Some of the most down to earth and insightful exchanges I have are during outreach with OIM. Week after week I stop with my fellow OIM volunteers to chat with people with diverse backgrounds and histories. To us it doesn’t matter where they came from, or where they may be headed; the point is to be there for them in whatever way they desire. If they want to chat, we lend an ear; if they need something to eat, we give them some food; if they don’t want anything, we move on. At OIM we aren’t there to judge, but to do what God has called us to do, and that is to love others as we would ourselves. We are there to give a little bit of respect to people who perhaps deserve it more than people think. Day in day out they are scrounging, facing judgment, being humiliated, ignored, and sometimes flat out disrespected. Once you get to know our street friends, you might see that they deserve a little more than what they get. Being blessed, God gives us the privilege to go and deliver the love and respect that He so readily offers to everyone. And of course without fail, I see God forge true friendships between volunteers and street friends time and time again – not surprisingly. Praise God!
Kevin
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