Struggling Challenge

Some would say that we are not challenged in our life as Christians, but I would argue that idea til I die. Life itself, everyday is a struggle to maintain the aspects of Jesus in our walk through this vile world. Walking through pain and suffering of those we pass by in a daily basis, we feel the sorrow upon their hearts. Being in-tune with the spiritual needs of people around me is something I so desperately crave, and I have tasted that this past week. A challenge arose for Dibor to survive in a place as a group we have not been. New York City, a devastated  area with so much going on in the citizens within it. Not to mention the arguments we as a group encountered between ourselves. This reminded me of when the devil tried to tempt Jesus so many times but He never once gave into them. I mean yes, we were fighting at times but they were solved quickly and just strengthened everyone. There were so many times during our trip that a Jesus moment happened, us going  to help people and just blessing the places they worked or even lived in. Leadership of the group was a difficult thing for us, some people didn’t agree with others and so stressful periods had to be addressed.After talking it out as a group, our mission hit us in the face and things became clear on what we needed to do. I was challenged personally by being the initiator and becoming bold enough to just pray for random people and strike up conversations with them. Throughout the four days of being there we were blessed with $100, helped with transportation, meals by several people, and great testimonies of a variety of people. The Lord actually confronted me personally about my mindset of how the trip was said to go and the actuality of what it was. I had such high hopes for things to happen, but never realized things were going on that blessed the ones we were helping. I just broke down one night and humbled myself before God, and experienced such a one on one appointment that was so powerful and moved me to think in a better, positive way. The people we talked to on the streets or the ferry accepted the gift of prayer we had for them and were changed by what we shared. This one guy at Battery Park on Thursday I will never forget, I went up to him and asked if he would like me to pray for him. He said, “Why do you think that I need prayer?” At that moment I was thinking, this guy is not going to want to hear what I have to say. All I said to him was that I just felt like I needed to pray for him and he accepted it. Then just talking to him briefly I found out he has made poor health and family decisions and just wanted some help. Right then I knew God was moving in his heart and this guy would be changed forever by this random  kid from Upstate New York. This whole trip was a crucial step for me in developing a stronger relationship with my peers and most importantly my Father. How God moves through us is so amazing and sometimes scary, but we just need to embrace what He has and the world will bend and fall to His feet.