Some of you may remember me posting about The Carpenter's Daughter back in 2010. Sheba Phillips, the founder and director of The Carpenter's Daughter dance ministry, danced for us at our Easter Event in 2010 and also held a private dance workshop for the AWO girls that Christmas. She has blessed me tremendously in many ways since our first meeting! Today I had the honor and privilege of attending her Awesome Dance Conference in Waycross, Georgia. I took a few of the AWO girls with me and we were all blessed beyond our imaginations! The drive there and back provided a wonderful time for intimate conversations with the girls and I learned quite a bit about their lives and perspectives on pertinent issues. On the drive to the workshop we heard the song, "Redeemed" by Big Daddy Weave come on the radio. I turned it up and asked the girls to listen, then explained that that was one of the songs we would get to hear live in December at their Valdosta concert. I had no idea then that God had a plan in that "coincidence." (by the way, I don't believe in coincidences) We arrived at the workshop and Sheba greeted us at the door with a smile! Upon reading the schedule for the day I see that someone will be performing a dance to the song Redeemed. As it turns out, the message of that song played an integral part of the workshop, and we watched that song acted, mimed, and danced out beautifully by a minister of dance. We witnessed three different dance performances, all amazing and full of the Holy Spirit! I was moved to tears by each one. But, before those performances we learned about the use of sign language, flags or banners, and cloth in worship and praise dance. We learned some basic dance moves and learned many choreography tips, as well. Scriptural references were given for each concept introduced, and much of the time if felt more like a Bible lesson than a dance workshop. The reason for that, as Sheba stressed, is that prayer, Biblical foundation, and the leading of the Spirit MUST be an integral part of dance. Although I am not a "dancer," exactly, as a ministry leader I learned a great deal from her teachings today. I know that each and every person in attendance was blessed and gained something of value from their time there. Thank you, Sheba, for blessing us all with your obedience!!!
After the workshop we headed home and the girls were all talking over each other in excitement about all that they had experienced. One girl in particular had a very real encounter with God there. She posted on facebook after getting home that she now knows what her calling in the Kingdom of God is--DANCE! God spoke a personal word to her during the workshop today and she now knows that she is meant to minister to others in dance as well. What an amazing experience for her to have, and how blessed I am to have been a witness to it! I also learned some sad news on the way home. Another girl began sharing her recent struggles with me. She has been "homeless" for the last few weeks and is living day by day in a hotel with her mother and little brother. She told of how difficult it is has been and the lengths she has gone to to hide her homelessness from her friends and schoolmates. Already knowing about this situation beforehand, I picked her up first and took her home last so that no one would see where she is staying. We were stopped by a train in front of Winn Dixie, and as we sat there she started crying and telling me how they don't have any food and she doesn't know what she will feed her brother when she gets home. I don't think it was any accident that that train stopped us right there in that spot or that she happened to confess that to me in that moment. I didn't waste any time pulling into Winn Dixie. I bought her a grocery cart full of canned and microwaveable food (no stove in a hotel room), snacks, and drinks. She cried in gratitude and promised to pay me back. I told her that it was not a loan but a gift and there was no way I would let her "pay me back." I joked that instead I would expect her to visit me in a nursing home when I was old and feeble, to which she replied--"I will see that you are in a home in Beverly Hills for all you have done for me!" We laughed and laughed. Though I have no desire to be in Beverly Hills, ever, I know by her saying that that I am making a difference in her life. She knows I am there for her and that I care deeply for her. Having once been a child in her shoes, hungry for food and love, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be His hands and feet and pray that not one child ever goes without on my watch. May I have many many more days to do His work, and may He send all of the needy children my way.
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