Manna Of Life Ministries

May Inspirational Update

This past Saturday, going out with Manna of Life was extra special and a huge blessing. Not just for the volunteers but for the participants as well. We were joined by a vivacious group of teenagers from the Antrim Brethren in Christ Church in Chameberburg, Pennsylvania. They were hosted by Priority One Church located here in the Bronx. Their ages ranged from fourteen and up. They suited up and helped us serve the food, drinks, clothes, and toys. They served with joy in their hearts. When we arrived at one of our stops called the “Living Room” they serenaded everyone with the song “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong United, accompanied by fifteen year old Ben Leitzel playing the acoustic guitar. Such a simple thing like a song brightened their day. These teenagers were hands on. I began to observe them and they spread through the people, talking and praying for them. There is nothing better than to see our young people serving the Lord and serving those less fortunate than them!

We handed prayer request cards to the participants. Some of them wrote thank you notes and some wrote prayer request. One thank you note in particular touched me deeply. This person wrote, “May God bless you and the new team you have given us today, the song was very spiritual and warm. It made me think that God will always be the greatest in my life and I hope and pray that he stays in yours, may God be the greatest in your life as well”. This person’s faith is so strong. Physically he has nothing but spiritually he has everything! Every week one volunteer takes the cards home and prays for the request and this week it was my turn. I wept as I read card after card. I was so overwhelmed that I had to call Pete, our vice president to express to him how these people had transformed and humbled me. I thought it would be easy to sit and pray for each request but it was not. It took me four hours and I cried the whole time.

The Lord’s blessings didn’t end there. Matthew 21:22 says “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (KJV).” The previous Saturday we had a request from a gentleman who needed a baby carriage for his baby boy. I kept this in mind and prayed about it and I happen to mention it to one person. The next day she called me to tell me she had a carriage for me. I was expecting something used and maybe dirty and I thought I’d just clean it very well. God is so good that this carriage was almost new. It was huge and it was clean. When I arrived at Crossroads with the carriage, someone else had donated a carriage as well. Double blessing! Seen this mans reaction when I handed him the carriage was truly a blessing in my life. His smile reached from ear to ear! Along with the carriage we gave him diapers and clothes. He couldn’t express enough how grateful he was!! Just seeing his smile was enough thank you for me. We were also able to bless a young woman who needed a carriage for her daughter. Luke 11:9 says “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.”

by Emily B. Hernandez