Jen Katzfey, Outreach Coordinator

I had the unique opportunity of chaperoning an incredible team of 34 missionaries working with Light of Life Rescue mission this week.  When I asked the teens to describe their experiences, words like eye-opening, shocking, and powerful came to mind.  They described being struck by the homeless camps, desolate places that seemed devoid of hope, until we met some of their inhabitants who greeted us with warmth and smiles.

They described their work at the Food pantry, where the trucks of deliveries from Trader Joe’s, KFC, ChickFilA, and Costco arrive on a daily basis.  Or their toils in the warehouse, where endless piles of clothing and supplies like bedding, kitchen housewares, clothing, and blankets filled every corner and crevice, just waiting for a team to organize them for the throngs of visitors who arrive each week in need.  In one such visit, our teens prayed with a client of the center who had been there shopping for clothing and toiletries.  She is in the process of conquering addiction and was fearful for a serious upcoming surgery.  The woman broke down into tears and hugs with our students, feeling their encouragement, prayers, and love as she checked out.

While working at the Men’s Shelter location, our team learned their way around the small kitchen that provides thousands of meals each week to those in need.  They cut and chopped, mixed, peeled, and stirred for hours until their bodies ached from exhaustion, but fatigue melted away as they described the joy in serving the food to those who were hungry.  While they nourished others with food, they also filled their spirits by joy transforming the grounds of the center as well as renovating indoor spaces with paint and cleaning projects.
At a picnic in the park with the Women and Children, they organized games and laughed and shared God’s love through play, the park feeling world’s away from our suburban dwellings.  The students described their utter joy in a game of kickball or hula hoops, bubbles or lawn darts.  Such simple pleasures for us, but treasures for the children.

When asked to sum up what they learned during the trip they shared many lessons; but one astute traveler summed up it up by saying, “Homelessness is caused by broken relationships.” 

In our work this week, we helped mend some of those relationships, both for the homeless and also within our own team.  I am grateful for the opportunity this mission gave to both give and receive God’s love.  Thank you to our many benefactors and prayer warriors who made it possible.

—Jen Katzfey, Outreach Coordinator