Gulfport Memories

Our team from Calvary School worked down in Gulfport during January of 2006. We saw God move in so many big and small ways. We participated in a time of sharing God-moments every evening with the rest of the groups that were staying at Littlerock Church the same time as we were. So many things to celebrate.

Our group was able to go into the neighborhood school one day and hold a mini-assembly for each grade. We wanted the kids to be reminded of how special each one of them is to God and to one another. We celebrated their individual gifts and abilities. We even got a teacher to join us in the front of the room to do a little dance step. The kids loved it. As the students left the room we had a small gift for each child. We also gave fun packets to each of the teachers who came to the assembly.

One little girl we all remember had a cast on her leg. We asked her what had happened and she told us that when the hurricane came through, her house started filling with water. Her mom had to grab onto her baby sister and they had to swim out of the house to get to safety. When she went through a door it slammed hard and broke her leg.

Members of our team were also invited to "host" (tutor) individual students throughout the day. The staff at the school were so appreciative of the time we spent with the kids that they invited our team to return the next day which was to be our last day in Gulfport. About half of our group went back to the school while others of our group finished up a roofing project or went into a home to clean up mold damage.

I was one of the ones who returned to host at the school. During that day I was assigned to be with a little girl named, Alajah, who is in 3rd grade. Out of the blue, Alajah said, "I want to see if my Mom will bring me to church this Sunday." I asked her where she went to church. Alajah said, "The one down the road with the "T" on the top. I then was able to explain to her that the "T" was actually a cross and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He loves her very much and wants to live in her heart. I asked her if she would like to pray and ask Jesus to live in her heart. Alajah told me that she wanted to pray. So, I prayed with her and was privileged to hear Alajah invite Jesus to come into her heart right there in the school classroom. It was just amazing. This day at the school was not planned, but the Lord opened up the door for us to be there on that day when Alajah would need a host.

I keep praying the God will bring loving Christians around Alajah to tell her Bible stories and to keep reminding her about how much Jesus loves her.

I am thankful that our Church keeps encouraging people to go to Gulfport. There is still much to be done down there. If you haven't gone yet, please go! If you already went to Gulfport, consider going again!!

And if you do, please tell as many there as possible that Jesus loves them.
Anna
Holland, MI