Alright, so, apparently this blogging thing is something that I'm kind of good at, so I'm going to give it another shot. :]
Late last week I found out I'm going to New York City this June to work with Hope For the Future Ministries. It will be my third time doing mission work with them, as well as my second mission trip with my sisters and fourth with my daddy! SUPER EXCITED! :D haha. Every time I go on a mission trip, it feels like it's my very first time...nothing excites me more than actually living out my faith! Working with the homeless and the less fortunate holds an extra special place in my heart; seeing how grateful they are for everything they have just tugs at my heart, but sharing the love of Jesus with them makes my heart burst with joy. :]
I remember the first time I went to NYC on a mission trip...I had just finished my freshman year in highschool, and I was super duper excited to a.) finally go to New York!! b.) work with the homeless, and c.) get to know my youth group a little better. Boy, was I in for a shock. Nothing could ever prepare you for the overwhelming sense of comradery throughout the homeless community...it was amazing. God did things that week that we thought were impossible, but, once again He proved that NOTHING is impossible with Him.
Last year was my second time going, and it was just as wonderful as the first, although bittersweet. It was the last trip the youth group took before our youth minister moved to Ohio, so we cherished that week even more. Helping Pastor Dianne Dunne (she runs Hope For the Future Ministries, and is an AMAZINGLY AWESOME woman of God) and learning from her was one of the most amazing expierences I've ever had, and I'm totally looking forward to doing it again this summer! :]
A while ago, HFFM was torched by arsenists, completely destroying everything in the warehouse, so we spent the majority of the trip last year doing as much as we could to somewhat get things moving in a positive direction. The guys (and even some of us girls!) put up drywall and painted inside, while the rest of us scrubbed crates and cooked the meals we were going to serve the homeless in the evenings. I wouldn't trade those memories for the world. <3
Serving the homeless in New York City is QUITE an experience, let me tell you. One of the most memorible times that week was when we set up in Tompkins Square Park, and had "church without walls;" a service we put together for the homeless community. Some girls from the youth group lead worship, and everybody shook tambourienes and rain sticks, people were dancing and singing and praising God everywhere; even people who were walking through the park stopped for a minute or two to see what was going on! After the worship portion, my father preached to the people. It. Was. Powerful. You could hear a pin drop; the intensity of the people listening and the looks of genuine interest in what my father had to say was overwhelming. Afterwards, we handed out food and supplies, and the bonding that took place between me, the youth group, Pastor Dianne, and the homeless that week will ALWAYS be something I hold dear in my heart.
WELL. I feel like I typed a stinkin novel, so I suppose I'll leave you with these final words; God can use you no matter who you are, even a little 15 or 16 or 17 year old girl from Pittsburgh. He gives us Hope For the Future (see what I did there?? lol) to continue spreading his love to those who need it the most...even the homeless and the less fortunate. So just Hold On, He's got a plan for you. :]
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