"Major Demonstrations of My Faithfulness Are Upon You!" Lana Vawser,

      This article by Lana Vawser, sent by the Elijah List today, is just what I needed to hear this morning--actually what I was praying about!  Don't you love it when God lets you know He is listening and answering your prayers?

"Major Demonstrations of My Faithfulness Are Upon You!"

Lana Vawser, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

     For many months the Lord has been speaking to me about His faithfulness being demonstrated powerfully in the Body of Christ in this new era. The way He is demonstrating His faithfulness is going to heal hearts, strengthen many people in the Body of Christ, and restore joy to the ones who have lost it.

     "But you, O Lord, your mercy-seat love is limitless, reaching higher than the highest heavens. Your great faithfulness is infinite, stretching over the whole earth." (Psalm 36:5 TPT)

     "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds." (Psalm 36:5 ESV)

     Recently, the Lord put forerunners and pioneers heavily on my heart. There are many forerunners and pioneers in the Body of Christ who have been in such intense battles, where the fire has been so very hot. These forerunners and pioneers are "making a way," carving out the pathways that have not been walked before. 

They are walking with the Lord and following the leading of the Holy Spirit to move into unchartered territories, pave pathways that are seemingly "against the grain," and do what has "never been done before" in obedience to the Lord. They are partnering with the Spirit of God to break through hard ground, to break open ancient wells, to push through manmade structures at His leading, and to see the tidal wave of His Spirit and presence come in a new way. (Photo via flickr)

"Relentless"

     In the midst of this new era we have entered, these forerunners and pioneers have been facing battles on every front. The Lord kept using the word "relentless" as I sat with Him. They have been facing relentless opposition and attack, and much of their opposition has been from the words of man speaking against what God is doing in their lives, through their lives, and the mandate He set upon them because it "goes against the grain" and what is "expected" or defined as "normal." These are the ones who have remained faithful to the Lord and continue to move in obedience to what God has spoken to them.

     "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

     I had an encounter with the Lord where I saw that the heart of God was moved by their obedience and perseverance. I heard the Lord say: "Great is their reward, as they have not bowed to the ways of man but followed in radical obedience to My leading, My ways, My strategies and My voice."

     The Lord has been moved by the yieldedness and dedication of these forerunners and pioneers, who continue with the Lord's work and do NOT bow to anything else but what the Lord has said. They have a strong resolve within them which comes from the place of deep intimacy and love for Jesus—where it has to be HIS WAY or NO WAY at all.

New Demonstrations of His Faithfulness

     The Lord showed me the intense battles that these pioneers and forerunners have been facing. Recently, they have been fighting for their lives, yet they continue to put their hands to what the Lord has spoken and His assignment upon them. There has been a deep weariness, heaviness and discouragement that has come upon many in battle, but I heard the Lord say, "Forerunners and pioneers, major demonstrations of My faithfulness, on every front, are upon you!"

     Pioneers and forerunners, where there has been "battle" and "attack" and "opposition," on every front, the tables are turning. A shift is taking place where you shall now see major demonstrations of His faithfulness manifesting in your lives on every side. These demonstrations will be unprecedented. 

     The way He is going to demonstrate His faithfulness to you, you have never seen before. Your hearts are going to be healed in these demonstrations by the power of God, and your souls will be refreshed. You will be "bubbling over" with joy, with peace, with excitement and vision for the future.

Overnight Positioning Taking Place NOW

     Then these words surrounded me so loudly: "Forerunners and pioneers, you are about to be empowered by My Spirit in strength like you have not known before. Here come the winds of My strength and acceleration!"

     In this encounter I saw the words "INCREASE AND FAVOR" swirling around them.

Pioneers and forerunners, there is a birthing of the new thing that God is doing through what you are carrying and forerunning, and it's taking place right now (Isaiah 43:19). As this release continues to happen, you will be astonished at the level of increase and favor which will be poured upon you by the hand of God. It will totally change your life. (Photo via Unsplash)

     I heard the words, "Many have felt like they were in prison—like Joseph—caged and in such a battle, but OVERNIGHT they will be positioned into the PALACE. That overnight positioning is taking place NOW." God is restoring, increasing, redeeming and extending. The increase in the acceleration and the favor in the acceleration will be unlike anything you have experienced before.

     Many of the forerunners and pioneers feel like they have lost so much time "in the battle," but the Lord is restoring time and doing in a moment what would normally take years to do.

     The power of His Spirit is going to be shown in a moment, and it is going to increase our faith and awe in who He is. God is increasing favor upon them in extravagant ways to see His Kingdom extended, His name lifted high, and many to come to know Jesus.

     The Lord spoke again: "This major increase of favor is upon these ones right now because they will keep it about Me."

Bless Your Brothers in the Increase of Favor

     In the midst of this increase of favor, I saw "brothers" surrounding the pioneers and forerunners, and they were whispering. It reminded me of Joseph's brothers, and the words that can be spoken because of jealousy and insecurity and not knowing the Father's love.

     I then heard the words: "I HAVE PREPARED YOU AND WILL PROTECT YOU." There is a maturing that God has been developing within these forerunners and pioneers to see them respond to words of jealousy, accusation or hurtfulness with a heart of love, like Jesus.

I watched as the pioneers and forerunners, who were feeling the impact of these negative words, chose not respond in offense, in hurt or pain, but to respond in love. As they received the Father's heart for their brothers and sisters, I saw them on their faces weeping—not because of the pain, but out of the love that they felt for the very ones who were cursing them. (Photo via Unsplash)

     There was strength found in the blessing of those who were cursing them. They were motivated by His heart; a heart of forgiveness, blessing and reconciliation. I then heard the words: "In the blessing of those who curse you, some of your greatest enemies will become your greatest friends." Such an incredible sense surrounded me of the powerful, transforming, miraculous move of His Spirit to completely reconcile and turn things around.

     "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44 ESV)

Breaking Battles in the Mind

     I heard the Lord say that there has been an intense battle of the mind upon the pioneers and forerunners— such a torment of the mind—but it is now breaking and He is moving them into a major increase of wisdom and discernment. There is a significant increase upon them for discerning the Lord's voice from the voice of the enemy.

     If that's you, the Lord is taking you deeper into the library of Heaven to reveal more strategies to you for this new era. He is going to release to you SPECIFIC wisdom on how to implement His strategies and how to steward them. The wisdom of God that He is releasing is SO weighty and SO precious. Be sure to treat it with care and steward it well with your obedience. 

     Do not move forward with halfhearted obedience but give your all to HIS WAYS. The Lord showed me that FEAR OF MAN is something that could cause halfhearted obedience as others come playing "devil's advocate."

     I felt the Lord saying to keep your head between your knees in the place of intercession and focus on what HE is speaking. You have the deep resolve within you to follow the Lord's command, and that is clear by the journey you have walked, but do not allow things that "glitter" or the temptation of what looks like "greater influence" in the natural to sway you from the Lord's words in this increase of favor. You know His voice, you know His way.

A Change of Tactics

     I felt the Lord saying that, for many of you, the enemy is changing his tactics. Previously he has come to you with fear and intimidation, weariness and torment of the mind to cause you to "give up," but that hasn't worked. The Lord showed me that he will now try to lure you with things that sparkle or glitter that aren't "bad in nature," but just not what the Lord is breathing on. The enemy will attempt to bring confusion to hinder the acceleration. 

     It's important to stay focused, be wise with whom you share and what you share, and move in the wisdom and discernment of the Lord, for that is where you will find great clarity and protection. Just like Jesus did, when the enemy attempted to tempt Him on the rooftop (Matthew 4) by offering Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would compromise, USE THE WORD OF GOD. Use what God is speaking and where He is leading you as your weapon.

God is also going to send you forth with such specific, heavenly wisdom for others. He will position you to release this wisdom to the people He connects you with, who will bring significant change to the areas of culture they have influence in. The Daniels truly are arising. (Photo via Unsplash)

     God's Royal Flush of Victory

     The shift that is upon you right now is the greatest shift and birthing of your life. This is why the battle has been so intense, but there is a royal flush of His victory that is already yours in Christ, manifesting powerfully in your life to position you in ways you have never been positioned in, to do what you have never done, and go where you never thought you could go. You will RUN, RUN, RUN with Him, and your body will be healed, strengthened and empowered with divine endurance.

     This is your season of fulfillment in your destiny—to see the name of Jesus lifted high and His glory spread all over the earth, with many coming to know Him. 

     The battle in the dark night has shifted and the sun is rising upon you. It's a new day of adventuring, exploring, building and running empowered by the Spirit of God like never before. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Lana Vawser
Lana Vawser Ministries
Email: info@lanavawser.com
Website: www.lanavawser.com

Our 5th Redneck Pool Party

Saturday was the fifth annual Redneck Pool Party at Linn Park sponsored by Martinsville on the Move.  It is so much work, but once the kids come and we see how much fun they are having it seems worth it.  

Bubbles were a big hit with young and old alike!

The 80 foot slip and slide is always popular!

The pinaqua is a fun way to get wet!

Even the little pools were popular!

We made two pools out of straw bales and leftover tarp from the Littlejohn Grain corn pile--one was one straw bale high.  The other was two straw bales high.  Both were well-used.

And of course, Battle Creek's music totally fit the occasion and added to the fun!

We-Li-Kit Ice Cream was a great addition!

      At 8:00 p.m. it was difficult getting the kids out of the pools so we could drain them.  Several children came to tell us thank you for a fun evening.  

 

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7: "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!"

Today as I prayed for those young people who are on my heart--those who are making bad decisions,  some are experimenting with drugs and sex, some are rebellious and disrespectful, saying hateful things to others--I was thinking how much regret they will have some day.  I believe God will redeem these who are blinded by the things of this world.  I have no doubt our prayers will be answered, but I also believe they will be sorry and regret the things they have done.  It is often so difficult to forgive ourselves. 

Anyway, as my thoughts were tracking along these lines I thought of Paul.  Could that be the thorn in the flesh he speaks about?  How could he ever forget the people he persecuted and killed?  Wouldn't the devil torment him whenever possible with thoughts of regret and sorrow?  Wouldn't that always be a reminder of how far he had come?  It certainly would keep him from exalting himself, don't you think?

So maybe these I'm praying for will feel regret, but God, who says He works all things together for our good, will certainly use it to keep their eyes focused on Him when they finally see Him.

Revelation, Ponderings and New Ideas

       The past few weeks I have been listening to (watching) some speakers, many of whom would be called "far out."  I guess that's one reason I am enjoying them.  I love listening to, talking with, and thinking about ideas that are bigger than I'm used to thinking.  YouTube videos I've watched lately include those by Kevin Zadai, Jeanette Strauss, Robert Madu, Mary Hasz, Bill Johnson, Becca Greenwood, Kenneth Hagin, Kat Kerr, Kathryn Kuhlman, and Todd White.  It is amazing that even though these approach  the topic from different angles, one of their major themes is knowing our identity so that we can let go of the hindrances (sins) we've held on to for so long in order to get about the business God sent us here to do--destroying the works of the devil as we bring God's kingdom to earth.
       Yesterday, as I was baking cookies to sell at the concessions stand at our events at Linn Park, I was listening to Kat Kerr.  She always has some mind blowing things to say so I would recommend you checking her out.  (She has pink hair which is a little off-putting, but which she says God asked her to wear, so she does.  This, along with some of the things she says, could be a stumbling block for some of us.  I choose to accept them because as I've listened, she appears to be very sincere and scriptural--and as I said, talks about mind-blowing ideas!)  She insisted quite some time before Donald Trump was elected that during one of the times she was taken to Heaven God told her he would be president. She also says he will be elected for a second term, Mike Pence will serve 2 terms after that, and whoever he chooses will serve 2 terms after that because God has always had a plan for the U.S. to be a prototype for other country's to model leadership after.  She says America will be greater than it's ever been because God will use Donald Trump to cleanup the corruption and get us back on track.  I love to hear encouraging news like that!
      Anyway, yesterday as I was listening she was talking about the soul, which has interested me significantly the past couple of years.  I have been learning/teaching on Integrated Healing and how we must rid ourselves of the sin that has entangled us--things like unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger, hatred, rejection, shame, guilt, undgodly soul ties, etc. because they are often the very things that are keeping us sick.  She was talking on the verse in 3 John 1:2, "Beloved I pray that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."  One of her points was that we often leave out the last part of the verse and only pray for prosperity and health without realizing it is our soul that is hindering the answers to our prayers.  She said, "Lets turn it around so we can understand it better: As your soul prospers you will prosper and be in health because it is the things we allow in our souls that determines the outcome."
     She applied Matthew 18:18:  “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  She says we need to loose those things from our soul that have hindered us and bind to our soul the things of God, such as peace, joy, love, etc. that we need instead.  We speak these--declare them--an interesting concept which I am meditating on.  It is a different way of looking at what we are already doing through prayer in Integrated Healing.  We actually are loosing people from those things when we pray.  Maybe this idea can be applied to what we already do.
    Another thing she said when talking about the fact we are spirit, soul and body is that we feed our spirit--some of us only once a week when we go to church; we feed our body three times a day (or more with snacks) but our soul is being fed 24 hours a day by what we listen to, who we relate to, and especailly what we think about.  Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor what we are allowing to influence us in our daily walk.
     I must get to work.  Today I had planned to work at the Linn Park Gardens. There are many weeds growing in the gardens there--and in my gardens here.  Maybe while I weed them, I can also 'loose' some weeds growing in my soul.

"World-Wide Change is Here! Don't Sit by the Sidelines...Do Something!" Johnny Enlow

I always enjoy and am encouraged by Johnny Enlow's words.  So, too, with this one:

"World-Wide Change is Here! Don't Sit by the Sidelines...Do Something!"  Johnny Enlow, Nashville, TN

The whole world is changing right before our eyes. Multi-generational darkness is being confronted, exposed and judged. God is using many Kingdom players as catalysts, but it is HE Himself who is invading our world in a strategic cloud of glory. He is decimating the cloud of darkness that has been covering our planet. A veil of deceit is being penetrated and demolished and it will shortly lead to a tsunami of promises fulfilled. God Himself is ambushing the atmosphere with restorative hope and suffocating hopelessness.

If you have any Kingdom pulse at all, it will shortly be very difficult to stay heartsick in hopelessness. God is overwhelming our adversaries as we remain "Kingdom first" people, and rewards for persevering in faith are incoming and greater than most of us imagined.

Watch California

In the United States—watch California as a marker and proof of God's forceful intervention. This beyond-crucial state has been targeted and mined by high-level darkness for some time. Darkness thought it owned California. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this will be shouted from the mountaintops.

The recent earthquakes are NOT a sign of judgment on California, but a demand from the earth and creation itself for God to intervene. God is loudly responding to the groans of His creation, and much of this will be almost immediate.

California will be flipped to red not because God is Republican, but because blue has partnered with darkness in that state. God has been mocked by the blue and God's little ones have been harmed by the blue. The blue has posed as a sheep while being a ravaging wolf. Exposure of the blue wolves will be dramatic.

Fear Not, Little Children – "Do Something"

God says to us all, "Fear not little children, it is My good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." In this balance of what He does versus what we do, it is a time for Kingdom activism. HE will do the "heavy lifting" but He bids us to join in. Do not sit on the sidelines in passivity or hopelessness. It is time to do something.

Unite and do something, especially on the mountain of government and on behalf of families. Write your senators and congressmen. Go to city council meetings. Meet with police chiefs and mayors. Let them know you are there.

Somebody eliminate web porn which is the feeder for so much of the sex-trafficking. If pro-life messaging can be suppressed from the internet so can porn. Yes, oppose abortion, but also fight the other justice causes.

This is a time for war that will precede a time for peace. It is still all about love—but love is never passive. Do it all in the context of "we are winning" versus out of panic. We don't fight battles He is not involved with. In this fight, He is not only involved with us, He is way ahead of us. He is wiping clean the tops of the 7 mountains as we finally have a vision to show up there. He has created "the perfect storm," but it is against the enemy.

Every wave He is sending will be followed by a greater wave. The enemy will survive a wave, thinking he have outlasted God, but then a more potent wave will come his way. The Lord is doing this, but WE are to join in. We are in historical days and future generations will point to the shift of these days.

Let it not be said that you watched from the sidelines. Your little "Gideon activity" could turn into the rout of a big enemy. God is with us, so arise and shine.

Johnny Enlow
Johnny and Elizabeth
Email: Contact@JohnnyandElizabeth.com
Website:www.RESTORE7.org

Destructive Raccoons

This is what I woke up to this morning.  I despise raccoons!!  Anyone who thinks they are cute should live in the woods with them a few days.  They have dug holes in my mulch, dug up plants, destroyed plant containers and wash their food in the cat's water every night so it is a bowl of mud each morning!  Disgusting!

Between them destroying everything they can find and the deer eating all the buds off my day lilies and the leaves of my hydrangeas and hosta, gardening is not much fun anymore.  With all this and the addition of nonstop rain this year which has encouraged weeds it has been quite discouraging!

I can't seem to give up though because I love all the beauty!

"Here is the Key to Overcome Spiritual Warfare" Darren Canning, Ontario, Canada

This excellent article by Darren Canning was posted on the Elijah List today.  It reminds us our battle is not with flesh and blood.  We are always at war but seldom remember who we are fighting when we are in the throes of battle.  I highlighted the paragraph that particularly spoke to me today.

"Here is the Key to Overcome Spiritual Warfare"

Darren Canning, Ontario, Canada

I have noticed, what I believe to be, an unfortunate occurrence in the Church: there are many Christians who are weak and need maturing in the Body of Christ. Many of the Believers that I meet have been in the Church for many years and instead of being people who are moving along in their faith, praying for others, they are still looking for others to pray for them.

Now, I am not saying that a sign of weakness is having people pray for you because I have people pray for me everyday, but I believe that we need to be mature in Christ and become more effective in the ministry. We must become mature sons and daughters who work the harvest field for Christ. We must be more outwardly focused than inwardly focused.

I think that many Christians just don't understand spiritual warfare. Many Christians get tied up in human debate. Some even want to fight people with their fists! There is so much of that in the world today. (The political fights that are occurring in the world around us are particularly nauseating.) People speak against each other as if they aren't people at all. There is no respect for one another.

If you have a negative attitude toward others and this is constant, then I would argue that you are not doing well spiritually. Every time you look at someone you know and you think they are the enemy, you are not assessing the battle correctly. Our warfare is spiritual and we must begin to handle it differently. (Photo via Unsplash)

We war in the spirit by doing what God calls us to do. If it is to love someone who is hard to love then that's warfare. If it is to host strangers even when it is uncomfortable then that's warfare. If it is to prophesy but that makes you uncomfortable then again, this is warfare! If it is to worship and sing in the face of your depression and anxiety then this is your warfare. If it is to sit with the humble when you would rather sit with the well-known, that can be warfare too. We must pick up our cross and follow Christ. We must lay down our lives and respond in the opposite spirit than what others are responding in.

Despite All These Things, Victory is Ours

There are times when you will step out in faith but all Hell breaks loose. Perhaps someone might get sick, your car may break down, your dog might get hurt, or your money might disappear. I have seen all of these things happen. But if you will do what is in your heart to do anyway, there will be breakthrough. You will conquer in the name of Jesus.

I think many Christians do not realize that there is a war occurring in the spirit realm. When you spend half your time getting upset about the difficulties you face and the people that are causing them, instead of facing those problems, then you aren't doing well in the war.

I don't know what you are facing but I do know it is real. I have been through many battles. Some I do well in and some I don't do so well. I just keep seeking the Lord. I ask Him to mold me into His image. I want His Spirit to be so strong inside of me that my responses are godly. I am not always godly, but there is grace. His grace will help us to come to a new place in the spirit. Pray that He will help you to overcome this world as Jesus has overcome this world. He will if you ask Him.

After Everything, Stand

Stand up today and declare victory in Jesus. You shall be fine but you have to stand. As Paul said in Ephesians, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Eph. 6:13).

We just have to continue to stand and be faithful with the knowledge we have and God will do the rest. He will make a way for you when you don't know what to do. Are you struggling with human relationships? Are the people around you so difficult that you don't know what to do? God still knows what to do. Pray and ask Him for a way out. He will make a way. That is the way He is. Every time I pray to Him He makes a way.

Are you struggling with your finances? Is it so bad that you worry about tomorrow?  Ask Jesus to help you and He will make a way for you. I have gone through everything you can imagine financially but not only has God broken open the path for me, but He has also blessed my life abundantly. We must war in the face of lack and believe that God is going to bless us, even when it doesn't look like it. Ask Him for a strategy and don't give up. Your breakthrough will come. (Photo via Pixabay)

Are you worried about a loved one who seems to be dying or who seems to be far away from Jesus? Then ask the Lord to give you a vision. Ask Him to speak His word deep into your heart. He will speak and your problems will seem a lot smaller. As we seek Him, then we shall find Him, but we must seek Him with our entire hearts.

This World Doesn't Hold God Down

This is really the key to warfare: It is intimacy with the Father. It is asking Him for His perspective on all your circumstances. As you seek Him you will overcome, because there is nothing that He hasn't overcome. This world doesn't hold our God down. There is nothing a person can face that God can't make right. He is the healer, deliverer, provider, nurturer, overcomer, and warrior. He will war on your behalf. You don't have to fight for yourself. You just have to believe and stand.

God is good and His mercy endures forever. Trust Him today and your battles will seem small. Goliath was a giant, but David didn't war with him by his own strength. He overcame Goliath by the word of the Lord and the Lord guided the stone straight into Goliath's head. Your giants may seem invincible, but nothing is stronger than our God.

We live in a time when the world seems stronger and more empathetic than the Church toward people in our world. We are called bigots for our lack of compassion toward people who live differently than ourselves. It seems that the Word of God is under attack like never before, but our God is stronger and He will change things. Things will shift in the seasons ahead. The world is not as strong as our God. At some point they will bend with the wind. Just trust and watch what God will do. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Darren Canning
Darren Canning Ministries
Email: darrencanning78@gmail.com
Website: www.darrencanning.com

"Keep Your Eyes on the Sky This 4th of July!"Hank Kunneman, Omaha, NE

Notice the dates of these prophetic words that were recently sent through the Elijah List.  Amazing, isn't it?

"Keep Your Eyes on the Sky This 4th of July!"Hank Kunneman, Omaha, NE

Prophecy: March 3, 2019

I see the 4th of July. Something is happening this 4th of July. Heaven is about to come down on this 4th of July. There is a major shift coming this 4th of July! A convergence of Heaven touching this nation.

"The sound has touched the heart as I have spoken of your president," says the Lord. "And it is a sound in his heart to bring an honor to this nation, but to also bring an honor to the God of this nation. Therefore, watch your 4th of July. There shall be a gathering; there shall be a call this 4th of July, 'Come and gather.' Do not think this is a small, insignificant thing for with the call to gather, it is part of My plan to unite this nation." (Photo via Unsplash)

Prophecy: May 26, 2019

Your nation is being set free; therefore, in the summer of light, watch what is declassified. Watch what comes to the light. And when you see your fireworks, this is a sign of spiritual forces being broken, being thrown from their lofty place. It shall, for a season, create chaos, and this will seem like your summer, but do not look at the chaos! Do not look at the heat by way of the natural and heat of violence. Keep your eyes upon the sky! Look to the sign of the light and what breaks forth in your expression this 4th of July.

Hank Kunneman
One Voice Ministries
Email: hankandbrenda@ovm.org
Website: www.hankandbrenda.org

If you are confused and disappointed in the information coming from politicians and the news media, you may find Dr. James Dobson's July Newsletter describing his visit to the border helpful.

Dr. Dobson's July Newsletter

Dear Friends,Several weeks ago, I was invited by White House staff to visit our southern border at McAllen, Texas, where federal agents are struggling to deal with a massive influx of poor and destitute human beings. They come in never-ending waves. Please believe me when I tell you that the media and leftist politicians have not been truthful about what is going on there. It is a human tragedy.

I promised the exhausted U.S. Custom and Border Patrol agents that I would go home and tell as many people as possible what I had seen "up close and personal." Today, I am attempting to fulfill that commitment.

Approximately 5,500 people show up every day in districts organized along our southern U.S. border. McAllen is the site of only one of them, but it is the busiest and most besieged. The "refugees" arrive exhausted and ragged from walking hundreds of miles. Among them are large numbers of children, many of whom are unaccompanied by a caring adult. Last year, 382,000 aliens were apprehended for illegally crossing into this country and almost 100,000 of them were minors. Some of the kids have been abused along the way. Many of them carry lice, scabies or other diseases. Currently, the facility I visited is experiencing a flu epidemic, and there are no additional beds on which to lie. Some of the women have been raped. More than 70 people of all ages are sent to local hospitals daily along the southern border. Doctors and medical staff are overwhelmed by their patient load. Remember that word, "overwhelmed." It describes every aspect of the effort to deal with the situation there.

The most heart-wrenching experience occurred during our tour of the holding area. It is a huge gym-like building consisting of dozens of fenced-in areas. Each one is crowded with detainees standing or sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on benches. They stared out at us with plaintive eyes.

I noticed that almost none of them were talking to each other. The children looked traumatized and frightened. Tears flooded my eyes as I stood before them. They had no toys or dolls, except for a few items bought by compassionate border patrol agents. One tiny little girl clutched something that resembled a doll bought for her by an agent. There are few provisions made to accommodate the children. The week before we were there, a delegation of agents went to meet with members of Congress, and begged them for additional money to buy Pampers, toothbrushes, and other necessities. They were turned down flat. These meager supplies have to be purchased with the border patrol budget, which is stretched to the limit.

I then walked up to a fenced area holding many skinny young men. 

Continue reading here.