So this past weekend I went to The Call in Washington DC.
Well let me share with you how it all worked out =D... This was such a blessing for me because I wanted to go last year [to the Call Nashville], but my ACC summer classes conflicted with it and well, it's not that cheap. And of course, this whole year I've been wanting so badly to go to The Call DC. Well when my grandma mentioned to one of her friends that I wanted to go, that friend felt lead by the Holy Spirit to send me some money for airfare. How awesome! My parents paid for the remaining expenses, but of course there was the problem with my UT summer schedule (yeah i know, I'm always in summer school). Well, I looked at my syllabuses and all of my exams were scheduled perfectly around the weekend of The Call (Wenesday, Thursday, and Monday). So God totally worked it out for me!
Flying and arriving in DC was an adventure in and of itself. My flight on Friday from Austin to Dallas was somehow cancelled so I was transferred to another flight. No biggie. Upon arriving in Dallas, I found that I only had 7 minutes to get to my connecting flight (yikes!)... so I ran through the terminal to the gate, which thankfully wasn't far away, only to find that the flight had been delayed two hours and forty minutes. Of course, I was thankful that I didn't miss the flight altogether. So when I got to DC I spent about 30 minutes trying to find the metro station, and then headed towards the hotel. I was so relieved when I walked into the lobby, ready to check in, get into my room, and sleep in a comfortable bed after a long day of traveling. So I gave the guy my reservation number and my driver's license. Then he tells me that I can't check in because I'm not twenty-one. What?! That's funny haha... And then I knew he wasn't joking when he suggested that I go to a hotel in Maryland or Virginia. Apparently DC has a 21+ rule for their hotels, due to the selling of alcohol or what not. Now, I'll admit that was kinda scary-being alone in DC and apparently too young for their hotels! Now thankfully I have a cousin, Anna, who lives in DC, however she doesn't live too close to the area where my hotel was at. Well, I called her to see if she could help me out and she happened to be around that area, like literally walking down the street that was around the corner from the hotel! So she came to my rescue and checked in for me. Again, the Holy Spirit is soooo awesome! Thank you God (and Anna :)
So finally I got to the room, watched some olympics, ate, and then went about deciding how I was gonna get to and from the National Mall the next day. Particularly cuz it ended at 10 pm and I am not that great with directions. Well, then I remembered that my friend Cameron was going to The Call too, so I texted him to see how he was liking DC so far. Come to find out we were staying in the same hotel and on the same level too... so now I definitely wouldn't be getting lost (again thank you God!)
I woke up on Saturday, super excited! I was there in DC, going to The Call! We (Cameron, Shane, and I) headed to the National Mall early to get a good spot. About an hour before it started, Rick Pido started leading the people in worship. While Rick was doing his thing, I decided to walk around for a little bit. So I strolled up and down the mall and eventually walked closer to where the capital was to get a better view. As I stood there, observing the beautiful massive structure I felt so glad to be there, in DC, apart of Jesus' body crying out to Him for the nation. And at that moment I felt so thankful for the United States, so thankful to be an American-and I don't always feel this way-and so blessed to be there.
The Call started at 10 am, with excitement and anticipation. The shofars began to sound, giving me goosebumps up and down my arms. Oh, how I had waited for this moment! That Saturday turned out to be a gorgeous day. The sun was up, the sky was blue, (it's beautiful and so are you...lalala, o.k. had a Beatles moment :P).
Lou Engle began to speak, encouraging us to begin to pray for mercy for our nation (he would do this continually throughout the whole day). One of the main focuses of this prayer gathering, was praying for the ending of abortion and for the healing of the nation. Lou Engle led us in many a prayer, asking God to break our hearts for our nation, particularly for the cries of the aborted unborn, who had no voices and yet so much pain.
Another major focus of The Call was prayer for unification and reconciliation among the Body. This so touched me because the racial segregation among churches today has always aggravated me. It's so against what God wants for His children. It was refreshing to see Lou have people, representing different races, come on the stage and pray for themselves and for each other. He also had us pray for forgiveness for the past injustices which occurred in America, such as the destruction and war towards the Native Americans under "Manifest Destiny" and the slavery and Jim Crowe Laws. Both Arab and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, prayed for one another. It was awesome! I began to weep when Lou had a Native American believer pray in his own tongue. The man began to loosen and undo his hair, which was in a ponytail. He stated that the act symbolized, that it was finished and done. In Jesus, payment is finished--making God's grace and mercy abound--a life of no hope is forever done, and the reconciliation and forgiveness among believers is final. That's what we were praying for and declaring: mercy for our nation, hope for America, and reconciliation and unity among brothers and sisters. Oh, what more could one ask for?!
And to be there, praying for these things, with 70,000 other people, who are just as desiring, sincere, and passionate about it as I am, was an indescribable experience. I'll never forget it...
So the hours passed by, some longer than others, but never wasted. The weather was quite warm, but God sent a crisp cool breeze during the whole time... how like Him to do so =) And throughout the day, I felt His pleasure in seeing us there gathered together, because of our love and devotion to Him and unfailing trust in His mercy and power. For our ceaseless pleading for mercy was done out of a knowledge of who He is, a God of mercy; as well as our rejoicing in His name for he is a God of power. And because of our praying, He is a God who is moving no doubt!
Soon enough the sun began to set and joyful praising and worshiping broke out. We ended with a celebration because we had now released our prayers and declarations. How could we not rejoice, knowing Him and how He will move? "Ask Me and I'll give you the nations for your inheritance..."
And then The Call was over (tear). Now I know that twelve hours is not that long, not when you're in His presence! And I now feel the Holy Spirit calling me to begin fasting and praying (more than I have). S(he) also told me to not be afraid of being too radical because I am holy--it's who I'm meant to be.
So that was my experience at The Call DC. God worked it out perfectly and He blessed me through so many different people. The praying was passionate and intense. I'll never forget it and the atmosphere in our nation shifted because of it, no doubt. Well, thanks for reading this long entry and I hope it encouraged you in some way :)
Ciao!
