One more day is over, we are tired but encouraged by how much the Lord has touched lives both on our team and in the people of San Diego. We are all excited to head home tomorrow and tell you all about it! One more time, here are some reflections of a student.
This is my third time attending ZOOM, and it has definitely been my favorite so far. San Diego; beach, buildings, and the scorching hot sun beaming down on all of us. Now I don't know about the others, but I came into this trip with a certain mindset: this can't move me or connect me with god as well as the past years did. But of course, It was quite the opposite. This trip's theme was overcoming the so called "Fear of Man." This, as explained and demonstrated in the bible, is basically fear of being rejected, embarrassed, and flat out losing everything, including your dignity. This is a fear we all share as humans, whether we choose to admit it or deny it. But with this fear comes cravings. Cravings for comfort, for food, for friends, and for that new Flat Screen TV.
This trip exposed the "Fear of Man" in almost all of us. Our first task was to visit the poor residents of two hotels, the Plaza and the Dustin Arms Hotel. These two hotels share one Job: To take the homeless, alcoholics, and drug addicts off the street, and give them a home and a nice warm bed. Our job was to split up into six groups, and cover all of the apartments in the buildings, providing them with Vitamin waters, tickets for free meals, and an invitation to an Easter service here at the Horizon Park Chapel. This required us to knock on random doors and talk to strangers. This exposed our "Fear of Man," because it was hard for all of us to rap our knuckles on a door with the fear of rejection.
-Kurt Songer
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday has come and gone...
Today was another beautiful day in San Diego... despite the weather person's ominous prediction of rain and cool weather, today remained dry and mild. The day started with breakfast, worship, devotional time and then distributing lunch and beverages to many of the homeless men and women living on the streets in the surrounding neighborhoods. It is a sight to see how so many kids, meek and scared just yesterday, are now eagerly engaging in the Lord's work to bring compassion and care to those who need it most. Once again... who better to describe how God is showing up than one of our kids.
There is this man named George, and he is living at the corner of a street called "Broadway". I felt like for some reason God wanted me to go meet this man and to talk to him, so me and Brooke went over to him and I offered him some water, instead of just one bottle I gave him two. I asked him how his day was going and he said that he was having a bad day, so i asked him "why is that" so he starts to talk about how many surgeries he went through, and how he was in some pain because he got shoulder surgery a couple days ago, and it was painful for him to sit on the ground all day, then when he would have to get up to use the bathroom or something his hands would be in so much pain because he would put support on them so that he would not damage his shoulder. so I was thinking "wow this man has been through alot and now I understand why God wanted me to talk to him" I prayed for this man and after I did, I felt really relived to know that I had gotten the chance to pray for George because he really needed it.
-Samantha Van Dyke
There is this man named George, and he is living at the corner of a street called "Broadway". I felt like for some reason God wanted me to go meet this man and to talk to him, so me and Brooke went over to him and I offered him some water, instead of just one bottle I gave him two. I asked him how his day was going and he said that he was having a bad day, so i asked him "why is that" so he starts to talk about how many surgeries he went through, and how he was in some pain because he got shoulder surgery a couple days ago, and it was painful for him to sit on the ground all day, then when he would have to get up to use the bathroom or something his hands would be in so much pain because he would put support on them so that he would not damage his shoulder. so I was thinking "wow this man has been through alot and now I understand why God wanted me to talk to him" I prayed for this man and after I did, I felt really relived to know that I had gotten the chance to pray for George because he really needed it.
-Samantha Van Dyke
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Day Two - The Streets of San Diego
Howdy Parents!
Our first full day of ministry has been FANTASTIC (and I know all the leaders are just glad to not be driving anymore!). We have spent the first part of the day visiting low income hotels and knocking on doors to offer the residents Vitamin Water and an invitation to a Bible Study and dinner tonight. Door-to-door evangelism. It's scary but powerful and the Lord has been at work with us today... and I figure there is no one better to tell you about it than a few of our very own students. (You can also see more picks at www.shorttermtrips.org, click on "trip blogs" at the top... or on Eleanor Isenhours facebook page!)
We started the day with some clean up. Although we did not see anyone, we could tell that there were people living there because some of the things we found consisted of pants, jackets, and lots of socks. I was amazed at how much dirt was on the sidewalk. When I finished sweeping with about four dustpans full of dirt the sidewalk was white, but before we started, it was brownish gray.
After lunch we visited two low income hotels. We went door to door giving out Vitamin Water and invitations to various events. At first we were terrified just to knock on the door, but as we began to talk to people our confidence grew. Some people received us very well and wanted to share and pray with us. This was very encouraging, but even most of the people who did not want to talk or pray were still pretty welcoming.
I was struck by the hospitality that people showed and the joy that seemed to come from every person we met. I have noticed that if someone just smiles at me I am able to cheer up even when I am in a tough situation. The people we met are people and a simple smile can help them too. Though some people are ready and some are not, stories need to be shared and we were able to provide an ear to listen. Even simple things can make a difference, whether we see it or not.
Everyone seems to be doing a great job stepping out of their comfort zones. For some it is just saying a pray out loud. Others have been able to receive or even share stories. Even though people are already getting tired the overall attitude is positive. This has been a great first day of service and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.
-Susannah Ditmar
Our first full day of ministry has been FANTASTIC (and I know all the leaders are just glad to not be driving anymore!). We have spent the first part of the day visiting low income hotels and knocking on doors to offer the residents Vitamin Water and an invitation to a Bible Study and dinner tonight. Door-to-door evangelism. It's scary but powerful and the Lord has been at work with us today... and I figure there is no one better to tell you about it than a few of our very own students. (You can also see more picks at www.shorttermtrips.org, click on "trip blogs" at the top... or on Eleanor Isenhours facebook page!)
We started the day with some clean up. Although we did not see anyone, we could tell that there were people living there because some of the things we found consisted of pants, jackets, and lots of socks. I was amazed at how much dirt was on the sidewalk. When I finished sweeping with about four dustpans full of dirt the sidewalk was white, but before we started, it was brownish gray.
After lunch we visited two low income hotels. We went door to door giving out Vitamin Water and invitations to various events. At first we were terrified just to knock on the door, but as we began to talk to people our confidence grew. Some people received us very well and wanted to share and pray with us. This was very encouraging, but even most of the people who did not want to talk or pray were still pretty welcoming.
I was struck by the hospitality that people showed and the joy that seemed to come from every person we met. I have noticed that if someone just smiles at me I am able to cheer up even when I am in a tough situation. The people we met are people and a simple smile can help them too. Though some people are ready and some are not, stories need to be shared and we were able to provide an ear to listen. Even simple things can make a difference, whether we see it or not.
Everyone seems to be doing a great job stepping out of their comfort zones. For some it is just saying a pray out loud. Others have been able to receive or even share stories. Even though people are already getting tired the overall attitude is positive. This has been a great first day of service and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.
-Susannah Ditmar
Monday, March 22, 2010
And the tension mounts!
Just one short week remains until we load up and head down to San Diego. We are incredibly excited for all that awaits our students.
St. Francis of Assisi is remembered for saying that the poor were "sacramental." I know that is one of those crazy Christian words that nobody really understands, but here is the gist... a sacrament is a visual sign of an inward grace. St. Francis was saying that when you meet with the poor, you are meeting with Christ too.
And that's why we are going. 31 kids, 5 leaders, 4 vehicles and 480 miles. We are going to meet with Jesus.
St. Francis of Assisi is remembered for saying that the poor were "sacramental." I know that is one of those crazy Christian words that nobody really understands, but here is the gist... a sacrament is a visual sign of an inward grace. St. Francis was saying that when you meet with the poor, you are meeting with Christ too.
And that's why we are going. 31 kids, 5 leaders, 4 vehicles and 480 miles. We are going to meet with Jesus.
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