Pinedale Student Ministries

Ok, so you know how you can feel sympathy for a character in a movie? For example, let’s say you were watching one and there’s this little kid, and after you’ve gotten to know his character a little, tragedy strikes. This little boy loses his parents. You can’t help but feel sad, and you may even tear up a little knowing there’s nothing that you can do. Well this is the best scenario that I can use to describe my experience on this mission trip. I’ve been sitting here for the past half hour crying for people that I barely know. I didn’t even spend a whole week with these people, but my heart breaks for them. We left when there was still so much that we could do.

I’m sure you’ve probably already read about how we partnered up with the kids attending the program at Camp Washington, but I want to tell you about my “buddy”. His name was Noah, and this kid had some anger issues due to things that he’s experienced in his seven years of life. Because his behavioral issues he ended up being sent home, and fought to stay the whole time he was being dragged out. After he had left, one of the leaders told me a little about his situation. He and three or four of the other children in the program were staying with this elderly lady they called Little. Unfortunately, this kind old woman’s husband was recently diagnosed with some form of cancer. On top of this, Noah’s father constantly lied to him, always making him false promises, and his mother was going to blame the poor little boy for being sent home instead of realizing that he had just had a bad day. Many of the people we met this week were in similar situations, and that’s why I’ve been crying, that’s why my heart has been breaking. Because unlike a movie, these were real people that I had interacted with. In fact I’d touched them, I’d held their hands, and I’d even hugged them. And after seeing what these people had been through, I realize that I’m blessed beyond belief. I mean, I have a father and mother that care for me, I have a place to live, I have food to eat, I have water to drink, and most importantly I have an amazing God that loves me. I’ve always known that he loves me, but I’ve never felt it as much as I do right now, and I want to spread that love like a disease. I want everyone to know that God loves them just as much as he loves me, and I think that’s what this trip was really about, spreading the love that God has for all of us.

(from Jeremy Baker)