Mystery Overnighter-Life As A Homeless Person
This past Friday night (October 24th), 8 members of Lost & Found Youth Ministry experienced a life lesson they'll not soon forget. They attended a "Mystery Overnighter" at First Assembly of God Church and experienced life as a homeless person. After a few snacks and games to begin the evening, students were instructed to empty their pockets of everything they were carrying and also to remove all jewelry and watches before heading outside for an "outside activity." Once outside, Pastor Darryl shared a devotion with them around a small fire and then he announced the big news that from that moment on, they were locked outside for the evening and each of them was now a homeless person. Also, they would each be sleeping over night in a cardboard box. After reality set in, each student was given their own washer/dryer cardboard box and they had to prepare for bed (parents were informed of our plans prior to the event so they knew what to have their kids pack). They slept in sleeping bags or blankets inside their boxes. When we woke up in the morning, we had breakfast at a local fast food restaurant and then went to visit a local homeless shelter.
It's really amazing how God used little things throughout our experience to add to the reality of the life lesson. After breakfast when we were leaving to visit the homeless shelter, our van wouldn't start. Many people have had vehicle trouble which meant they couldn't go to work, which led to the loss of a job, which led to the loss of their home and before you know it, their homeless. We had to be rescued by a student's dad who took Pastor Darryl to the church to get the other van. On our way home from the shelter, we stopped so we could try to start the van one more time and after it failed to start we were getting ready to leave when a man (homeless) approached Pastor Darryl wanting to talk for a minute. Since then, our church has helped him by providing him with hotel stay and a gift certificate for groceries. Again, I'm just in awe at how God added little realities to our experience to make it all the more real to us. The entire experience held important lessons for all of us. We need to be aware of the things that truly matter in life and we need to be thankful for all that we have, taking nothing for granted. Thanks to all the parents who entrusted their kids to Lisa and I for a most memorable night and thanks to our students who attended. We really do love all of you and didn't do this for any other reason except to show you that what most of us experience on a "bad day" doesn't even compare to how some people live each and every day of their lives.
Watch our website for pictures of this event coming soon.
www.geocities.com/lostandfoundyouthministry/pdh.html
God's blessings until next time,
:)
"As you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me."
A quote from Jesus found in Matthew 25:40
It's really amazing how God used little things throughout our experience to add to the reality of the life lesson. After breakfast when we were leaving to visit the homeless shelter, our van wouldn't start. Many people have had vehicle trouble which meant they couldn't go to work, which led to the loss of a job, which led to the loss of their home and before you know it, their homeless. We had to be rescued by a student's dad who took Pastor Darryl to the church to get the other van. On our way home from the shelter, we stopped so we could try to start the van one more time and after it failed to start we were getting ready to leave when a man (homeless) approached Pastor Darryl wanting to talk for a minute. Since then, our church has helped him by providing him with hotel stay and a gift certificate for groceries. Again, I'm just in awe at how God added little realities to our experience to make it all the more real to us. The entire experience held important lessons for all of us. We need to be aware of the things that truly matter in life and we need to be thankful for all that we have, taking nothing for granted. Thanks to all the parents who entrusted their kids to Lisa and I for a most memorable night and thanks to our students who attended. We really do love all of you and didn't do this for any other reason except to show you that what most of us experience on a "bad day" doesn't even compare to how some people live each and every day of their lives.
Watch our website for pictures of this event coming soon.
www.geocities.com/lostandfoundyouthministry/pdh.html
God's blessings until next time,
:)
"As you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me."
A quote from Jesus found in Matthew 25:40
posted by Lost and Found Youth Ministry | 10/28/2008 10:10:00 PM
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