I want to write about 'Baby'. The other night I was at re:cre8 and I was standing outside while my friend, Shawniferr (his real name is Shawn, prefers to be called Jennifer but because we know way to many Shawns and way to many Jennifers, he's become known to us as Shawnifer), sat in his wheelchair. While we are out there chatting and elderly gentleman came up, put his hand gently on Shawnifer's shoulders and whispered at what my best guess would be "be well". I don't think it was necessarily from God - but it definitely was not demonic either, I think it was just down and out compassion. I asked this gentleman his name and he replied in this innocent voice, with his chin sheepishly dropping to the side said "Baby". Aside from his obvious, though once unintentional, baby like demeanor, this was a very unfitting name for him. I invited him in for some coffee and my heart began to break for Baby.

He told me stories of growing up, watching his parents get shot, at two separate times. His sister getting hit by a car. He has 6 siblings, and 4 kids of his own. More then 50% of his family is dead, and mostly due to drug use and abuse. (ps - I HATE drugs, don't do them - they kill). The preceding 30 minutes or so, Baby used his same baby-voice to tell me his life events. Sometimes these things, especially down here, can be scripted or faked. 'Baby' is not the fist downtown eastside resident to use a baby voice by any means - in fact it is more common then one would think, but he was the first to cut deep into my soul. As I looked Baby in the eyes I saw his soul, his hurting, shamed and jaded soul. His long grey, tangled beard and his wrinkles and laugh lines did not mask the infancy of his soul.

As I was chatting with Baby, tall guy with a cane (I don't know his name) came and wanted a book. A different, not odd, but different request we get. So I asked Baby to wait while I escorted Mr. Tall Cane man upstairs to our attempt of a library. He was actually amazed at our War Room and book selection. After deciding on what would go to his nightstand, we escorted him back down and to my sadness, Baby had left. I ran out side in the hopes of finding him, and it proved easy. 'Baby' I exclaimed, 'You didn't wait for me!', turns out he had to line up for the shelter line. As we are finished our started conversation, a deaf girl walks up and gives Baby a hug. Now I took a Sign Language coarse over 5 years ago now, and like any language you do not practice I lost my skills. But with what little I do remember I attempted to ask her name and tell her mine. Then the Holy Spirit showed up and if you can speak in tongues in Sign Language then that's what I did, because Candy and I ended up having a pretty deep and impacting conversation, one I could not do without the Holy Spirit I guess speaking through my hands, and the interpretation came on too, for I understood what she was saying clearly. She didn't get saved, but she did hear some words about her worth. Our conversation quickly went to her abusive boyfriend and since the Holy Spirit was speaking in sign tongues to her, she could receive she is worth more then that and that no one deserves to be abused. I hope I see Candy again.

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How is Nicole?

Completely exhausted right now. I am at work (overnight). Ive been busy lately with weddings and all that goes along with those (Congratulations Donny and Jenea!), War College Graduations (Congratulations Incendiaries!), pickups, hellos and goodbyes. 5 hours and I can crawl into my bed and sleep the day away!

Spiritually I am doing well. I'm trying to interpret a common thread in my recent days "Bells", every time I hear that word, its like the Holy Spirit nudges me and Ive yet to figure out the fullness of it. I've just started to dive into Jeremiah. I think its a timely book for the prophetic season the Lord has brought me to.

War College, Conquerors Session, starts in 2 weeks and we go on our community camping trip next week. Looking forward to all of it.

Gotta go play Crib now with my work mate.

Grace,

Nicole

ps - God is here.

I

Here I sit in Philadelphia's airport, which is amazing I might add. I actually don't mind my 5 hour layover here.

Although, this is likely my most strenuous travel ever. You see I have been up since 9am EST Friday morning (it is currently 2:27 CST Saturday afternoon). We got to the Portland airport at 4am EST this morning. My flight was originally not til 9am, but because the majority of the group was in the wee hours of the morning, I came along. When I got to the airport in Portland I was hoping to get an earlier one, I mean I was already there anyways. So I managed to get one for 7am. Right after I got this one, Xander, on of my greatest mates found out his flight got cancelled and they re-booked him for 1130. My other friends had departed at 5am (tears galore!), and so I went to find Xander. We went back to US Airways (lovely people there) and got my originally 9am booking that turned into a 7am re-booked for 12 noon - thus getting to spend more time with Xander. It didn't change my final destination plans, as I had, like I said a gazillion hour layover here in Philly. Xander couldn't get his boarding pass yet so we waiting downstairs until 7am when he could. Enjoyed the entertainment of Mr. Bagel man though. When we went to get Xanders boarding pass, turns out when the guy said he was on the 1130am flight, he forgot to inform us that it was in fact 1130am, the next day. This was not going to work. After a few clicks of the computer here, and a few touches of the screen there, Xander could get on an earlier flight, he just had to get himself to Boston.

Gotta love flying (I actually really do though, this was a great day!)

So, as I was saying, I have been up now for over 30 hours, still waiting another three here in the airport, until I can board my Vancouver flight, which will land me in Vancouver at roughly 9pm PST (midnight for my jet lag factor) and just in time to pull an overnighter at work. I will be sleeping on the plane.

My neck is kinked from the first flight...two hours of head against window kinda kinked...and I have a broken foot (well, I doubt its broken but could be a fracture or sprain - Ill have to find out when Im back in Canada).

Oh and did I mention it stormed almost all week?

But, all of that does not dampen my week in the slightest (pun actually not intended). I have had the greatest week. We were in Old Orchard Beach, Maine doing Prophetic Evangelism or Spiritual Readings if you will. Basically we set up tent and got to share with believers and non-believers alike what the Lord has to say to them. I cant number how many we got to pray with, and how many we shared the gospel with....but I can say it was absolutely amazing and that peoples lives were changed and there was good good fruit. Personally it brought me a lot closer to the Lord, and really reminded me the beauty of prayer and listening to his voice. It stirred up the Prophetic gifting and calling I have, and am super excited to go back home (in 10 grueling hours) and continue this rhythm.

Well to end, I implore you to seek the Lords face, to hear is voice, and to not stop, ever.

More to come...

Grace,
Nicole

This is just a quick blog to hold you up until I can have more then five minutes at a computer.

Well I am here in Old Orchard Beach, Maine - it is absolutely fabulous. My next blog will give more details as I have to get going sooner then I thought.

But there is a group of us here doing some Prophetic Evangelism, or Spiritual Readings as our sign says. There has been some great fruit come out of this - Ill write all about it another time, but in the mean time please pray for us. Pray stuff like Psalm 91 over us, and I petition you to pray for me too. But the Lord is good, so so good is He.

We've been rained out a couple nights, and had the pleasure of listening to the preaching of Commissioner Israel Gaither - great preacher.

OOB, is a very small town, I am still trying to figure out how it attracts so many, well it is absolutely gorgeous so I guess that's a good reason why....but I ran into some old Corps Officers of mine here. When I was in the War College (apply today at www.thewarcollege.com) I had my summer assignment in Victoria BC, and since then those officers have moved to Regina SK. Last night I ran into them here, in OOB, ME...weird! It was great to see them though.

Anyways, Im off to go pray...yipee!
Pictures to come.

Grace,
Nicole