Thoughts and stories.....

Insights from a Prayer Walk by Kameron Toews
Yesterday was prayer walking day. I went with Cha Chi and Stacy and some Wheaton students. We stopped to talk with 2 people on their porch. In their 60s, they gave us some neat insights and stories. Miss Scott was such an exciting lady. I couldn’t help but smile as she told us about her life and how God fit in the story of her life. I’ll take away the excitement that Miss Scott had for the Lord. Then we heard from her neighbor Jerold. Although he had some health problems through his life, he appreciated each day and was open to help who ever needed it. His humble, loving attitude was inspiring. The southern culture in centered around community as seen by every house having a front porch and people playing cards on the sidewalks. I think this is how a Christian community should look, living in community and openly sharing what God has done in their lives.

Hope for Hector by Brittni Donahue
On Monday, a Hispanic man who spoke very little English approached one of the groups and asked if he could work with them because he needed to do community service. He came the next day to work and was placed in our group. Morgan and I are both Spanish minors, so we decided to try to talk to him in Spanish. We found out that his name is Hector, he’s from Honduras, and he’s been in the United States for 5 years. He could understand English a lot of the time, but was unable to speak it. We asked him if he attended church and he said that he didn’t know of any. We told him about Castle Rock Community Church and about their services, one of which was an adult bible study that was meeting that night. We were able to connect him to people in the church who could provide transportation for him to the next town, as he didn’t have a car that he was able to drive. He worked very hard, and at the end of the day we asked if we could all pray with him, which he consented to. After that he asked again about the Bible study and said he would come. Tre, the worship leader at Castle Rock, got his phone number in order to stay in contact. Hector did come to Bible study that night, and Morgan and I were able to talk to him and give him a Gideon’s New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs in Spanish that Charissa had brought along. At the end of Bible study, we asked Hector if he knew Jesus, I said that Jesus was my best friend and loved us very much, and Morgan said that Jesus was her life. We don’t know how all of the events of the day and our words affected his heart, but we could tell he was appreciative of what we had done for him. We could definitely see God orchestrating the events, putting us in the right place at the right time, providing the Spanish Bible and Bible study that night, and working through our limited Spanish skills. We’re so thankful that we were able to minister to him and that he made the connections to Castle Rock. It was so amazing to see God work, and all the glory goes to Him.

Bring It Messiah by Erin Doyle
On Wednesday we went to the Projects to do Challenge Circle with the local kids. Two kids there really touched my heart. The first touched my heart and it made me happy, she was a little girl named Leah. At first Leah was pretty quiet and would only answer my questions with one word answers, but by the end of out time, she was wild, excited, and very talkative. Before we took off to go back to the Yellow House, she and I raced from here to there and back. She won the first race, the second time was my win, third we tied, and 4th she won. Before the 4th race she said “Let’s go one more time for the prize! The prize is… the prize is a HUG!” (so cute!). She won and said “Okay! I’m ready for my hug now!” We embraced and I swung her around & around, and she felt love and expressed such joy, and I felt it too! How much love gets shown to her? Does she have a good family? Is she this happy at home? Does she live in a family that loves the Lord? Please keep Leah in your prayers. The second kid was a boy named Coreo. He was a different story. I am sad for him. I am worried for him. To be honest… I am frightened for him and of him. He is 7 years old. He would swing his fists at me they guys, and even at the other kids. The way he talked to us was extremely rude and hostile. When a guy in a yellow shirt walked by across the stree, Coreo looked at me and said, “You see that guy? He’s my… he’s my friend.” In a weird way… like this guy was a gang leader that Coreo was a member of. AT SEVEN YEARS OLD! Some people encouraged his actions saying, “Oh! He’s so cute!” NO!! That is not cute. That is the crazy ending to a movie about gangs. I have this vision that Coreo gets shot at his young age in a drive-by. But… it’s not a movie. It’s real life. Real life. Please pray for him that God would work in his life and show him love and joy. Pray that God will give him a male figure that he can look up to as a role model. Pray that God will transform his life! Pray that love will shower down on Coreo and Leah. Bring it Messiah.

Through our service project this week I have developed a greater meaning about mission trips. Our work this week included raking leaves, picking up garbage, and mowing lawns. While these improvements did bring a temporary face lift to the street that is what they are: temporary. In a few short months more leaves will fall, more garbage will be left behind, and the grass will grow and grow…and grow. Years from now people from this New Orleans neighborhood won’t be looking at our “projects” and saying ‘Look at what Northwestern did, they were super.’ However, these work projects have allowed us to talk to many people and show others that we, and most importantly God, cares about them and their situation. Through us being there and serving the community it will hopefully inspire the residents in these communities to take some pride and initiative in their communities. Our rakes and shovels have now evolved from landscaping tools to tools of discipleship. Corrine Muyskens

Prayer Walk Take 2
By Sarah Lichter
Like Kameron, I went on a prayer walk yesterday as well. We walked around the neighborhood and prayed for a little while. It was amazing to see the neighborhood in different parts of reconstruction. On one block there was a house that had windows broken out and was completely run down. Right next to this house there was a new house frame being built that is sure to become a beautiful home. Right across the street from these houses is a ball park that has been kept up nicely as well. It was really encouraging for me to see just how God was rebuilding this neighborhood despite everything it has been through. We also walked past a place where volunteers can come in and garden and make the neighborhood look a little nicer. We got to talk and pray with Ronald who had a large section of his own garden in this center where he grew things like blackberries, pomegranates and grapes. Ronald told us about how the section where his garden is now, was completely filled with trash in January. Ronald was so grateful that we had come and talked to him and that we cared about the community in which he lived and worked. Moral of this story: God has a way of giving you encouragement when you need it and gives you people to talk to who can be built up and will build you up.