This year we were once again hosted by Jimmy, Chris, and Aaron, and we had the privilege of joining our former student, Rhiannon, from last year and her husband of three weeks John. It was such a pleasure being amongst friends and ministering along side them. They also taught the lectures this week which covered a variety of topics but mostly focused on justice and working with the poor and needy. Every morning we heard a different staff member teach and after lunch we joined in the base's regular ministry.
Monday we were given a tour of Modesto. The staff showed us around to a community where an injustice had been blatantly perpetrated by the city onto the residents. They also brought us to South 9th Street where there are a series of motels. These are run by greedy owners that take advantage of the many in Modesto trapped by bad credit and addiction, unable to rent a legitimate apartment and inches away from being on the streets. There are many children that live in these motels which are rat and cockroach infested. Unfortunately that is the least of their problems. Drug deals, prostitution, and violence towards and around them is constant. Desperate women sell their bodies and their resolve daily. Hurting men lash out violently. It's no place to live. We also visited a park where many homeless hang out during the day. We then dispersed and prayer-walked through these areas.
Tuesday we made snack bags and returned to the park to spend time talking with the homeless there. We had such a great time just hanging out with our new friends. We have some incredibly gifted musicians on our team and we ended up starting an impromptu dance party in the park. It was great to see everyone get so into it!
Wednesday the team helped organize a mass birthday party for some of the kids the Modesto staff hang out with regularly. There are about 12 kids living on one property. Sadly, the home where they live is a drug house and they are not properly loved and taken care of. We were able to buy a few simple toys, bake a cake, and bring junk food and share in this special time with the kids.
Thursday we participated in a little grass-roots movement. Recently the City of Modesto has passed a by-law making it a misdemeanor to dumpster-dive or dig in garbages. As many homeless rely on the cans they find via these searches our team went into different communities and business areas and asked permission to search their garbage for cans. One of our primary goals was to educate the home and business owners about the new by-law and encourage them to leave their cans and bottles in a separate bag next to the trash. We dubbed this time "dumpster-diving for Jesus." We were able to give all the cans the team collected to one of the homeless men YWAM Modesto works with who has in the past year become clean and sober and given his life to God.
Friday we had the privilege of helping host a barbecue on South 9th Street. We arrived with all the fixings' and started grilling. I lost track of how many people showed up! Some of the kids that call the motels home were able to escape for a little while and come eat and hang out. We ended up having another dance party this time complete with a few dance-wars! It was so much fun to see the joy on their faces. I'm not sure who had more fun, us or them.
All in all it was an amazing week. I've just scratched the surface as to what has happened these past few days. It's always such a blessing to be with other bases and to partner with them, especially a base with such vibrant and life changing ministry. It was also such a pleasure to see the students step up, usually without even being asked and serving and loving on others relentlessly. This next week we will be learning about the Biblical and Historical Basis for Missions! I'm looking forward to it!
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