And so we're home.
As a youth minister, you always worry about what might happen on a trip. Who might get hurt, who might get lost, what projects might go bad. What I found myself doing for this trip, however, was worrying about what might NOT happen. The kids might NOT meet interesting people (we would just happen to be in San Francisco during the National Boring People's Convention"). The kids might NOT find the work rewarding or useful. The kids might NOT decide this trip was worth everyone's time. Thankfully, God moves and everything that I worried about NOT happening, did in fact happen.
From Amelia actually eating at the ethnic restaurants, Sam's polemic on American greed, Noah's interaction with Eric, Maddie and Erin's interactions with Tim or my fun pool game with Richard...it was a great experience. One I will not soon forget and one I will always cherish in my heart (especially our interaction with Melo...seriously how did he not make it into the blog until now?!)
Sadly mission trips can tend to fall into a pattern of shortened revival/ emotional high to general apathy from the business of everyday life. We must first admit, its not a mission trips fault, the students fault, the ministers fault or anyone's fault that this happens... it just happens.We are people and we tend to forget things. Especially when those things seem so far away and unclaimable.
But this trip is different. This trip is literally right next door. We did nothing this week that we can't do in Antioch. We CAN go to a food bank, we CAN meet a stranger's need with $20, we CAN travel to reno and sleep in a cardboard box for a night to raise money for food shelters, we CAN bring food to the homeless, the hungry and the hurting. We can do all these things and we don't even have to look hard for them either. Opportunity abounds!!
We listened to a song on the first night called "God of this City." The chorus says, "Greater Things Are Yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city." It's a take from Jesus where He tells the disciples that they will do even greater things than they've seen him do. We CAN do all the things we did last week and we WILL. No emotional high, no sympathetic glance without action, we simply will do what God asks us to do. No apathy, no mediocrity, no settling. Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in both San Francisco and Antioch. Greater things my friends... greater things.
Kyle and Erin Sapp
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Matty's Blog
Well todays wed. and we ate breakfest and went out on a city search. It was basically a task that was givin to us to go out and talk to people and notice different things about San Fransisco that we are not use to seeing in Antioch. We were each given boundaries of where to be. My group, that consisted of Erin, Sam, and I, was assigned to a part of town called the Tender Loin.
Basically thats the part of town where the low income people live or the people with little or no money at all. At first we were a bit relucktent to talk to people, but as we travled farther into the Tender Loin we started to get out of our comfort zone and open up and get to know and understand the new people around us. To our suprize these people had a lot to say, we met a few people, some we did't get the name of but all the same, it opened our eyes. These people weren't bitter at all, they were just happy to be where they were. We met this one guy named Tim and he was havin a rough day because he had nothin to eat so we invited him to lunch with us.
We then went to the food bank and packaged pinto beans that were to be sent to different organizations that helped feed the hungry. We packaged over 2850 lbs. of bean. Can you imagine how many people that could feed? A LOT! After that we did a prayer walk on the Golden Gate Bridge to reflect on everything that had happened and what we have learned over this week.
For me I just remembered all the stereotypical thoughts I had on homeless people, but I was totally wrong. Let this be a lesson to everyone, even though we may take the easy way out and think of people from first glance, we're only hurting ourselves by not getting to know someone.
That is what this mission trip has shown me.
-Maddie Thoroughman
Basically thats the part of town where the low income people live or the people with little or no money at all. At first we were a bit relucktent to talk to people, but as we travled farther into the Tender Loin we started to get out of our comfort zone and open up and get to know and understand the new people around us. To our suprize these people had a lot to say, we met a few people, some we did't get the name of but all the same, it opened our eyes. These people weren't bitter at all, they were just happy to be where they were. We met this one guy named Tim and he was havin a rough day because he had nothin to eat so we invited him to lunch with us.
We then went to the food bank and packaged pinto beans that were to be sent to different organizations that helped feed the hungry. We packaged over 2850 lbs. of bean. Can you imagine how many people that could feed? A LOT! After that we did a prayer walk on the Golden Gate Bridge to reflect on everything that had happened and what we have learned over this week.
For me I just remembered all the stereotypical thoughts I had on homeless people, but I was totally wrong. Let this be a lesson to everyone, even though we may take the easy way out and think of people from first glance, we're only hurting ourselves by not getting to know someone.
That is what this mission trip has shown me.
-Maddie Thoroughman
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Day Numero Tres
Today was my favorite so far. We gave out peanut butter jellies (sandwiches that is). We gave out 23 because I dropped the 24th. We also worked at Operation Open Hand. I helped chop up a large box of carrots and then tie bags of raviolis and restock the freezer items. Today they gave over 300 people groceries and to be a part of it was great. While tying ravioli bags I met a guy named Eric. He was pretty young but had a good story to learn from. In 2004 he did a mission trip to San Francisco to help people. He returned to it in 2008 to find he had become one of the people he helped. He had become addicted to drugs and alchohol. He went in and out of rehab. He lived on the streets for a while also. He told me to never take for granted what I have like he did. He said to stay away from drugs and alchohol because you get deeper and deeper into it. He made me think of how i take my wealth for granted.
Noah
Noah
Monday, June 15, 2009
Content
It's strange for me to look at a man with no shoes, a substantial layer of dirt and grease covering his skin, and to know that even though this man has been sleeping under the stars for the past 19 years, he is more content than me. Though commonly used as synonyms, the words "happy" and "content" have come to mean very different things to me. "Happy" is more of a situational word, referring to good grades or a victorious wrestling match, while "content" describes an attitude that spans years to a lifetime. Contentment, in the Sam Spainhower Dictionary, is the ability to face every day, despite the trouble life brings, with acceptance. Contentment is the love of life and living, while happiness is pleasure at the temporal moments of our lives.
These thoughts came to me because of the emotional fortitude I witnessed in the people at St. Vincent De Paul's soup kitchen and the homeless in Golden Gate Park. I did not hear any complaints about being homeless or insolvent, and I could not find bitterness in any one customer's disposition. Rather, the struggle of surviving has pushed the disparraged together into one huge family who looks out for each other and finds enjoyment simply in the company of people. Everyone shared, no one fought for seats, and overall, despite their current economic situations, these people showed contentment with the life they have.
These observations caused me to think about the role of all the material goods that we attach ourselves to. It seems to me that as a society, Americans are not looking for contentment, but rather for a sustained happiness: a bunch of little pleasing moments compiled so that no moment is ever sad. Maintaining this happiness is killing society, however. The day to day existence of the average person has become about extravagance and luxury, building our bank accounts so that one day we can have mansions, Cadillacs with spinners, and so much money that we dont have to worry about working out budgets week after week. But where does all this go? What treasures are we storing in heaven, and what will moth and rust destroy? The current economic crisis sems to me, a reminder that the pursuit of wealth never ends well.
That is not to say that material items are evil and corrupt, and we should all sell our possessions to start an orphanage in Africa. However, in the words of Chuck Palahniuk, "the stuff you own, soon it owns you." As Christians, as family members, and especially as human beings, we have to remember that what surrounds us is ephemeral, a vapor in the wind. We can preoccupy and distract ourselves with as many cars, fancy dinners, and widescreen plasma televisions as we want, but every now and then, life is going to hit us like a a ton of bricks, sometimes all at once, and sometimes one brick at a time. I guess my point is, we can never build up enough money to keep us happy forever because the maintenance will kill us, but what is necessary for contentment is the ability to love what is and the people we have. Its kindof anti-climactic, but I guess either this idea cannot be explained in words, or I am not the right person to do it. Anyway, that's what I've learned from the first day of this trip.
Sam Spainhower
These thoughts came to me because of the emotional fortitude I witnessed in the people at St. Vincent De Paul's soup kitchen and the homeless in Golden Gate Park. I did not hear any complaints about being homeless or insolvent, and I could not find bitterness in any one customer's disposition. Rather, the struggle of surviving has pushed the disparraged together into one huge family who looks out for each other and finds enjoyment simply in the company of people. Everyone shared, no one fought for seats, and overall, despite their current economic situations, these people showed contentment with the life they have.
These observations caused me to think about the role of all the material goods that we attach ourselves to. It seems to me that as a society, Americans are not looking for contentment, but rather for a sustained happiness: a bunch of little pleasing moments compiled so that no moment is ever sad. Maintaining this happiness is killing society, however. The day to day existence of the average person has become about extravagance and luxury, building our bank accounts so that one day we can have mansions, Cadillacs with spinners, and so much money that we dont have to worry about working out budgets week after week. But where does all this go? What treasures are we storing in heaven, and what will moth and rust destroy? The current economic crisis sems to me, a reminder that the pursuit of wealth never ends well.
That is not to say that material items are evil and corrupt, and we should all sell our possessions to start an orphanage in Africa. However, in the words of Chuck Palahniuk, "the stuff you own, soon it owns you." As Christians, as family members, and especially as human beings, we have to remember that what surrounds us is ephemeral, a vapor in the wind. We can preoccupy and distract ourselves with as many cars, fancy dinners, and widescreen plasma televisions as we want, but every now and then, life is going to hit us like a a ton of bricks, sometimes all at once, and sometimes one brick at a time. I guess my point is, we can never build up enough money to keep us happy forever because the maintenance will kill us, but what is necessary for contentment is the ability to love what is and the people we have. Its kindof anti-climactic, but I guess either this idea cannot be explained in words, or I am not the right person to do it. Anyway, that's what I've learned from the first day of this trip.
Sam Spainhower
Thankfulness
After one night, I'm already more thankful for the little things in my life.... especially beds
For those of you who don't know (which would be everyone since we found this out when we got here) we are not the only group here. There are actually 4 other groups here. Which means there are 40 other guys in the guys room with us. Now we were prepared to sleep on the floor (with our air mattresses in tow) but we weren't prepared for 40 other guys....it's quite smelly in here right now. But last night both my air mattress and the Spainhower's mattress ran out of air...so we slept on the floor.
At first I was angry, and then I was resentful towards the other guys because they got beds and we didn't. They only got beds cause they were in the room first, what makes them so special I thought? Plus, they're all like 14 and I'm 26....when I was there age I respected my elders dang it!!
But then I realized just how selfish that thought was. I'm sleeping inside at least. This morning all over the streets we saw people sleeping. Wrapped in sleeping bags, blankets or whatever they could find lying around. After seeing that I am reminded just how blessed I am.
Teen report tonight!! And if you haven't read Amelia's post....scroll down it's worth your time.
For those of you who don't know (which would be everyone since we found this out when we got here) we are not the only group here. There are actually 4 other groups here. Which means there are 40 other guys in the guys room with us. Now we were prepared to sleep on the floor (with our air mattresses in tow) but we weren't prepared for 40 other guys....it's quite smelly in here right now. But last night both my air mattress and the Spainhower's mattress ran out of air...so we slept on the floor.
At first I was angry, and then I was resentful towards the other guys because they got beds and we didn't. They only got beds cause they were in the room first, what makes them so special I thought? Plus, they're all like 14 and I'm 26....when I was there age I respected my elders dang it!!
But then I realized just how selfish that thought was. I'm sleeping inside at least. This morning all over the streets we saw people sleeping. Wrapped in sleeping bags, blankets or whatever they could find lying around. After seeing that I am reminded just how blessed I am.
Teen report tonight!! And if you haven't read Amelia's post....scroll down it's worth your time.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Awareness
Our day started out with an Indian food restaurant. If you know me at all, you'll know I am the pickiest eater there has ever been. Most of the food was pretty yummy!! the only things I had issues with were the 3 dishes that were so spicy, I thought my tongue was about to fall off a couple of times. then the tour started...
This experience is definitely been just as expected so far
We went and visited some of the highlights and low lights of the city.
Some of the sights were so disturbing, I just wanted to steal a crane, or a tractor, and just run over a whole street! But it's like LA, just another X-rated, adulteries street.
I knew there had to be at least one of these strips in SF, but it still surprised me to see how public, and how gross they were.
The tour ended with the poorest part of town, with just so happened to be where we were staying
as we pulled up to the parking lot, I saw 2 men chatting on the door step to one of the entrances to the church. The image has glued itself to my mind because one man was white, one was black, and they were laughing and having such a good time. I know it may sound a little 1930's to be racist, but I know at my high school, it still happens. It was just such a refresher to see 2 people getting along so well, even if they looked to be complete strangers to each other.
-Amelia Taylor
This experience is definitely been just as expected so far
We went and visited some of the highlights and low lights of the city.
Some of the sights were so disturbing, I just wanted to steal a crane, or a tractor, and just run over a whole street! But it's like LA, just another X-rated, adulteries street.
I knew there had to be at least one of these strips in SF, but it still surprised me to see how public, and how gross they were.
The tour ended with the poorest part of town, with just so happened to be where we were staying
as we pulled up to the parking lot, I saw 2 men chatting on the door step to one of the entrances to the church. The image has glued itself to my mind because one man was white, one was black, and they were laughing and having such a good time. I know it may sound a little 1930's to be racist, but I know at my high school, it still happens. It was just such a refresher to see 2 people getting along so well, even if they looked to be complete strangers to each other.
-Amelia Taylor
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Before
Day Before
So we actually leave tomorrow and the day is pretty jam packed with getting everything ready for the week. It's a shorter mission trip this year, which is sad in some respects but good in others. In the end I remind myself, it's not the length of the mission but the quality of the service...I think I read that in a fortune cookie once.
Erin and I are doing some crazy shopping today and cleaning and praying. I know places where we'll be but I have no idea who we'll meet, what we'll do or how God will use this week. It's definately unnerving, the not knowing. We really are having to move by faith these next few days. Regardless of what happens, we did this for the Lord and His Kingdom, I hope He is pleased by the work of our souls.
I leave you with a passage that was a strong motivator in seeking out this new mission. It comes from Matthew 25
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
So we actually leave tomorrow and the day is pretty jam packed with getting everything ready for the week. It's a shorter mission trip this year, which is sad in some respects but good in others. In the end I remind myself, it's not the length of the mission but the quality of the service...I think I read that in a fortune cookie once.
Erin and I are doing some crazy shopping today and cleaning and praying. I know places where we'll be but I have no idea who we'll meet, what we'll do or how God will use this week. It's definately unnerving, the not knowing. We really are having to move by faith these next few days. Regardless of what happens, we did this for the Lord and His Kingdom, I hope He is pleased by the work of our souls.
I leave you with a passage that was a strong motivator in seeking out this new mission. It comes from Matthew 25
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
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