Las Vegas + 4.2.03

Wednesday April 2nd, 2003 Scott T, Edddie, and I set out for the city of Sin, Las Vegas. We had no idea of what to expect when we carried the cross. We arrived late in the morning and the first night was spent relaxing and eating those cheap breakfast you can get for $2.99. We decided that Thrusday was going to be Gods
day and we were going to spend the day praying, reading and carrying the cross. We got up the next day late in the afternoon ate at a buffett and went back
to the read. Scott and I both spent abotu an hr reading. My focus was on the story of Jonah. Eddie had suggested on the ride down that las vegas as a city full of sin like Ninevah but with prayer and gods will the city could be turned over to God.

Then we spent some time in prayer for the city. We took a moment to thank about the Gideons and their ministry, too. How cool is it that they have gotten to place a Bible in evry hotel room across america. What an amazing thing. Then we decided to hit the streets. We first decided to drive down the strip to get a feel and then we'd go park. We parked the car and got the cross out and we started to talk about if we were really spiruatlly ready. We decided that were going to leave our watches and cell phones in the car so we could really be on God's time and not our own. Wealso decided that we weren't ready and that we needed to pray more. The next 15 minutes we had this awesome prayer time and we were fully energized and ready to go.

As soon as we got to the strip the first people we talked to were encouraging to us. God was letting us know that he was there with us. As we walked along people didnt even want to look our way. They didn't even say hi back to us most of the time. We felt a different vibe than in the other places we had carried. The first guy that we really connected with was a dude named Shane. Shane was on the street corner playing guitar trying to make some money. We got the oppurtnity to chat and pray with him for quite a while. Then he asked if we wanted to play some songs. So Scott and I traded off singing and playing praise songs with our new friend. It was so nice to just praise the Lord with a little music. While this was happening Eddie began to street preach (for those of you who dont know Eddie is this 69 year black dude who loves to share god in the funniest of ways) Eventually Shane had to go so we continued on our way.

As we continued on we had to keep watch on our hearts everywhere. There were these people who distribute little cards that are basically porography. I stopped
chat with one guy who told me that they pay him 80 bucks for doing htis for 10 hrs. These people are everywhere on the strip and we need to pray for them. They are just bombarding people with filth. We continue to keep on but I am definately felign a sense of rejection in the city. Next we stopped to talk to some peps and we really got off chatting with this girl named Jessica. it was really hard for her t be a christian in vegas. She served drinks at a strip club and she felt God was using her to be a light there. She also had a year and half old daugher. We got to pray with her for her and her daughter and that god would continue to use her as a light in her situation. We talked with her about churches in the area and she said there wasnt any really located by the strp.

Wehad been praying since earlier that day that God would shut a casino down (we think it would be cool if it was the pyramid shaped Luxor hotel) and that a church
woudl open up there. This drunk guy Mark stopeed to talk with us. He told me how we can not forget ourselves and god because so many people just serve
and forget about growing themselves. I prayed with Mark and and he went on his way. When he was entering his otel he came back over and told me to pray for his
wifes faith and him and his wifes realtionship. He admitted to me that he had been drinking heavily but the loved the Lord. I believe he was from Alabama. We
stoped to talk with this homeless and he shared with us how God was doing nothing in his life and he wasn't happy. After we talked a bit Scott gave him some money and said look god just did something in your life. This man was so thakful and he had a huge smile on his face.

The next thing that happened to us was a news crew came up to us. They were from Norway and they were being paid to come over to America and film people on the streets to show what were like. They interviewed Scott and I for about 10 minutes. We both got to share our full testimony and just lay down the gospel about Jesus Christ. It was such a blessing that God put us there at just the right time. After the interview we stayed and chatted for a while. None of these guys were Christian but they wanted us to pray for Norway. They explained how Christianity was the
dominant religion in Norway but none of them were religious. We did get to pray with them though.

The next Lady we got to talk with was a security guard for one of the casinos. Her name was Laura and she had been a Christian for a very long time. This lady had
so many stories of how God was using her that can't begin to share them. She was a very blessed lady and we could tell it. She was full of the spirit and happy. The Lord was using her at work to share the Lord all the time. She prayed over us and annointed us. She also gave praye healing over scott's broken finger. Laura put a big smile on our faces. By this time we were feling exhausted and we headed back to the car. We thought we had only been out there for a few hrs but we weren't sure. We started carrying the cross around 7. When we got in the car and looked at the clock in was 2:20 am. The Lord had given us the strength to carry his cross for over 7 hrs. What an awesome God. God has neverending strength and he loves to share it when you're working for him.

PLEASE keep Las Vegas in your prayers. So many people are addicted to Gambling. Pray that God brings a church into the heart of the strip for Christians to gather at. Thank BIG. Only God will provide this for that city and ifwe do not ask it for it , it will not happen. The Bible says "Ask and ye shall receive."(John 15:7) Always keep God witth you.