This conversation arose today.
This trip, I believe wholeheartedly, has been Spirit-filled and immersed, saturated and manifested with the power of prayer. Before the trip, leadership discussed what it would look like to meet in groups of three, guys with guys and girls with girls, to read scripture. It was able to become a reality about three weeks before the trip. Our goal was to read from Matthew chapter 1 to Mark chapter 7. It was beautiful. The amazing conversations and connections that were made were priceless. I got to hear people's hearts, thoughts and concerns about the texts we read together. I wouldn't trade that for anything else. We were all "on the same page" literally, before the trip and even now as I write this. I sense that there is something beautiful happening in the midst of our group. Because we are human and live in a fallen world, there are moments when all of us are not happy go lucky people. On the other hand, in spite of us, God is showing us pieces of who He is.
He is grace.
The highlight of the past two days and one of the recurring themes that keeps coming to mind is grace. We were so beautifully treated to dinner yesterday at Dodam, a Korean BBQ restaurant off S Western Ave in Koreatown (yes, this is kind of an ad placement and no, they are not paying me to type this). The people who were gracious enough to invite us, and by 'invite' I mean complete takeover of the bill, were the gracious Mr. and Mrs. Choi. The Chois work with my father and when they heard about the trip and what we were doing, they so enthusiastically wanted to buy us dinner. This was amazing.
Not only were they friendly, but they were so humble in that they wanted no attention drawn to themselves. They in turn decided to sit at a completely different table a couple of feet away from us and had their own time together. No big personality, no big jokes, but a BIG heart indeed. They work near the San Julian area (Skid Row) and were so happy that a missionary group was coming to work with the homeless that have been ignored by so many. The restaurant was one of those fancy places were they bring out the raw meat and cook the food right in front of you. Beef after pork after chicken - it was all brought out back to back with no room to breathe. The Chois were amazing.
Today, was Roni's Diner. It was, as Kevin described it, "like walking right into a family reunion". Those words rang so true the more I entertained the thought. There is, by the way, a long story of how we ended up there and why we really wanted to go, but you can ask Kevin that. I was so blessed to be there. I really did feel like a part of the family. Everyone from the owner, Mr. Roni himself, to the waitress serving us, felt like family. Mr. Roni entertained our group of twenty while his brother-in-law told us story after story about past experiences in the holocaust. They made us feel so special. We not only shared laughs but built relationships that I know will echo for a long time. So many people from the first meal we had at In and Out Burger upon arrival, till today, have been so gracious to us.
And that, is what begs the question at the beginning.
Disclaimer
Donald Miller, in his book, Blue Like Jazz, describes an inconvenient truth. He says that as Christians we are sometimes too proud for grace. We like to give to charities, but we ourselves are not comfortable with the idea of being charity. We are so used to feeling sorry for ourselves and guilty, that when something extremely good/gracious does come along, we feel bad.
Some of the most amazing moments that have happened to us on this trip are just that - God's grace. It is so large that we sometimes feel guilty for receiving it freely. God rewards because He loves us. He is amazing. He is grace.
When we sow grace, we will reap grace. That surprises us, and we don't know what do with it sometimes.
If we don't give it away, it will spoil, as with most things we reap.
in His grace,
Emmanuel Roldan
great places to eat while in LA: Dodam and Roni's Diner.
listen to "Grace" by U2Some of the most amazing moments that have happened to us on this trip are just that - God's grace. It is so large that we sometimes feel guilty for receiving it freely. God rewards because He loves us. He is amazing. He is grace.
When we sow grace, we will reap grace. That surprises us, and we don't know what do with it sometimes.
If we don't give it away, it will spoil, as with most things we reap.
in His grace,
Emmanuel Roldan
great places to eat while in LA: Dodam and Roni's Diner.
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