Beauty from the Broken

I had a little cut on my cheek, and I was holding a little boy on my lap. We were watching Anastasia, but he was more interested in playing with my hair. When he saw the little cut he ran his finger over it, and asked me a question I will never forget.

 He said "Who did this?" I was confused, and I just said "What?" He said "Did your daddy do that to you?" He turned around to keep watching the movie, but I just sat there.

I hadn't even wanted to go to Springfield to work in the homeless shelter over Spring break with the FCA, but I went anyway, and I am so glad I did. If you just look at the jobs we got done, and the work we accomplished it wasn't very much, but that is just seeing it through the world's eyes. If you add people and God to the equation, our week equals alot more.

Sure, sorting soup and cleaning are important and need to be done, but there will be more cleaning to do and more meals to be made. Pushing a little girl on the swing, playing tag, and making memories with people are alot more, and you will remember that long after you clean again. 

I learned so much from the people at the mission: I learned how completely self-centered I am so much of the time. I take things for and even worse, so many people for granted. I am so blessed, I have food and a roof over my head. I have amazing people in my life that are always there when I need them. Even with all of this I manage to be in a bad mood so much of the time, and mad because the littlest thing doesn't go my way!

Someone that really touched me, and encouraged me was Michael. he was always smiling, and even though it wasn't very much the time I spent with him was awesome. He had such a giving heart, and he just had joy radiating from him. You would see him with twenty kids hanging all over him and complete chaos, and he would just be smiling, he was such an encouragement and he is also a real good rapper!

This week was heartbreaking some moments and so encouraging otheres. Hearing a five year old boy ask if my daddy hit me was something I would never have expected in a million years. I just wanted to hold him, and do anything I possibly could to keep anyone else from hurting him. I could only stay for a week though.

Thank God he has people looking out for him at Inner City Mission. you walk in, and the mission just feels like home. I can't imagine having spent my break anywhere else. I have been blessed more than I ever imagined. I'll ask just one more thing, please send up a prayer for everyone there in Springfield. Pray that God will bring healing to the broken, joy from the tears, and life to all.

By: Hannah H. from Manhattan, Kansas

For one week in March we had a group of young people here from Manhattan, Kansas. Here is the reflections of one of the young ladies who was a part of the group.