I have no apologies for my lack of writing. I have had little to say. With that, we move onward...
This past weekend, I got a chance to do some ministry with CA. It was called Urban Plunge, we worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and delved into the inner-city. Some people called it a missions trip, though there was little missions work done; it was called an outreach, though that doesn't seem to apply, either. In all honesty, it was more like ministry to those already doing the missions work full-time -- I would definitely call it inreach more than outreach.
That said, on Saturday we woke early and got out to the Pico/Union district in LA. I got to demolish plaster in a building erected in the 20s -- I mean all walls and ceiling in 2 rooms. By the time I was finished, i was covered in white from head to foot, happy as a clam and sore -- very sore. While there, I made a friend in Lukas -- a guy a couple of years older than me, and with a mind for construction (also like me.) We pulled out plaster, chicken wire and floor molding. Az did a great job in helping and getting her hands dirty -- I was very proud.
Next day, arose early again and cruised out to First Evangelical Free Church. There, our team covered multiple projects in a place called The Nehemiah House. -- It is used as a shelter for young adults, a home for the worship pastor and all around cool commune of people. The house was built in 1895 and it shows. Not only is the architecture beautiful, it is in a state of dilapidation and needs repair.
Lukas and I were given the task of drywalling a basement wall. We pulled all posters, shelving, etc. off of it, tore down the old fiberboard construction and erected a new wall made of sheetrock. It took all day, but Az helped with the mudding and taping. All said, it was about 288 square feet, minus the doorframe. We placed the new electrical behind the wall, and cut in slots for the water piping to come through. It was very productive.
Anway, erecting things like that is something I greatly enjoy. 1 Thes. 4:11 makes it a point to tell us to lead a quiet life and to work with our hands. In destroying something of no use, or of danger, and in creating something of beauty and utility in its place, I feel as though this is how things are supposed to be. We are supposed to be doing these things all of the time. So, Lukas and I are going to go back to First EV Free and help out some more. We don't have details yet, but it should be good.
Honestly, I just enjoy working with my hands. I am not writing about my experience to brag, but to get it out. Working like that gives me time to ponder the eternal -- I think a lot about God, Christ and His godhead, and His ability to construct something beautiful from the damned. Its funny, but it puts things into perspective -- in placement of a sinner, God has erected a saint. The metaphor is imperfect, but it is one that stays with me.
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3 comments:
who knew something that screams you will get dirty with it's very title (mudding) could be so fun?? though to be fair I'm quite pleased with how not dirty I was able to get while mudding. :) though even if I had gotten dirty I still think it would have been a fun job. and pulling plaster was way fun. how often do you get to take a hammer to a wall & not get in trouble and/or regret it? :)
Oh Keith, I miss you! It's great to hear about the work you're doing here in the US. I liked your phrase, inreach. I think that's just as important as outreach. The mission we work with in Haiti is desperate for what you would call 'inreach', but they can't get any US teams to come help them. They all want to work with the Haitians and "get the glory" of a missions trip. It's funny to see what we want verses what God wants. Let me know what else you get to do on the church, sounds awesome.
Morgan, what's the name of the mission in Haiti? I'd be interested in talking to our head of missions to see if we could organize a team from our church to do some "inreach" there.
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