We knew the outreach was coming as Rob mentioned it at Orientation. I've been on them before. The experience is so unique that it gets seared into your conscience.
We loaded up the van with food and good-will and headed out first on the main road then off onto the bumpy back roads. The unpaved roads are in whatever state they are after the last rain fall. It rains, the road gets soupy, people still try to use them, and then they dry ready for your driving pleasure.
Twenty minutes of driving and some lefts and rights and we enter the neighbourhood. We bypass a compound surrounded with a tall chain link fence topped with barbwire hangers slanting in. Normally when you try to keep people out of an area you put the barbwire hangers facing out to deter anyone from climbing the fence and jumping in. Unless you are in a prison and the hangers are facing in - to keep people from climbing out. This was a compound with some shacks where farm workers lived. The conditions horrid. Apparantly the farmer doesn't want to loose his, assets - his workers.
We coast into a dusty side street lined on either side with various structures: pallets and cardboard or unfinished block construction with vertical protruding rebar or simple rectangle wood houses. The van pulls over driver opens the door and immediately you hear a dull roar that sounds like a pack of moving, yelling, and happy kids. A few seconds of sound and then the swarm. Kids everywhere wanting hugs and piggy backs.
I follow Rob into a dirt yard, around a corner into a narrow ally that leads into an open room. Rob says that is the neighbour church as he points to a lady who is about 4'10". She is the pastor, 23 year old local.
We all gathered inside the church room. The room was maybe 30x3 with a step up stage in the front and the walls and ceiling were unfinished drywall. Folding chairs on a dusty floor. There were announcements pinned to the wall with some pictures. There was a guy on the stage playing an electric guitar who led the songs, another lady behind the podium giving annoucments and lead us in prayer. The room was full of peoeple with standing room only. Our team was standing against the back wall, various families and lots of kids sat on the metal folding chairs.
The pastor went up and tried the microphone, but it didn't work. So she followed the cable into the sound board, fixed the problem, tested the mic and started to preach. All 4'10" of her delivered a power message on giving that challenged us all. She had fire in her eyes and clearly had the support of the people. They were enthusiastic and welcoming.
It's amazing to me everytime I run into someone who is holding up a corner of fragile society. Working hard to keep out the chaos and provide care and nurioushment for the soul. The church was the lighthouse for the neighborhood. It was the reason there was hope there. People could come, be prayed for, find friends and receive food and support.
When the service was over, we set up tables in the dirt yard and we quickly got into place as a long enthusiastic line of kids and parents formed. There was soup, tortilla's with toppings ready to serve. And serve we did. Kids coming back for 2nds and 3rds either eating themselves or bring a serving home and then rushing back to get more.
We came to the neighborhood with food and good-will for the community outreach, but when we were driving home, I realize that I was being reached myself. I came to give, but actually received. I was inspired by the 4'10" woman pastor, by Rob showing up again and again at the same neighbourhood, by One Life One Chance and their long term commitment in a dusty needy neighbourhood.
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