08.08.12, Wednesday

This day earned renown among us as “the day that was two days.”  

 Our morning schedule began with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast and then devotions with the YWAM staff at 8:00 a.m.  The 1 Voice worship team led worship after Jason Hershey, the YWAM D.C. leader, brought us the word for the day.  His topic was about his personal journey with the Life Tape Siege.  He told of how God deepened his understanding of the ramifications of abortion for America while standing at the wall, feeling empty of things to pray and asking God for more of His heart on the subject.  One of the Scriptures that God pointed him to is Ezekiel 22. 

 "I looked for anyone to repair the wall and stand in the gap for me on behalf of the land, so I wouldn’t have to destroy it."

Jason also shared a personal story of how he helped his uncle and father to chop down a tree, while Jason was in the midst (about day 30) of a 40 day fast.  He took one pathetic whack, which he said felt more like he was throwing the axe at the tree than like he was chopping with it, and the tree fell down.  The challenge and encouragement for our group was “what if your group is the one to take the final whack that ends abortion.”  Whoa!  We were electrified to go and stand at the wall again.  After more presence-filled worship, we loaded up the vans.

The weather was more hot and humid than the day before at the wall.  Likewise the presence of God in that place was heavier still.  For me, the Life Tape Siege is a tangible experience of rending the heavens and pulling the Kingdom down to earth.

Lunch afterward was the same “outreach” menu in the same location, though we shortened up the time allotted for it.  Once our lunch items were removed by our diligent, punctual van drivers, we split into three groups for a prayer walk adventure inside of the Senate office buildings, which are basically adjacent to the park.  Our group was assigned the closest of the three buildings.  After clearing security successfully once again, we set out in search of a restroom.  Oddly this sidetracked us for about 10 minutes, as we were highly skilled at finding the men’s restrooms, but stumped when it came to finding the women’s restrooms.  Of course on a prayer walk this is not wasted time, as you just pray and walk as you search; God told me later that we were where He wanted us to be, so that the men who work in that building would all be encountering His presence. 

The Russel Senate Office Building, courtesy of http://www.aoc.gov/cc/cobs/rsob_1.cfm

The other intention of our group in our building was to find the Indiana Senator’s office housed there, ask if we could pray and what we could pray for, and to pray.  Unfortunately we ran out of time and did not make it to the fourth floor, which must be the location of the office we were seeking.  Nonetheless the prayer adventure was impacting earth and Heaven because we know that He hears our prayers.

Our esteemed 1 Voice leader’s group headed directly to the Indiana Senator’s office in the building to which they were assigned.   Upon asking the office staff is they could pray for anything for them, the aides replied in unison, “for the drought.”  After praying there in the office, the 1 Voice group headed to the center of the building to pray as well.  The ended their time by singing “Let It Rain.”  (We were told on Thursday morning that it was raining in Indianapolis!)

We rendezvoused with the entirety of our group at the appointed location and were picked up by our vans and driven to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History where we explored for about 1.5 hours; my favorite exhibit was Gems and Minerals.  Katie loved everything and was not happy to be hustled along.  Next we hoofed it down the street to the Smithsonian American History Museum for an exploration of about an hour; I was not impressed with the layout of this museum as it was not chronological.  The thing I remember the most from this museum is a gunboat used in the Revolutionary War.  

Once again our faithful drivers picked us up and expertly chauffeured us through the crazy traffic and home to the Gatepost.  Supper was a fast meal of pork BBQ sandwiches, veggies, salad and chips.  A furious clean up sent us off to an evening tour of the monuments led by Jason.  

Of all the “touristy” sites we viewed in D.C., this tour was the most captivating to me and the most annoying; my annoyance was with some of the DeMoss children and their behavior, which I considered to be disrespectful.  Enough said about that.  Let’s crack on, shall we?

I would highly recommend Jason as a monument tour guide to anyone who desires a viewpoint from God’s perspective.  My account of this tour does not accurately reflect the insights he shared with us.  It will simply highlight what I remember from that evening.

Sitting on the lawn alongside of the steps to the Lincoln Memorial, looking across the emptied Reflecting Pool toward the Washington monument, Jason began laying groundwork for the things we would discover on our tour as they related to our county and the consequences of legalizing abortion.  He spoke to our responsibility as Christians to intercede and pray as those standing in the gap so that our country will not experience God’s judgment.  While inside the massive, awe-inspiring Lincoln Memorial, we read the inscription of the wall that seems to indicate that Lincoln believed that the Civil War was God’s judgment of America for embracing slavery.  We pondered the similarity between the loss of life in the Civil War and the loss of life through abortions, as well as the need for us to stand in the gap in prayer.  

Prior to our departure on the D.C. trip, Judy was praying and saw a mental picture of the Korean War Memorial, so this was our second memorial to visit.  One of our 1 Voice team members has a heart for Korea plus one of the YWAM staff with us on the tour is of Korean descent.  We were reminded by Jason that the Korean Conflict is still ongoing.  A couple of things we prayed for at this site were for the conflict to be peaceably resolved and for the Korean young people to wake up to the truth and to never forget the truth of what caused the Korean war and of what occurred during and since then. 

Thirdly we walked through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial.  [Incidentally this was where I started to be annoyed.]  The first statue we viewed portrayed FDR in a wheelchair.  Jason informed us that this memorial was constructed during the Clinton years and that several special interest groups impacted the final design of its statues.  For instance the statue of FDR in a wheelchair was not the original design nor was it the way that FDR desired to be depicted.  Originally FDR was to be seated behind a desk.  A second statue of FDR was also altered to suit special interest groups – he held a cigar between his fingers in the original design. 

Jason also spoke of the alteration to the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt; she loved furs and usually wore one in public.  Instead, she wears what appears to be a trench-coat style overcoat.  Revisionist history is alive and well in Washington, D.C.

As we gathered at the end of the memorial, we discussed how FDR introduced many programs that were well-intentioned and even helpful at the time, but which have unfortunately had negative impact on our country long term.  My take away from this site is that we must return to trusting God and to being His hands to others rather than relying upon the government.

George Mason, one of our country’s lesser known forefathers, was our fourth memorial stop.  He persistently argued against slavery and was an advocate for a Bill of Rights for the Constitution.  Finally after his death, the Bill of Rights was added.  George Mason’s example challenges us to stand up for what is right, even when standing up is not popular.

D.C. by twilight has a unique beauty.  By the time we trekked to the final memorial on our tour, the Jefferson Memorial, peace was reigning in my spirit and soul once again.  While the Jefferson Memorial is magnificent, I do not remember much of what was said at this memorial site.  I was distracted by questions of one child during Jason's talk and just plain tired! I think I finally collapsed in my bed around midnight...another great day!

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