Leaving LA.

All seasons come to a close. And August was the close of my time spent in Los Angeles. I've put off writing this post for an entire month because as much as I am excited for my next adventure in life (which I'll explain soon) I grew to love that crazy city.

Summer at CSM in any city I believe looks very different from the spring season. Summer is filled with group after group after group, early mornings, and late nights. My schedule was Sunday afternoon through Saturday at noonish and then wake up Sunday and do it again. Needless to say time for blogging was limited.

I am going to attempt to use words and pictures to give a "snapshot" of my summer, hopefully grace can be given in places I fall short and where my lack of ability to describe my adventure comes in, it can be made up in conversation that will be had. Enjoy!        

The greatest hope was to show these students that all the ways we gave them to serve were able to be recreated in the communities they were from.

 Below are just a few of the ways and places that the student groups got their hands dirty in the city.

Bingo was played at recovery homes for the elderly and disabled , prayers were prayed for hurting hearts , and laughs were exchanged while dancing.

Food was sorted for the Hungry at the Los Angeles 

Regional Food Bank

These brothers and sisters were served hot meals and big smiles here --->

Going: into an unfamiliar community to have conversation become learners, and hear truth spoken by unexpected voices from people who have put their whole life into the cart you see below...

                                   Sharing Bible stories under a tree, 

playing endless games of capture the flag, duck duck goose, red light green light, tag, hop-scotch, and kick ball,

giving away all your hugs, and finding strength to give two more piggy back rides, falling down in the grass after spinning in a million circles, and breaking down stereo types with soccer balls. 

And at the end of a long day….

these students dug deep to find energy to lift their voices with strength to praise a God they found was much bigger then even this City...

Bye for now L.A.

and Nashville see you soon!

" Love has a hem to her garment that reaches the very dust. It sweeps the stains from the streets and lanes, and because it can, it must."

- Mother Teresa