DAY 4

Thursday, August 06

Today we have a very pack schedule for group one. Going to SASLA for 3 hours, then head straight to Vernon Retirement House, then go to SA Harbor Light to lead worship for the homeless. Go to the Art class at SASLA, today we're making a key chain with a cross and colored beads on it. Actually this art project is the best one to share the Gospel to the kids. I remember at least the beads have these colors: black, red, white, green, and purple. A kid asks me, "What does purple mean?". Hmmm...what does the color purple mean?. I remember that on the crucifixion the soldiers mock Jesus by putting Him on a purple robe. On that time purple cloth is very expensive and usually is worn by kings. Yeah...purple means King Jesus, the great Lord that offers us a free gift of eternal life. Then starts explaining the other colors; black is we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God; red is by the blood of Jesus Christ our sins are redeemed when He died on the cross; white is that His blood cleanses our sins and we become white as snow. I just remember this part of the song:

"Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe,
Sin has left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow"

Thanks be to God for art-crafting-people who organize this art project...=), although somehow it's hard to put the string through the cross (oh yeah...a lot of kids at that time raising their hands and yelling, "Please helppp meeee...I can't put the string..."). This is the highlight on SASLA for today; other than that, just play soccer with the kids and have some conversations with them.

Go to Vernon Retirement House, we start by singing worship by the awesome program that Jen has come up with...in details...in careful planning...and a lot of thoughts and consideration. She is just awesome. Then Jen, Kev, and Yusuf are playing the SinBox skit (youtube it); and it's awesome too. After that we serve the elders by doing hand massage and nail polishing (for women of course). I think the team has a great time with their new friends, having lovely conversation while doing the massage and nail polishing. I talk with a man on his wheelchair, but it seems that he is very agile, he just move around the place on his wheelchair. We talk about music, family, and basketball. He asks me to say and to do the "Aloha" and "Mahalo" gestures over and over again. That make him laugh and happy, I don't really know how to describe the gestures here...yeahh...but it makes him happy...=). Kev is playing chess with an elder man, and I think he lost, but he still says that he lost in dignity. Feel very exhausted now, very tired, and energy is gone...with the thought that we still have to lead worship and deliver sermon on the next schedule. After distributing the gifts to the elders, we are about to depart, and someone ask our group to go inside a room. That's where we meet mother Ethel Berry, a 108 years old woman, who's the oldest resident on the house. Yesss...108 years old...this is the first time I meet a person so old. Apparently she listen to the songs that we sang when we are worshipping, but she can't get out from her room. She makes a request that we sing some songs. I've already pack my guitar and put it on the van. So we decide that we sing "Amazing Grace" in acapella way. After we sing, she sings a song for us!!! In clear and strong voice...so amazing. Then she prays for us...for the next ministries...a wonderful prayer that really strengthen us. Fina says that it is the gift of the day, and I indeed agree...I feel that I just regain the strength. Praise to God for giving us mother Ethel Berry...such a wonderful blessing and helper.

We go to SA Harbor Light to lead worship and sermon. As usual there always be distraction. The mixed and speaker are not working, my tuner is dead, and so on. We start the service few minutes late and actually my guitar tune and Aini's piano tune are not in synch...but we still move on to lead the worship. Sing "Mighty to Save" and "You Never Let Go" as the opening, and then Jen, Kev, and Yusuf do the SinBox skit again. Again, it's awesome skit. At the end of the skit when Yusuf acts as crucified Jesus, I heard some of the attendees are moved with what He has done. On the act when Jesus is risen, beat up the devil, and frees us from sin, the attendees just clap with joy...praise to Him...=). Dan then delivers a wonderful, meaningful, and powerful sermon taken from Psalms. The words are related to the situation that the homeless people are facing now. Praying that the Word of God will touch, strengthen, and encourage their lives. We close the sermon by singing "Amazing Grace" and "How Great is Our God". Yes indeed He is our great God who will never let us go on every situation, high and low. He is the great God whose His Name should be lifted up and is worthy to be praised. He is the One great God who shows no distinction in loving peoples from different tribes, races, tongues, status, levels, and everything. The experience of worshipping God with these brothers and sisters is just awesome. How great You are oh my God...