What an amazing summer this has been! For those of you who have been following me, thank you so much for your prayers and support, God has used them mightily.
The last two trips I had the privilege to lead this summer were both in Providence, Rhode Island. Let me tell you, that there is not a city in this country with more need than Providence. It is the third poorest city in the nation and has a desperate need for the love of Jesus. Two different youth groups answered that need this July by partnering with us and the Providence Rescue Mission to work with the homeless, host a VBS for the Hispanic youth in the community, and do various service projects for the mission and the local church that housed us. While they were there, the teams got to experience what it was like to live in a very low-income urban community, not having any idea if you were going to end up evicted that day, or if you would ev
en have shelter in the rain. Everyday at the mission we got to feed the homeless and notice that we saw the same faces. Through that the teams were able to hear their stories and to show the love of Christ in their actions, as well as their words.
One youth the second week said to me that he really enjoyed the trip and his eyes had been opened, but that he didn’t know how people were able to live in that environment without knowing Jesus. It touched me to see him go and sit next to a homeless man after that and share what God had done in his life.
Another day, one of the youth was painting a middle school when she saw some kids 
walking by outside. When they looked up and saw her, they asked if she was going to be their new teacher (that school often loses teachers every year due to being in the inner city). When she told them that she was just painting their school they got so excited, bouncing up and down and squealing with delight… they couldn’t believe that someone cared enough to come to their school and paint it. That is just a simple example of the difference that is being made in Providence through these teams, but through something as simple as painting, the staff and students there know that someone cares, and the door has been opened for the Rescue Mission to send people to give presentations at the school, including the Gospel.
walking by outside. When they looked up and saw her, they asked if she was going to be their new teacher (that school often loses teachers every year due to being in the inner city). When she told them that she was just painting their school they got so excited, bouncing up and down and squealing with delight… they couldn’t believe that someone cared enough to come to their school and paint it. That is just a simple example of the difference that is being made in Providence through these teams, but through something as simple as painting, the staff and students there know that someone cares, and the door has been opened for the Rescue Mission to send people to give presentations at the school, including the Gospel.
That is why I am doing what I am doing, to see the lives of youth around our country changed… to create disciples that will go out and reach the least of these, the people that have been forgotten and outcast and share what our Savior has done for them. Thank you guys so much once again for partnering with me through this. Another chapter of my life is coming up and I am so excited, but I will tell you about that in another blog soon 🙂
In His Love,
Christiana
