I still consider myself the newbie on our Mission and Music Ministry Trips (I guess you can see I have dropped the word TOUR as I feel it is somewhat misleading when it comes to describing what we really do and accomplish on these trips)..anyway,..I have learned quickly in the past two trips that God is waiting for us to show up somewhere....and when we find HIM...the blessings are going to be BIG. In fact, I have also learned that our encounters will be many...often where we least expect Him. I think you already see where I am heading...and YES...we had a big encounter with God today.
The photo on this page is BEFORE we began work at Street Reach Mission here in Myrtle Beach. The manager who had worked with Brian was away and the regular staff were a bit overwhelmed when 40 of us stepped off the bus ready to go to work. Even so, we began to peel off in smaller groups to begin our work. On the outside it was a much needed weeding of their vegetable garden, emptying 12 trash cans on their property, picking up trash along with about a 1000 cigarette butts! Meanwhile the inside crews had 90 vinyl floor mattresses to clean and sanitize, bathrooms to scrub, floors to sweep and mop, and some general sprucing up to do. Still, the staff struggled to find enough for us to do and I began to question the value of our being here. (BIG MISTAKE.....when will I ever learn that God is not asking for a big "spotlight....look at me stuff"?)
While working we noticed men and women segregated into small groups outside having Bible Study. Everyone we saw had a story...you could see it on their faces. As I was outside supervising, a man who looked pretty haggard walked up to me and said he noticed on the bus we were from Mount Holly. He recognized me as a teacher in Mount Holly and I remembered his son. Soon his story began to spill out....loss of job a Freightliner....moving to the beach to find work and live with in-laws.....a wife who left him.....in-laws who were very abusive with alcohol and were dragging him down the same path....depression over loss of wife....and finally a small voice that told him he had to leave and get away from his alcohol abuse. He has now been with Street Reach for about three months and is living in the dorm. He has no car and his wordily possessions fit into his one large duffle bag. Street Reach has now placed him in a job, takes him to work each day, provides shelter and food while he saves his money to become independent again.
With HIS blessings upon me, I turned to go back inside where we prepared for lunch and our concert. I worked to help move our youth through as quickly as possible as we were placed in front of the residents who lived here. I continued to look into their eyes and could see God's work in their lives. Yes, each person's face had a deeply sad story locked inside, but whenever I would speak to one of them their face would light up, they would smile, and then thank us for coming. We quickly finished eating and prepared for our concert. We sang our first song and when we finished we received a HUGE round of applause with shouts of amen and alleluia. This sea of sad faces were now bright and shining with love and appreciation as we administered God's hope through our music. THE BIG ENCOUNTER WITH GOD HAD BEGUN!
So, what is the rest of the story? How did it end? What will happen when we return on Tuesday? For the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say)...ask any of our youth. The story will be in their hearts ready to be shared with you.
The photos will tell you about the rest of the day....unfortunately the internet service is worse than ever. I have been uploading 235 photos for you for the past hour....so far...only two uploads. You may need to return here later for the photography. When you can count 233 photos...you will know you have seen them all!
Oh yes...we DID see dolphins on our Dolphin Watch Cruise this evening
Grace and peace,
Mr. G
Day 4 Photography
PS: To leave your thoughts and comments on this blog...just click each day's heading and open
The photo on this page is BEFORE we began work at Street Reach Mission here in Myrtle Beach. The manager who had worked with Brian was away and the regular staff were a bit overwhelmed when 40 of us stepped off the bus ready to go to work. Even so, we began to peel off in smaller groups to begin our work. On the outside it was a much needed weeding of their vegetable garden, emptying 12 trash cans on their property, picking up trash along with about a 1000 cigarette butts! Meanwhile the inside crews had 90 vinyl floor mattresses to clean and sanitize, bathrooms to scrub, floors to sweep and mop, and some general sprucing up to do. Still, the staff struggled to find enough for us to do and I began to question the value of our being here. (BIG MISTAKE.....when will I ever learn that God is not asking for a big "spotlight....look at me stuff"?)
While working we noticed men and women segregated into small groups outside having Bible Study. Everyone we saw had a story...you could see it on their faces. As I was outside supervising, a man who looked pretty haggard walked up to me and said he noticed on the bus we were from Mount Holly. He recognized me as a teacher in Mount Holly and I remembered his son. Soon his story began to spill out....loss of job a Freightliner....moving to the beach to find work and live with in-laws.....a wife who left him.....in-laws who were very abusive with alcohol and were dragging him down the same path....depression over loss of wife....and finally a small voice that told him he had to leave and get away from his alcohol abuse. He has now been with Street Reach for about three months and is living in the dorm. He has no car and his wordily possessions fit into his one large duffle bag. Street Reach has now placed him in a job, takes him to work each day, provides shelter and food while he saves his money to become independent again.
With HIS blessings upon me, I turned to go back inside where we prepared for lunch and our concert. I worked to help move our youth through as quickly as possible as we were placed in front of the residents who lived here. I continued to look into their eyes and could see God's work in their lives. Yes, each person's face had a deeply sad story locked inside, but whenever I would speak to one of them their face would light up, they would smile, and then thank us for coming. We quickly finished eating and prepared for our concert. We sang our first song and when we finished we received a HUGE round of applause with shouts of amen and alleluia. This sea of sad faces were now bright and shining with love and appreciation as we administered God's hope through our music. THE BIG ENCOUNTER WITH GOD HAD BEGUN!
So, what is the rest of the story? How did it end? What will happen when we return on Tuesday? For the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say)...ask any of our youth. The story will be in their hearts ready to be shared with you.
The photos will tell you about the rest of the day....unfortunately the internet service is worse than ever. I have been uploading 235 photos for you for the past hour....so far...only two uploads. You may need to return here later for the photography. When you can count 233 photos...you will know you have seen them all!
Oh yes...we DID see dolphins on our Dolphin Watch Cruise this evening
Grace and peace,
Mr. G
Day 4 Photography
PS: To leave your thoughts and comments on this blog...just click each day's heading and open