Day 3 - Continuing the Work!

This morning I woke up at 8 am for breakfast and checked if the ball stuck on the ceiling above my bed from the night before fell, sadly no. We all then ate together and then got ready for the day. After that we went downstairs and did our morning prayer and call and response chants with the whole team. Then we prepared a little more than 200 lunches with the food bags we made yesterday. We then loaded it all in the van with some of the clothing donations we brought as well. We started under the same bridge as yesterday but had to make a loop around because of a group of police cars that were escorting a garbage truck that was clearing out the place of trash but after that finished we went to work. We handed out lunches and clothes and prayed with many people. One of the people that stuck out to me was Kent, he was under the bridge living in a tent with his wife yet he was smiling and making jokes with us and having a good time. He talked to us about staying away from distractions and it was moving seeing someone in a situation such as his still have that type of attitude we prayed for him for health because he wanted to make it two is next birthday this month he was turning 63. Then we moved to a different bridge here we prayed over some tents and I had a very moving experience where as I was praying over a tent that didn’t respond a man from inside said my name. A man named Ale came out from inside after he recognized my voice from the day before when I gave him a lunch and prayed with him. In this same area down a hill a man in a wheelchair almost sort of quizzed us on what we were doing and things about the Bible while kind of preaching to us. This man had a Bible and was clearly reading but was not coherent enough to make a full conversation. Then we moved to a trailer park and as we pulled up many children came running and we gave them food and toys and clothes and played with them for a bit whilst handing out things so other houses around the neighborhood. This was very sweet to see such happy kids as we pulled up but also heartbreaking to think about the situation they are in. After that we came back to the church and prepared many more lunches for tomorrow. We unloaded a truck and roads around in the back with some of the guys unloading other things. Chase and I made many many garbage runs after sorting through fruit and finding the bad ones. We then had some fun playing basketball with some of the people and then we all ate. We then played a card game Mafia  all together and after that ended Bible study. We discussed our day and people we meant. After this we spent more time trying to get the ball down but failed. Then we started to get ready for bed and as we were explaining cops and robbers because we were about to play we all saw the ball fell and had a good time cheering. We ended our night by playing cops and robbers and got ready for bed. 

~ Connor Warmus

Today we woke up around 8 and all ate breakfast together. After all of us were done eating we went downstairs around 9. The men in the ministry led our group in some morning devotions. We cited Bible verses and we led our morning chants. After all of that we had to pack 200 lunches for the route we were going on today. Each lunch had a biscuit with some chicken nuggets, a water or juice, popcorn, cookies, and candy. We arrived at the first destination. It was the same spot as the day before under the bridge with around 75 tents and trash everywhere you looked. Right as we got out of the vans and got our lunches a man named Timothy walked up to Luke and I asking for a lunch. We gave him some gloves, a hat, and a lunch. He was so thankful for just those things and that already opened my eyes to see how much everyone we were talking to were really struggling. I take so many things for granted it’s crazy. Today was the second day we went on routes and the first day I was so scared and didn’t know what to expect but before today I told myself how I need to engage in actual conversation with everyone I talk to. Which is definitely something I did today. I felt so nice being able to talk to people ask them how their day is going and then lead to more conversation from that. The next person that really stood to me was man named Kent. He was such a funny man. I handed him a lunch and he kept making funny jokes. I was able to pray for him and he asked to pray for his life because his birthday is on January 12, and he was turning 63. So me and some others were able to pray for that for him. He had a smile on his face the entire time. After looking at his living conditions he was still able to have a huge smile on his face the entire time and was able to put smiles on our faces. He was so grateful for everything and was so thankful and thanked us for everything. We also met a deaf person who we couldn’t communicate with but one of our leaders knew sign language so we were able to see God use one of our leaders to spread his word differently. This really opened my eyes again to see that I’m so ungrateful for the things I have and I should be thankful always for what I have. Next we all went to another area under a bridge and we were able to meet very kind people. We were able to give even more lunches to people who were so grateful. We were able to give some blankets, jackets, gloves, and hats to so many people. The next location we went to a trailer park with lots of people especially kids. We were able to hand out soooo many cloths to kids who needed it. And lots of us were able to hangout with the kids and walk around with them. After the routes we came back to the church and made food boxes for others to recieve when they come to the church. We made around 30 boxes with fruit, vegetables, bread and so much more. We just did lots of work around the church. After we were done eating our dinner we had our little devotions and got to talk about our days an say what stood out to us. Then we spent 30 min trying to get Lilly’s stress ball off the ceiling. But after a long time we were able to get it down.  Only after one day I was sooo glad I was able to come on this trip. At first I was a little hesitant. But after these couple days it’s crazy how much my mind changed just from helping those in need . It puts a huge smile on my face seeing everyone get a lunch and be so thankful just for a lunch. So overall just after today and yesterday I for sure made the right decision to come to this trip!

~ Chase DeBlaey

Today we woke up at 8:00, ate breakfast and got ready for the day. We then went downstairs where some people were (the men in the homes serving 7 bridges). Sterling was down there, our favorite, along with Ajay, Contra, and this guy who looks like his name would be Chance but I really have no idea. Along with them were other men but I cannot remember who they are. First we did our morning chants and bible reciting and prayer then when to work. After seeing them we went straight into setting up the stations for packing lunches. After packing 200 lunches we did our “Go Jesus Go Jesus Go, Mo Jesus Mo Jesus Mo” chant, grabbed donations and headed out. Today was 50 degrees so we mostly all wore coats and gloves. First we went back to the bridges and handed out meals and clothes to the individuals there. When we pulled up there were a lot of Police Officers there and still I am not sure why but it was completely safe and nobody meant harm, at least not to us. Some people there that really stood out to me was a woman who was deaf.  Ajay, a leader knew sign language so after we prayed with her Ajay was talking to her and signing with her about Jesus and also prayed for her. This moment stood out to me the most out of everything because it was so beautiful to see and I never thought it would be something I came across. I remember Ajay say that he prayed for a moment like that and it was able to come true. After this interaction I was crying along with some others. After that I prayed over other people but that moment really stuck out to me. At one point we were all under the bridges by a huge “community” and there were workers from the city going under the bridges cleaning up much of the garbage.  Several police officers were on scene to make sure there were no issues. We held back for a little bit so we didn't interfere. While we waited we stood back and sang Jesus songs in a circle instead. After this place, we went to different bridges right around the corner where we met more people. Al, April, and Kenya were people I very vividly remember at this location. I cannot pinpoint if they were at these bridges or the other but I believe the 2nd stop. Al and April were in a tent and Connor and I went over to the tent with Ajay and prayed with them after providing food, clothes, and gloves/hats. After we prayed with them Al said “Thank you Greta” (I introduced myself) and then he said “Wait is that Connor?” At first I was really confused until Connor said “yeah it’s Connor” and Al said that he remembered Connor from yesterday cause Connor prayed with him yesterday. I thought this was so cool because Al remember Connor only by his voice. Kenya was a woman who we also talked to both days. Yesterday she didn’t say much and denied prayer, along with today. We gave her a meal and then I asked for her name. Yesterday she would not say anything but today she says her name was Kenya. I offered prayer and she said “No i don’t want to take your time” and closed up her tent. She seemed to be doing very poorly and was on some sort of drugs or alcohol that was effecting her so much. We prayed over her tent and prayed for her after rejection which was a really cool thing to do. The last person I talked to here was Michel. I honestly don’t know what the interaction was like but I know that he was so grateful for us and smiled soooooo big when we told him we wanted to prayer with him and for him.  The last person I remember by name is Pam. Pam was a women who once had a good life but it fell apart and she was on the streets. She was telling us how this is not her and she really wants to turn her life around and find her way back. We prayed for her as well and I could see in her face the difference we made in such a beautiful way. Finally there was a girl, not sure what she even looked like but I gave her good and then asked to pray with her. She asked if we could pray for her to find her sister so I did. When I asked to pray she reached her hand out and I thought it was for more food but then Lilly said “Oh hold her hand”. It was such a gorgeous thing to have a woman who I don’t know, haven’t seen, just met, put her hand out to me for prayer. After this we headed to the trailer park. Here we were told there would be kids so I was super excited. Once we arrived there were 3 little siblings we ran up to us. Before I had a chance to interact with them though, A man walked up to me and asked for a coat and some clothes along with a meal and some prayer. I prayed with this man and he was smiling and fluttering his eyes the whole time. Next a woman came up to me and I was able to bless her with a coat and a meal but she refused prayer. Instead of moving on, Mrs. Hendricks and I prayed for her because she told us she “prays on her own”. Then, lastly another woman came up asking for 3 meals for the people she was with on top of the hill. We have her 4 so she could have one too and then a man came up to her and asked for food from us. We had to get more out of the can but it was already being driven down so we were going to run and grab it but then the woman offered him the food she had. I thought this was really cool because she truly was giving it to others and not trying to use us and get as much as she could. The rest of there time at the trailer park we were able to talk Spanish to the kids. I met a little boy named Christian who was so adorable. We sang songs and then headed to lunch. At lunch we ate the food, shared stories, and had 5 minutes to play at the park. l forgot to add earlier but when we were driving location to location we counted how many Amazon trucks we saw and there was 28 total. Once we got back to 7 Bridges, we all had time to shower and chill. Then we headed downstairs and sorted good and bad/moldy food. With that we boxed up food bag/boxes to hand out to people who came by and picked up free food. I got the opportunity to also work with one of the men named Zepherus who spoke in a HEAVY british accent because that is where he was from. I brought some boxes out to cars and spoke a little bit more spanish as well with “customers”. Then we unloaded blueberries from a big semi that came from Costco to donate. After we all sat and listened to a Devotion done by Sterling (a different one who is forsure very new cause he doesn’t talk much at all). It was his first devotion and it was really cute to listen to and be apart of. After this we headed upstairs to grab a basketball and Madde, me, Connor, Luke, Ben, Chase, Mr. Hendrikse, Sterling, and Mike all played basketball together. It was nice to interact with the men outside of just work. We then ate dinner and played Mafia. Our night ended by getting a ball unstuck from the ceiling, playing Cop and Robbers for 2 min before we got too loud and the game got shut down by Mr. Hendrikse, and lastly a group played Chameleon. Overall this was a great day even with high emotions and so much going on. So far this mission work is so much fun and also so out of my comfort zone.  I would really love to do work in Sheboygan because I love to pray over/with/for people and put a smile on their face sharing God's goodness around those who feel alone and hopeless. 

~ Greta Leikip

As we started day 2 we first organized what we packed up yesterday, the chicken/biscuit, cookies, candy, water, and popcorn. Our first stop was the bridges location. When we turned the corner to the location it was different. Cop cars were parked up front. They seemed to be purging/cleaning the location. Instead of just giving the homeless and needy just food we also gave them the donations from our school. Homeless people would recognize the 7 bridges team and ask us for food and clothing. We always give a person 1 lunch and a few clothing products, whether that is gloves, blankets, hats, socks, or jackets. One person that stood out for me was an older gentleman named Kent. “Like Superman” he added when we asked him his name. As we continued a group of people from our team went up to a woman and gave her a lunch, they tried to talk to her but she was deaf and only knew sign language. Thankfully Ajay (one of our group leaders) knew how to speak in sign language and was able to communicate with her and translate our prayers for her.

~ Ben Torrenga

Breakfast time!

Getting ready to pray in...

Lunch making time

Heading out on route with lunches and many of the donations we brought along

Yesterday's nerves are gone:)

Praying in at our first stop

Encouragement from Sterling, one of our leaders on route today

This particular gentleman did not want prayer, so prayer was offered off on the side

Praying in at a mostly Hispanic trailer park

Loading up on socks:)

Luke opening in prayer at our debrief lunch

A little free time before heading back for showers and work back at the church

Journaling about the day

Checking for bad apples

A station outside where people could come for free boxes of produce

After our Italian dinner (lasagna and fettuccini) and some free time, we gathered for our evening Bible study (around 8:45 PM). More hang out time to follow