All Saints’ Youth Mission Trip – Day 3

It’s a short walk to our mission site – The Community Center for Non-Violence. We really weren’t sure what to expect! We walked by some of the most majestic buildings we’d ever seen. Marble walls with elaborately carved stonework were absolutely everywhere glistening in the morning sun. It was amazing! We turned a corner, one simple corner, exactly the same as all of the other corners we’d traversed. And we were immediately immersed in a totally different world. One building, the size of one full city block, run-down, paint chipping away, garbage strewn about was our destination for the morning. Homeless people gathered around this building, residents of the largest shelter in the United States – 1300 beds. Always full. But no one ever gets turned away. Inside this one simple run-down building is every service anyone could ever need. Detox. Domestic Violence Shelter. Medical Care. Soup Kitchen. Vocational Training. Social Service Workers. It’s a busy place where 5000 meals a day are produced and distributed. And every single person, from the janitor to the CEO is a volunteer!!! No one makes a dime. All are dedicated loving individuals who see the world through God’s loving eyes. We were introduced to the way that our host for our time, James, sees all those he meets. First he sees spiritual beings. Then he sees human beings. Then male and female. “If you believe in the creator, you must believe in creation!” His motto is painted onto the walls of the building, currently undergoing a much needed face lift. As we traveled from our gathering space to our mission work area we absolutely HAD to pass through the rest-room. Not to use the facilities but because it was brand spanking new and they wanted to show it off.

Some of the contrasts that stood out for us:

A police officer dropped off a blind homeless vet. Just dropped him off outside the center. Didn’t even bother to let the people inside know he was there. Not knowing where he was, not having a clue what was going to happen, he just stood there. Afraid. James went out and found him, inviting him in to the center. Discovered his story and ensured that he had the proper medical care. Now, after several months of surgery this man now sees 20/20 and now works at the center to give back just a little of the hospitality and care he received. He can’t say enough about what the center does, how the center touches lives, how God reaches out and grabs those that society simply throws away, loving the best out of them, walking with them as they discover the person God created in them, helping the homeless and invisible to find self-esteem through loving care.

We were given the task of cleaning up the garbage outside around the center. A smelly and yucky ministry but what a difference it made. We had a chance to meet and talk to so many wonderful, “invisible” people. People the world chooses to ignore; maybe even goes out of its way to ignore. The individual stories opened our eyes and our hearts as we learned that homelessness isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” label. Each story was unique. Each person was an individual. And every one of them appreciated the ministry that we were offering, cleaning up their environment because THEY ARE WORTH IT!!! And we could see their attitudes change in that little action. We were told that our simple offerings wouldn’t make a difference for just that moment. They would make a difference for the rest of their lives. And we could see that difference written on their faces. Did we learn names? Did we give our names? No. It was more important to get to know the person, to treat them as children of God. People are so much more than just names.

This center has been trying to get the political world to stand up, to take notice, to make changes, to simply make a difference not just in DC but across the United States and even the world. “Do you have a plan?” they’ve been asked. “Nope,” is the only reply that can be offered. BUT James has been praying for angels to come and help him in his task. And God sent us. Angels who pick up garbage, angels who talk to people as people, angels who see as God sees, who love as God loves. Those angels come from everywhere you can imagine and they arrive every single day. Angels called by God to Reach Out in Christ and make a difference. What a blessing for us to be some of those angels. God is really building our group of individuals, of angels, into an amazing team ready and willing to answer the call to Reach Out in Christ.

Love and God’s Blessings,

All Saints 2007 Mission Team

Monday, July 2, 2007