by Mary R.
As a small town girl who is more used to tuning out croaking frogs at night than loud music and firecrackers, living in North Philly has been an adjustment. Our first couple of days here brought hours of orientation talks where we heard some stories of the city and about how to be street smart. One of the main things that stood out to me from these talks though, was the reminder that God, when He calls us to go to a place, is also really inviting us to come to join in the work that He’s doing, to meet Him in this place— so there’s no need to be afraid!
As we’ve gone out these past few days, we’ve been invited into many people’s homes and, to an extent, into their lives. We’ve gotten a taste of their joys and sorrows. We’ve taken blood pressures and talked about decreasing the risk of diabetes and HIV. In doing these, we have heard about the major health problems that people and their family members face and about the road some people have taken towards substance abuse. It has been an honor to be trusted with these stories and to trust the Lord with each of these people whom He loves and whom He has caused us to love. We know that He is in the business of redemption, and we are ministers of reconciliation when we point these precious people to our Savior Jesus Christ.
This has been a stretching experience, taking me beyond my comfort zone of country roads and right into the middle of the city where I have to avoid open needles when I walk. But this has been a growing experience as well, learning how to work well with a team of diverse people to meet and serve people from backgrounds different from mine. Praise the Lord for this city of brotherly love. May the hope of Christ penetrate here to bring repentance, redemption, and restoration— as He does in the hearts of all those who follow him.
Hear this encouraging word from Isaiah about the time when Christ will reign in Kensington and
the whole world:
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 (ESV)