A Summer In Portland

I never knew just one week would completely change my outlook on people. This week has been crazy busy and we got to spend it with a youth group from Boise, Idaho coming for a Transformation Trip at Bridgetown Inc. in Portland, Oregon. We were immersed into a totally different culture than Wichita, Kansas. We partook in a service project, prepared a love feast (fancy dinner) for those in need, did walkabouts where we provided pb & j's and socks to those in need, did a home visit, were 'homeless' for a day, fed and washed people's feet at Night Strike, fed and played with urban city kids (face paint, bubbles, soccer) during Btown Kids, etc.

This week I learned that true compassion is loving so much that you actually do something about it. Since I have been here, I have seen generosity like I have never seen it before. I have seen people give everything they have, not only materialistically, but of themselves. This is something that I have always struggled with. Some may say it's because I am an only child, but I think it is more of a pride issue. I'm prideful because of what I have done in my life and the things that I have to show for it. This week has broken my pride down into humility realizing that I have nothing without Christ. So often I find myself complaining about what I have not being enough. This week I met people that literally had nothing but the clothes on their back and they had a joy inside of them that I didn't even know if I had ever really seen in myself before. Bridgetown's slogan is "Loving people because people matter." I cannot wait to learn what love really means.