Our final work day in Las Vegas began for many of us with the somewhat sobering realization that our time, and the opportunity to serve was coming to an end. Our trip was in its sixth day, six days that were so packed with amazing activities and events, that many remarked that each day felt long, and yet the near week that had passed seemed short.
Our normal morning events were greeted with enjoyment, but the accumulating fatigue was dampening some spirits. One of the blessings for the girls the previous day was participating in Emmaus walk. Based upon a passage from Luke (24:13-35), this is when two people meet to discuss their Christ stories and pray for each other. The girls and boys separated, and found a person they hadn't yet had a chance to have a deep conversation with during the trip, if ever. We gave them some time to separate and share not only their stories, but some time. Even from a distance, we could see people connecting with each other. Many finished far before the time was up, but would transition into conversations that segued from sports to music to philosophical ideas.
After the walk, we could see the energy levels of the students picking up. The advisors had gathered to discuss the upcoming events. Their was a high level of shared concern over poor health of the students. Many had been hit hard by several days of high heat. We also realized that many were desperate to take full advantage of our last full day in Vegas and were willing to confront the elements. We developed a three-pronged plan of attack for the early part of the day - one group to perform additional food and water ministry in one of the smaller tent cities, one group to perform sports ministry in a local park, and one group to stay at the church and prepare cards and care packages for our return trip to the rescue mission later that day.
I joined the sports ministry group, heading to Sunset Park. With frisbees in hand we arrived. Fortunately, the heat was not as bad as it had been - the thermometer in my car read only 99 degrees. Some may know about my deep rooted love of basketball. It is a pure love, though not always fully requited. When a few of the guys spotted a 2 on 2 game in full swing at the courts, we knew where we were going. Seven of us headed to the game. There was a small reluctance, but we were able to convince them to include us in a 5 on 5 game, which was especially fortuitous given that we hadn't brought our own ball, and playing basketball without one just makes a person look crazy.
We played two games, keeping both close. After the games were over we talked to a couple of the guys. One was a 59 year old retired NYPD Lieutenant, who was incredibly complimentary, and filled with wisdom. As the father of two adult girls, he talked to us about the importance of two themes that had been developing through the trip - accountability and self worth. As the words rolled out of his mouth, tinged with a Bronx accent and colored by years of experience, Andrew Harris and I glanced at each other, a realization that we had found God again. After a week filled with similar events, we could hardly be surprised.
The afternoon began with finishing up the last of the care packages, and caravaning back to the rescue mission. The students were given different opportunities to serve, including working in the kitchen or heading to the tent city. I had been on prayer duty the day before, and was looking for a more manual, physical way to serve. I was ecstatic to have brought my hat, as it saved me from throwing a hairnet over my unkempt mane. In gloves and aprons, we prayed and prepared the tables.
Helping out at the front, some of the students were able to meet a man they had prayed for the previous day. He told them how his prayer request was fulfilled - the shelter had enough spots for him that night, and he would have a place to sleep. God is faithful, all the time.
We all had the chance to meet with people in need, and again our preconceptions were shattered about who was in need, the resilience of people in hard times, and the potency of faith. We had met many who had so much less than us, who had suffered and who slept on the hard ground, in the desert, or only under a tent, those who considered a can opener and a fresh pair of socks a blessing. Yet it was their continuing belief that astounded and inspired us.
Other students handed out the care packages to grateful people, and had the opportunity to see the tent city. Every advisor had such a variety of amazing experiences that no one could pinpoint just one as their high for the day.
After another day of hard work, we headed to the showers. Still warm! Clearly one of the main themes of this trip has been to be grateful for the blessings we often take for granted, and warm showers are definitely one of them. After dinner we had dessert, along with a surprise birthday for me. Unfortunately, I was so startled by sixty people leaping out that I had a heart attack and died.
Our evening program was an opportunity for students and advisors to share the ways they had seen God during the week. It would have taken another Caravan week for us to communicate the incredible multitude of ways and places that God had shown up, often barging in with such authority that He was impossible to ignore. Even the stories that I had previously heard or been blessed to be a part of still affected me when they were related to the entire group.
As we discovered the breadth and depth of the ways that God had impacted us on the trip, there was a realization - Caravan may end, and our work days in Vegas may come to a close, but our opportunities to serve are only beginning.
Coming soon: friday morning we say goodbye to Rian and Mike (aka Doctor Ralph Sassidy) [pictured], and launch ourselves westward!
Peace and much love to ya!
Stace
