So, this week I experienced a wide variety of emotions. I had a great group and found myself feeling at home with the people I was serving with. I could identify with their backgrounds, their music, humor, and saw in them a desire to follow the Lord which was exciting.
However, I also experienced a taste of fear. A couple of girls did not meet back on time at a ministry site long enough that I had to take action and organized a search for them. At a housing project where we ran an outdoor children's ministry, we heard loud bangs and were told to send the kids home and leave. During my last day with the children there were a couple of fights that broke out and I saw the most intense anger I have ever seen in the eyes of a young boy. It surprised me, scared me, and moved me to tears on the spot. To top it off, there was a man who approached our housing site that night and told us that he had been sleeping outside of our church for a couple of nights, causing us to call the police as a precautionary measure.
I experienced a heavy sort of helplessness and fear this week. I am not used to being afraid and so when these experiences became real life to me I have been forced to take a step back and process the events.
Right now, I am convinced of several things. However, I know that there is more to unpack from this.
One - the devil is active and moving in this world. My amazing group experienced a lot of trials and tribulations that I would contribute to the devil's attempt to throw up barriers and discouragement from ministry. Our housing site has had many problems that have threatened the stability and peace of our staff and groups.
Two - God provides and he sustains. I received a sense of peace through the chaos and saw the Lord's hand throughout my fear. I was forced to call out to him in a very real sense and I was answered many times this week. He gives calm when calm is required and tells us to move when we need to move.
Three - God gives rest. Today I woke up early, had very little sleep, but had such a wonderful day of sabbath. I spoke with my family, explored some vintage shops in DC and had a wonderful mexican meal after getting caught in a summer rain with some friends. I returned back, got changed into dry clothes and am now relaxing without anywhere I need to be.
This week has been more real and more rewarding then many of the weeks so far. As I get to know people better at ministry sites and as I get to care more about the city, the fears and problems become my own. I am thankful for this experience and the way it is awakening a desire to care for people and a new sense of living in reality.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Gleaning
So I am not even sure where to begin in this quick blog post for all of my faithful fans. :) I will leave you with two thoughts.
Thought 1.
These past couple of weeks I have seen a variety of groups from urban, suburban, and rural backgrounds. I have had wonderful leaders that I clicked with instantly and leaders where I felt I needed to prove myself to them. I have been learning the importance of understanding each other when dealing with those relationships in particular. People, regardless of where they are now, have stories to tell and priorities in their life which influence each step they take. Over my past couple of weeks, I have been challenged to seek understanding and learn what people love and care about. The more we can understand, the more barriers break down. Anyway, as cryptic as that may all be, I leave you with a simple conclusion. Never write people off. We are all mostly the same I think. It just takes more time to get to know and appreciate some people then others.
Thought 2.
Today, I gleaned. I went to a corn field and picked up the corn that the farmers had left. We donated the corn to a food pantry. It was beautiful. I enjoyed the time in the field, the time in the sun and the idea that we were picking 1,000 pounds of corn for people in the city who are so far from available health food. The unavailability of fresh fruit and produce to a population is known as a "food desert" - a major problem in DC. In the Southeast, the quadrant didn't have a grocery store up until only a couple of years ago. Imagine not having easy access to food beyond a corner store or carryout restaurant. Today gave me breath and the energy to carry on. Sunshine and hard work can be a wonderful combination.
Praise God for sustaining me and continuing to teach and bless me.
Thought 1.
These past couple of weeks I have seen a variety of groups from urban, suburban, and rural backgrounds. I have had wonderful leaders that I clicked with instantly and leaders where I felt I needed to prove myself to them. I have been learning the importance of understanding each other when dealing with those relationships in particular. People, regardless of where they are now, have stories to tell and priorities in their life which influence each step they take. Over my past couple of weeks, I have been challenged to seek understanding and learn what people love and care about. The more we can understand, the more barriers break down. Anyway, as cryptic as that may all be, I leave you with a simple conclusion. Never write people off. We are all mostly the same I think. It just takes more time to get to know and appreciate some people then others.
Thought 2.
Today, I gleaned. I went to a corn field and picked up the corn that the farmers had left. We donated the corn to a food pantry. It was beautiful. I enjoyed the time in the field, the time in the sun and the idea that we were picking 1,000 pounds of corn for people in the city who are so far from available health food. The unavailability of fresh fruit and produce to a population is known as a "food desert" - a major problem in DC. In the Southeast, the quadrant didn't have a grocery store up until only a couple of years ago. Imagine not having easy access to food beyond a corner store or carryout restaurant. Today gave me breath and the energy to carry on. Sunshine and hard work can be a wonderful combination.
Praise God for sustaining me and continuing to teach and bless me.
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