Category Archives: Atlanta

May25

Playing Catch Up

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Playing Catch Up
SO, I wanted to blog every day while on this tour.  Obviously that hasn’t happened.  So, I thought the first thing I’d do is bring you up to speed…quickly.
  • Headed out on Friday afternoon.  Here we are with last good-byes at AIM.
  • Battled Stone Mountain when trying to drive in our tent stakes.
  • We unleashed our most dangerous weapon – Ashley with duct tape! She won.
  • Got the honor of meeting up with the VanGO girls (more on these ladies later.)
  • Walmart and three carts of supplies later, we were ready for our first workshop.
  • Workshop was success!  Dreamers dreamed.  Coaches coached.  Connections were abundant.
  • Team was stoked at the potential of what God wants to do through our dreams. Here’s a look at the workshops.
  • Celebrated with hotdogs and music down by the lake.
  • Sabbath day on Sunday.  Met Jennifer as we were hanging out at Stone Mountain Skyride.
  • Campfire and prayer with fellow campers, Connie and her grandkids.
  • Monday, tore down camp.  Conquered the mass of “stuff” and streamlined even more.
  • Met up with two more tour folk – Seth Jr and Erin.  Drove to Alabama.
  • Set up camp and headed down to Birmingham to meet some wonderful people in a park.   Some were homeless, some had been homeless.  Some had big dreams, some dreamed of not being homeless.
This brings us up to yesterday – Tuesday.
Yesterday, I was feeling the pressure of falling behind in my tasks.  My to-do list was growing and my time was slipping away.  I confess, I was stressing.
God intervened though.  We spent about an hour of “my precious time” worshiping and praying together.   I’m pretty sure the hour spent at His feet was more productive for my soul.  After that time with Him, I was at peace and much more effective when I did start chopping away at my task list.
Last night, half the team drove north to Fort Payne to meet up with some AIM people and our contact there who are working with the teams who come in to rebuild the lives and homes there that were devastated by the tornado.
(The other half of the team went south to Birmingham to spend some time with some guys in the heart of ministry down there.  I’ll let them tell their story.)
For me, the story yesterday was about reaching beyond our tasks lists.  Reaching for something more in the midst of our stress.  Realizing that spending time with the Lord as the first thing on my task list does work.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33
May22

Stop One – Atlanta, Georgia

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Stop One – Atlanta, Georgia

Ashley

We have been on the road since Friday afternoon and had our first Kingdom Dreams Workshop on Saturday. Today was a day to explore Stone Mountain and see the sights … and explore.

Friday we rolled in, had our last meeting in the office with the full Kingdom Dreams staff, hopped into the cars and the tour began. We grabbed lunch and drove to the camp site. We pulled in got registered and admired our smallish campsites. We systematically decided how to best set up camp and began the tedious chore of pounding stakes into the ground of Stone Mountain. After thirty minutes of pounding, and a many failed attempts, we gave up and left the tents not properly secured to the ground.

Camp was set.

The next morning we were up around six and on the road by seven. We got to the venue that was hosting our workshop and got to work. Doors opened at 8:30, and suddenly, I realized why I was there. We saw people come together and talk about their dreams. As soon as they talked about their dreams they came alive. They stopped worrying about who they knew and got excited about taking the process step by step. People made connections that would launch them off into a whole new world and met coaches who would take the next step with them.

Their dreams became more than dreams the moment they started talking about it. I saw dreams such as destroying corruption in governments, preparing high school students for stepping into the next thing with God, going to Haiti, and using art work to heal the brokenhearted.

We are excited to be packing up camp and heading to Alabama in the morning!!

May19

Twas the Night Before

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Twas the Night Before

Teri

I’m taking a little breather in between packing to write. Funny how my muscles seem much more sore with each move?

Our day started off with taking just about every article of clothing we had to the laundry mat by 9am. After a little over two hours, 16 loads of laundry, a small fortune in quarters, and a river of detergent – we were done.

We met them on the way out of the laundry mat.

Our first encounter with wonderful people, even before one tent was pitched. I had seen them there before, but today I knew I was supposed to talk with them. Of course, their questioning look as four of us walked out with mountains of clothes in our arms opened the door for explanation. I told them about the tour and what we wanted to do; inspire, encourage, connect, and dream big.

Sandra, Vicky, and I talked about how important it is for Christ-followers to dream and then DO. That church is not an event we attend on Sunday but The Church is a people who follow the way of Jesus. They seemed inspired. I gave the URL of our website and they promised to pray for us. And then we prayed together, right there in the laundry mat, six of us, hand-in-hand and heads down.

I was inspired – by them, by their faith, by their prayers. And my car isn’t packed yet and the tour hasn’t “officially” launched. Can’t wait to talk to more wonderful people once we shove off tomorrow…