Days 33-41

There are many international kids who live and work here in OCMD during the summer. Usually they're fairly easy to pick out when you see them. It's not necessarily because of what they wear or how they look, but what they say, how they say it, and what they do. Every time I go to Mcdonalds, there is a set of foreign girls who stand at the registers. They wait there patiently and provide all their attention to customers when they arrive. This heavily contrasts that of the typical American fast food worker. If there weren't any customers in the restaurant, most American workers would probably be walking around or distracted by something. Not the international kids. I've seen them, in the midst of an empty restaurant, wait patiently at the registers. They stick out over everyone else even though they look like any other American girls.


I've come to realize that those of us on project have also been like those international kids in a different context. Wherever we go, we praise and worship God and we stick out from everyone else, especially on outreaches. It definitely draws a lot of attention, sometimes good, sometimes bad. But nevertheless it brings attention. During outreaches there will always be insulting comments here and there. It makes me remember the set of verses that i had from 1 Peter 3 a few weeks ago:


But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.


Jason spoke on suffering during family night and, at least for me, it fit perfectly into what was going through my mind the last few weeks. Sadly, many of us have been suffering at various points on project because of the loss or severe illness of a family member. It should be expected that something would happen in the 10 weeks we are here though. The important part is how we decide to handle tragedy and what impact it has on us. James talks about how we should consider it joy when we have trials, because they give us perseverance. It's definitely not easy to be joyful after loss or anything, but it's possible. I think some take this verse, and those like it, in the wrong way. I don't believe James means that anyone should be happy about tragedy. However, in seeking God completely, there will be a joy given to you that can get you through anything. And through the experience, a perseverance is gained.




Also it's always good to remember that Christ suffered for us, so our own suffering wouldn't be in vain.




Our last couple of outreaches have included two large boards with "Who is God" and "What is Love". These boards usually draw in large crowds which is awesome. Anyone is free to write whatever they want on the boards. Interestingly enough, about half the comment written on the boards were about spiritual things like: "Love is God" or "Love is patient, kind..." etc.. Brittany took some pictures of both the Soularium and Outreach Boards that I'll put up at the end.


One girl was writing on the "What is Love" board the description of what love is from 1 Corinthians 13:4. However, she couldn't remember all of them so I went over and tried to help her. I asked her where she had her of this and she told me she first saw it in a movie and then she heard it was from the Bible. I decided to ask her if she was involved in a church since she mentioned she knew some scripture. It turns out she was in a women's Bible study, but that was as much time she could put into learning about God. I asked her if I could share the Gospel with her and she and her friend let me. After I went over everything, she seemed really excited. No one had ever presented her the Gospel to her apparently. I asked if she was interested in accepting Christ and she decided to do so but on her own. So I gave her a KGP and prayed with her.