The first
day the students got grounded in scripture, learned the ropes of how to live at
the church in an authentic community, spent time praying for God to work this
week, and learned how to Cross the Line and get over the Xenophobia. Xenophobia also set up the verse around the
theme of Matthew 25:40 “And the King will reply, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me.” As I gave that message, I was reminded that
we are not called to serve the poor as a prescription for how to be in a right
relationship with God, but instead that we should serve the poor to show that
we are followers of Jesus. It’s not that
we are reaching the poor, but that God is using us as a channel of blessing for
them, and in the meantime we are being changed and blessed.
Day two:
After serving in six different locations in groups we took time to think about
what we had learned, heard, and did during the day. One student mentioned the importance of
finding God in what we were doing. You see,
many of our tasks are not glamorous, but they are necessary. From painting and cleaning to help out
churches and non-profits better accomplish their mission, to playing bingo with
elderly. But if you start singing a hymn
while vacuuming, or you put yourself in the mindset of a SERVANT, it can make a
difference. The conversations students
have while painting, cleaning, or peeling potatoes are a reminder that others
are listening to us and the depth of conversation can draw people closer
together. One gentleman even stated that
while eating lunch and chatting that the students helped restore his faith in
our generation. Dinner gave a chance to
hear from one of the local pastors about his Acts 2 church, not that he was the
speaker for the night, but everyone ended up listening into that conversation
as we ate. Then our faculty advisor
reminded us that humility doesn’t come when we classify people, by their
attitude, job, or attire. God loves us
regardless of our circumstances and nothing we can do can change that. So if he doesn’t classify us or judge us, why
should we think some people are better than others?
Day Three: My favorite comment was a story of how one
student used her time painting a bedroom to pray for the women and children who
would class that room home. This homeless
shelter needed to be prepared before it could open and an extra four people a
day helps that goal be achieved. Another
student had her schedule adjusted so she could return to the same nursing home
to see one of the residents she had really connected with…her excitement was
contagious as she asked the head coordinator for a switch.
My favorite parts of the service trip are watching the
students step up in leadership to plan and run the trip, to see their comfort
zones growing through the new experiences, and also to see the connections being
made between the community members and the students. Yesterday at a potluck dinner hosted by my
home church, I was able to listen in on some of the conversations as the
students sat with 3-4 church members and with the core of the youth group
teens. These chances for the important
parts of my own life to meet each other and share their stories is what the
partnership with InterVarsity means.
This trip could not be done without the gracious partners we have in the
ministry who financially and prayerfully provide support and who help by
providing dinners and other in-kind donations for us.
Day four is just beginning and students took some time
before their service locations to write prison letters, read their morning
devotional from Luke 10, and to write in each other’s Appreciation
journals.
Stay tuned for stories from the students.
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