don't walk by

this weekend's homeless outreach event was amazing. i think i understand now why people say that short-term missions is really just for your benefit. i was so blessed by the experience, and encouraged by the massive effort each year that these organizers put in to making sure that every part of manhattan is covered.

there were a good number who showed up from our tlc, and it was tiring but cool to walk thru our area of midtown looking for homeless people. (the premise was to talk to them, see if they wanted to come back to the church for a meal, try to get them plugged in to rehab or a shelter - essentially to befriend them and see if they wanted to get off the streets).

i pass homeless people every day. and i've grown so conditioned to just walking by them or politely telling them i don't have money for them. and in ny...it's so easy to become jaded and assume that they just want to buy beer or drugs. (i've had homeless people decline when i offer them food instead of cash...and been harassed once when i took a homeless guy out for food). sometimes you wonder whether you can make any difference.

but as the good samaritan passage that inspired the name of the effort - it really opened my eyes that you can't walk by those in need. regardless of whether they take my money to do unproductive things...in the chance that it might do some good, my view changed a bit this weekend.

i had a really good time walking around with ppl in my tlc too...it was great having a hangout that had a purpose. i'm really glad that i'm serving with d&c, and after spending hours talking to jon, he stepped up to be our missions champion. very cool.

sometimes i lose sight on why i do ministry. it's more often a chore than anything else. but seeing someone grow, having the chance to empower them, and going out and serving together - that's the good stuff. reminds me of the first sg i ever led...and how sarah was suddenly desperately in need of help making thanksgiving food packages for the poor. kang sent out an email to the sg, and every single person showed up at ccfc and we decorated the bags and had them ready to go. it was so fun...but it was fun with a purpose. it really warmed my heart to see people willing to give up their time to pitch in.

we decided to try and keep the homeless outreach going (and also to redeem valentine's day) by making blessing bags (apparently there are a lot of little things that homeless people need, like socks) and going out on v-day to hand them out and pray for them. hopefully people will get involved...