Serving School on Wheels

We have had an amazing and wonderful time serving the School on Wheels program. We were able to make friends with the staff and directors as well as connect with the students in this program. Staff members seemed amazed at our willingness to go through such efforts in order to serve them and the children. It was our goal to show them the love of Christ, who also served the "least of these." Throughout the Gospels, Jesus went out to people and cared for them, especially those who couldn't care for themselves such as children and widows. Jesus says in Mark 9:37, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Jesus makes it clear in this verse that we are to welcome children into our lives and share with them the love of Christ. This is one of the many reasons, and probably the most important reason, for coming to LA, to show Christ's love to children who come from such impoverished backgrounds, filled with grief, despair, and pain. The very children we have interacted with have been deprived of some of life's most important necessities, such as having food to eat, a good quality education, a consistent background of love and support from their families, as well as a relationship with Christ. One of our students even had the opportunity to meet with a child who essentially was mute. Today (Friday) was the birthday of one of the students in School on Wheels as well as Sunday. As a result, we threw a small birthday party for both students. We all decorated the school with balloons and ribbons, signs saying "Happy Birthday," and bought a birthday cake for both students. We also had the chance of buying Chinese food for lunch for all the staff of School on Wheels and for ourselves to celebrate all of the work that was accomplished. In addition to interacting with the children, we were able to help the School on Wheels become organized and prepared for their upcoming move to a larger building in Skidrow, which is necessary to the continued growth and development of this program.

Everyone was touched by God and taught valuable Spiritual lessons, such as greater dependency and faith in God, not having or developing a sense of self-righteousness (which most of us are guilty of including myself), and a sense of humility as Christ was humble and was willing to serve the "least of these" even though He was the Son of God.