We got in last night fairly late with everyone intact and a warm welcome from Jonathan, Andrew & Abby from Acts 29. Everything went well traveling and we are ahead of schedule with all of our grocery items already purchased. The team is proving to be very flexible with for and showers. Next time we should leave earlier in the morning so we don't feet in so late.
Today was an adventure from the beginning; meeting the 12 other from Spring Arbor who are sadly, leaving us tomorrow along with connecting with all the Acts 29 staff who are always warm and inviting. The day had many new experiences as both teams were split into to groups, one going with brad to work on a house they were renovating and the other went to demolish a deck that had rotted out on a lady's house. Apart from these two projects the teams went to visit a masque that was converted from a catholic church/school and we visited St. Florence, largest and most prized Catholic church in Hamtramck.
At the mosque there was classes in session for studying the Koran and there was a meeting with district president in session where he came and shared both the 5 pillars of Islam and 6 statements of faith. We met with the kids, mainly elementary and middle school age, and got a few photos together. One buy I connected with was named Redwan and he invited me to their youth group on Friday night. I invited him to Acts 29 whenever he wanted to come. It was a great experience but very interesting how often theory claimed we have the same God, apart from Jesus. Sadly most of my controversial questions about the person of Jesus and the prophets came as we worked after the visit to see the imam.
The Catholic cathedral was beautiful and had many normal figurines and stained glass such as moses with horns and the stations of the cross. It was encouraging to hear from Rev. Sharon about it being a symbol of the polish community's faith and wanting a beautiful place to worship God.
During the evening we got a chance to go out to dinner with the Spring Arbor team. We went to a Bangladesh restaurant and had some great fellowship as we said goodbye to the team we barely new but loved. Later in the evening after we had some team time we all gathered together for a time of prayed and worship lead by a couple members of the Spring arbor team. God moved in our hearts and we prayed for Hamtramck, that God would draw the city to himself and redeem them. It was a very encouraging time where the worship went on for hours.
If you could pray for our team as we fellowship with the church tomorrow and prepare for a full week of service. One of the team remembers found out as we were on the road that a close friend had been diagnosed with colon cancer. Also pray for energy for the church leadership.
1 comment:
Good to hear everything is going well. Enjoying the read.
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