Cream and Sugar - In the swamp

In addition to the "National Rainbow Gathering", which happens always around the 4th of July, there are also smaller, regional gatherings. For a long time we had planned to visit the Regional Gathering in Ocala, Florida, which always takes place in February.

This time we did not bring our "CreamAndSugar" - Caravan. We knew that we could reach more people if we had a large tent closer to "main circle". We had been warned that the Ocala Gathering could be rough and violent at times. However, the more troublesome people are usually close to the parking lot. This is why the main camp, which is about a one hour hike away, is pretty safe. 

Now don't imagine a well-kept vacation campground! These festivals are always somewhere in the wilderness. Our camp was on the edge of a large swamp, complete with alligators, frogs, and all sorts of other bird, animal, and insect life. It was a long hike, and we carried every single thing on our backs by hiking, even our water and other ministry supplies needed every day. 
On the first night, we arrived after dark and had to complete our hiking and pitching camp by flashlight. However, the next day we knew that we had made the right decision! 
While we are still setting up our ministry tent, some people came over for coffee. Everyone seemed to know about Cream and Sugar. We were treated with great respect and love, becoming a recognized "camp kitchen" of our own. Sometimes we had no time to eat ourselves, because the people waited in a long queue to grab breakfast. 

We were astonished about how open people were in our many discussions. They were always pleasant; there was never a disagreement or dispute. We were able to pray for people often, and some would have been happy to come back to Austin with us and get their lives back together with God's help. In the future, people will be able to stay with us in ourLifeHouse Training Center. 

We were able to distribute a lot of our handouts, and most people immediately began to read them. We call this the "Roadmap", and it contains several very moving testimonies and life reports from our team. Again and again, visitors came up to us to share how much they had been touched these stories. 
The Rainbow Gatherings were started over 30 years ago and a considerable group of founding members is still coming each year. The meetings also draw gutter punks, travelers, homeless, war veterans, cults and as many sorts of people as you can imagine. They are all people who are looking for something: for God, for enlightenment or a supernatural source they can tap into, be it through meditation, drugs or simply through harmony, love and peace.

"He had deep sympathy with the many people who came to him, because they had great troubles and did not know whom they could ask for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd." Mt 9, 36

This verse is guiding us while we are ministering at the Gathering. Jesus wants to satisfy their desire and to give them hope and new life. That is why we were there: to show God's love practically and to lead them to Jesus, the source of life.

Alex

Alex is in his mid-forties, has five children, lives separated from his wife and is addicted to heroin. He was never at a Rainbow Gathering before, and did not know why exactly he was there. He suspected that during this time, he would get some sort of guidance for his chaotic life. 
Alex was one of the first people to come into our camp. I saw that he was in need of help right away. As soon as he saw us four Europeans giving away coffee and telling people about Jesus, he seemed to feel an desire to stay. Immediately he seemed to open his heart to me. I told him a lot about the wonderful plans God for his life and prayed for him. Alex received new hope and learned about the love of God. He said,

"The reason why I'm here is that I have met you guys!"

I pray that Alex will break through to Jesus, and I hope that our paths will cross once again.