Soup and Prayer

5/7/13
Today Conner, Jeby and I had the privilege to help out with the soup kitchen ministry of CMIAID for half of the day, CMIAID has worked with the mayor if Zirnesti to find the people who are in the most desperate situations around the city. The group then cooks and delivers a hot meal for them, five days a week. On Fridays, they provide some extra food so that they can make it through the weekend. Today our team visited 8 individuals. Putting our experience into words here would not do it justice, as these are the types of opportunities that God gives you to completely change your perspective on things. I will however note two lessons that have stuck with me all day.
The people we visited were in the direst of conditions. Very unsanitary, unhealthy, and helpless. I believe their one joy of the day is when the CMIAID team visits them. How often we fail to reach out to the least of these because we think someone else will do it or that it's not our calling. I was reminded that these are the types of people that Jesus spent the most time with and how will they believe if they do not hear?
I was also very humbles by the way Igor and Yuliev, the two brothers in charge of this ministry, so lovingly and humbly invest into these lives. They are both very young (28 and 29) and have had opportunities for secular work, but have devoted themselves to serve the Lord faithfully. Coming from such a self centered culture like America, today has been an eye opener. Lord willing, three more people from our team will help out with the soup kitchen tomorrow.
Back at the base the rest of team continued to work hard and got a lot of work finished. Good progress was made on the mechanics pit and the back patio.Dave and Mark continued to do great work repaving the front patio. On a side note, Mark tore his ACL the week before the trip but has such a contagious work ethic. We are thankful that he and the rest of the team have all been healthy this week. Please keep that in your prayers. Continue to pray for the soup kitchen ministry also.
Starting next Monday, they are actually expanding to three more villages , and word is that the people in these villages are in situations worse than what we saw today.
Another long day working in the sun, but looking forward to tomorrow!

- Roby Matthew -