Since I don’t know Christy Pierce very well, she had asked to meet with Bill and me for a bit, just so we could get to know each other.  Since she and Bill are very good friends, I wasn’t too sure if this meeting was about the prayer team or her chance to check out who he had been spending so much time with.  We met for dinner and it was comfortable and fun.  Christy loves to play, loves Hawaii and loves God, so it feels like we have a few important qualities in common.  I must have passed whatever test I was being given, because not only does she still want me to come to Hawaii, but she told Bill how happy she is for him!  Whew!

The official prayer team meeting was finally Sunday afternoon before service at New Hope Peninsula although not all of us could attend.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but thought we’d go over the “plan”, assuming there would be a plan.  It seemed a bit unusual to me to wait until the Sunday before the conference as the first time we would meet as a full group.  My involvement at conferences always meant many meetings in preparation for the conference itself usually for months prior to the event.  But I expect this conference to be unlike any I’ve attended before.

Christy is SUCH a tease!  First thing when I sit down at the table, she pushes right at my buttons, saying, “So, I’ve teamed you up with me.”  Of course I overreact, and point right back at her and tell her, “Oh no you don’t!”  Everyone at the table laughed, but this was the perfect thing for her to do.  I come from a family of teasers myself, so the best way she could make me feel welcome is to prod at the very thing that would make me feel uncomfortable.  To some, it might feel like torture, but to me, it felt like love. 

The business of this meeting was to go over the agenda and to make sure we all knew what was expected at each session.  Cynthia had already written up a full information sheet, so we had all the logistics right in front of us.  All the people on the prayer team are teamed up in pairs, and I’m not quite sure how this will work.  Who speaks first?  How do you know what the other person will do?  This is all new to me, so we’ll see!

I was glad that both Cynthia and Christy offered for me to come close and silently intercede as they’re praying for those seeking healing.  Part of the reason I’m going is to see how this all works and this was quite a gift from both of them.  I may take Cynthia up on this offer, so I can hear how the healing prayer works.  Besides, I’ve heard that Christy is notorious about involving her team members in unexpected ways, so I might want to avoid her just in case!

On the plane as I write this, I still feel a bit apprehensive about this whole thing, but I’m more prepared than when I started, so that’s something.  Besides, I just can’t wait for God to show up. I can’t imagine what He might do!