as you might know, brandon and i
love portland. its just a great city...great food, culture, super
walkable, unique...the list goes on and on....
this last week we got to travel with the hs yg down to portland on a mission trip. it was such an awesome experience!
we worked with bridgetown ministries. their mission is
"loving people because people matter"
what a great mission! and boy did our definition of people and love get expanded and changed!
we worked the first evening with the homeless of downtown portland.
we fed them, washed their feet, painted their nails, gave them new basic supplies, talked with them
and love them the way Jesus would want us to do.
it was awesome.
and a bit scary.
let
me explain...its difficult to love the people you normally ignore. its a
pride thing. you realize how much these people need and want love. that
they are not that different from you. that you have spent your whole
life looking down on them when really you should be smiling at them.
it was a tough lesson. one that each of us needed (kids and leaders).
we
also got the privilage of cleaning graffiti from public property in a
hip neighborhood of portland. for almost 4 hours in the heat and sun the
yg scrapped, pealed, and cleaned stickers and spray paint from public
property...they covered over 8 blocks!
we
hung out with some little ones too! we got to help with b-town kids,
which provides some fun for low income kids and families in the area.
we set up a grill for burgers and hot dogs, face painting, bubbles, games and
a lot of fun!
the trip was awesome. i now love portland in a whole new way.
