A RESCUE MISSION....WOW! 

 "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."Luke 19:10

  Did you ever stop to really think about the lengths our Heavenly Father will go to save us? When it comes right down to it, it's a rescue mission from our hell bent desire to satisfy ourselves at all cost. Throw in life in this fallen, depraved world; some emotional pain, seeking horizontal satisfaction and being left empty time and time again. The, we act surprised when we find ourselves someplace we could never imagine. So, when we have a sober moment to assess how we ended up where we are, the guilt and shame is so overwhelming that seeking to become numb is the only thing we can escape to. Have you stopped recently to consider the utter beauty of forgiveness? The forgiveness of God and Him alone is the only answer that will ever bring true healing to someone's heart and life. It all starts there. How about the grace of God? His mercy? Day after day my Heavenly Father patiently meets me in my time of need.Think about it will you?

  Let me share a rescue mission with you. Her name is Rochelle. Since the age of 18, she has been prostituting as a result of her addiction. She initially worked the AC casinos. She got in trouble there and began working Broadway in Camden. She got involved with a women much older than herself and most recently has been working to support both of their habits as well as feed six children. She has a very large heroin habit and began hanging around Broadway a few months ago. She is a very beautiful young girl, but wounded beyond belief. We would see her at the house, the breakfast and on the street. God was drawing her near. We talked about detox, but it is still extremely difficult to get someone into detox on the spot. So, God set up a rescue. She was picked up in July at the sweep that we were involved in with Metro PD, and at that moment in time she wanted the help. She has several warrants that prevented her from leaving immediately for the program she had been invited into but we knew we would be able to follow her and she would be detoxed. Our goal at that point was to pick her up from the AC Jail and put her on a bus to NY. Last Friday, I traveled to the AC JAIL to pick her up. When she was finally released to me, as we were walking to the car she said she didn't want to go. After talking for awhile I told her I would not drive her back to Camden to the place where she is losing her life currently. The Lord told me to take her to the WAWA to get some food and that it would be easy for her to catch the bus there. Again, more time for her to change her mind. While we were in the store, a man approached her and asked her what she was doing there. He was a pastor who knew her and her mother. There was also a girl from the street who had been seven months clean but after much pleading she still refused the help. He said he wouldn't take her back to Camden either. As we were getting ready to go a few patrons of the WAWA were concerned about our conversation out front and called the AC Sheriffs. Once they arrived, I explained the scenario and when they ran her name she had another warrant. They said they would process her,not keep her, and release her to me if she wanted to go. He said that 90 percent of the people they see have no one to support them. As we made one last attempt, as she was handcuffed in the paddy wagon, she turned her body away from us and off she went.

  It struck me as I was driving home about how specific God's love and knowledge of each one of us is. He provided several rescue attempts in a way that only He could for her that day and sadly, her will to chose left her alone again. God gave me an opportunity to see her this week as she was walking by the house and to remind her we love her, and that when she is ready we will be here. Please pray that she finds that strength that only He can give her to walk away. We saw her again Saturday on a drug set, and it was heartbreaking. The two other girls she was with, Heather (had a left cheek full of nail scratches from a guy who had robbed her the night before),and Charmaine) whose left eyes was swollen completely shut from a date who raped her robbed her as well and looked like he broke her eye socket.)

  Please continue to pray for these women. Truly the God of rescue is their and our only HOPE! We love you guys and thank God for the awesome privilege it is to love on these women and speak LIFE to them in the middle of the darkness. Brenda and the SHAN team

These past several weeks have been very eventful. God certainly has a way of reminding us of our weaknesses and then highlighting that all our joy and strength is to be found in Him, and Him alone. It is so great to know that no matter what is going on around us God has complete control and that as we demonstrate our faith in who He is. He just shows up big all the time. I don't know about you, but I am regularly reminded of just how weak I am, and how limited my abilities are. But, my God is able to do all things in a way that is just unbelievable. And that's not just a one time event; He is able all the time, anywhere,anyplace, anytime, and there is nothing, no nothing that He can't do. He also promises to be my shield and my strength.