Homeless. What exactly comes to your mind when you read that word? That man at the intersection with a sign that reads ,"Have kids, need money for food?" A person walking on the side of the road, with filthy clothes, and a tired look on their face? And what exactly are your thoughts about these people? That they could get a job if they wanted to, or it was their fault they got that way? Or that they are actually lying, and are just using the money some saps give them to buy alcohol? "Well they won't get anything out of me," you think as you avoid eye contact and pray the light turns green? Well, to be honest, I used to be exactly like that. Until, my opinion changed dramatically, earlier this year.
My youth pastor mentioned in February of this year about a ministry a lady he worked with had started. A homeless ministry. Basically, they went to a park in Greensboro every Sunday morning, and served the people there sandwiches and breakfast. He asked if anyone was interesting in going one Sunday. I thought it sounded pretty cool, and not to hard, so I came up to him afterwards and told him I would like to go. A month or so passed, when we finally decided to go. To be honest, I had kinda forgotten about it when he brought it back up one Sunday, announcing that we would be meeting at the church that Sunday, at 7:15, to drive to Greensboro together and to volunteer at the ministry. Needless to say, I was quite scared at the thought of interacting with lots of people who were homeless and ( as I had pictured in my mind) scary. But I signed up anyway, figuring it would make my youth pastor happy, and would be a good deed. So, on that sunny Sunday in April, I got up way earlier than usual, got ready, and headed to church, to be greeted by a good portion of my youth group in the parking lot. As I got into the van, my stomach churned with my extreme nervousness about what was about to take place. Honestly, I was so scared, I felt like I was about to vomit. I'm the kind of person that if I don't know exactly how a situation is going to go down, I freak out. (Seriously, I do. I'm weird like that.) What was I going to say? What was I going to do? Did they expect me to get on soap box and preach the gospel? Did I have to start healing people and speaking in tongues? (Did I mention I take almost everything to the extreme?)
As we pulled up the park, I got out of the van, my legs like jello, and walked toward the massive swarm of people. I was not expecting this, at all. There were at least 100 people swarming around, laughing and talking, like it was some sort of family reunion. I had no idea what to do with myself. I am a very naturally shy person, but once I get to talk and know someone, you won't get me to shut up. This was definitely outside my comfort zone. What on earth was I doing here? I could feel my entire group thinking the same thing. We stuck to each other in a little pack, keeping our heads down, with no idea what to do. Finally, one of the ladies that was in charge, Kay, helped us out of our misery, and gave us jobs to do. I got a fantastic chance to talk to her. (well, more like listen, I kind of just nodded the whole time.) You could see her passion as she was telling me how this whole thing had gotten started, and about what a blessing and ministry it had been in her life as we passed out bags of sandwiches out of the trunk of her car, to the people in line. But what really impressed me, was that she new every single person' in that lines name. Every single one! As I looked at the smiling faces that I handed sandwiches to, I couldn't help but wonder, why were they smiling? What did they have to smile about? These people had little if no, belongings to call their own. Nothing to call home, and probably no family to turn to. I looked at them, and I saw the torn and ripped clothes on their back and thought about how this was all they had. I was completely dumbfounded and ashamed about how ungrateful I was for what I have. These people have nothing, and still smile, because of this ministry, where they can feel loved and important. My heart broke from the weight of the grief and compassion I felt for these people. I had to step to the side for a minute and wipe away the tears that began to fall. These people, were also God's chosen people. God also wants them to be saved. Not just the nice, well-off people who smile as we hand the VBS fliers, but these dirty, and extremely poor people. Certain verses kept coming to my mind that day:
"35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " (Matthew 25:35-40)
I realized these were the people God was talking about. That because we were serving God's people, we were serving Jesus himself.
As we headed back home, I thought of what a great experience that had been for me, and how I wanted to do it again and again. Everyone seemed to be bit by the same bug, and we began to go week after week, month after month, each week more fulfilling than the next. We began to bring juice boxes and fruit (let me just say, those people LOVE them some fruit!) More people from our church were getting involved, and I could feel a shift in the closeness of our group. We began to build relationships with these people, and realized they were so much more than just "homeless people." They were real. They had problems. They needed the gospel. We started to know people by name, like Eugene who was a short spit fire, who always seemed to have some sort of crazy story to tell, that went along with some moral. Or Ricky and Ronda, an extremely sweet and talented couple, who sold their drawings to make some money.(There are so many more I could name!) We started actually having friendships, and laughs along the way. It was such an incredible experience, and I realized, this was exactly was Jesus was talking about. This is what His ministry was all about. Actually getting our feet dirty, and getting uncomfortable. This, was the a huge part of the gospel.
Give me Jesus,
Emily Grace
