When I was flying to
Now that I am beginning my fourth week here in 
One situation, on Thursday night, was my encounter with Eddie, a homeless man. He had fallen and cut his head pretty badly that night and was sitting helpless on the sidewalk as we walked by. Some of us on the team were able to stop, help him stand up, clean the blood off of his face, and walk him to where he needed to go. We had a long conversation with Eddie as he hobbled down the streets. He told us where he was from, why he was on the street, and he had the occasional wild story to tell as well. While we were walking with him, I kept wondering if it was a wise decision to do this – I knew that helping random people on the street at night was not particularly safe. I didn’t feel at ease until he started stalling us from leaving right before we said our goodbyes – I realized at that moment what Eddie wanted was not so much our help but our company. I think that he is a very lonely man, and the tiniest bit of sacrifice and compassion that we showed him was a warm blanket wrapped around a man who has experienced long nights in cold and solitude. I thank the Lord for putting him in my path.
Another situation occurred after church this past Sunday. While I was talking to people after service, I noticed a younger man that I hadn’t met yet. I walked over to him and introduced myself. He told me his name John, and instantly I could sense that something was bothering him. I sat down in the pew in front of him and I began to have a conversation with him hoping to get at what was noticeably troubling him. Quickly, John began telling me about the struggles he is having in believing that God truly loves him. He opened up about his past, his attempts at suicide, his struggles with the Christian faith – all the while my heart was wrenching to hear this. I prayed, while listening to him, that the Lord would impress something upon me to say to him. All I could encourage him with is the fact that God is full of love, quick to mercy, and restores our hope. I left him with those words and the promise that I would pray for him – I’m trying to stay in contact with him too. I’m thankful that God allowed me to spot him at the end of service.
On my flight over, I was giving thanks for what was easy to see and was effortless to enjoy. Now I’ve noticed that God has orchestrated things so that people who are in need have come along my path at times when I hadn’t expected it. These people are the answers to my prayers – my prayers petitioning for the Lord to use me to reach people. I’ve realized that it has taken less of my reach and more of His hand to answer those prayers, and for that I am so grateful. I’ve moved from whispers of thanks to shouts of great joy. Thank you Lord!!
These are just two of the many things that God has been doing here. This past weekend I also attended a Christian conference led by Marva Dawn, a theologian who has written several books on worship. She raised some interesting points on the importance of community and being mindful of the poor. On Sunday our team was able to lead the congregation in three worship songs – the last two Sundays we had only done one song. Today I went to 
I leave you with the chorus to Falling Slowly from the movie Once. Once won an academy award this past year for best original song, and it was filmed here in
Take this sinking boat
And point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice
You had a choice
You’ve made it now
Lord we come to You as broken vessels and realize that we have no guide, no hope, and no god like You. We ask that you still lead us in our remaining time here in
Luke
