Trip 2

So originally, my plan was to head out for one week right after the school year ended, but the Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU asked me to lead a group there during Spring Break. So my second time was with a group of 3 freshmen girls, one Junior girl, 2 freshmen guys, myself, and the campus minister. It was very exciting getting others involved and seeing the area God called me to for the time being.
Through the week we put together several outreach events and community service projects. For two mornings, we spent two hours passing out free hot chocolate and praying for/over people. Several gained the courage to take hot chocolate to some street corners and under the el-train at Kensington (one of most poverty-stricken neighborhood in America). Seeing young Christians step up is a great sight--very encouraging. We also spent a day or two painting the bathrooms for the after school program (blue for boys and pink for girls... there's no other way in America!).
But the highlight of the week (and I'm sure the others will agree) were the two major initiatives put on--one for the mothers/families of kids who attend the after school program, and one for the teens from the streets/hood. Of all the kids who attend the after school program, only a couple mothers attended church there. So the girls decided to prepare a big dinner for the mothers and other family--they could come pick up their child, but then stay for dinner. Originally, 13 said they would come... good thing we bought extra because 23 showed up! The girls were able to cook and serve them and then share some testimonies. I know God's love was witnessed because when I was recently there for my 3rd time, a mother commented on how much it meant to her (when she commented on this it was 1 1/2 months later).
As for us guys, we planned a basketball and free pizza night. All week we had been playing at the park I was at the year before (unfortunately, I only saw one guy that was the same) so on Thursday night we invited them to the church for basketball and pizza... we actually passed out hundreds of fliers to teens (girls and boys) and so the plan wasn't to play ball, but the only ones that came were those we played with all week and some friends they brought (meaning, relationships had already been established). After playing ball, we brought them down for pizza. While eating, one of the freshman guys shared his testimony, and I gave a gospel message. I first asked what they wanted out of life. The majority answer? "To get rich." Well... looks like a lot of work needs to be done. No one confessed Christ that night, but But they did see something they're not accostomed to: A God who loves and his servants who care and express that love. Hearing that a white boy from Kentucky would come all that way to do all this for them spoke loud volumes.