Friday, August 03, 2007

LA


Well there were so many really cool things that we did in LA and most bloggers have mentioned most of the outreaches and things of that sort. But what I wanted to share isthat I realized how big God really is on this trip.



A little history on the " Dream Center" first. One of the first days that we got to LA, the founders and Pastors of the Dream Center spoke to us about how it all began and frankly I was taken back by their testimony. These two guys, 19 and 20 at the time came, to LA and believed in and followed their dream to where we are today. They were from Arizona and wanted to come to LA to make a difference in this city. They began doing outreaches to the community on a small scale and now do over 15 outreaches in one week. As their ministry began the needed bigger accomadations and wanted to purchase this old abandoned hospital. They were told that it would cost 16 million dollar. Between the two of them they only had 10,000 dollars. They were persistent and went back some months later yet the price was still much to high, somewhere around 7 million dollars. But this didn't stop them, as they had a promise from God that they wouldn't not give up on. Some months later they went back and again asked to purchase this old hospital. This time the owners told them that they would give them 30 days to raise a half of million dollars. And I love what he said at this point. He said, "You just have to dream so big that the only way it will work out is if God shows up." And that is exactly what happened. They were able to raise the money and purchase this old building that we now call the "LA Dream Center.



It was so amazing to see all that this place does for this community. We brought cookies to the homeless people on 'Skid Row"( one of the most dangerous places in LA). They have a discipleship program where they take people in for a year to try to help them get back on their feet. They have food trucks that deliver food to different parts of town. They have Metro Kidz to reach the kids. And this is just to name a few things that these guys started.


SO I say all that to say this. What if they had not followed the promise that God gave them. LA would not be the city it is today. The Mayor said that crime dropped 73% and he attributes it to the great work of "The Dream Center." We can never underestimate God and how big he is. I just can't hardly believe that all that we were a part of began with just two people who wanted to make a difference in a dark and dying world.


SO don't grow weary if you aren't seeing your dream come to past yet. It maybe that God is waiting foryou to trust him and let him in on a really big dream. With man things seem impossible but with God all things are possible.
Mamma P

1 comment:

Jamie said...

Mrs. Paula,
I needed to hear that 'cause the last few days, I just feel like God is trying to get across to me that HE'S GOD, and nothing is impossible w/HIM! And I need to remember how big my dream is and how small I had let it become! Thanks for the encouragement!