Most everyone is off to bed by now. The lights have been turned off, so I'm writing this by the glow of my computer screen. My body is tired, but my mind is still awake.
At the end of each day, our city hosts challenge us to look back on the day we've just experienced. Today was not different. At our "debrief" meeting before dinner tonight, we were asked to participate in "Pow...Wow...How."
Pow = the low point of the day
Wow = the high point of the day
How = how did we see God at work?
Three quick points that sum up our day. They even seem to validate our low moments, which is good for our students to understand. Not all of life is filled with "highs", even on a missions trip.
As we went around our circle, it was amazing to hear how our students described things. I'm hoping they'll be able to share many of the moments. Their daily devotional journal allows room for them to review the day and write down stories. Ask 'em about them when you see them next.
Team 1 (Barb + Karin's Team) started their day off at the St. Vincent de Paul dining room, helping to prepare and serve food to the homeless in Oakland. Ask any member of this team and they will tell you that this turned out to be one of the "high" points for their day. Their insecurities about meeting, talking with, and serving homeless people seem to be going away as they gain experience. They are no longer "afraid" (which is so often the way we feel when we see someone on the street). They have begun to see these people as men, women & children that deserve the same respect and dignity as everyone else. This is true for our entire team. We are unable to go back to ignorance. Their afternoon activity was to "Meet a Need." Basically, the team was given $20 and were sent to a particular neighborhood to meet the need of a particular person, group of people, family, etc. They were not allowed to just give the $20 away to someone who looked like they needed money. (for example, if it was raining then buying cheap umbrellas would be a good option, or try to find some food for someone who is hungry). This activity continued to build their confidence of interacting with those in need.
Team 2 (Brenton + Rachel's Team) started the day off at the San Francisco Food Bank (see picture collage below).
This is a Costco-sized warehouse filled with all kinds of food that is distributed throughout the city to help feed the needy. Last year, the SF Food Bank distributed over 35 million pounds of food to 150,000 people. As for today, Team 2 packaged over 2,300 pounds of frozen, microwavable spaghetti into individual 16oz. packages. Tedious work, yes. Important work, definitely. After grabbing a quick sack lunch at the park in front of the houses where "Full House" was filmed and then driving down Lombard Street (in a 15-passenger van, no less),
Team 2 proceeded to the Hayes Valley Care center, which is an assisted living facility. Ask this team, and they will tell you that this was their "high" point of the day. There was something very powerful about spending a couple of hours with some elderly people who crave contact with the outside world. From playing card games with them, to watering their plants, to reading books and having simple conversation, to (David Ottestad) playing guitar and drawing an audience of elderly people, the time was well spent. The elderly are another "forgotten" population in the city, and it was good to share Christ's love through our actions.
Team 3 (Steve's team) started out at the Salvation Army Harbor Light center, tasked with organizing supplies for a summer VBS that they will be running for children in the area. Some of their high points were meeting the people that worked at the Salvation Army, listening to their testimonies of God's faithfulness, and being able to help them prepare for this special outreach to children. As for the afternoon, Team 3 was sent off on their own "Meet a Need" challenge, given $20 to meet the need of a person or group. After not getting anywhere for the first 1.5 hours, they team stopped and prayed for God to show them someone who need help and how they could help. I'll let them tell the story...it's pretty cool.
After debriefing the day, our team headed out for some Vietnamese food. We're trying to think if it's just us, but we're noticing this patter of "asian cuisine"--Indian, Thai and Vietnamese. Ha. The high point of the dinner was when Lindsey Breeding met a Vietnamese man who's birthday was today as well, and he was sitting with his family celebrating. Good times.
The after dinner "adventure" for some of our team was to drive across the Golden Gate bridge and back. Since we're here, might as well take in some of the sights.
God is having wonderful moments with our team this week. I'm encouraged by the ways our students are taking him seriously and listening at how they can play a part in helping to make the Kingdom of God a reality. I wish you could hear some of the conversations we're having, and how they are being challenged.
Big moments, for sure.
Tomorrow is another great day ahead. Our students are looking forward to tomorrow night, though, which is our "free night" here in the city. We're thinking of hitting up Fisherman's Warf.
Thanks for your prayers. Please continue.
Brenton
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