A story from New Orleans, LA
Even though the rest of the world has moved along, hundreds of individuals are still putting the pieces of their life back together. Nine years later people are still without homes, jobs, personal belongings and even some are still considered "missing people" or even "dead". During the storm papers were lost and so the fight to prove their identity has been a nightmare in and of it's self.
The following is a story about a sweet man named William. William approached where we were worshipping with a can of soda and a plastic bag with his belongings. This man is a survivor and a fighter. He knows what it's like to have nothing, yet still have joy. He knows what true sacrifice is and trusting that everything is going to work out. After making simple conversation with William he began to tell my teammate and I the heart breaking story of how he has no identity and that he is not the only one that is going through this. The government has listed him as " deceased" and because he lost his Social Security Card in the flood he has no proof that He is really who he says that he is and can not get work because of this.
With this information in hand it was time to go to prayer. We asked and he agreed that we could! During this time, William received a phone call and asked that we be quick because he had to get somewhere. As we began to declare blessings over this man and speak life and Identity into him, his countenance began to change. He started to really grasp and take hold of the truth that He is valued, accepted, loved, wanted and he does have a purpose!! After I had given him a word of encouragement and we finished praying he looked up with a huge grin on his face and told us we were an answer to his prayer!
That phone call he had gotten earlier, was a call from a lady that had some work around her house that he could do to earn some money for food and bills. He told us that he had been praying and asking the Lord for a job right before he had stopped to watch us worship. Talk about the power of prayer!! We said our goodbyes, hugged him and along he went just as he came with a spring in his step!
Talk about the faithfulness of God! He is so good!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8
