November Update!

Dearest Brothers and Sisters,

It seems as if every month I struggle with how to put into words everything that the Lord is doing here at On Eagles Wings and in my heart personally. I find myself desiring to tell all of you how wonderful it is to be serving the Lord and how He is using us and how blessed I feel but to be completely honest, that is not always the case. And I’m beginning to learn, that maybe it isn’t supposed to be. Don’t misunderstand… I am incredibly blessed to be here, through Christ, striving for this cause and working among such an incredible group of women. But I am realizing over and over again that God refines us through fire, not through long walks in fields of flowers as we sometimes hope He would.

As far as ministry here goes, we have had our trials this month, just like every other month I have written to you. But we have also truly been able to seek His face and be conformed more into His image through those trials. Recently one of our volunteers (who is actually really “staff” lol) went to a fundraising class for non-profit organizations and she said, “As we were taking turns sharing about our organizations, it was finally my turn and as I shared an obvious hush covered the room. Later, at a meal we had, it seemed as if no one wanted to sit by me. Finally, a gentleman came and sat by me and told me two things… 1. You’re subject is ugly. People don’t want to talk about that. 2. What you’re doing makes the rest of us feel like we don’t deserve any money.” He is exactly right… the work we are doing is ugly. People don’t want to believe this is happening in OUR country, to OUR kids. But, alas… this is reality and so we press on.

We are still reaching out and making contacts with multiple organizations and agencies across the country in regards to the space we have available for victims. Right now, we have 3 girls who we believe could be a really good fit for our program but their circumstances are preventing them from coming right now. Keep praying that we will be patient and that God will allow our paths to cross with the girls that He has for us in His timing. We are gearing up for one of our major projects of the year… our strip club outreach. On December 18th we will be delivering over 200 gift bags to strip clubs in Greenville SC, Asheville NC, and Hickory NC. These women are those that many in the church have labeled as “dirty” or “untouchable” but many do not realize the situations these women are in or to what abuse they are subjected t. Sometimes, we’ve learned, this can even be a form of or a tactic used in trafficking circles. In the past, we have had women who couldn’t believe that “Christians” would do this for them, which is such a sad commentary. Please pray for this event and that we would be able to shine a light into the darkness of this industry. Our speaking engagements and awareness raising endeavors have also continued to take off. The Lord keeps giving us opportunity after opportunity to shed light on this subject and we are so humbled and grateful to be used by Him. If you would like to request a speaking engagement or know anyone else who may be interested please let me know!

In our devotional time in the house we just finished reading through Job and this passage has been such an encouragement to me as it sometimes seems as if we are fighting a losing battle with this cause. It is an awesome reminder that no matter how big the mountains may seem, God has given us an eternal hope that we can rest in.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and AT THE LAST HE WILL STAND upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I SHALL SEE GOD, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” – Job 19:25-27


Covered by His grace,

Shannon


Monthly Supporters:
Don’t forget to send in your support for the month of November!
Check to: On Eagles Wings PO Box 9737 Asheville, NC 28815 (“Shannon support” in Memo Line)
OR
Online: @ hopehousenc.com (“Shannon support” in box for extra information after you submit your donation)

Prayer Requests:
Victims that the Lord would have to come to Hope House!
Continued discernment/direction for this ministry
Trust in His timing
Grace and open doors for our upcoming strip club outreach
Softened hearts for awareness of the issue
Victims who are separated from their families during the holidays


Contact:
Facebook – www.facebook.com/shannonfromwelcome
Group – Shannon’s Ministry Partners
Blog - http://saoshano.blogspot.com
Email - saoshano@gmail.com
Phone - 336-596-5898