wrapping it all up

First for those of you looking to see the wharf dancing video from yesterday's post, try viewing it below, it should work...I think the internets did something to it as part of a diabolical plan to keep your from being entertained.

Yesterday was our final day of ministry.  It is hard to believe that a week as gone by already.  The students have been amazing and done really a great job.  I have watched them be challenged, stretched and really step up and be God's hands and feet in ways they never thought they would have the ability or courage to be.

Group #1 started their day by making PB&J sandwiches and taking them to UN Plaza to pass out to homeless folks.  They were able to pass them out, and engage in some really nice conversations with a few of the people they met.  One man thanked them for coming to San Francisco, that they were a real light to the city.  They took pictures with a group of homeless that they met, and went  and had the pictures developed.  They gave each one a copy of the picture and ended their time by circling up and praying with the group.  After a great time at UN Plaza, they ate some lunch and then boarded the BART train to Richmond to serve at the Bay Area Rescue Mission's kids program.  They worked on a few projects, played with the kids from the program and then led a bible study for the group on the prodigal son from Luke.  They created a skit and acted out the story for the group. 

Group #2 started their day by heading to Salvation Army to help with their Meals that Heal program, where they delivered hot meals.  After that, they headed to the Haight Ashbury to meet a need.  They were given 20 dollars to be used to help meet a need of someone they met.  They ended up taking two guys to lunch and spending time with them, and they also bought toothpaste a toothbrush, some deoderant and some markers for a woman named Island.  You might think that would be enough, but oh no...they then headed to the San Francisco Food Bank where they washed cans of food so they could be relabeled and then distributed to feeding programs and soup kitchens around the city.

Group #3 started their day by heading into Oakland to help with the St. Vincent's Day Home.  Each student was assigned to a classrom, where they helped the teacher by reading books, playing and doing whatever was needed.  We learned how important this early child education program is.  California tests every student at grade 3 or 4, and based on those test results can project how many prisons will be needed in the future.  If a child enters kindergarten already behind, it is very difficult for that child to catch up, which leads to drop outs, crime and ultimately prison...so it was great to be a small part of something doing really important work for the future.   After lunch, we headed to Project Open Hand for their afternoon meal delivery.  The group was divided and conquered two routes along the Tenderloin District delivering meals to those suffereing from HIV/AIDS.  Below is a short video of what it was like. 

We finished our day with dinner at a Niguraguan restaurant in the Mission District.  We had a fun time in this little restaurant...after finished up our food, they were playing salsa music on their juke box, and a little dance party broke out.  Our city host Merritt got a little salsa lesson from a guy in the restaurant, and a few others just followed...and I happened to catch it all on video:

br>We have had a great week of service, minstry and fun. We are leaving CSM today and heading to Six Flags for a surprise day of fun and roller coasters. We board the train at 9:45 tonight and come home. Thanks for all your support and prayers during the trip. You can all be pround of your kids, for the way they served, they ways they embraced everything we did and they way they handled themselves. It was a great week.

yesterday's recap

Hey blog readers welcome to today’s post.  It will be light on pictures and video due to the fact we took one short video clip and very few pictures which can be seen here[san fran pics] but that doesn’t mean we were light on ministry.  So let’s get to it:

Group #1 Started their day by heading into Oakland to serve at the Saint Vincent’s Day Home for children.  This is a really cool ministry for young children 1-5.  They place an emphasis on child development and education with the goal of helping children to be prepared for entering school.  The group played with the children and loved on them.  It was really cool to be part of an amazing, safe place in a very difficult neighborhood and to be part of helping give children a chance to thrive.  In the afternoon the group headed to the Tenderloin District to serve with Project Open Hand.  They were able to serve meals in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels and share God’s love with those struggling with HIV/AIDS.

Group #2 Spent their day with The Salvation Army Mission Corp. summer program.  They played games with them in the morning and then headed to Golden Gate Park where they spent the rest of afternoon playing at the park with the kids.  They continued to show God’s love by loving kids who might not receive enough love in their lives. 

Group # 3 Started their day by heading to the UN Plaza armed with two loaves of bread hand-crafted into peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and some state of the art Capri Sun coolers.  They walked the plaza passing out sandwiches and juices and talking with homeless men and women.  After Operation PB&J, we headed to the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond (which we learned is the most violent city in America per capita.)  The children in the summer program were on a field trip to the Giants game, so we were able to help the mission prepare for their upcoming holiday (yes, I said holiday) food and toy drive.  We wrapped donation barrels in paper and hung signs on them so they can be place in the community to receive donations.  The work wasn’t the most glamorous, but the big picture is that our work will help the Rescue Mission serve 1,700,000 meals this year.

Random Thoughts from our work:

·         God often uses the little things we do (wrapping barrels, playing with kids, passing out meals etc…) as part of the bigger things He is doing…

·         So there really are no “little” or insignificant things done in the name of Jesus.

·         When you serve others, you often receive more than you give.

·         Serving others helps move you out of your own self-centered world and helps you see things differently…which is a good thing.

·         Christians should be easily recognized by our actions. (we have been identified by men and women we have come in contact with as Christian because of what we were doing and where we were doing them…we stuck out…in a good way)

Questions that get raised:

·         Why don’t we serve others more?

·         How much do we need and when is it enough?

·         Why don’t we get recognized as Christians more at home just by our actions?

·         What would it take to serve more and who would be willing to join us?

Today is our final day of ministry; we can’t believe it is almost over.  Tomorrow will be our final report for the week.  Thanks for following us and supporting us in this trip.  This website has received more hits this week than ever and I hope you have been blessed by following us…we have been blessed by serving and by your prayers and support…we definitely have felt lifted by them.  Tune in tomorrow for the final report.

This is the short video clip we took last night from our free night at the Wharf.

it's ministry day 3...here is the recap of day 2

Good day everyone, welcome to ministry day 3...before I recap day 2, here is the breakdown of our groups:

Group #1led by Jeff Nelson and Chanel Fuchigami. Students: Berkeley D, Holly T, Erin S, Tanner S, Brandon S, Zach W.

Group #2led by Jesse MacDonald and Kayla Abrott. Students: Tony L, Jamie J, Mitch O, Sierra G, Brittney J, Kai Y

Group #3led by Dave Roberts, Abby Williams and Lyndsay Headley. Students: Hudson H, Clayton C, Corbin S, Andrew B, Chad S, Kyle C, Caitlin B

If you missed it from the last post, you can see some pictures here: San Francisco Pics.

Enough with the formalities, lets get to the goods.

Our day started early at 6:15 with showers (which after not showering for a while were amazing.), breakfast, devotions and off to ministry sites.

Group #1headed off to the Salvation Army Service Center off 6th street to work in their warehouse.  The video today is one they shot.  After working hard for a few hours they went on their city search.  They were in a different neighborhood than the group yesterday, but had similar experiences.  They met some folks on the street, were given some words of wisdom and learned again that the stereotypes they held about poverty and homelessness just don't apply to everyone.  They had to work together to get food.  They learned that to be homeless would be a difficult proposition at best.

Here is that video:

Group #2 started the day with a city search.  They too were in a different neighborhood.  They hung out in Nob Hill before heading down into the Tenderloin.  They were confronted with homelessness, poverty and a lot that comes with that.  Things were hopping in the Tenderloin, especially around St. Anthony's Dining where a line of people stretched around the block.  They had to buy food, and then find a place where they could eat it.  They ended up in the Tenderloin Children's Place, a ministry providing a safe place for the children of that neighborhood (there are no parks or places for kids to be).  They were welcomed by the director, who let them eat, gave them a tour and even offered them a hot lunch.  All the students commented how it was such a place of safety and light compared to the neighborhood.  They also passed out extra sandwiches to folks on the street and even helped an old lady across the street.  After their search, they served with Project Open Hand which provides free meal service and delivery for men and women living with HIV/AIDS.  Their route was in the Tenderloin delivering to the SRO (single room occupancy) Hotels.  Their eyes were opened wide as they passed out meals in the name of Jesus.

Group #3 Went to Salvation Army Mission Corp and got to take children and their families to Target (who donated $10,000 to the Salvation Army).  Each child was given a $100 gift card so they could buy clothes and school supplies.  Each student was able to help the families get what they needed for school.  They were also able to hang out, play and have fun with the children.  It was a really cool experience.  After that, they headed to Golden Gate Bridge.  They ate lunch and walked across the bridge.  It was windy and cool, but pretty neat.  After that, they headed into the Haight/Ashbury neighborhood to do an activity called "meet a need"  they were given $20 to use to meet a need of someone on the street.  After getting over their fears, they began to meet and talk with homeless folks, and were able to buy and share a meal with a man named Otis, who shared his story with us.  We were able to tell him God loved him and he asked us to pray for him and that he loved us for showing him dignity and respect (something he never gets).  We bought a few other gift cards to McDonalds, and passed one out to a man hanging on the edge of the park.  We walked up the street and met Charlie who was a homeless artist who was painting a picture of Jesus.  He gave a few students an art lesson and shared enthusiastically with us.  Hudson H ended up praying for him and his friend right on Haight St.  It was a pretty cool time, and the students learned that if they are willing to leave their comfort zones, that some pretty amazing things can take place.

We had dinner at Aquatic Park which was gyros and felafel's's.  We then walked up to Ghiradelli Square for some ice cream before heading back to CSM for a time of debrief and worship.  It was a full day, and we definitely served, learned and had a pretty good time doing it.

Today is another full day, followed by our free night which we will be spending down on Fisherman's Wharf.  Thanks for all the comments, I have been passing them onto the students, and they love to hear from you.

It's ministry day 2...here is how yesterday went...

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening...depending on when you find yourself reading this.  Before I give you the lowdown on yesterday's ministry activities, check out the video from Sunday night's prayer tour:

(If you want, you can make the video full screen)

Yesterday was a full, first day of ministry.  We are broken into 3 groups (I will post which students are in which group tonight...i can't remember off the top of my head sorry)

Group #1: This group spent the day at Mission Corps Day Camp.  This is a day camp for poor kids run by the Salvation Army.  The students job was simple: Love Kids in Jesus name.  They did just that.  They jumped right in a played, talked, and hung out with these children.  They didn't hesitate, and really did a great job.  Many commented that they were surprised by the reaction from the children towards them.  I think they thought it would be harder to have the children accept them, but that wasn't the case.  I think there might be a lesson in there for the rest of us...sometimes you got to just get in there and start doing something, and sometimes starting is the hardest part.

Group #2 made pb&j sandwiches and headed out to UN Plaza, where they passed out sandwiches to those who wanted them.  They were able to get into some really nice conversations with a few of the homeless folks they were serving.  After they did this, they headed to Bay Area Rescue Mission Day Camp in Oakland, where they helped play with children who were part of this program.  They also jumped right in despite starting out with a little hesitency.  They too were surprised today to learn that people from all different circumstances and places in life are just people.  They have the same needs as everyone else.  One student (Kai Yoshino) commented that he thought the children would be rougher because they were inner city kids, but in the end they were just children. 

Group #3 started by going to the Salvation Army Service Center off 6th street (also known as skid row) where we helped in various ways.  We packed up materials from their to recent back to school backpack drive where they gave out 1,200 backpacks of school supplies.  We helped straighten and hang clothes for their clothing room, we put together hygeine kits...really basic behind the scenes service.  The stuff that will allow the service center to stay a little ahead in their ministry.  After a few hours there, we headed out on a city search, where we simulated what would be like to be homeless.  We had 2 dollars a piece for lunch and geographical boundaries to stay in while we met people from that neighborhood and learned about life there.  We actually pooled our money together to buy bread, pb& j and some chips.  We actually had enough to pass out extra sandwiches to hungry people in the neighborhood.  It was tough to get past some fears, but the students did a great job with it.  I think they all learned something in the end, and definitely had their eyes opened.

Here is a video from Group #3's time at the Service Center...it also ends with some footage at City Hall, where we hung out for a few minutes before dinner...oh which was Indian Food, and it was delicious.  There are also a few pictures on the flickr site, which you can get to from the sidebar.  There aren't many right now, because for two of the groups working with children weren't allowed to take any.  We will work on upping the amount of pictures taken.  I will also get the video camera to another group to get more students in action.  Thanks for your prayers and comments.  I have been passing them on to the students.

San Francisco monday morning day #1

Last night we arrive at CSM about 5:30 pm after playing at the museum for a few hours.  We got settled into our new home for the week and headed off to orientation.  After going over all the necessary rules and regulations, we piled into the vans and headed off to Vietnam II.  We enjoyed many dishes from this delicious Vietnamese restaurant.  Imperial rolls, rice, chicken, shrimp and broccoli, mongolian beef and sliced grilled pork and hot tea all made their way to our plates, cups and into our mouths.  We ate our fill of the delicious food, and then piled back into the vans for our prayer tour.

For many students they learned about the stark contrasts of those who live in abundance and those who struggle for daily survival, and how those two live in close proximity to one another, creating interesting tensions and realities.  We drove through many nieghborhoods during the hour and a half tour…stopping along the way to pray.  We drove through skid row, the Tenderloin, Nob Hill, the financial district, Lower Polk, SOMA and more…we learned to see the city as a group of people whom God loves, and whom God cares for.  We are looking for a full day of ministry tomorrow…check back to see what we did and what we learned.  Until, then check out these this video from dinner...I will try to post the one from the prayer tour when I have a bit more time.

Thanks for your prayers and support, we will continue to need it in the upcoming days.

If the video doesn't load, come back in a bit (youtube seems to be moving really slow right now)