And i'd like to talk to you about something dear to my heart...
Since arriving in LA to right now, so much has happened... and to be honest, i'm pretty tired, both physically and spiritually. We've had the privilege of visiting MPower Pictures with John Shepherd and Reasons to Believe with Dr, Hugh Ross. We've also worked with Metrokidz which serves south-central LA, with School On Wheels, a non-profit organization located on Skid Row that helps tutor kids from grades kindergarden to 12th grade, and with the Dream Center, which provides spiritual and physical services to all parts of LA.
(I believe this is the part where i start talking about my experiences)
-Metrokidz
Now when you think of South-central LA, you think of crime, violence, low-income... in a nutshell, gangland. But even they're loved by an almighty God and as followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. So it was interesting as we headed on over there. Pastor Julian (who oversees Metrokidz and showed us an awesome chinese restaurant) told us about Trinity Park, which is where Metrokidz is holds their weekly gatherings for the community. It was SO crazy to hear the words "there was a shooting about two or three weeks ago here and some of the little kids got shot" come out of Pastor Julian's mouth. All i could think was "This is life. This is real. And it sucks!" But amongst all that violence, it still hasn't stopped the work that God is doing there. Kids are being fed the Word, the community is still being reached, and lives are being changed. And for that, i applaud them.
(Lesson learned: Persevere in the face of great trial)
-School on Wheels
I LOVE this place. From the staff to the students, everything was just so awesome. Now what has surprised me most about School on Wheels is the love, compassion, and the heart the staff have for the kids they tutor. Before i continue, i should say that this organization is not funded by or affiliated with any government program or CHURCH.
Now when you think of South-central LA, you think of crime, violence, low-income... in a nutshell, gangland. But even they're loved by an almighty God and as followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. So it was interesting as we headed on over there. Pastor Julian (who oversees Metrokidz and showed us an awesome chinese restaurant) told us about Trinity Park, which is where Metrokidz is holds their weekly gatherings for the community. It was SO crazy to hear the words "there was a shooting about two or three weeks ago here and some of the little kids got shot" come out of Pastor Julian's mouth. All i could think was "This is life. This is real. And it sucks!" But amongst all that violence, it still hasn't stopped the work that God is doing there. Kids are being fed the Word, the community is still being reached, and lives are being changed. And for that, i applaud them.
(Lesson learned: Persevere in the face of great trial)
-School on Wheels
I LOVE this place. From the staff to the students, everything was just so awesome. Now what has surprised me most about School on Wheels is the love, compassion, and the heart the staff have for the kids they tutor. Before i continue, i should say that this organization is not funded by or affiliated with any government program or CHURCH.
Now, i'm not saying that the staff at SOW are or aren't christian (That's not my call to make), but just seeing the love they had for the kids and the amount of faith and hope they had in the organization's mission and purpose really tugged at my heart strings. It also made me realize that we christians aren't the only ones who are making positive changes in this world. If i could be honest, i felt almost ashamed. Ashamed because i feel that i, as a confessing follower of Christ, am not making nowhere near as much of an impact as SOW is.
-Thanks, Matt & Staff at School on Wheels for all that you taught me.
i hope we see each other soon.
(so with some hugs, some laughs, meeting some awesome kids, and a newly added sense of humble-ness...)
-Dream Center
Now, for me, this was quite possibly the most challenging part of this whole mission trip. Our group went to talk and minister to people on Skid Row. Now, I've worked with some homeless people back in San Antonio, so I'm not oblivious to this type of thing. But never before have i seen such a HUGE homeless population gathered like it is on Skid Row.
-(see the previous posts for pics and more stories of how much of a challenge this was to alot of people in our group)
I was in a state of helplessness.
My thoughts raced from "how can this be?" to "why am i so blessed?" to "what can i do to help?"
Walking around the streets of Downtown LA, my heart broke. Tears were filling up my eyes. A lump was forming in my throat. i still couldn't believe that this was real. Prayer was all i could do, and even that took alot out of me.
Spiritual Warfare...
it's real, whether you'd like to believe it or not. Powers beyond the human realm.
it's mind-boggling how scary it is.
I press on, and we meet some really cool people.
(God is at work with LA. Like so many cities, this one also has imperfections. But it is not out of the reach of redemption. I truly believe that there will be a day... when the rich man and the poor man eat from the same table.)
-Needless to say, i'm constantly learning everywhere we go. This Christian life is hard with the many injustices and evils in the world.
That's why now, more than ever, we need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit....
To rely on God and His promises...
To have faith that God so deeply loved (and still loves) the world...
To pursue that faith with actions...
To love unconditionally...
And to remember the One who gave it all so that we could live.
=thank you for listening/reading.
with love,
-cArlos
-Thanks, Matt & Staff at School on Wheels for all that you taught me.
i hope we see each other soon.
(so with some hugs, some laughs, meeting some awesome kids, and a newly added sense of humble-ness...)
-Dream Center
Now, for me, this was quite possibly the most challenging part of this whole mission trip. Our group went to talk and minister to people on Skid Row. Now, I've worked with some homeless people back in San Antonio, so I'm not oblivious to this type of thing. But never before have i seen such a HUGE homeless population gathered like it is on Skid Row.
-(see the previous posts for pics and more stories of how much of a challenge this was to alot of people in our group)
I was in a state of helplessness.
My thoughts raced from "how can this be?" to "why am i so blessed?" to "what can i do to help?"
Walking around the streets of Downtown LA, my heart broke. Tears were filling up my eyes. A lump was forming in my throat. i still couldn't believe that this was real. Prayer was all i could do, and even that took alot out of me.
Spiritual Warfare...
it's real, whether you'd like to believe it or not. Powers beyond the human realm.
it's mind-boggling how scary it is.
I press on, and we meet some really cool people.
(God is at work with LA. Like so many cities, this one also has imperfections. But it is not out of the reach of redemption. I truly believe that there will be a day... when the rich man and the poor man eat from the same table.)
-Needless to say, i'm constantly learning everywhere we go. This Christian life is hard with the many injustices and evils in the world.
That's why now, more than ever, we need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit....
To rely on God and His promises...
To have faith that God so deeply loved (and still loves) the world...
To pursue that faith with actions...
To love unconditionally...
And to remember the One who gave it all so that we could live.
=thank you for listening/reading.
with love,
-cArlos
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