Part of training camp was doing ministry in Atlanta. Getting to Atlanta was an experience in itself. We left Gainesville in a carpool of 20 vehicles. We took the Marta, which is like the metro, from one part of Atlanta to another. It was a sight to see almost 90 people walking the streets of Atlanta with our packs on. Needless to say we got lots of questions. We took the Marta to Peachtree Street where we stayed at Safe House, a ministry to the homeless of Atlanta. Once we put our packs down we got together as a team to talk about a few things and then we were to do an ATL; Ask The Lord.
I was very skeptical of this at first because this was something new to me. Our team prayed and then we set off on the streets of Atlanta with no direction of where to go. We were told by AIM staff that dinner was on us but that we were only allowed to eat from street venders. So we left on a hunt for street vendors to feed our empty stomachs. We eventually found some and were informed that street vendors in ATL are no longer allowed to sell food other than chips, candy, drinks, and fruit. So needless to say that made some of us a bit angry/frustrated. Bethany and I spent time talking to one street vendor and got to pray over her and her son who just recently was released from jail for a crime he didn’t commit. After that we were informed that we were allowed to go somewhere for dinner. So we went on a hunt for food because by this time most places had closed down already.
We found a really cute diner that we ate at. The food was great. We sat and talked for awhile and I admitted to the fact that I was frustrated because we weren’t given any signs or actual direction from the Lord about where we should go. When we left the diner it was almost 9:30 and we had to be back at Safe House by 10. We left the diner heading the wrong direction and I was praying that the Lord would place someone in out path because I was frustrated about not hearing Him and feeling like we didn’t do what we had set out to do.
Well the Lord answered. We walked up the street a bit and came to a young girl. I believe she said she was 18. She is pregnant with her second child and has HIV because she was raped. My heart broke for her. She stood there helpless and in need of some food. We had 2 bags of left over goodies that we did not finish from the street vendor. Without hesitation Tres, the leader of our group, gave her out bags of food and we prayed over her.
While our experience as a team may not match up or compare to those of others teams, that’s not what this was about. We are not supposed to compare ourselves to others and I’m thankful for the work that the Lord did do through us. Though it was little it gave me the hope and peace that I needed that the Lord will work in a through me if I’m willing to trust Him!
