When my son, Ian, was part of St. Luke’s youth group many years ago, I was a chaperone for the summer Youth Force mission trip to Altus, OK. My group, or God Squad as they referred to us, was assigned a house that needed a tremendous amount of cleaning and exterior work. The youth worked incredibly hard that week in the sweltering summer temperatures.
Each evening, we would all come together to reflect and have a time of worship. And each evening the other God Squads would tell about all they accomplished. They would share how their homeowners’ faces would light up when they saw their homes being repaired. One homeowner even baked cookies for their God Squad.
Our “home” was being turned into an after-school program center. We knew the program would bless lives, but that summer, it was simply an empty building. There was no one baking cookies for our God Squad. Yet our God Squad gave it their all without a homeowner telling them how much they appreciated their hard work. The youth rallied around each other. They supported one another and cheered each other on through their sweat – even playing games while getting their work done. Something beyond words happened on that job site as those teens became a family. A sense of awe washed over me.
Our youth taught me an incredible lesson that has a forever place in my heart. When we do for others out of the love that gracefully resides in our hearts, an upward spiral begins. While it is nice to have someone telling you your work is a blessing, it is unnecessary. Our deep faith in God’s love is the best blessing. And when you lead with that faith, joy is often the result.
I am in awe of the perseverance and dedication our students gave to an empty house. They scraped, painted, fixed shingles, and picked up trash for kids they would never meet. I think of our time preparing that empty house to become a safe space for kids and wonder how many lives were blessed beyond ours. I imagine the answer is many.
The season of Lent prepares us for the sacred Easter celebration. Our youth, who now are wonderful adults, many with their own children, prepared the way for ministry to happen. God’s gift of love and grace showered blessings on all of us that hot summer week in Altus.
As we journey through Lent toward the empty tomb of the risen Christ, may we allow our hearts to fill with awe as we experience God’s unending blessings in the most unlikely of places.
Tisha Tate Garcia, Hospitality Team
