Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel with Community Lutheran Church's Youth Group on a mission trip. It is hard to believe that this was our first mission trip in three years! There is so much that goes into the preparation for these experiences, and in the end, there are always things we can't control. However, we had a wonderful week! I always find meaning in these trips, and this year was no exception. I was reminded of the need we all have for reconnecting with others and experiencing God's Love!
Our primary service site was located in Long Beach, CA. We served a population of people who were experiencing homelessness, and we worked with an organization called Christian Outreach in Action. This was the first time our church worked with this agency, so we didn't really know what to expect. However, when we walked in, they immediately put our team to work, and it was wonderful to see the youth of our church jump right in. They hauled provisions back and forth, organized clothes, and handed out all kinds of food and supplies.
I love seeing the willingness to serve, but I really cherished the moments when our youth went out of their way to build relationships with the people they met on the streets. They listened to their stories. They learned people's names. They brought a lot of laughter and joy, and they were willing to open their eyes to new perspectives.
God is present in the world around us. Sometimes we dismiss other people. We want to believe we are better than they are, or we want to believe our story is more important than theirs. However, God is equally present in all our lives. It is my prayer that we all would open our hearts to see God's grace and share God's love in all that we do.
Blessings,
Brian Ward
Here's a few photos from the trip! :)
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