Crying is Okay

During my time here at SMI, I was really challenged with the idea of comforting this neighborhood. Seventeen students gathered to use our talents to not only physically help the city of North Philadelphia, but to also give spiritual support and hope for the...

“It shall not return to me empty”

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to...

Princes and Paupers: Who Are The Poor?

As many medical students can confirm, type A people—you know who you are—like to compartmentalize.  We like to organize: work, time, people.   But in the three weeks that I’ve spent here, I’ve found God skewing my lines and boxes for people. Merriam-Webster defines...

When in our hopelessness we meet the Saviour

I, perhaps like most of the students, began our outreach into the community with excitement and trepidation, hopefulness and uneasiness. It was discouraging to arrive at homes to only find our team loitering in front of a stranger’s home. But when we did reach a home...

Esperanza in Jesus Christ

The more people I talk to and the more houses I walk into, there is less esperanza to be found. Esperanza is the Spanish word for hope, and is also the name of the medical center that we are associated with. Time after time, people tell me about their lives; their son...

Suffering and Transparency

My time in Philly for SMI has been an exciting and equally challenging time. It has been mixed with struggles and growth. I would like to share an experience I had during the last few weeks to explain what I mean. During one of our community outreaches when we walk...