DC update
Dear Friends and Fam!
Thank you for the many blessings that you have poured upon me, whether it is through prayer or financial support. Because of you, I have been able to be in DC for the last seven weeks. I am still processing through my experiences, but the Lord has been good and has blessed me with lots to think about.
During the first week of ministry, second week in DC (the first week of the program involved training and orientation), our team served at Emmanuel Baptist teaching vacation bible school. I worked with first and second graders. Imagine a classroom of 20 six, seven, and eight year olds each clamoring for your attention. Whether due to lack of affection at home or at the daycare providers, these kids cried out for attention and physical touch. Nearly all the kids were dropped off by a daycare provider or lived across the street. Most have lost their father, due to jail, death, or abandonment.
I fell in love several times that week, Clayton’s smile, Elijah’s beautiful laugh, Dwayne’s boundless energy. Nothing could compare to the love they poured upon me. Looking into their eyes reminded me of what Jesus meant when he ask us to love him like a child. All they wanted everyday was simply to be hugged - simply to be around someone who cared about them. It was a simple love, no conditions or attachments. They did not need to know the reasons why I loved them, they did need to understand the theological implications of why I was there to serve them, they simply desired to be in my presence. No, I am not God but they gave me this love anyway. A child was able to give someone so undeserving of their love but I was unable to give a perfect God the same love.
The ministry site that had the greatest impact on me was CCNV (the community center for non-violence). CCNV is the largest homeless shelter in the nation - housing more than 1300 people. For lack of a better way to say it, the Lord is good. It never ceases to amaze me how those that seemingly have “nothing” have so much more than I have ever had. We spent a considerable amount of time on the senior men’s floor. Even after our time at CCNV was concluded, we came back every chance we got. I met Larry at CCNV. He poured life into me and gave me the credit of being “a breeze of fresh air” to him. All I did was simply listen to him. He restored my faith and trust in God and the Lord used me to refresh him. It is hard to explain the depth of faith, and trust in the Lord some of these men have - to have nothing yet still declare that Jesus is good and he has kept me. The poor are not necessarily so poor. They are far more humane than the people that walk pass them every day, the ones that ignore even their basic humanity, the ones that look upon them with contempt and judgment, yes even the benevolent handouts that strip their dignity does not cut it. It is not benevolence that is needed; they are our brothers and sisters and should be treated as such.
Quick praises - the Lord gave me the blessing of being able to lead three child into accepting Christ, to restore hope into Ernest (a man that had just left prison), to express his love to countless number of children, to serve the DC women on project, to give back dignity to those whose dignity have been stripped by this world and for the work that he has done in me.
Prayers - I’m going to be in Compton next week. Pray that I will be able to trust him especially in terms of my financial needs for the coming year. I’m incredibly in debt with school, credit cards, and rent. Not sure where any of that’s going to be coming from. But he has led me to be in Compton for how ever many days he intend for me to be there (and has provided for me to be there even though I said no). Pray for me to be able to pay my bills, and especially a job when I get back to Portland and of course safety in travel. I’ll probably be in Compton from the 5th to maybe the 10 or 11 … perhaps longer or shorter depending on what he tell me. Lots of love and thank you sooooo much for the countless blessings you have bestowed upon me and serving with me in the things the Lord has allowed me to do this summer. More to come as I go to Compton and continue to process through DC.
Thank you for the many blessings that you have poured upon me, whether it is through prayer or financial support. Because of you, I have been able to be in DC for the last seven weeks. I am still processing through my experiences, but the Lord has been good and has blessed me with lots to think about.
During the first week of ministry, second week in DC (the first week of the program involved training and orientation), our team served at Emmanuel Baptist teaching vacation bible school. I worked with first and second graders. Imagine a classroom of 20 six, seven, and eight year olds each clamoring for your attention. Whether due to lack of affection at home or at the daycare providers, these kids cried out for attention and physical touch. Nearly all the kids were dropped off by a daycare provider or lived across the street. Most have lost their father, due to jail, death, or abandonment.
I fell in love several times that week, Clayton’s smile, Elijah’s beautiful laugh, Dwayne’s boundless energy. Nothing could compare to the love they poured upon me. Looking into their eyes reminded me of what Jesus meant when he ask us to love him like a child. All they wanted everyday was simply to be hugged - simply to be around someone who cared about them. It was a simple love, no conditions or attachments. They did not need to know the reasons why I loved them, they did need to understand the theological implications of why I was there to serve them, they simply desired to be in my presence. No, I am not God but they gave me this love anyway. A child was able to give someone so undeserving of their love but I was unable to give a perfect God the same love.
The ministry site that had the greatest impact on me was CCNV (the community center for non-violence). CCNV is the largest homeless shelter in the nation - housing more than 1300 people. For lack of a better way to say it, the Lord is good. It never ceases to amaze me how those that seemingly have “nothing” have so much more than I have ever had. We spent a considerable amount of time on the senior men’s floor. Even after our time at CCNV was concluded, we came back every chance we got. I met Larry at CCNV. He poured life into me and gave me the credit of being “a breeze of fresh air” to him. All I did was simply listen to him. He restored my faith and trust in God and the Lord used me to refresh him. It is hard to explain the depth of faith, and trust in the Lord some of these men have - to have nothing yet still declare that Jesus is good and he has kept me. The poor are not necessarily so poor. They are far more humane than the people that walk pass them every day, the ones that ignore even their basic humanity, the ones that look upon them with contempt and judgment, yes even the benevolent handouts that strip their dignity does not cut it. It is not benevolence that is needed; they are our brothers and sisters and should be treated as such.
Quick praises - the Lord gave me the blessing of being able to lead three child into accepting Christ, to restore hope into Ernest (a man that had just left prison), to express his love to countless number of children, to serve the DC women on project, to give back dignity to those whose dignity have been stripped by this world and for the work that he has done in me.
Prayers - I’m going to be in Compton next week. Pray that I will be able to trust him especially in terms of my financial needs for the coming year. I’m incredibly in debt with school, credit cards, and rent. Not sure where any of that’s going to be coming from. But he has led me to be in Compton for how ever many days he intend for me to be there (and has provided for me to be there even though I said no). Pray for me to be able to pay my bills, and especially a job when I get back to Portland and of course safety in travel. I’ll probably be in Compton from the 5th to maybe the 10 or 11 … perhaps longer or shorter depending on what he tell me. Lots of love and thank you sooooo much for the countless blessings you have bestowed upon me and serving with me in the things the Lord has allowed me to do this summer. More to come as I go to Compton and continue to process through DC.