BAMA

BAMA (Bay Area Missions Adventure) is over.


The faces of Jim, Reggie, Marsha, Julianna, Jack, Lemont, Hobert, Donald, Bonita, and Charlie are on my mind, and I cannot stop thinking about them. I can't stop thinking about the way they looked at me with honest eyes. I can't stop thinking about their stories. And I certainly can't stop thinking about how truly wonderful each and every one of those people are.

Most of us in the inner-city missions group agreed that we've made many wrong assumptions about the homeless before coming in contact with them on Thursday, and Friday. I can say for myself that I use to see them as alien compared to anyone else. I did not feel sorry for the homeless because I believed that many of them purposely made themselves that way. I really did disregard them as people. More shamefully, I don't think I have ever seen them as part of God's children.



On Friday, I met Jack and Lemont. We sat down on a sidewalk corner of McAllister street, and I began talking to them as they ate their BAMA prepared lunches. We easily dove into conversation, and discussion about their lives. I won't talk about what Jack and Lemont told me about themselves, but I can share what happened within that hour.

After some time, Jack and Lemont needed to head out. Before they're departure, one of my BAMA team members and I wanted to pray for them. Jack and Lemont were more than welcome to join us in prayer, and so we held hands and I began praying for them.

This is difficult to put into words. I am still overwhelmed by how Jack responded... and what God has done for me in return. Immediately after I finished praying, Jack grasped my hand more firmly, and pulled himself closer to me-- Jack began praying for my team member and myself. Jack eventually placed his head against my head as he continued to pray for us-- and at that moment, I couldn't help myself. How can someone like Jack, who has nothing, pray for someone like me? I cannot put into any more words how much God has revealed himself at that moment, and how much Jack's love poured out to me right then and there.



I could write another five blog entries about the lives of all the homeless people I met, and how many different ways God has revealed himself during those encounters. All I have to say now is that God has truly blessed me and the rest of the BAMA team during these past four days. In a previous entry, I wrote that I've never seen God work so abundantly in our youth ministry during the BAMA retreat 3 weeks ago. After that retreat ended, I was afraid that that was it-- but now it is impossible to be afraid of what more God can do within this youth group-- as long as we stay obedient, and faithful.

God has given me new eyes, and a new heart during BAMA. I know that God has done the same for the rest of the youth group-- even for those who did not attend BAMA. God is doing something incredibly amazing right now in these students, and I hope to see them change even more throughout the new year.