Wednesday and Thursday!

Good Morning from the South Side!

The kids are up and at their work sites for another morning of serving! Yesterday they worked hard...it was 90 degrees and hot but between bringing them some Gatorade and popsicles, and their positive attitudes, they were troopers and served so well. I continue to get amazing feedback from adult leaders at the work sites about your kids. The assistant principal at one of the schools said she wants to clone the lot of them because they are so awesome.

We rode the El-Train yesterday from the south side to the north side and back. Students came back energized to share their stories about who they met with. I haven't seen this group more enthusiastic about sharing! It was awesome....and they are hilarious.

Last night Joel again blessed our team with his teaching. He taught about the history that has shaped the economic and racial realities of the neighborhoods and suburbs of Chicago. I know that this word enriched our team's understanding of Woodlawn and of Chicago and Minneapolis.

Our students are wrestling with the reality of injustice. My continued prayer for them is to grow in their understanding of the character of God, that He is just and that He deeply loves all people. I pray that as His followers we would grow more in our compassion for the things that matter to God. As Christians, what is our response to injustice? I am praying for our students to begin to see what that could and would look like for them.

Keep praying...God is at work in the hearts of our team.

Lauren


Here are some thoughts from a few of our students! More to come!

Hey Chicago Families,

              This week has been really incredible. The homeless meal share has been extremely eye opening and it touched my heart. I met a man named Jason who told me and my group members how he got to where he is. Jason survived Hurricane Katrina but lost everything, including his family. Jason was bused to Chicago to start over. It was hard to hear his story and not be able to help as much as I would’ve liked to. Before my group left we asked Jason if he was a believer. He said kind of, but there is too much on his mind.  He allowed us to pray with him and for him, and I ask that everyone else pray for Jason too. God opened my eyes to how blessed I am and how corrupted this world is. He showed me the downside of free will this week, and I pray I never forget it.

See you soon,

Chloe S

Hello Loved Ones,

              This week has been amazing. I have been with a group of others working at Living Hope Church. The 9 of us worked together to achieve what needs to be done. So far we have cleaned and organized the basement, put up curtains, move sheets of scrap metal, and so much more. My favorite part of the work is working with others because most of the students in the group I know but haven’t talked to in a while and it great seeing us communicate the way we do. Times flies fast when you’re working hard. I’ve enjoyed this experience doing these tasks and lending out helping hands. Memories were made that I will always remember and working skills that will have for the rest of my life.

Love from Chicago,

Mari M

Hello to everyone back at home, my family, and especially my favorite birthday boy brother! J

This trip has been absolutely amazing and so much fun. I am working in Dulles School with the elementary school kids, weeding, setting up for activities, and most of all, playing with the kids at recess. It is a nearly 100% African American school, and I have completely fallen in love with the young children that climb on us, hug us, and tell us they love us every day. I wish this trip was longer because it’s so eye opening! The homeless meal share ended up being a great experience and the El train, although we all had funny stories to tell at the end, was also really cool. God is doing so much within our group and within our hearts as well. He’s helping me see and love everyone the way He does, particularly the African American community. I could go on forever about how amazing the whole experience is and how I kind of don’t want to go home (sorry mom….)! I’m feeling God pulling me toward mission work in my future and I can’t wait to see what else he can do in the next 2 days as well. To anyone worried about us here, please know that we are doing so great and have countless laughs, smiles, and make amazing memories every day.

I love you, mom, dad, Noah, Gabriella, and Jonah!

Soraya W

Hi Mom, Dad, Nathan, and Meghan

I’m having a great time in Chicago so far. I can’t wait to get back home to see you guys and tell you about my experience. Right now I am working on the gardening team. I am with a great group of people and I am having a lot of fun. Last night Joel talked about the history of the city. He talked in such a way that I got a completely new perspective about what Chicago is really like. I love and miss you guys!

Matthew M

Hi Chicago Families,

This week has been so amazing so far.  The people here at Sunshine are incredible to work with and so fun to hang out with and talk to. One of my favorite experiences so far was our El-train experience we had on Wednesday.  I shared such amazing conversations with a few people on the train.  The majority of the people were so willing to talk and loved making conversation.  One women named Shannon opened up a lot about her life.  She moved out of her house when she was 15 and just traveled around the country and had a bunch of random jobs as she went.  Eventually she moved close to her father and uncle in Arizona and sadly they influenced her to do drugs and she spent 20 years of her life addicted.  Eventually she moved back to Chicago where her mom lives and wanted a closer relationship with her mom so she quit drugs so she could be clean for her mom.  She has been clean for about 5 years and is so happy she made the decision to quit.  Now Shannon and her mother have an amazing relationship, in fact when we saw her she was coming back from the airport because she was on vacation with her mother in Mexico.  We enjoyed hearing all of her stories from vacation and advice about not falling into peer pressure.  How Shannon and her mother were able to become so close again reminds me of how God is always there to love you and forgive you no matter what you have done.  I will never forget the awesome conversations I have had this week, and I praise God for this incredible opportunity that I have to be on this trip and experience Chicago in such a unique way. 

-Olivia L