Today was my favorite 4th of July I’ve ever experienced. Instead of going to the beach or a park, we went to Pacific Gardens Mission. Many of those who are in or who have completed the New Day program (rehab and Biblical study) work at the mission, and since we have been working mostly in the kitchen, we get to see most of the same people each time we go. For the 4th of July, PGM threw a massive block party for the residents and visitors! They had a huge barbecue, Sno-Cones, Bags (or “Cornhole,” depending on where you’re from!), face painting, basketball, a bouncy...

Today was our first “day off” from ministry, and we set out early for a Chicago adventure. We drove to Lincoln Park, which is another Chicago neighborhood, but is very different from Pilsen where we are staying and serving. On the way to our first destination, Lincoln Park Zoo, we got a glimpse of the Lake Michigan, Soldier Field (home of Da Bearssssss), the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and downtown Chicago. We spent the morning exploring the zoo. Favorite animals included flamingos, giraffe, gorilla, seals, river otters, and (my favorite) penguins! After lunch we set out on a...

Today we went to school. But it wasn’t your typical sit-in-a-classroom day at school. We got down and dirty cleaning and organizing. My team and I had the opportunity to sit down with the principal of a K-8 school in Pilsen and just get real for a minute. He was so friendly and made us laugh a lot, but he also told us about the corruption in our school system and the difficulties of being a principal today. After much laughing and some deep conversations, we split into groups to get to work. One group went to dust, wash walls, and clean windows, another to help organize a...

Our first day in Chicago was spent getting to know the city. While Robin and I got all the details on our exciting ministry opportunities for the next two weeks, the rest of the group prepared for VBS and went on a prayer walk to see the neighborhood. While our scheduled ministry doesn’t start until tomorrow, that didn’t stop us from loving, serving, and ministering to each other. In the evening, Hailey and Emily volunteered to join me on Team Laundry and take care of some pretty dank clothes and towels that had been in need of a wash since training camp. Ten loads’ worth...

Day one of full-on ministry was an interesting one to say the least. We were tasked with gutting an abandoned apartment owned by Dunamis Church and found that it had extreme flood damage and was covered in mold. Everything inside had to be cleared out and taken to the dump, which required strength, determination, a strong stomach, and protective clothing and respirators!! The coolest thing about this whole day, though, had nothing to do with clearing out the apartment. While we were cleaning, the community outside was in full blossom. People were walking around and asking us if they...

When many people think of mission trips, they immediately think of third world countries and people who have nothing, but that’s just not true! Today my team and I went to the Pacific Garden Mission in the South Loop of Chicago! Nicknamed The Old Lighthouse, PGM is the oldest continuously operating rescue mission in the country, and has been serving the homeless in Chicago since 1877! In addition to providing food and shelter, PGM seeks to show the life-changing love of Christ to every person who enters. To come for a meal, people first attend a church service, which happens before...