Diane – a middle aged woman whose demeanor put most hardcore NJ/NYers to shame. With her hands and head waving around as she spoke, you could see she was telling as much a story by what she was doing along with what she was saying. Not to be slighted, she had a fierce attitude to boot. Diane told us about how the house belonged to her late boyfriend. She made off-hand comments about how this “problem” fell on her lap and how she lost so much money in the ordeal. Knowing we were a Christian relief group, she voiced a quip of how God giveth and taketh away. 

On the onset, I was pained by the lack of belief in her voice. I could feel how she felt that God had abandoned her and immediately wanted to reach out from across the room to tell her how much God really loved her. Sensing she wasn’t ready for that, we started with our work. Led by my amazing girlfriend, Dee, our equally as wonderful team set to the task of removing years and years of debris from the house, its saturated appliances and gutted the water-logged drywall, something so common to houses affected by the storm.

Amidst the work, I could feel how much Satan was waging war here in the very foundation where we were standing. We found paraphernalia, weapons, pornography and a slew of other unsettling items throughout the household. The ill-feelings carried towards the street as neighbors and strangers alike rummaged through the garbage we carried out of the house, hoping to find something of value to profit from Diane’s misfortune. Everywhere we turned our group faced a constant barrage of attacks from the devil himself. Overwhelmed, Dee and I had to step out of the house to pray. We prayed that the Lord’s shield and armor come down to protect this house, the team and Diane. We asked God to rebuke the evil spirits that dwelled in that household. We were ready to wage war. 

Minutes passed by as we returned to our work, using clinical focus to carry out our task – removing material, breaking down walls and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Our momentum had reached a peak, everyone was enjoying themselves. We were basking in the Lord’s Grace as we took the first swings of the sledge hammer. Diane’s face lit up as she joyfully said “give me the hammer, I want to swing it!” We all stood around and started having fun. Diane was beginning to feel the Love that was taking over the house; Strange how demolition can bring people together.  

After that, Diane was different. She didn’t spend her energy on complaining about her circumstance, about how the storm ruined her life and more importantly, she stopped blaming God for what happened to her. We could all feel it, Diane started asking to help us… wanting to give back to us. She felt the compassion we felt for her and wanted so genuinely to give back.

With the day ending, Dee and I ended up catching Diane alone. We asked if we could pray with her. She hesitantly accepted our request. Being uneasy, she grabbed our hands and joined us in prayer. With God opening her heart today, we expressed that He still loved her. That she was a beautiful, strong woman who deserved nothing but the best that God could provide to her. That none of this was her fault and she was a blessed woman to have handled it so well. We told her of a saving hope that would take her away from the hurt she has been experiencing for the past 18 months… That there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  As you could imagine, the tears began flowing between the three of us. Our prayers struck home. They entered her heart in a way that none of us could have ever imagined.

After sharing our moment together, we wrapped up our work and started packing up for the day. Diane stood in the house and bid everyone a fond farewell. The peace that was now throughout the house was so palpable. Being the last to leave with Steve, I walked back in to say my final goodbye to Diane. She stopped me and told me she had something to say. She told me that she had only one request at her late boyfriend’s cremation ceremony, that the song “Amazing Grace” be played (his favorite song)… and how they couldn’t even do that for her.

Tears started welling up her eyes and I couldn’t understand why. She continued with her story. She said “After you and Dee prayed for me, I walked downstairs and the music was playing. The song that was playing was ‘Amazing Grace’”. I don’t understand what that means.  How could I have paid so much for a ceremony and my only request not be fulfilled, but here you guys are – a group of giving, loving people, doing a free service for me and his song comes on. How can this be? I think God heard our prayer.. I think God heard our prayer”. 

As if a floodgate had been opened, we offered Diane words of comfort. That God IS with her. That He answered her prayer and that He sent us and His “God wink” to affirm that He is still so madly in love with her. 

God was in the room with us today. I was a witness to our Lord calling back His daughter. Beckoning her back to a life full of His undying, unfiltered, Staten-Island love.  This woman was saved today. I… we… all know it and God knew it all along. 

Diane is the woman with the grey shirt and glasses, and yes, that's Dee going HAM on the wall with the sledgehammer. hah!