For you have the poor with you always,but Me you do not have always”
(Matthew 26:11).
I was privileged to go with a group from our church to downtown Vancouver, WA last night to serve our homeless population. While this is a ministry the church has been doing weekly for a few years, this was a special serve experience for our discipleship group. This was the serve experience I was privileged to do when I went through the serve experience as a group member in the spring. Last night was my turn to lead a group. It was a whole new experience getting to observe a new group of people serving the poor Jesus said would always be with us.
My husband and I continued serving monthly after our first experience, because we found it to be so moving and rewarding. There are so many things to take away from such an experience. Last night we had our first good rain of October. It was not a Northwest downpour, but it was constant and we were all soaked through by the time we were done.
Mine was not the only group there last night. We had two discipleship groups on the same night, which meant more food and more supplies we could bring to our homeless neighbors. We had tents, tarps, sleeping bags, shoes, clothing, hot coffee, water, and hot dinner with desert.
We began the discipleship experience with a devotional. I chose the Good Samaritan. Then we talked about the importance of safety and what things we should and should not do. I saw concern on a few faces after the safety talk and assured everyone we have never had a bad experience when going out to serve. I could not wait for them to get out there and be the hands and feet of Jesus. There is really nothing like meeting real needs in real time.
We arrived at our destination, opened the backs of our SUVs and prepped our totes of supplies and our pans of food. We organized our people so everyone had a job and an opportunity to meet a need personally. One dished dinner another dished desert, another topped with whipped cream, and another handed out forks and napkins. Another car had beverages and served from there.
One man brought his kids. They were a little younger than the age I was told, but there were plenty of us and I felt it was good. His little girl began to hand out plastic forks and I watched her toothless joy as she served. I looked at her father who was beaming and I said, “This is so good; most people would shield their children from them.” I could see he was deeply moved by this thought. I think I was, too.
We served until we were out of food and supply. We had a few good conversations and met a few particular needs. We returned with just a few scarves and kids gloves. We showed up with at least five cars full of people and supplies and went home with cars empty and hearts full.
We finished our devotional back at church and debriefed. I asked, “Where did you see Jesus tonight?” One man said we were Jesus as we went out and ministered to the poor; we were His hands and feet. Another man said, “Whatever you have done for one of the least of these you have done for me. They were all Jesus” (Matthew 25:40). Both men were right! We were the hands and feet of Jesus going out to meet needs. At the same time, we could see Jesus in each valuable soul knowing they are worthy of our love and sacrifice.
I didn’t even need to ask them what surprised them. They were all amazed by their homeless neighbors. Those in need – hungry and without shelter – were the example to us. Each one was so very grateful and we heard many say thank you throughout the evening. One man was moved by how they patiently stood in line knowing they were hungry and in need of warm items to carry them through the night, but no one pushed or demanded a thing. Each one who asked for a specific supply was either taken to it or they politely accepted we were out. Though we left with a promise we would make effort to have more on our next visit.
I purposely did not wear a coat. I wore a sweatshirt and jeans. I did not feel right going comfortable. I was soaked through by the time we were done. I also do not eat dinner before going, because it does not feel good to be filled and warm when they are not. I am moved by the fact I know I will be fed and warm. I know when my next meals will come and I know I have a warm shower waiting for me with a beautiful heater to make my home warm. I was most moved this time by the chill which overtook me in my wet clothes and the knowledge I had but to go home and take a shower. They still had the night to survive.
I thought back to the reasoning behind going on my first mission trip in 2005. My two main goals were to grow in spiritual maturity and to get over my spoiled American life. I wanted to know the culture shock both of going and of coming home. I got what I went for and so much more. I did get over my spoiled American life. (I also adopted my son whom I met the first day and he was immediately birthed in my heart. However, that is a much longer story for another time.)
What I realized last night, as I was considering this serve experience as a group leader, was you do not have to go on foreign missions to get over your spoiled American life. You can just go meet the needs of the poor in your own community. You can go and meet people just like you. You can go and learn there is no difference between you and realize you are never far from being where they have found themselves. Then you will find compassion welling up inside of you as you try to figure out how to meet more needs, because you found this experience was so very satisfying. It’s as if God knew what He was doing when He said through Micah, “What does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)?
We often think there is nothing we can do. We might not have the answers to fix the problems of the world, but we do have hands and feet – and we really do have time. Where will you go and what will you do to get over your spoiled American life? If you are not already serving in your community, may I suggest you find a local food pantry, soup kitchen, or homeless outreach to serve at. May I further suggest to you, while giving money and supplies is worthy and necessary, nothing will compare with letting your hands and feet be Jesus to someone in need.
When Jesus finished telling the man the parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked the man which one in the story was the beaten man’s neighbor? He replied, “He who showed mercy on him.” To which Jesus said, “Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:37).