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Live From Around the World

Opening Up Our Eyes

July 20, 2011, San Francisco

Posted by Emily, J2A youth group

While we waited at the bus stop this evening, we were deciding what on earth we would put in our blog. We woke up this morning and had a nice breakfast and devotions and then headed off to Chinatown! We did a lot of walking around and poking our heads into stores and such. Then we headed over the church to prepare a meal for the homeless. While we were cooking the fire alarm went off from all of the smoke in the kitchen and we received a nice visit from the fire department!

While some people took turns in the kitchen others were out walking around with River handing out food, socks, and other small things of a medical nature to the homeless. Then we headed down to the Safeway (they claim it's the "largest in the world," but we thought it was just like a big Kroger) and handed out meals to anybody who was in need and would accept the food.

We met a lot of interesting people today, and this experience is really opening up our eyes to the homelessness of the city and how much we can and should do to help. A big thing we are working on is to not judge people when you meet them, but to accept them for who they are and what they do no matter how they look or act.

And congratulations to Laura Jones for winning the awesome person of the day award! For learning to longboard and carrying a tray of brownies standing on a very jerky bus (the brownies were for Debbie's birthday!) And another congratulations to Genny Huss for offering her seat on the bus to an older lady and then falling on her when the bus stated moving! It got the biggest laugh of the day!

Comments

Posted by missy benson on 2011 07 21.

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Emily, Thanks for sharing your day and thoughts. Well done! I am so happy that you are in SF with your leaders and group. Helping others and getting to know each other out of your comfort zone is what it’s all about. Look forward to hearing more about your trip!

Posted by Sue Bland on 2011 07 21.

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Hey J2A, Jesus says, Feed my sheep—and you are! It’s lunchtime here and i just took most of mine to read through all your posts & the comments of those who obviously love y’all & the SF experience. Thank you for your vivid word pictures and your grace-struck insights. Food and feeding, actual and spiritual, infuses your thoughts, showing us our own hunger. Bring it all back to SP and our city.

Posted by Margaret Benson on 2011 07 20.

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Oh my goodness it makes me so happy to read this blog! It brings back so many fabulous memories of my journey, memories that yall are currently making! I am so proud of all of you. Emily, what a great post. Sounds like yall hare having a perfect trip with a perfect balance of both fun times and meaningful experiences! Thanks so much for sharing!

Posted by Wallace Adams-Riley on 2011 07 20.

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Praying for y’all, and giving thanks for the adventure you’re on!

Thank you for being the Church out there in the wide world.

God’s blessings be upon each of you, each day, in all you do!

Posted by Bryan Appel on 2011 07 20.

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Fantastic post!

Learning to not to judge a person is so difficult. I feel like it is something that I always am trying to work on. Doing things like you are doing in San Fran are so important because not only are you doing something to change the world, you are learning a new way of looking at life that can be brought back home with you and shared with others.

Well done!

(I am a little worried about Genny though…Did the old lady get up and say ‘You need this seat more than I do?’)

Posted by Tom Smith on 2011 07 20.

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Emily, thanks for helping to keep us posted on what you all are up to. Sounds like you all are getting to know the SF fire department. We all have so much to learn, the work you all are doing with the homeless, and what we see when we look into anothers eyes - is such an important experience that I need to always be working on. thanks for sharing.

Posted by Michaelle Justice on 2011 07 20.

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Emily, thanks for the great recap of your day. It sounds like you all are really learning to appreciate diversity and the different circumstances people have to encounter. I am glad you will be able to bring that back to Richmond and share those thoughts with your friends and families here. We all could do better on accepting others!! Happy Birthday Debbie:)

Posted by Helen Ilnicky on 2011 07 20.

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Thank you, Emily. I laughed out loud here at my desk at the image of Genny offering up her seat and then falling on the woman on the bus when it started up (assuming the woman was okay!). I love reading these posts and feeling like I’m there with you all in spirit. What wonderful work you are doing and unforgettable experiences you are having that will be with you for the rest of your lives. Keep the news coming - I can’t wait for more!

Posted by George Huss on 2011 07 20.

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Thanks for the post, Emily!
Good to know what you all are doing so very far away (and thanks for sharing the laughter, too!!). One of the great things about going someplace new is being exposed to things outside your own sense of “normal.” It is easy not to judge people when you have no idea what they have experienced on their journey. God bless us all.

Posted by Kimberly allen on 2011 07 20.

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“Not to judge people when you meet them, but to accept them for who they are and what they do.”

What a wonderful thing to work on, Emily, and so honest to acknowledge the need to work. Best of luck with the rest of the journey to you and the others in the J2A crew; it sounds amazing. Oh, and you all definitely know what to put in your blog!!! I love reading these posts each morning.

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