Kids really do "get it"

What a day yesterday!  Our Mission Trip isn't one that takes us very far from home, but that's apparently where God would have us.  Over the past two years we have practically begged people to take us on, "Do you have any work that needs to be done?" we ask.  I know it sounds strange, but it is most certainly true, that the place we end up, the place that seems to need us in Cherry Street Missions in Toledo.  We can barely get a return phone call from anyone else.  Chicago (check!)  Columbus (check!)  No one needed us so we kept looking (at least they didn't want to bother getting the details worked out.)  This is our second year, looks like it's going to stick.

What most impresses me about these kids is that they get it at some very gut level.  They can be fairly crazy most days, they named their youth group DIRT after all (an acronym that now stands for Disciples in Reality Training- had to make it mean something and it does. . . we are human, we came from ashes/dust/dirt and we are in training for what is ultimately real. . . discipleship, following Christ.)  When they get together their favorite game is wild and wonderful musical chairs which usually ends up in a race around the church fellowship hall (with all the adult roaring in laughter!)  The way they dished up food, the way they delivered it to the men and women at the tables, was extraordinary.  Such grace, such maturity.  The employees at the mission even commented about how the kids were willing to take the trash out, clean the floors, wash the dishes. . . they didn't quit after the food was served.  So Cool!

So today we will have another adventure.  They are learning some really important things about life and some even more important things about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, a servant of Christ.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Let us be the bread for the hungry, the water for the thirsty of this world. Amen.