God's Purpose

All kids have an idea of what they want to be when they grow up. For me, it was a veterinarian. But it could be anything- a doctor, a fireman, a teacher, an architect, even a power ranger. But no matter which job kids pick, they always choose that particular one because it's how they want to make a difference in the world. Putting out fires. Building really tall buildings. Taking down the bad guys. It's all the same. They are all attempting to change the world.

Recently I've been considering God's purpose for me and how he wants me to leave my mark on this world. And I have to admit it's been a really hard subject for me. There are so many things that need to be changed and so many ways to make a difference that I've been having trouble knowing where to start. The Toronto mission trip not only showed me what specifically needed changing, but also gave me the assurance that I really can make a difference.

Toronto has a ridiculously huge amount of teenage runaways. Meaning a ridiculously huge amount of teenage homelessness. We got to experience this homelessness firsthand one of our first nights in Toronto. We walked around the downtown streets for two hours, pretending to be homeless. While we walked we were supposed to think like we were really homeless, trying to figure out where to sleep that night and what to eat the next morning. During the walk it was hard to get into it, knowing that in less than a week I would be coming back to my comfortably big house here in South Tampa. But afterward we met with Steve Martin, this amazing guy who had willingly been homeless for seventeen years, just for the experience. He knew how it felt to not have anything to eat for days. He knew how it felt to have to fight someone just to sleep on a bench. But what he said he remembered most was the way people looked at him, as if he was so far beneath them that they had absolutely no respect for him. They didn't know his story. They didn't know why he was homeless. They didn't offer him something to eat or drink. All they had for him was judgment.

In 1 Corinthians 4:5, it says so don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of--inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God.

People rarely look at homeless people. If they ask for money, people either say no and keep walking or throw it in their direction without even looking at them, as if they are only giving it out of guilt. We should not be giving to people in need out of guilt, but out of love. And even if you don't have money to give, look them in the eye, smile at them, maybe even sit with them and get to know them. They would probably be so grateful for money because it's whats keeping them alive, but i bet they would be way more thankful for a friend. Because having someone to talk to them or just knowing they have a little respect is keeping their hope and faith alive.And hope and faith will keep them alive a lot longer then food or money ever could.

I've always believed that God loves everyone, but this year's mission trip showed me that God wants us to love everyone the way He does- fully and without judgement. That week, I was up close and personal with real problems that thousands of people face, but when at home I'm completely blinded from. I love living in South Tampa, but sometimes i get so caught up in my own world here, that i become blinded from injustices that I know God wants us all to see and respond to. I'm so happy we finally went on an urban city mission trip because we saw so many needs there and then we came back home and saw so many of the same needs here. I know i can't make any more excuses for why I'm not making the world a better place. There are opportunites every where i turn now- people who are in need, places that need volunteers. I guess they've always been there, but God has finally opened my eyes and let me see them. I've always had the desire to affect change ever since I was a kid, but now I'm finally doing it- one step at a time, I'm changing the world.

thanks! bye

Carly S, 10th Grade

Testimony given at Youth Sunday, August 5th, 2007