(no subject)
I guess I'll write that long update about
San Francisco
San Francisco was so amazing. It felt really rewarding to serve those in need. My team was so amazing and they really challenged me in all areas of my life. Overall it was a great experience and I'm planning on going again next spring. Our team served at the Rescue Mission located in the middle of the Tenderloin district in downtown San Francisco. The Tenderloin district is a square mile with 30,000 residents living in it, 10,000 of those are homeless. Its one of the most densely populated areas in the US. The Rescue Mission consisits of three buildings, a Thrift Store, a Hot Meal Kitchen, and the main Administrative Building. There were two other teams staying with us during our week there, one from Las Cruces, New Mexico and the other from Pueblo, Colorado. The three teams worked in all the buildings, serving where needed. I helped pick up donations from local businesses, cooked in the Hot Meal Kitchen, cooked in the Main Kitchen, helped in the Children's School, and helped paint the Sanctuary. Painting the Sanctuary was really cool because with some of the other things we couldnt really see the effect we were having but in painting, we could actually see how we were serving. The Sanctuary looks very cool now.
The teams also participated in Street Ministry which is where we take small teams out at night and pass out blankets and meals to people on the street. This was the coolest part of the experience because we were able to go out to where the people were living and minister directly to them. The first time we went out on Street Ministry, the team was shocked at what they found on the streets. I dont think any of us were prepared for that experience. In the Tenderloin the majority of the population are minorities so when they see a group of white people carrying boxes they know from experience that the groups are from the church and they're passing out free things. As soon as we popped open a box people swarmed us. Our policy was one blanket per person no matter what, but it was so hard to say no to these people. Many of them were actually trying to take advantage of us by telling us the saddest sob story but there was a general need that needed to be addressed. Our spirits were completely drained after that first night, it was the low point of the trip for our team. We had a long talk afterwards about the ends justifying the means and the means justifying the ends. We agreed that it doesnt matter if we give a blanket to someone who is just going to turn around and sell it across the street (which happened more than once) all we can do is go out with the right intentions in our hearts and hope that those in need are served. Our spirits rose steadily after that first night out until they were sky high on Friday night. On Friday night there was a giant youth service where a number of youth groups from around San Francisco came to the mission and participated in a program called 24, where they would serve for 24 hours straight. The service was absolutely amazing. The worship band was absolutely amazing, the speaker was freaking awesome, I had never been a part of something like that ever before. CCF doesnt even come close to the awesomeness that was there. The only way I've been able to describe it is alive. That service was alive.
I feel I should share the story of one homeless man I met on the streets. His name was Dennis. He had recieved a college education and had a job at one point, living the normal life. But eventually decided that life was not for him and he gave it all up to live on the streets. Now he goes around collecting bottles, cans, and scrap metal because you get a refund in California for those items. He saves up his money and buys bibles with it. Whenever he meets a believer on the streets he askes them to write their favorite verse on a Starbucks stir stick and he puts the sticks in his bibles. Whenever he meets a non-believer he gives them a bible with about 5 sticks in it already so they have a headstart on finding where to start reading the bible they were given. So here's a man who had a normal life with a job and an education but gave it all away to devote him entire life to serve the lord and spread the kingdom. He had complete trust that the lord will provide him with shelter, food, and clothing. All he worrys about is spreading the kingdom. He told us a story about how on Christmas Eve he was asked by a group of college students to take their picture. They were going to pay him because they realized he was a homeless man. He said to them "No no, I dont want your money. All I want is a moment of your time." So he took their picture and then said "Now I'm going to tell you a story about a man named Jesus Christ," and ended up talking to them for over an hour. He gave 5 bibles to the group as they were leaving. He then told me how after a couple of weeks, some of the students came back to find him to tell him about how he had affected their lives and what happened in their lives that Christmas Eve. I thought that was the most encouraging story and it really raised the spirits of our team.
So basically that was my experience in San Francisco. It was so amazing and I was really sad to leave. If any of you want to check out the mission their website is www.sf911.com. Check them out, they're really doing great things where great things are needed.
The Team, Nicolle, Tonya, Carolyn, Darin, Eric, Lindsay, David, Me, Kaitlyn
The Guys
The Girls
Pretending we're locked up in Alcatraz.
And Congratulations to those who actually read through that all. You all rock.
San Francisco
San Francisco was so amazing. It felt really rewarding to serve those in need. My team was so amazing and they really challenged me in all areas of my life. Overall it was a great experience and I'm planning on going again next spring. Our team served at the Rescue Mission located in the middle of the Tenderloin district in downtown San Francisco. The Tenderloin district is a square mile with 30,000 residents living in it, 10,000 of those are homeless. Its one of the most densely populated areas in the US. The Rescue Mission consisits of three buildings, a Thrift Store, a Hot Meal Kitchen, and the main Administrative Building. There were two other teams staying with us during our week there, one from Las Cruces, New Mexico and the other from Pueblo, Colorado. The three teams worked in all the buildings, serving where needed. I helped pick up donations from local businesses, cooked in the Hot Meal Kitchen, cooked in the Main Kitchen, helped in the Children's School, and helped paint the Sanctuary. Painting the Sanctuary was really cool because with some of the other things we couldnt really see the effect we were having but in painting, we could actually see how we were serving. The Sanctuary looks very cool now.
The teams also participated in Street Ministry which is where we take small teams out at night and pass out blankets and meals to people on the street. This was the coolest part of the experience because we were able to go out to where the people were living and minister directly to them. The first time we went out on Street Ministry, the team was shocked at what they found on the streets. I dont think any of us were prepared for that experience. In the Tenderloin the majority of the population are minorities so when they see a group of white people carrying boxes they know from experience that the groups are from the church and they're passing out free things. As soon as we popped open a box people swarmed us. Our policy was one blanket per person no matter what, but it was so hard to say no to these people. Many of them were actually trying to take advantage of us by telling us the saddest sob story but there was a general need that needed to be addressed. Our spirits were completely drained after that first night, it was the low point of the trip for our team. We had a long talk afterwards about the ends justifying the means and the means justifying the ends. We agreed that it doesnt matter if we give a blanket to someone who is just going to turn around and sell it across the street (which happened more than once) all we can do is go out with the right intentions in our hearts and hope that those in need are served. Our spirits rose steadily after that first night out until they were sky high on Friday night. On Friday night there was a giant youth service where a number of youth groups from around San Francisco came to the mission and participated in a program called 24, where they would serve for 24 hours straight. The service was absolutely amazing. The worship band was absolutely amazing, the speaker was freaking awesome, I had never been a part of something like that ever before. CCF doesnt even come close to the awesomeness that was there. The only way I've been able to describe it is alive. That service was alive.
I feel I should share the story of one homeless man I met on the streets. His name was Dennis. He had recieved a college education and had a job at one point, living the normal life. But eventually decided that life was not for him and he gave it all up to live on the streets. Now he goes around collecting bottles, cans, and scrap metal because you get a refund in California for those items. He saves up his money and buys bibles with it. Whenever he meets a believer on the streets he askes them to write their favorite verse on a Starbucks stir stick and he puts the sticks in his bibles. Whenever he meets a non-believer he gives them a bible with about 5 sticks in it already so they have a headstart on finding where to start reading the bible they were given. So here's a man who had a normal life with a job and an education but gave it all away to devote him entire life to serve the lord and spread the kingdom. He had complete trust that the lord will provide him with shelter, food, and clothing. All he worrys about is spreading the kingdom. He told us a story about how on Christmas Eve he was asked by a group of college students to take their picture. They were going to pay him because they realized he was a homeless man. He said to them "No no, I dont want your money. All I want is a moment of your time." So he took their picture and then said "Now I'm going to tell you a story about a man named Jesus Christ," and ended up talking to them for over an hour. He gave 5 bibles to the group as they were leaving. He then told me how after a couple of weeks, some of the students came back to find him to tell him about how he had affected their lives and what happened in their lives that Christmas Eve. I thought that was the most encouraging story and it really raised the spirits of our team.
So basically that was my experience in San Francisco. It was so amazing and I was really sad to leave. If any of you want to check out the mission their website is www.sf911.com. Check them out, they're really doing great things where great things are needed.
The Team, Nicolle, Tonya, Carolyn, Darin, Eric, Lindsay, David, Me, Kaitlyn
The Guys
The Girls
Pretending we're locked up in Alcatraz.
And Congratulations to those who actually read through that all. You all rock.