Mission Testimony -Wednesday

Hey Everyone back home!

I hope you all are doing well! We miss you lots, but we are doing great and the Lord is working in some incredible ways. There is so very much I could talk about and would love to, but sadly there is not a whole lot of time to do that! So, just to highlight....two of my favorite experiences on the trip so far was first the first "official" day that we were here we attended the Filipino Fil-am Church Sunday morning service. The joy of Christ truly overflowed and shone through that church family in a way I had never seen or experienced. It didn't matter that they didn't have but a few people in the bottom floor of church, or that they didn't have the highest tech. equipment, rather they were soo incredibly happy to be praising the Lord and to have us join with them. Pastor Noel, Ryan, Melissa, Faith, Domb, and the list goes on will people I will remember for the rest of my life. They showed me what it truly means to be on fire for Christ and the experience of witnessing it was one I will not soon forget.

My second experience was the night that we went to People's Park in Berkly, CA. People's Park is literally a park that is 100% for the homeless. It is their domain and they are allowed to hang out there, sleep there, and spend their time there. We went two nights ago and handed out ham sandwiches, chips, water, and tracts and came in contact with a wide variety of people. It opened my eyes to see how hard their lives really are. I am saddened of my previous opinion of the poor and homeless and the mindset that I held. However, after talking with many people at the park, I realized that while yes, some were "crazy" and many on drugs, there were people who due to a series of unwise choices had ended up without much more than the clothes on their backs. Deborah (a lady we spoke to) was highly intelligent and told us (when Brandon and I shared we were from Raleigh, NC) that she had always wanted to go and see NC. I responded with saying: "While, I guess we are your "pieces" and encounter with NC!" To which she responded sweetly: "Yes! You are! I can already feel the love and warmth of Southern love!" It was a really convicting night personally for me and I am glad that I now have a different perspective on the poor and homeless. Jesus came not for the healthy, but for the sick. He died and loves them just as much as He loves us.

Well, that is all I have time to write, and we are all super tired and wiped out so bed is calling all of us! :) God bless you all and I look forward to telling you more when we get back!

Love,
Olivia Stoffregen