Wonder Voyage 2010 Summer Blog

Our week here in San Francisco has come to its end. This morning the twenty-one of us (very sleepily) made our way through the outskirts of the Bay City to our flights back home. Though tired, our spirits are high because we’ve met God this week in litte surprising ways; through our work with the “least of these” in the Tenderloin, through our intentional times of prayer observed every day, or through the massive groves of ancient Redwood trees: God has met us. It is with our experiences that we look forward to new adventures and strange discoveries.

As we return to our loved ones back home, it will be hard to forget this place. This week I often heard: “Mobile and San Francisco are like two totally different countries.” This place has made its own unique impression upon us and we are better for it.

What a day! We opened our morning with prayer and an intro to today’s theme: the Desperate and Hopeless. We worked all morning and some of the afternoon at Hunter’s Point Youth Center.  We helped clean up the local park.  Since the park was started it has been a safe haven for youth but in the last few years it has been neglected. We cleared out a lot of trash and debris from the outside. The people reviving the closed center had such a vision for the ministry. From playgrounds to lunch programs to dance studios; the dreams for this center were big. The staff was so grateful for our help and hard work. The CA weather was lovely to work outside in!

Later we walked the famous Golden Gate Bridge-3.4 miles! While we were there we did a prayer walk across. God’s glory was evident throughout the bay- the hills, the mist and the water seemed like they were from a story book. We are all looking forward to another fabulous day here in lovely San Francisco.I think being here is bringing us all closer to God.

Despite their late arrival last night, my team from Christ Church from Mobile,AL shows nothing but a tireless desire to pray, to serve, and to pursue God this week. Our first day here began with serving and learning about the poor at the St Anthony Foundation. The outreach serves the neighborhood called Tenderloin, a worn and hurting part of the city, full of difficult problems and few glimpses of hope.

Later, we explored a different world as we walked through the streets of Chinatown. And our middle-schoolers came together to cook dinner for the team. It was a long day, full of surprises and challenges. But nothing seems to quell their energetic desire- they are a joy to journey with.