7 students from Sac State and Chico State gathered at Sacramento's Dream Center from May 27th to June 2nd for our first Sacramento Urban Plunge. We had a great time!
We got to know different people and programs at the Dream Center including MANNA Outreach -- an incredible ministry to loving and serving homeless people in the "woods" or camps in the downtown area. Each student was struck by the generosity and hospitality of people who have so little, yet offer so much. It was also great getting to know the MANNA folks that go out weekly on Mondays. Good times.
We also spent time getting to know The GreenHouse kids and neighborhood through picking up trash, throwing end of the year parties, tutoring, and just being there. Our time there confirmed 2 things -- the more volunteers, the better and these kids have so much energy and potential; it's amazing!
We also got to explore the area (in and) around the Dream Center and ran into all kinds of people, hearing their stories, praying together at times, and being blessed by the testimonies of people whose lives Jesus has captured and forever changed!
We got a close-up look at rural poverty by meeting and working alongside of some folks in Winters, CA. It was a profound time of hearing stories from folks who work hard, not only to "make it," but also for their future generations to thrive. And we were particularly grateful to learn about community organizing and it's benefits as local folks are empowered and participate in changing small and large scale life for those in their communities.
Besides all of that, we had great time to be in Scripture and learn about ethnicity God's way as well as God's persective on poverty and SHALOM and the city and loving your neighbor. We had all kinds of experiences and interactive discussions or experiential learning.
All in all, we had a great time living and being together for a week and getting to see more and more about God's heart for his Kingdom on earth.
It was a joy and honor to participate in all that God had for us this week.
To find out more about some of the organizations we partnered with:
http://sacramentodreamcenter.org
www.thegreenhousecenter.org
www.piconetwork.org
No comments:
Post a Comment