JH & CSM

The Refinery and CSM (Center for Student Missions) where to start...

Sunday Night:

We arrived at CSM Los Angeles sometime around 4pm. We unpacked, students were a little freaked about the living conditions, nevertheless; they were all excited. We met our city guide and headed to dinner which happened to be Thai. Students had fun eating new food and fellowship with each other.

Monday:

we prayer walked through MacArthur park. The park is a haven for drug use and other activities. We then headed to Grandview Retirement Hotel, where we played bingo with some old folks. It was funny to see them (the old folks) pick on each other, not to mention the fact that they love just hanging with us as we listened to their story.

We then moved on to our next work site which was rather interesting. We helped sort through some donations for a lady who ran a missions organization by herself. The place was unreal. Dirty, disarranged, rotting food, the smell...wow, words can not describe it. But, it was awesome to serve along-side of sister Luz. This woman's passion for the LORD is unwavering.

Dinner was rather interesting. We had to gather items for dinner. We all had $1 for each of us. We ate good, things were cheap.

Tuesday:

Today we worked the in LA Mission. Very cool! We did some laundry, made posters and ates some really good food.

Later on, we worked at the Midnight Mission. They were rude, talked with filthy mouths, had not love in their hearts. They kicked out the homeless just as soon as they got their food. It was a really sad to see.

For dinner we ate at Cojutepeque, a Salvadorian restaurant. The food was good, but the portions were small. Not really something to scream about.

Wednesday:

This morning we woke up early, got some Pan Dulce and drove to Pershing square park. Students meet with the homeless there and shared breakfast with them. Students were crying, hearts were moved, and people where loved.

Read my next blog post for my thoughts on the trip.

Great Quote!!!

"The salvation of a single soul is more important than the production or preservation of all the epics and tragedies in the world." C.S. Lewis. The man is beyond compare.

JH Missions Experience

Tomorrow afternoon I will be taking 10 middle school students into the heart of urban Los Angeles for four days of service. I have been thinking a lot about missions, mission work and general evangelism, and I have honestly come to the conclusion that I know nothing. This is a claim that has been pronounced by my mouth many times, and honestly I don't know anything. After taking many classes on world evangelism and urban studies, I still seem to miss the point what we are called to do. Serving in LA is more than just filling a church requirement or creating a wonderful, growing experience; its about be Christ-like. This thought has infested my brain. What does it mean to be Christ-like? Hopefully I and our middle school students will return on Wednesday with a deeper meaning to this question...changed would be ideal.

What does it mean to be a Christian. I look around and find that people can provide any answer they choose as much as it corresponds to their selfish lifestyle. I look around and see apathy. Even in my own life. How are we to go down to LA, and feed the poor, wash some feet, and "pretend" to know what it means to service Christ by serving others, when only to return unchanged? (Please note: if you think the answer is simple to answer, you have not a clue. Start by reading the book of Matthew.)

Wow...time flys

I just realized that in a little over two weeks, I will be on a plane to Thailand. Craziness....how time flys!!!

Got paper....?

As some of you might know, I will be traveling to the wonderful country of Thailand in July. I will be there for about three weeks. As I continue to research the culture and geographic areas of which I will be working in, I ran across this reality: Thailand endorses "squaty-potties!" I pray that either God will give me strength to use one of these or there will be some sort of western counterpart. Either way, I will rough it out, although crapping my shorts seems like a better option at the moment. For those of you who have shared in this experience (you know who you are) bravo!!!

By the way, I am writing a book entitled "Fun with Feces." It will be hitting the bookstores this summer. I know that its a crap shoot writing a book on things that makes people sick, however, after a few years in student ministry and having to clean up many overflowing toilets (because miraculou students forget how to use a mop) I have learn the value of fecal-talk. Forgive my crudeness, wait...if you have a problem, quit reading my blog!

Imagine this...

Imagine a church telling you that you couldn't promote a missions trip "within the church"!!! I was not aware that missions trips were so secular that we needed to keep them out. What an interesting day so far!

Definitions of a starving world

Well...I survived to live another day. I walked away from this weekend training with bizarre sense of emotions. I feel sick to my stomach, I'm really tired, and yet I know that there are people that would kill for my life. A painful reality to the fact that I am a selfish bastard. Here are some cold facts:

• I live to eat, others eat to live
• I own a computer and a vehicle, people can't even read, and walk 6 miles for water
• I don't even walk 6 miles in a week
• Why do suffering and starving people make me emotional?...yes, I cried
• In two days, I will probably will start to feel apathetic...again

God...please continue to keep me uncomfortable, that which I might not forget those who are dying, and dying for a clean drink of water.

ISP

So, I broke away from the group to post this, because I have to. Here are somethings that God has allowed me to see in myself:

• I am a selfish bastard! It's all about me...and I really don't have any concept of sacrifice.
• I am rich! I have to got to witness how others live in poverty...I have not right to even open my mouth.
• I am hungry! Within the last 24 hours I ate the following: 1- bagel, 1- glass of apple juice, 1- PB&J, 2- spoons of rice. I am not starving...I have no idea what starving is!
• I am a leader! God has gifted me...and he IS using me.

More details will follow....God with you!

This is funny stuff

The Good Word

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