Challenges by Eric
Poverty and homelessness abound in this city and trying to grasp their plight and understand their life is not easy. But, we are here to serve them so we began our first day challenging our team to, in a sense, walk a mile in “their shoes.” So, today that is exactly what we did. Each student prepared the night before by sleeping in their work clothes. We began this morning early – with a challenge to accomplish three tasks. 1.) Find something useful on the streets that could assist the homeless person, raise a minimum of $5.00 USD (to donate later), and meet + build relationship with someone living without a home. Each team was bold and successful in their own unique way and blessed a “new friend” with a great lunch, conversation and a small financial gift. The students were really challenged with this assignment. Many had no idea what it was like to wander, to depend solely on self, and feel the brunt of rejection from a society who often judges a book by its cover. They were challenged when they sat down to eat and listen to the stories of the homeless – to HEAR their story and learn from their life. They realized that many of their new friends actually had something (a bit of wisdom) to give to them. They may have been physically poor but rich in other ways. It was a transformative morning and this team came through with flying colors.
After lunch we headed to Plymouth Church in Brooklyn and had a great tour from the church historian. She told us about the churches first pastor Henry Ward Beecher – an abolitionist who single handedly inspired a large congregation to participate in freeing slaves throughout the 1800’s. This church was a significant stop in the Underground Railroad and was integral in raising money and support to purchase adults and children from slavery and send them to freedom. Abraham Lincoln worshiped twice at Plymouth as did Martin Luther King Jr. One of the largest churches of its day – it is a testament of how one man can actually change the world. The students were inspired by the stories and took some time in the courtyard to reflect on what “cause” God might be calling them to stand up for in our world today. Finally, we came back home via the Brooklyn Bridge – one of the most famous bridges in the world to enjoy our “Stone Soup.” The team ended the evening with discussion in their small groups about how this day’s events impacted and inspired them.