Some Thoughts From Us...

Last project we collected thoughts from everyone on project and put several of them into a post (see Just a Few Thoughts from the Project #1 portion of the blog).  This week, we did the same thing with Project #2, asking all students and leaders on project to share a little bit about the things that they have experienced and are learning.  I hope you enjoy reading about the things we're experiencing through women's ministry, children's ministry, campus ministry, and overall team life.

I’ve really been enjoying learning from the women in women’s ministry, watching them, seeing how they interact.  For me, that’s a peaceful way to experience the culture.  I’m excited to get closer to them.  Sometimes being surrounded by a new culture is really intimidating, but I like going through that anyway.  It’s a great growing opportunity for me. –Nicole M.

Last week my small group was out shopping after a day of outreach.  We were surrounded by chaos and people.  One beggar woman tugged on my sleeve so I would look at her.  I could see so much pain and suffering in her eyes.  She never knew when her next meal would be.  It made me realize just how blessed we were to always know when we would be eating.  The only piece of food I had was some chocolate, but I gave it to her anyway.  The thankfulness in her eyes reminded me of how we should be thankful for God’s love.  –Kelsey R.


Part of the reason I wanted to come on this trip was to discover whether or not I want to pursue missions in my life.  This next year I will face big decisions for my future as I decide where to go to college and what to study.  Already I feel like God has answer that question.  I have just fallen in love with the women at Freedom House and the work we are doing there.  I still don’t know what exactly I want to do with my life, but I have definitely discovered a true passion.  Seeing the smiles on the faces of the women and singing and dancing with them has filled me with so much joy I could almost burst!  I love being able to minister to both their physical and spiritual needs, giving my testimony and Bible study, and then teaching them a useful skill.  I have already been so blessed on this trip, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.  –Sarah G.

Yesterday at women’s ministry, I really felt like I connected with the women.  There was so much laughter and joy that my face hurt from smiling.  At the end they taught us Amharic songs, and we taught them English songs.  It was a great exchange of culture and love.  Dancing with the Ethiopian girls is definitely going to be a highlight of my summer. –Masha B.

God has taught me to depend on his in these past few days.  I have been doing stuff I didn’t think I could ever do.  God has stretched me a lot, and I have learned that God is the one who does all the work.  He goes before us as we go out in ministry.  He gave me strength and courage so that I can be part of his great plan.  I have nothing to boast but boast in Jesus Christ.  He also showed me during this project that he is in total control and that he never forsakes us.  When half of the group fell sick three days ago, I felt a little hopeless.  But as we prayed, things got better and we were soon back on track.  I really learned to depend on God and got to know him more on this project.  –David

I think it was impressive when the electricity went off while we were singing worship songs, and at that moment we were singing, “when the darkness closes in Lord.”  I think it was God’s work.  –Claire L.

Today the Lord used me to evangelize the first person of my life.  Seeing the way the Lord gave me words to say was incredible.  Yibtal was excited the whole time and heaven rejoicing that this man had accepted Christ.  God works in great ways.  –Owen T.

I’ve experienced no greater joy that getting to celebrate the spiritual birth of a new sister in Christ.  I will never forget this woman who has no home here on this earth and is living with HIV but is now born again and starting a new life with Christ.  –Jessica L.

I have been thinking all day about how crazy it was that in the campus ministry teams today overall there were 64 people exposed to the gospel, and that 13 of these were saved.  It’s amazing how God can work.  –Katie H.

Going to the Fistula Hospital and seeing the movie about it really caught me off guard that even us MKs can be totally unaware of the things going on around us.  Seeing the state of these women also made me feel a longing to help make a change but at the same time feeling hopeless to do so.  –Bethany O.

This trip has truly opened my eyes to the poverty in places other than America.  The main thing that led me to understanding this happened only a few days after the project began.  Half of the team was loading onto a bus after we visited a museum when a little girl, probably no older than five, came up to the door of the bus with a small box of gum she was selling.  She was very small, probably homeless.  She looked at me, and at first, I was not extremely shaken because I had been seeing poor beggars all that day.  But then she made a longing pleading face.  I was immediately struck with a strange feeling, because when she made that face, she reminded me of my little 5-year-old sister I had left behind in Florida.  It was then that I was reminded how much me and my family had been blessed.  –Corey S.

Today after the first half of Children’s ministry, we went outside with the kids, and we were playing with a yellow ball.  When it was about time to go, one of the boys I was playing with came up to me and gave me a hug and kissed me on the check.  He was probably only 5 or 6, and I had only played with him for an hour or so.  It just shows me how God is working through us to reach these kids.  I can also see how God is working through them to touch our hearts.  –Shay C.

The reality of the intense stretching God has planned for my spiritual growth is terrifically terrifying.  With only 5 days of feeling 100%, relying on him to be my strength for my next step, courage to share my faith in a café, words to encourage a student, energy to listen to the stories of an orphan as she braids my hair.  Knowing he’s at work in my life, yet called to serve outside my comfort zone – terrifically terrifying! –Jenn S.

They have homes, smiles, laughs, and stories just as much as I do, but I think they forget.  I walk by the homeless everyday and pray for a response.  The lucky ones have what I call “90 degree angle homes.” Tarp or cloth or who knows what tied from wall to sidewalk.  What do I do?  There are so many.  Always with us are the poor, but even so, the faith of one can move mountains.  I pray I won’t forget their faces and the love of Christ is shown to them all.  –Michael M.

Every time I ride a bus, it almost brings me to tears seeing people who have almost nothing sleeping under a lonely bridge.  God has really shown me how needy people are, including orphans.  Every time I have been to an orphanage, the children just want to be loved by someone, and so I am always honored to show God’s love to them instead of my own.  I really felt that God is tugging my heart towards the children.  Playing with them is by far the highlight of my day, and that’s saying something because the food is amazing.  God is showing me how to love and share God with others.  I definitely want to come back here later on in my life.   –Josh G.