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On June 15, 6 teams of two were sent out to "cure the sick, raise the dead, cast out unclean spirits, and cleanse the lepers." Armed with that day's sermon, some parish business cards, and a $100 bill, the teams went out to minister to others according to Jesus' charge to his apostles. Along with feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and even "cleansing the lepers**," the teams found themselves moved by their experiences of sharing with those who have less than they and realizing that even those who are the neediest freely share God's love and blessings. The word "humbling" was often used to describe the experiences of the teams. Two teams continue to develop their ministries this week; below is a report from one of the teams who entered the homeless community at Thomas Square.
**A part of one team's ministry was to send the $100 to Kalaupapa on Moloka`i to further the memorial that will finally recognize so many who have remained nameless after being sent to the colony and dying there.
A Trip to Thomas Square from Liz Baldwin and John Williamson
We were appointed apostles by Liz+ on June 15th. We had a good laugh, went through shock thinking “How did we get into this?”, and, more importantly, “How are we going to do this right?” We brainstormed and thought of all these places where there was a need for food and good works. It was easy to think big – you know – the Next Step shelter in Kaka`ako, elder homes, hospitals, that kind of thing. It was even easy to think funny – appear on the doorstep of one of the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Halls with doughnuts and preaching the Word to them, which is how this all started in the first place! (See the sermon from June 15.)
In the end, with a budget of $100, we got real and decided to get what we could for some of the homeless at Thomas Square. We decided that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches might turn out to be a problem if not eaten right away, so it was as nutritious as we could get in the way of packaged foods; Vienna sausage, crackers, cookies, applesauce, nuts, threat that are easy to eat a little at a time and might last as long s you need it to.
But the real story here is what we found in that short time at Thomas Square.
The people we encountered were well-mannered and so appreciative. When you looked at what we were giving them, it seemed so small against the needs of these people. But they never said, “Is that all?” Nobody said “Will you be bringing more?” None of them bemoaned their situation. What they did was to point out other people nearby so that if we had enough, we could give to others. They are a community looking out for each other.
We didn’t see the children right away. They were in the restroom, being very quiet, and being given a bath by their mother. The woman’s sister and their husbands were not yet home from work but would be coming soon. Then they would lay out the sleeping bags and put the food together.
Every one of them told us, Thank you” and “God bless you.” Even here, they are still able to believe in the goodness of God and still ask that he bless us! Some of them asked where we were from but to most it didn’t matter. They were just thankful for the small kindness they received.
We are truly humbled.
(Edited by Mark Juchter - original submission Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 10:43 AM)
(Edited by Mark Juchter - original submission Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 11:05 AM) | 
