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#plantlove

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, , Story, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

Days 15-16 Worth in lack!

On of the things I admire about Jesus is more times than often he had a unique way of seeing the good in people, and even helping them to see worth in their situations even when they couldn’t. A classic example of this is the man who was at the pool of Bethesda for a few decades (read John 5:1-15). This man was lame, had been paralyzed in one geographical location, and limited (hoping to one day be healed one day). Jesus walks up to this man, sees value in this guy, asks him a pivotal question, and tells him that he has power to take up his bed and walk.

Jesus saw enough worth in the man even when the man was hopeless and had nothing! What does this suggest… Well, it suggests a number of things, but one main thing I see in the passage is that “lack does not determine worth.” There are many families in lack, and even more children who go without basic needs like clothes. But, because they are in lack doesn’t mean they do not have worth and value in the eyes of God.

Today, is the 16th DAY that I’ll go wearing one outfit on behalf of students, and children across the country and world that have few resources and little or no closets for #closetstrike. May God use this sacrifice to bless others, and push even more to live incarnationally.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Plant Love, Poverty, Project THIRST, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Reflective, Resources, Serve, , Transform, Uncategorized, Vision

Days 12-14 Serving water

This AM was amazing! Why? We went out and passed out tons of water we collected during our #projectTHIRST campaign! This morning we encountered several people who said that they have experienced dehydration before while living on the streets, and were grateful for the water.

While serving, I got a chance to help some people on 14th day of #closetstrike… It was humbling…I’ve been wearing one outfit for 14 DAYS straight, and I still can’t believe it…

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Now, some may say that it is pointless to go out and distribute bottles of water, but I beg to differ… Our goal was to collect tons of water to encounter people who are subject to dehydration, and build relationships with them, learn their stories, and see how we can get them the resources needed to transition off of the streets (while making sure they are hydrated during Summer months).

Well, while serving we encountered this 28 year young man named Lamar! By passing out one bottle of water, it sparked a conversation that ended up with me driving him to Atlanta Crisis Center to check himself in… He told me he hadn’t slept in three days because of the hard drugs he was doing…But for some reason he wanted to try to leave the streets this AM…

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So, was it the water, or was it the conversation that mattered. I believe it was the conversation! I believe it was the relationship, and I believe it was because we chose to go beyond a hand out…

Hand outs do nothing, but hearing stories and building relationships can be used by God to do wonders!

Below is the bottle of water that sparked the conversation. Pray that we reach more people, hydrate more people, and pray that I stay committed to the #closetstrike journey.

Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sociology, The Local Church, Transform, Uniforms of Hope, Vision

Days 10-11 with #closetstrike

Today is DAY 11 of me wearing one outfit! It has been extremely hard wearing only one outfit. The thought that I have 79 more days to go frightens me. It frightens me because I don’t know if my closet will be restored at the end of my journey, I don’t know if people will be impacted, and I don’t know if it will even matter! Those are my true thoughts at this present moment! But, there are a few thoughts that are greater than those!

I wonder what it would be like to resources low income schools to help students who struggle with “family poverty…”

I wonder what it would be like to see families who will lack this coming school year be encouraged that they have support from their school and organization that cares…

I wonder what it would be like to help children who literally have no closets get a closet and adaquate clothing to survive…

I wonder what it will be like to teach students how to use technology and campaigns to solve societal ills by inviting people to get involved on the ground level…

I wonder how God’s love will inspire those through this sacrifice….

These wonders and my faith is what is driving me right now!

They are the fuel that God is using to push me forward… And guess what???? I’m not stopping until I see people reached for good. Therefore, I solicit your prayers as I continue to walk this road for those who do not have. Pray that #lovebeyondwalls continues to raise awareness, and move people to provide solutions!

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Terence

 

Terence Lester
In Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Life Change, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Serve, , Transform, Vision

Progress with #plantlove

Every now and again, God does something truly amazing and literally leaves you speechless! You know what I mean… It’s the feeling you get when you don’t know how something is going to happen, and then God provides! Well, that’s sort of what happened with our office space. Back in February, we were introduced to the space and approved for it in March, and planned to move in during the month of April… Well, there were tons of things that needed done (structurally) and completed to make the office space user ready…

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Well, God not only provided the resources to get it together, but he sent a couple (husband and wife team) who committed themselves to serving and utilizing their “renovation” experience/knowledge to help us transform the space into a space that will be friendly to the community.

To this day, I am scratching my head about how God connected us, and how involved they are in the work….Not only are we grateful for them, they have become like family.

Below is a before and after shot of the lobby that shows the transformation that’s starting to happen… The office is starting to come together:

 

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Terence

 

 

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Transform, Vision

Days 7-9 #closetstrike

This morning makes 9 DAYS in one outfit. That’s 216 hours straight. When I woke up this morning, all I could think about is surviving day to day. As a matter of fact, when you have no other options survival is all you have. Lord, give me the strength to continue this journey to help children who have little in their closets.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In 90 Days, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Engagements, Fighting for the Hopeless, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Story, The Local Church, Transform, Vision

Days 5&6… #closetstrike

This morning had to have been the rough morning for me! Why? Because for the last six days, I have literally had on the same outfit every single day. I have done everything in it. I have gone to meetings, done work around the office, and have used this one outfit for every single thing. If I can be honest, it hurts knowing I cannot wear anything else …Also, it hurts knowing that I am confined to one outfit for every single event that I will partake in over the next 84 days (I can only imagine how students feel who go through this struggle).

In fact, this morning I visited a school in Douglas County (Chapel Hill High) because a student did a campaign to raise awareness about homelessness and partner with students and teachers on behalf of our organization #lovebeyondwalls. The news paper showed up (Douglasville Sentinel), and I was in the same outfit again. Below is a picture on Kamara (student), Jeff (editor), and myself (same outfit) discussing how students rallied around our efforts to reach the less fortunate.

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Nonetheless, while on this journey I have been humbled, and extremely appreciative of every single thing that I have had the privilege to own.

Being on this journey has shown me how ungrateful we can sometimes be when we have many options at our disposal. I encourage any/every/one to cherish anything God has entrusted them with (no matter if they do not think it is a lot).
Terence

Terence Lester
In Campaigns, Collaboration, DRIVES, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Project THIRST, Raising Awareness, , Sociology, The Local Church, Transform, Vision

Dehydration and #projectTHIRST

Dehydration is one of the most common preventable reasons for hospitalization. Lower income families are at an increased risk, due to limited availability of resources. The homeless population, especially in cities with sweltering summer heats like Atlanta, are at an increased risk for dehydration related hospitalization.

People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, the elderly and the young, have the greatest risk of becoming severely dehydrated, or needing hospitalization.

There are an average of 500,000+ people hospitalized every year for dehydration.

#projectTHIRST is taking donations of fluids to give to the homeless we can reach. To help, please contact us! Remember, just one bottle of water could SAVE a life this summer!

Jamie

Terence Lester
In Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, DRIVES, Education, Fighting for the Hopeless, Give Miles Away, Global, Gospel, Great Commission, Journey, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Needs, Overseas, Passion, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , The Local Church, Transform, Uncategorized, Vision

The Soul Project – 500K Shoes

Today, I met one of the most inspiring brothers I have met in a long time… His name is Martin Kumi, and he started an organization called, The Soul Project. He shared with me his story of being raised in Africa, and being very poor as a child. In fact, he shared that if his dad wouldn’t have brought him to America, he would have had to have his feet amputated because (like many) he was a child that didn’t have shoes in his youth.

In 2007, he launched an organization in an effort to provide shoes to thousands of people in third world countries that do not have any shoes and are vulnerable to foot diseases. So far, he has given away 500K pairs of shoes to men, women, and children in many countries.

I was introduced to this brother from Eldridge Washington (a brother man that leads the organization M.A.D.E.). I was grateful for the connection. Why? Because we will take the remaining of the shoes we collected for #givemilesaway, and donate them to “The Soul Project” to help resources thousands of people in Africa (and other countries) shoes this summer. Kumi has a vision to resource 1 million people with shoes, and #lovebeyondwalls will support his movement to make it happen. The thing I loved most about this brother was that not only was he humble, but he was committed to the work that God has called him to… He said, “I AM GIVING MY LIFE TO THIS…”

Below is Martin, please pray for him and follow his work! 10312067_689867754383726_6479497630770914202_nTerence