Going into this mission trip, I honestly had no idea what to expect, but I never thought that three short days in one of the poorest parts of the country would bring so much peace, love and joy. We went to some amazing places on Friday and Saturday and we each had our ups and our downs and I had to constantly remind myself that getting upset over the little petty things was exactly what the devil wanted so as to break up the unity in our group. I would have to say though that Sunday was by far the best day for me personally.  We went to the Brooklyn church where we were welcomed with open arms by everyone there, and that was just amazing.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go out and interact with the people of the city due to lack of time, but we got to do something even better.  We were able to minster to each other and we found God everywhere we went that day.  I went into this trip thinking that although we were going to be there to serve people it was going to be a great chance for me to be served and while without realizing it I think I was touched and served more by our trip than the people we ministered to, I came to finally realize that this life isn’t about me.  I remember during our quiet time discussions one day Mina (aka Nemo) said that we use the word I so much and Harv said that we naturally think of ourselves first in prayer.  But that’s not how its supposed to be.  We must serve each other first and not to gain something out of it, but out of Christ’s love.  This trip, especially Sunday taught us that.  Many friendships were made, reunited, or strengthened.  The love that we have experienced together and that we share is incomprehensible and unbreakable and that love can only come through God. The one thing that struck me the most on Sunday was the beauty of this life of servitude.  Robyn and Harv remind me of this one Bible verse “Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” Luke 18:22.  Its so easy for us to say we are Christians and we love God and we would give everything we can to help those in need.  But this trip showed me the real meaning of picking up you Cross and following Jesus.  We do not all have to be like Robyn and Harv and sell everything we have and just go, but I’ve never seen it done before and I must say that they are Blessed beyond anything that I could have imagined.  Everything material this weekend was either provided for us by God or we realized it wasn’t needed.  I honestly think I could have stayed there forever with my three changes of clothes and nothing else and would have been so so happy. We all had such a difficult time leaving and I know that each and everyone of us will hold this trip dear to our hearts.  It was only through God’s grace that we were able to go and in three short days, have the experience of a life time, make life lasting friendships and loving those who are different from us.  Those people in the Bronx are gold.  Though they may not look, act, dress or even talk like us, they are also God’s children.   Mj likened the Bronx to the Cross.  While they may not look so awesome on the outside, its whats inside, whats behind them that counts.  Inside the Bronx, we found God’s love.  There were many evil things going on there, more than one can imagine, but God’s love was prevalent and of course we all know that in the end he will prevail.  So we must keep praying, keep spreading his word, keep serving even if its something like saying hello to a homeless man on the street.  Each of one of us has the power to plant one seed of hope and love and God will surely make those seeds grow into something magnificent.  Keep the Bronx in your prayers. 

The Bronx is God’s today!  

Filed under: Bronx Mission 3-17-06