Hey friends! Thank you for taking time to read my update and for keeping me and my squad in your prayers! 

I’d like to give a short update on where my team and I are and what the Lord has been doing through us! I am currently back in Gainesville, Georgia after being in Jackson, Kentucky for the last couple of weeks doing flood relief with Samaritan’s Purse. For two weeks, we visited homeowners to assist them in gutting out their homes that had been destroyed in the flooding just two months ago. It was heartbreaking to sort through moldy, muddy items that homeowners had held dear and put them in a pile to be carried away. In many cases, the homes we gutted had been family homes that generations of people had lived in, laughed in, and built their families in. 

In a mud-out scenario, a group of 10-15 of us went into a home fully suited up in Tyvek suits, gloves, and masks to remove mud, possessions left in the home, moldy drywall, insulation, flooring, and anything else that would cause damage if left in the home. This process was clearly very painful for homeowners to go through, however, when we had cleared everything out of a home and let air and light in, hope was slowly being restored. 

As I prayed through this, the Lord revealed to me that this is similar to the process He has led me through as well. Just as we removed the moldy, muddy interior of a home to reveal beauty and the hope of a new beginning, so does the Lord in His refinement of us. I have things within me like pride, jealousy, bitterness, and wicked intentions that the Father lovingly removes in order for beauty and hope to take its place. Wine cannot be made without crushing and pressing; steel cannot be created without being put under fire. 

Isaiah 61:1-3 illustrates this beautifully: 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all those who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

Thank you so very much for keeping us in your prayers, the Lord is moving mightily through us! During our two weeks in Kentucky, we saw over 20 salvations and were able to serve many families in the Jackson area! Here are some further prayer requests if you are curious: 

- My squad leaves the United States for Nicaragua this Saturday, October 15th. Please pray that we would arrive safely and that God’s will would be done in our ministry there for the next 3 months! 

- Following our trip to Kentucky, a few people on my squad, including myself, are sick or injured. 

- Above all, pray for the Lord’s will to be done in us, through us, and in our teams! We are so excited and thankful to be part of a growing Kingdom! Pray for open hearts to recieve the gospel! 

I am overwhelmingly grateful for your love and support, my prayers are with you! 

Much love,

Baylee