Perception. This has been the theme for my Atlanta trip experience, and on many levels I definitely needed to mature in this area. Walking in the shoes of others with empathy is something that we as Christians are called to do and this trip has tested every aspect of it, and thankfully God opened my eyes. This is in fact my first mission trip and I definitely had predestined fears and ideas about the people that I would encounter. But why? This trip taught me the fact that all the people that I served, and served with are God’s children, and that ALL on the earth are made in the image of God. I’ve seen The Lord through the children from King Elementary and the middle school simply because these kids and young adults have a voice that is valid and important. They have tangible dreams and ambitions that need to be nurtured and even if it was for just a few hours I’m so glad that our group could be such a positive influence. I’m also just so grateful that God softened my heart for the homeless and the poor as well. God calls us to be concerned for that who are in need and be a blessing to all so we can emit the goodness of God. Proverbs 29:7 had been a verse of reference that I had been meditating on in accordance to working with the homeless. All in all, I’ve learned that even we Christians “that accept everyone” can be judgmental and choose who we want to bless. Pretty backwards. Jesus hung around the ones who weren’t popular in the eyes of the public because He understands that we are all kin. I strive to love more like him.
Words can’t describe how excited I was to be a part of this mission trip, my second time on one. I have so much to say but will only mention a few things. There was never a dull being in Atlanta. We went to the Civil and Human Rights Museum that was breath taking. I learned so much from the international section; what really got to me was the touch screen and you got to hear all kinds of stories from different people around the world. I chose a woman that was from Iran she was basically forced to be married to her cousin at the age of 15, by her father. I could not imagine what it would be like if my father did that to me. Another section where it had the White and Colored side of how they experience different lives. I was amazed of how everything was from the TV set with different channels, the place where you sat down and heard people saying harsh words that were very powerful. The next day we went to the King’s Center where it gave history about Martin Luther King and other people that helped alone the way. What really stood out to me was that they gave a lot of credit to Coretta King knowing that we usually don’t hear about her. I learned so much of what she did and how she stood by her husband’s side. She was a strong lady and even with all the negative things happening in her relationship and children she was still faithfully. I also enjoyed the church he had preached as well. While sitting there, they played a sermon by him and I could just imagine him in front of me. I took that all in and enjoyed every moment. I was able to go to The Gateway Center that people were affected by housing insecurity it was amazing hearing Mr. Benjamin and Ms. Beck stories of their experiences and how they overcome their situations. I help by doing their manicures and just talking to people which really stood out to me because I was nervous about what to say to them and hopefully not saying the wrong thing. But taking a step back, I became natural and met a lot of good people there. A person who really stood out to me was named Austin he gave me good wisdom and encouragements to continue school and not to give up on anything, that I can get my degrees and I can make it in this life and that it is okay for me to change my major if it’s not going to make me happy. Throughout this trip I learned more about being flexible, listening and just being able to show my light to those around me that God has given me. I am so thankful for the team I worked with I enjoyed the love and talks: may me feel that God is always there for his people.
This mission trip to Atlanta really made me appreciate the life I have a little bit more and the experiences in which I will never forget. Talking to the housing insecure gave me insight on things they wished or are doing to get their lives together. It made me put thing into perspective and want to achieve more than average and want to give back what was learned.
Denzell White Coming to Atlanta, Georgia was definitely an eye opener. It taught me to be intentional and inclusive as a Christian. Before I came on this mission trip, I just thought that to be a Christian was to just show forth Christ to the world. But, I got so caught up in the “Holiness” that I was leaving behind a whole lot of people who needed to get closer to God. I forgot how to be human and that caused a barrier to be put up between myself and others who did not have a relationship with Christ as I do. I was so heavenly minded that I was no earthly good. And, it was not in the sense of, “I’m holier than the next person”. But, more so, putting people and things into two categories, “Godly” and “Not Godly”. Therefore, anything or anyone who was not “godly” I did not participate in or engage in. I literally set myself apart. After coming here and going out to serve the less fortunate, children, visiting the MLK center, Civil Rights and International Rights center and going to the World Market taught me that I as a Christan have to be like Christ, the Christ that walked the earth and met people where they were. What I took from this trip is that to be a follower of Christ, you have to be willing to go out and engage culture. Engaging culture as a Christian is the bridge to bringing someone that much closer to Christ.
-Shawn Janey |
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