Ah but how good God is. Just to relate a recent experience.
So today we were having a meeting with the committee and it was at my place, and just to be nice to my friends I was planning to cook for them (Les always cooks when we meet at her place and I thought it would be cool to do the same). So I had to get a few of the ingredients beforehand to have the lunch ready. I was going home for the weekend so I had to make sure to get it on Friday, spend the Sabbath that side because it was holy communion, then make it back Sunday morning in time to prepare the lunch for after the meeting (or at least that was the plan).
Friday came and I got the ingredients, and to be quite honest, while shopping the thought came to mind that I wouldn't make it back in time to cook for the guys. But I still had the impression to get all the things needed for lunch. "What would happen if I don't make it back in time to cook, what would I do with all the food", that's the thought that one had.
After the blessed Sabbath experience at Boksburg South (it was really powerful man), as foreseen, Sunday morning (this morning) I didn't make it back in time to cook the lunch for the guys. Now after the meeting, everyone had to rush to different places, and there I was left with all the food. I don't have a fridge so keeping it would inevitably result in it going bad. Finding an alternative didn't take long though. I was reminded of Street Kitchen, (an youth led city humanitarian mission project), and it was hard for me to resist (and I did try). The Lord left a heavy impression to go in that direction.
The way the Lord directs things is very interesting though. As I was preparing the food after the meeting, I realised that I would need more hands. Then a know came to my door, one of my classmates (who really never comes to my room). He brought a cable for my phone which someone asked him to give me. Anyhow, I asked him to assist me later on when the food would be ready. Very quickly he responds, "Sure, cool, no problem." :). I really realise throughout that it was God's leading. So I finished preparing the food, prayed that God be with us and that the food would be enough, and got ready to leave. I sort of had an idea of where to find some of the homeless guys, (one generally somehow always knows their places, but how often we pass them by).
So I went to my classmates place, fetched him and we left together, looking for homeless people. It was slightly awkward for the first few minutes because me and him are really not more than class mates, (though mates nonetheless), so the conversation was really "academic" for lack of better words. We got to the one place where we both knew we would find some guys, and the short time spent there was really something else. We got there, introduced ourselves, and told them why we were there, and they were so grateful for the act. To me and my classmate it really didn't seem like we did much, but to those few guys it meant so much. I don't know how many times they expressed their gratitude. I actually think that more than just receiving a cooked meal, what warmed their hearts was the thought that someone actually cared for them, as opposed to fearing or suspecting them as criminals.
There was still a bit of food left and they pointed us in the direction where we could possibly find a few more homeless guys. We prayed with them then left. "Even if you guys did this once, the fact that you did it, and didn't just think about doing it means a lot" said one of the guys (we got their names). I could see, as we were leaving them, the impact that it had on my friend. So we went the direction they pointed.
Walking past campus, we come across one of the girls from the architecture department, one of the earlier year students. After exchanging the polite greetings she asks us where we were going, seeing the stuff we had. We told her we're looking for homeless people, "nyani?" (That's "really" in Xhosa, :). Yep, and she directed us to where we were likely to find a couple, and asked us to let her know the next time we do this again, (quite frankly I actually wasn't thinking about a "next time.") But we said we would see... So we continued. We got to where we were directed to and found a young boy there, Serame. A very sweet young man. He was reading a newspaper and immediately I thought of Sam Pipim's testimony...
We gave him the food that we had left and had a very nice little chat with him and it really left an impression on me. Now while walking back to res with my friend I would really see that it had an impact on him too. That's just what serving others does. We were both smiling all the way. Being a blessing to others, for no personal gain, really results in blessings upon oneself.
The substance of the conversation changed on our way back. The subject turned more to being about how blessed one is in life, how much suffering there is in the world, how much a little act of kindness goes such a long way to the person who received it etc. He said some things that really warmed my heart, "we should do this more often like every Sunday..." "I'm even willing to contribute...""Even if we have a submission on Monday, it would be worth it." He even said something along the lines of getting others from architecture involved in it. "We should do this again next Sunday." This is the power of serving others. We got back and he appreciated the invite to help. I really appreciated his willingness to come and assist and I'm glad it had an impact on him too. His willingness got me to really thinking.
Coming back to my place, reflecting on the experience really made me realise how powerful it all was. The thought that came to mind was that this is a really powerful opportunity for the gospel. I wonder how God is going to use this experience to further get the message of Christ soon second coming and saving grace/power to the hearts of his children living on the streets of the city. Shall be praying that God really use it to His glory, to impact not just the homeless people that may be fed, but also minister conversion in the hearts of those involved in the food distribution.
Some statements in mind.:
"When we have done all the good we can possibly do, we are still unprofitable servants. We have done only what was our duty. What we have accomplished has been wrought solely through the grace of Christ, and no reward is due to us from God on the ground of our merit." The Review and Herald, June 27, 1893.
"...we need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum, or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded alleys of the great city, and in every place where there are human hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps." The Desire of Ages p.640.2
