Oakwood Community Church (Youth Ministry)

One of the most famous places in Minneapolis is the Stone Arch...and we are HERE

Tonight our team prayed individually and outloud for the city of Minneapolis---its tension between police & citizens; for profound leadershio in law enforecement; for the groups helping against sex-trafficking and our role as Christians durung the Super Bowl and then for God to use us this week as we pray, evangelize, build a Ga-Ga Pit for the church and all the ministries we are partnering with in the Twin Cities.

Pray for us as we serve the God who loves the people of this city.

Their silly faces tell us it's time to get some sleep...but this picture should show you early on that we are doing great....

In fact we are leaving  for Sebastian's Ice Cream..a local favorite, we are told.   It was delicious!!!

Today after breakfast we began the dismantling and renovations of Discover Church's Gaga Pit.  Shovelling, moving dirt, prepping the pit for gravel and future "turf carpet".

It's hot, it's hard work YET no complaining, tons of water consumed AND worship singing happening as we work.  There has been NO "whistle while you work" singing, hosever...and I am thinking that's a good thing...lol

This afternoon we are praying over different spots in Brooklyn Park..this spot is under the overpass of the 610 freeway over the Mississippi.  This is where teens go to live, to party, to be prey for those seeking to abuse & use them.  We prayed AND we left a rock message of Christ's love with a biblical tract under each letter.  We want to go back later this week go see if anyone picked them up.  Pray with us, we left messages for 13.  We are claiming this ground for Christ.  

Afterwards we went and prayed over a building  that houses young men from 16-21 who "were" homeless and living on the streets.  We went inside and introduced ourselves to let them know we prayed and asked how we could help them.  They have 2 locations, so ae are waiting to hear his we can help.

Tonight after dinner we went to pray boldly with the vendors at the Midtown World Market.  After our evening meetung and worship meetung tonight we are going to give you the names of those whom we met and who requested prayer (after we asked).  Loved seeing our team get creative in buying "chili pepper watermelon sucker to speak to a vendor, or bought coffee or boba  or fried rice, shaved ice," etc. JUST to start a conversation to be able to share Jesus.

We then went to Minnehaha Falls to view falls, skip rocks, river walk and enjoy God's creation together.

It's a GREAT night.

After sharung our conversations with the vendors at the World Gobal Market, we came away with their requests that we ask you to join us in prayer this week. Would you pray with us regarding the following?

Todd:
Ashra- bike was stolen. Pray that stealing stops.  
Alisha- whatever we are called to pray and salvation. 

Sophie and Paige:
Ileana - prayer for her family.
Habeba - healing for knee and healing for peace of mind and salvation. 

Zac and Nick:
Marlene - all prayer is great and she would be praying for us. 

Jackson and Kris:
(Tried but experienced repeats others have already talked to )
Homeless women? From Minnehaha Falls.  pray for her!

Linda:
Tulsi- no prayer request. Does not have Jesus. Needs a church and is open

Join us in prayer right now!!!

We are getting ready to serve meals this evening in the Jordan Neighborhood-one of the communities here in Minneapolis.

We started the morning putting in the rocks for the foundation of the Gaga Pit, levelling and compacting those rocks.  It was hot and humid and no complaints.  Our bodies were a little sore from all the work yesterday,  but there was no slacking off by this team.  

We got to listen to Pastor La (a pastor at Discover Church) but a former pastor for over 10 years in this very same Neighborhood we are serving tonight.  Lots of great info to ubdersrand the demographics and culture of this ever-changing area.

We then took a little break for some relaxation at the local community pool PLUS warm showers (rather than cold hose "showers").

We are excited tonight to meet and love on peeps the way Jesus does.  More pics to come...

First stop on Rec Day in Stillwater, Minnesota...God is soooo  good to us!  It's Olde Tyme Candies

Seeing history today. This is the last day this Lift Bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin will be in operation.  We viewed a paddleboat go under the bridge from Stillwater.  We will be driving across it so that our young teens can tell their children about today. We celebrated by having hamburgers at the Freight House.  

Rec Afternoon took us to Wisconsin's Troy Beach...some down time in the St. Croix river with all kinds of beautiful landscape around us.  Now off to serve meals again in the Jordan Neughborhood before sharing dinner & fun with our host church's youth from Discover Church.  It's been a GREAT day!! Love you Minnesota!!

Keeping it REAL folks.

Love how meeting other brothers and sisters in Christ makes "family" so quickly.

Both youth groups from both churches gathered together in Discover Youth Pastor, Jon's home for burgers, lawn games, devos, bonfire and playing "black cherry" at the playground at the park nearby.

Great way to end our day

Rainy Day Schedule brings us indoors to do VBS prep, designing flyers for park outreach Saturday afternoon & cleaning all the Nursery & Preschool toys...all to loud worship music and the smells of hot chili and cornbread (a little Cali to Minnesota). 

It's pretty awesome to think God made THIS day to be glad in and rejoice in it.  

Today our devo brought us to celebrate THIS day in prayer...its pretty cool to watch and look for what God has for us TODAY.

Serving dinner in the Crystal Neighbood of Minneapolis tonight...great people, delicious food, wonderful conversations and opportunities to pray...yeah, THIS is a GREAT night.  

Love our faith drives....

Tonight was EPIC

Early morning breakfast call for our team...next stop is bedtime...its 3am

How much fun to go booth to booth at the Uptown Art Fair this morning to pray over vendors and to pray for their needs and desires.  Amazing artists and giftedness...easy to see God in them.  

Hospitality House ministry for at-risk kids K-4th with fun stations that included outdoor water games, indoor gym games, bingo and face painting/coloring AND colored beads to share the GOOD NEWS of salvation.  37 kids prayed to receive Jesus this afternoon.   

YOU ARE A PART OF EACH OF THESE PRAYERS AS YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR US THIS WEEK.

Thank you soooo much for your prayers as we continue to serve another 24 hours in Minneapolis.

Tonight we gathered together to wash one another's feet, pray for one another and take communion together.

God was present.

Profound and bold prayers were prayed into one another and remembrance of Christ's sacrifice was given to us.

Servants

Humility

Transformation

Words of longing in our hearts.

No words.

Packing lunches in poreparstion for tomorrow when the rest of Team Oakwood arrives in the morning to serve at Feed My Starving Children and a Park Outreach in Brooklyn Park.

Getting excited for sure...

151 boxes were packed today which will provide 32,616 meals that will serve 89 children for one year in Guatemala.  Team Oakwood packed 63 boxes...oh may God use these meals to save people in Guatemala soon.

How encouraging it is to our team who has been serving here in Minneapolis all week to be jooned by family and church family for the day.

The family serving together is a very cool picture of God's heart.

Today we are joined together with our expanded Oakwood Missionary Team to facilitate a Park Outreach in one of the busiest family parks in Brooklyn Park.

We have set up a face painting station; ducks, fishing and water games; parachute, and ring tosses. 

Lots of profound conversations, and opportunities to pray. Wonderful moments that we can speak life into people and enjoy the park atmosphere.

We are seeing God at work in the midst of diverse cultures enjoying a family day in the park.  Team Oakwood is being blessed as they courageously speak the name of Jesus and it is so received.