Serve Joy

Who would've known that a sabbath spent serving others could be so rejuvenating?  Most of my days off are spent "resting," a.k.a. vegging on the couch and watching something on Netflix marathon-style.

This last Sunday, our team headed downtown to Skid Row, one of the most dense homeless populations in the United States.  We went to serve, to pray, to greet, and to do whatever to help make the lives of the church workers easier- and let me tell you, they put us to work.  It did not take long to get past my initial discomfort when I met Sunshine, a resident of Skid Row.  She showed me what it meant to worship, even in wanting.  I met Therese, a prostitute; Gerry, an illegal immigrant; Victoria, a refugee; Martin, a divorced father of 3; and Lionel, a drug addict.  Among them, I thought, "Jesus would be at home here."  My prayer this week, is that my heart would continue expanding more and more to include the marginalized of our society, the poor at my door.

I would have more pictures were it not for the fact that we were so busy serving about 100-150 folks at the church that day!  God is doing stuff at Skid Row.

 

Tay chatting with Deborah, a Skid Row resident and long time church volunteer.

  

Kevin and Nolan enjoying a little break from the heat and work!

 

One of the pastors of the church had passed away in his sleep the previous week.  So, some of the church members had an idea that they would have flowers for everyone to take away with them to remember him.  And what a beautiful vision it would be to see the streets of Skid Row littered with flowers.  Amen.