In a few days it will have been one year since I returned from my gap year, an adventure that changed my life! I’m sorry I haven’t given many updates since my return. Truthfully, because it was a bumpy transition. This year looked and felt nothing like I expected it would (which I think many of you can relate to as well!).
So quick update: I finished my first year at Grove City College! I made amazing friends, filled my brain with knowledge, discovered more about myself, and fell deeper in love with Jesus. Upon reflection, honestly the Lord fulfilled all of my prayers and then some! I am reminded once again, the Lord is good, and he is faithful. But I also struggled this year in ways I didn’t anticipate. I fought feelings of heartache throughout the year as I grieved the friends I made last year who are now scattered not only around the country but the globe. Although I was exactly where God wanted me, I still yearned to be somewhere else. It was in those times my new friends reminded me, I don’t need to be in India or Africa to be a missionary. Being a missionary is the way you live your life, it is being ready to share with others the reason for your faith, and the good news that is the gospel.
This summer I’ll be an missionary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through the Philadelphia Project. I will partner with local organizations already serving the communities of Philadelphia. I am looking forward to sharing the love of Christ with everyone I encounter. In the wake of COVID-19 we will not be hosting service teams, but rather continue the work with just the Philly Project staff and interns.
Through prayerful consideration, enhanced safety measures, and seeing the continued need of the people, they have decided to continue the internship program this summer. I will still be a Mercy Ministry intern with The Philadelphia Project. The mission is the same, to bring revitalization, restoration, and the love of Jesus to communities in Philadelphia but how we do that will look differently than we originally planned. In these unprecedented times the Philly Project has not lost hope and continues to serve the people of their community.
In response to the concerns families of the community had for healthy and affordable food the food pantry was created. Throughout the past months the number of families that depend on this organization has skyrocketed because many families have been out of work. This is an area that as a Mercy Ministry Intern I anticipate to serve in regularly.
God has been faithful in providing for me to serve the people of Philly this summer. Although it is not how I expected it to look, I have full confidence this was already written into God’s plan. If you haven’t already, or you’ve been waiting to donate, please prayerfully consider donating through the Philadelphia Project to my account. Your generosity will go towards lodging, food, supplies, and my stipend for the summer internship. I still need to raise $800 of my $3,000 goal. Above all though, please join me in praying over this summer and what God is going to do in the lives of the communities we will serve. Please pray that as I press deeper into the Lord, I would cast my cares and all my worries on Him.
This is the link to follow to give: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2020internship
If you would like more information please feel free to contact me by email, comment, or message me on social media. Thank you for your support.
Stay healthy,
Hayley Grosh
