LA Mission Trip 2009
Our day began extremely early as we all met at the airport at 5am. Everything went smoothly and we all made it through security in great time. However, while going through security we all remembered how important it is to check the contents of our bags and suitcases before the guards inspect them. One of our team members, Isaiah Toews shocked all of us as security officials pulled a knife out of his backpack and asked him to explain himself. Apparently he had left it in there from the previous youth canoe trip and had forgotten about it. Isaiah told them that they could keep it and that he didn’t want it anymore. The guards confiscated the knife and told him that he was able to proceed to our gate. Isaiah and the leaders were able to laugh about this afterwards…Isaiah’s laughter of course had more than a bit of nervousness.
Through this – Cory Bell kept confiding in the leaders that he needed to buy some shoes. One of CSM’s rules is no shorts and no open toed shoes. (An extension of that rule is no gang colors – bright red, purple or blue…) The rest of our morning and early afternoon was spent in airports, getting our rental vehicles and spending some time at Olvera street (one of the historic areas in LA with rich in Mexican culture) in Los Angeles while waiting for the CSM staff to arrive to let us into the housing site. For those following at home – Cory was still … shoeless.
We had some amazing Indian food for dinner and then CSM’s leaders told Cory if he wanted to go – he should go now but hurry back for the guided prayer tour of the city. Lyle and Cory left – Lyle had to drive because Cory wasn’t old enough – and they made it back in record time. As Cory got out of the van to try and open the gate to the compound Nikkie - one of CSM’s leaders approached from the other side, and immediately began shaking her head in mock disappointment (and began to laugh) at Cory’s shoe choice. Bright blue…the Crips signature color…
Shortly after we left for the guided prayer tour of the city. The vans were completely silent while we drove through a variety of areas in Los Angeles and witnessed a homeless population that outnumbered what we could count. People living in tents, sleeping on concrete – even pushing baby carriages around with their children. At the end of the tour our entire group stood in front of city hall. Our hosts invited us to lie on the concrete and to experience, even if it was for 5 minutes, what a homeless person lives with in LA. The entire group lay on the concrete while praying for those who are far less fortunate than us.
We then sat in circles to debrief the evening. Students shared how they felt so “lucky” or “blessed” to have what they have at home. There was an air of anticipation that this will be a good week and that as a team we can come together to make just a small difference in the lives of some of the kids that we will work with tomorrow. Continue to pray for safety and that as we are an extension of God’s love and grace that we too will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Next Service
- Sunday, September 12th
- 9:30 AM & 11:15 AM
- Setting Our GPS: GET GOD!
- Dave Ens
