This past week has been eye-opening to me. Sometimes, being in YWAM, it's easy for us to talk about how much people in far off lands need Jesus, while we completely miss the fact that plenty of people need Jesus right in our own community.
This past week, I helped a lady move from a homeless shelter in Wailuku (actually the shelter is right next to the county jail) to Pukalani (upcountry). Going to the homeless shelter was quite a humbling experience. Here is a group of people who are literally forgotten about here on Maui. Never seen by tourists or even by most people who live here, they have been conveniently tucked away in a little corner of an already rough neighborhood, left to scrape by in life however they can. I'm told most people who live there have some sort of mental problems or some sort of drug addiction. Normally, I'm a big advocate of personal responsibility, you know, the whole idea that "you reap what you sow". But I'm beginning to ask myself in regards to these people, "what would Jesus do"?
I know that sounds cliche and played out, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head. Jesus would want to help these people. I labored over the question over the weekend, and decided I had to do something, even if was just a tiny gesture to show God's love to someone. So I bought some sheets for a little boy who's bed was roach infested and whose sheets were moldy. Some people from Waipuna Chapel and I are also working on getting him a new mattress.
Even though I really did want to help, it was hard to put that $20 in the hand of the cashier at the store, knowing the the boy wouldn't understand that I had "sacrificed" $20, his Mom probably wouldn't appreciate it that much, and knowing that the sheets I bought will more than likely be moldy again in a few months. But ultimately, it's not about what I'm doing for that little boy, it's about what Christ does though me to show him God's love.
I guess it's the same everywhere, people need help: emotionally, physically, financially. It's hard sometimes, because I'm often selfish and judgemental, but as a Christian, I'm called not to hoard what I have or to judge who is worthy, but to do what Jesus would do... help.
This past weekend, I helped out a the Xterra World Championship triathlon.
The competitors swam 1 mile, mountain biked 28 miles, then ran over beaches and sharp volcanic rocks for 6 miles. These people are literally insane.
But you have to admit, the scenery makes up for the grueling race.
And when I talk like that you call me a socialist!