I've recently gone on a church mission trip to Chicago. And boy, let me tell you... the world is a bigger place than I could ever have imagined. I didn't realize how sheltered I was until I set foot in a city filled with millions more people than I had even ever met.
I rode a train and a public bus for the first time. I was panicky on the bus, but the train was nice.
Anyway, every afternoon, we went to the Dr. King's Boys and Girls Club. I am not a little kid person (or any type of people person, to be honest), but... these kids, they got into my heart. The first day, I was watching Kung Fu Panda with them, and this little girl named Savannah plopped her head on my shoulder and fell asleep. We ended up becoming best friends, one would even say "chuchos." (inside joke.)
I met so many other kids. At first, I thought they all hated us. We were a group of white kids, a vast minority, considering we were the only white people in the building. It felt good to be a minority, it was a learning experience. They quickly warmed up to us. We were their friends.
In the mornings, we did other things- volunteering at an assisted living facility, a food depository, a soup-kitchen-type place, and exploring the city and learning all about it. I talked to many people of so many ethnicities, and learned some new words in other languages!
For dinners, we went to various ethnic restaurants. Puerto Rican (fired plantain sandwiches and rice), Columbian (chicken fried rice and chicken), Afghan (ground chicken, rice, pita bread, hummus, and fried things that were good), and Mediterranean (pita sandwiches and hummus). The Afghan was my favorite.
On the first day, we went on a tour of the West Side. We learned about schools closing because they were "too dark," not up to standard, too poor. We learned about people being forced to join gangs. We learned about purposeful poverty and gentrification.
What we saw made me angry.
These are people. God's children.
Some may blame God, but you know what? It's people we have to blame. God gave everyone free will; even those who abuse it. And people do abuse it. That's where poverty and homelessness come in to play. There's enough to go around, but some people keep it for themselves.
Take care of your neighbors. Take care of the people you don't think about. Look a little closer.
We saw so many homeless people, and you know what? I looked every one in the eye and said "have a good day." I didn't have money or food to give, but I offered dignity. I treated them like my equal. I wouldn't avoid them or dump a little change in their cup out of pity. I gave what I had and I can only hope I helped.
I talked to many people in the facilities we volunteered at- and lots of people who know their situations say just a conversation can bring a lot of light into their life.
People are people and people deserve love. You don't even have to do a lot, just listen. Talk to the people around you.
This trip wasn't a goal or a destination; it was a beginning. A spark. We need to light our hearts on fire, and make sure it spreads. God's love for people needs to be our love for people.
Light your world.
I rode a train and a public bus for the first time. I was panicky on the bus, but the train was nice.
Anyway, every afternoon, we went to the Dr. King's Boys and Girls Club. I am not a little kid person (or any type of people person, to be honest), but... these kids, they got into my heart. The first day, I was watching Kung Fu Panda with them, and this little girl named Savannah plopped her head on my shoulder and fell asleep. We ended up becoming best friends, one would even say "chuchos." (inside joke.)
I met so many other kids. At first, I thought they all hated us. We were a group of white kids, a vast minority, considering we were the only white people in the building. It felt good to be a minority, it was a learning experience. They quickly warmed up to us. We were their friends.
In the mornings, we did other things- volunteering at an assisted living facility, a food depository, a soup-kitchen-type place, and exploring the city and learning all about it. I talked to many people of so many ethnicities, and learned some new words in other languages!
For dinners, we went to various ethnic restaurants. Puerto Rican (fired plantain sandwiches and rice), Columbian (chicken fried rice and chicken), Afghan (ground chicken, rice, pita bread, hummus, and fried things that were good), and Mediterranean (pita sandwiches and hummus). The Afghan was my favorite.
On the first day, we went on a tour of the West Side. We learned about schools closing because they were "too dark," not up to standard, too poor. We learned about people being forced to join gangs. We learned about purposeful poverty and gentrification.
What we saw made me angry.
These are people. God's children.
Some may blame God, but you know what? It's people we have to blame. God gave everyone free will; even those who abuse it. And people do abuse it. That's where poverty and homelessness come in to play. There's enough to go around, but some people keep it for themselves.
Take care of your neighbors. Take care of the people you don't think about. Look a little closer.
We saw so many homeless people, and you know what? I looked every one in the eye and said "have a good day." I didn't have money or food to give, but I offered dignity. I treated them like my equal. I wouldn't avoid them or dump a little change in their cup out of pity. I gave what I had and I can only hope I helped.
I talked to many people in the facilities we volunteered at- and lots of people who know their situations say just a conversation can bring a lot of light into their life.
People are people and people deserve love. You don't even have to do a lot, just listen. Talk to the people around you.
This trip wasn't a goal or a destination; it was a beginning. A spark. We need to light our hearts on fire, and make sure it spreads. God's love for people needs to be our love for people.
Light your world.
