The team this week was great. Having 6 teams in 3 weeks, I was feeling less than enthusiastic but the group was great and their energy helped me. Even though not everything went smoothly (mainly with our work in the shelter), everyone remained flexible for the most part. Also they were good at talking to the guys (Will even said something about it) and I actually got to talk to some friends and meet some new ones myself, instead of supervising the whole time. We walked something in the neighborhood of 9 miles one day, we mopped floors another day, and spent hours in the hot summer sun with guys on the street or kids in their neighborhoods, but we all had a good time.
I actually got to have some deeper conversation about God and marriage with a guy that I usually talk with about more surface stuff. I also had some good conversation with Jennifer which I have been hoping to do for some time. Though we don't always see eye to eye on everything and I challenge her frequently, I can see she is so determined to get passed some things she is struggling with and I think she really heard what I was saying today.
On a completely different note we had some big news going around this week. One of my good friends from the street thought he might have cancer but got some results back on wednesday that show it is not!! I'm so thankful. Another friend I found out had lied to a bunch of us about something and is now in jail. It is disappointing to have someone I thought that I could trust let me down. I have been better lately about not being cynical, but this blow hurt and obviously makes me question more of what people tell me.
One good thing about mission teams is that when we talk to them and debrief at the end of the week I listen to their comments of what they have learned and I get to rediscover all the things I have learned myself. One student talked about talking with the guys and forgetting that is was his task for the day. He wasn't evangelizing or having even particularly deep conversation, but it just felt like taking a break, sitting with some buddies and I remember those times when I first experienced that. One major theme this team touched on was deepening existing friendships. We set out this week to love people and to get to know them. Some people share with us their lives and messy pasts. One girl noted that she had learned more about some of these guys in a few days than she knows about some of the people that she has grown up in the church with. This really compelled me to not only love my friend and neighbors, but to be intentional about getting to know them and drawing into deeper relationships.
It occurred to me today that we only have 2 weeks left. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. It has been an awesome experience and the weirdest job I could have imagined probably. We have one team here this weekend, one week off, then a team for the last full week. I pray I can finish strong and continue to see things in a new light.
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