AWO's 3rd Annual Easter Event

     I want to start this post by giving a little personal background information. I think the events surrounding Easter this year will make more sense to you if you understand that God has been reshaping my understanding of many things over the last year. In the last year He has opened my eyes to aspects of scripture that I was blind to before. He has given me a wisdom and discernment I was lacking, and I hope this is only the beginning! I knew in December of 2010 that I was embarking on a new journey into uncharted waters, but I had no idea just how much that journey would change me. I still do not know, but I can look back at myself at the beginning and barely recognize the person I was. 


     One of the things He has been changing is my view of my two favorite holidays (or Holy Days)--Easter and Christmas. He is changing my focus from things I was taught, things I have seen, and things the world sees, to HIM and only HIM. It was because of this that I went into the planning of this, our THIRD Easter Event, with a completely open mind and no real "agenda." Those of you who know me personally are probably already realizing how different that is from who I used to be. I am a planner by nature, and tend to plan out every little detail. Not this time. In fact, the biggest two attractions of the previous events has always been free food and an egg hunt. We used these to attract people from the surrounding community so that they could come hear us share the Gospel, and the true reason we should celebrate Easter--Christ's Resurrection! This year I did not plan to do an egg hunt at all. I realized this could drastically reduce the number of people in attendance, but I felt so strongly that the use of bunnies and eggs takes away so much from the true meaning of Easter that I was very hesitant to promote those things in any way. However, I had not gotten confirmation in my spirit yet about whether this was the right decision--whether we were to have an egg hunt or not. I continued praying, and listening. In the meantime, the event was getting closer and closer and I had not purchased the usual supplies. In fact, I had not done anything much to prepare, other than pray. 
     People began to ask me what we were going to do, and as I answered honestly, that I did not know, I began to get a little worried. We were less than two weeks out from the event when God began to show me certain things He wanted included. As I began to obey His instructions and prepare accordingly, a received a very unexpected phone call. The director of another local ministry, one often confused with this one, Mary Corbin (of His Hands) called to see if I had any use for Easter candy and eggs. The students of Hahira Middle School had lovingly collected colorful plastic eggs and a variety of Easter candy for local youth but did not have anyone to give it to. Mary told me that she had already had her Easter party for her kids, so she didn't need the items, and asked if I could use them. Could I?! I knew immediately in my spirit that God was sending these things to me for the Easter event. What a confirmation! 
     When I picked up the items I was completely and utterly overwhelmed with the amount of candy and eggs. It was far more than I had ever purchased for any of our previous events, to be sure. I wanted to just cry at the goodness of God! He delights in surprising me and blessing me in unexpected ways--He knows that in that way I get so much more out of it than any other. It amazes me how He knows my heart, every facet of it, and how when He gives to me it is in ways that are so personal to me. I knew in that gift that He was blessing our Easter egg hunt, and all the little kids who would show up for it. 
     He wasn't finished yet, though. The following day, Saturday (one week from the event), my family and I decided to get up and shop some yard sales, something we enjoy but haven't taken the time to do in years. Just as we left our house it started raining. Not wanting to give up, my husband suggested we drive to Lake Park, where they have covered flea markets--maybe we could shop those instead. On the drive, I remembered about a bookstore there that I love but rarely get to visit. It has probably been three to four years, at least, since the last time I visited there. I asked if I could stop by there, too, since we would be so close. Well, I know now it was a DIVINE APPOINTMENT--one not planned by me but by the Heavenly Father. In that bookstore (that we only happened into by "chance," if you believe in such a thing, though I do not!), I found so many wonderful things that I knew in my spirit He meant for me to use at our event. We have never done give-aways at Easter before, only at Christmas. This year God had other plans! He showed me several devotionals for men, a Bible purse with a Bible included for women, and some Bibles geared toward teens that looked like popular magazines (but were actually scripture!), just to name a few. One of the neatest things He showed me was a pack of church bulletins pre-printed with an Easter lily and "He is Risen!" on the front cover. The rest of them was blank, waiting to be personalized. I normally print our bulletins and flyers from scratch, but it is very expensive to buy the paper and ink, and I usually don't do a very professional job with them. These were absolutely beautiful, and all that was left for me to do was print in black and white the schedule for the day--a simple and inexpensive addition! They only cost 1 cent per sheet! I know that God drew me there that day for those things, and I believe that the very people He wanted blessed with those items received them Saturday afternoon. In fact, just as at our Christmas event last year, He even showed me in advance who some of the items would go to. I felt one girl in particular would receive one of the magazine Bibles, and she did! I had nothing whatsoever to do with it, either--I was busy with the little kids when my husband called up the participants for the game (the magazine being one of the prizes). It wasn't until I saw her collecting her prize that I realized how God had orchestrated it! 
     One last little detail I want to share--we didn't even have a guest speaker for the event. I had no idea who God wanted to come and was just waiting for an answer, for some direction. On the week of the event He woke me up one morning with a name. I hesitated for a moment in contacting them because I thought, it is such short notice! Surely he won't be available, especially with it Easter weekend. But I emailed him obediently, saying as I typed, "Ok, God, you are going to have to do this, because it won't happen any other way." Ha! Who did I think I was talking to? Within an hour or so I received a reply email--the speaker hand-picked by God was not only available on such short notice, he was excited to come and be a part of what we were doing! Who was this mystery person, you might wonder? Chris Musgrove, founder and direction of Future Now, a well-known local ministry. He brought the word, shared some personal testimony, and led everyone there in a prayer of salvation. I have no doubt that God planned out that event, every little detail! 
     We had around 200 people in attendance, several of whom came up to me to personally thank me and to tell me how blessed they were by it. Everyone was fed well, told the story of what Jesus did for them, and the kids enjoyed the egg hunt after being told the Easter story using Resurrection eggs. God brought some new people in my path, too, as some parents who just happened upon us asked to enroll their kids in AWO.    We were blessed with several wonderful volunteers, without whom the event would not have been as successful, so I must say a special thank you to: Hoyt Hurt (who loyally comes out and works at every event we have!), Russell Patelski, George Nunes (and family), and John Daniel. A special thank you to all of the students at Hahira Middle School, too--you should have seen all of the little smiling faces!! 


     Lastly (but certainly not "leastly"), thank you New Covenant Church for the umpteenth use of your van and for your loyal and unfailing support of what we do! Thanks to all of our supporters for your large part in what we accomplished this past weekend! May God bless you all abundantly for your heart to serve and love! Thank you!