WHAT A MINISTRY YALLLLL & yes I am hollerin!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!
For reference::
Tuesday – prep night@ Rich & Kaylen’s
Wednesday – in Seattle Serving
Friday – prep night @ Rich & Kaylen’s
Saturday – in Seattle serving
Sunday – house church
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
I mentioned some of this in my last blog but for those who didn’t read it or catch it, here’s a brief description of how I found them!
I first heard of Reach during the crazy first couple of months of Covid when many shelters were closing. There was a girl who I had met last year at Churchome who was fundraising for Reach. I watched some videos and looked at some photos of this organization pass out food and pray over individuals who wanted it. I also remember being very impressed and almost relieved to see an organization continuously serving the unhoused community all throughout quarantine.
Months and months go by. I show up to this bible study for young adults in Seattle and I heard someone talking about Reach. I immediately asked about it & felt such excitement and peace. Like that is where I am supposed to be!!
The next day was Wednesday. Worked one of the hardest days of my life as a nanny with some major tears and I was so exhausted.
But there was something almost bubbling over in me. I got home, grabbed my raincoat & ran out the door. The entire way to Seattle I was literally & spiritually dancing to the beat of the music. Pumped to a new level y’all.
I pulled up to the parking lot just giddy with excitement. I didn’t know where to park & all of a sudden I got really shy. It hit me all at once that I literally only knew one person going & I got scared of that, the unknown of what would happen. If people would like me. But the second I got out of the car I had AT LEAST three people smiling and saying hello. Turning all their attention to me and investing in my life. A split-second decision. A decision merely based on the love of Jesus Christ. Everyone hugs each other too. I really like that. Feels like family. plus, fun fact of the day: humans need seven hugs a day!!!! Well, when I’m at Reach, I definitely get my seven. 🙂
We circle up, pray for our night, and off we went. We had these two carts, both filled with sack lunches, waters, and bibles. As we walked I came to realize that the unhoused community knew the volunteers at Reach and greeted them like friends. That made my spirit sing. These people felt seen and loved. Let’s go, God! I also loved how simple it was. We were just walking around asking people if they want sandwiches, if they said no we simply moved on. I think sometimes it becomes this huge performance to serve God but the reality is, it is so simple and easy.
Reach volunteers have hearts so set on God, on Heaven, and on others. And I think there is a lot of power when we get out of ourselves and serve on a regular basis. And I know I am a servant. I know that is the way God made me, he made my heart skip a beat as I serve others whereas he made others feel the same as they preach or as they worship or as they study the Bible or as they lead. This community is all around the block when it comes to special gifts/personalities and they say the same thing. The power of serving others. It’s important no matter who you are.
The power of serving others is astronomical. It’s such a big part of my testimony. For those who don’t know I was at rock bottom in high school. I was putting bandages on my wounds by drinking, partying, getting empty affirmation, and setting my eyes on things of this earth, my second citizenship, instead of heaven, my first.
Well, by the beautiful grace of God, I went to Los Angeles for a mission trip in July 2017. I remember so distinctly, like it was yesterday driving around Skid Row, one of the most impoverished areas of America & witnessing my heart shatter. Watching my mindset change as I took myself out of the issues in my life. Realizing how selfish I had become. How narrow-minded I had trained my thoughts to be, so narrow I could only see two letters, me. To sit in my house, with my car and listening to my Jesus loving parents tell me they love me. It snapped me out of myself and that whole week was incredible. It was hard but it was good. Day after day serving in various places. The emotion I feel when I write this is joy. It brings me joy. Some argue that this joy is based on the selfish ambition of making oneself feel good. It’s called givers high. Yes, we are humans. We are selfish. We are prideful. But when we let the Holy Spirit come and shake up the walls within our hearts we start to become joyful from a place of God not from a place of human desire.
I had a similar moment Wednesday night in regards that it snapped me out of my selfishness and my minimal issues about school and work. Getting to pray for a brother in Christ to receive God’s peace is the type of food I’ve been starving for. Holy Spirit food. Hallelujah.
After we had finished our loop we circled up, prayed and that’s when I headed home but a group went to drop off the leftovers places.
I came home and had a dance party in my kitchen on fire for Jesus & so beyond thankful to my God for providing and showing me what I needed. For filling me up in a way this world never will.
All I could think about was;
“The greatest joy that I know in this life is serving the Lord”
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Friday comes along and I show up at Rich & Kaylen’s house to prep for the next morning. Reach does all their own prep and also accepts donations. As I pulled up, Kaylen was unloading a car full of donations. I jumped in and we unloaded it into the garage which is completely dedicated to Reach.
We walked into the house and I very quickly realize almost the entire house is used for Reach. I thought, “wow, humble servants for the Lord”. Dedicating their home, their time, and their money to help others.
How often Christian Americans justify their spending and luxurious living by the fact that they do indeed give.
Being generous with our money is what we are called to do but what if God asks any of one us to not only give a percentage of our income, what if He asks for your whole home? What if he wants your expensive cars? Will we be willing? I know I struggle constantly with this. I always go to the scenario of, what if my whole house burns down, will I be okay? I should be. It’s just stuff. My money isn’t even in my house like I’ll be okay financially but will I be to release my computer, my clothes, my bed??? How often we accept greed and keep moving to the drum of the corporate ladder like nothing is wrong.
That’s what I was thinking about as I walked into this home. Its pure purpose is to serve the Lord. To invite others in to worship and have fellowship. A place of service for the Lord. One of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever been to.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up in honor.” 1st Peter 5:6
The first thing we did as a group is we ate. We broke bread and talked to one another.
After dinner, we started work. Some were inside packing the sack lunches. Making sandwiches and filling them with other items, usually water and some other snacks.
Some were in the garage. Some were making blessing bags. Some were practicing worship for the next morning. some were just talking. All using our gifts and abilities to harmoniously serve the Lord.
I think my old self would have been upset by that. Sometimes it can be hard not to focus on fairness and doing the task at hand with efficiency but rather the needs of the person.
The beautiful part of people sitting around the table talking to one another is this sense of friendship and freedom. There was no condemnation/obligation for not serving. If you needed to just sit and talk, that was a valid option for you!!! There was no Christian checklist just the freedom that reigns from Christ our Lord.
This home is wrapped in a blanket of P E A C E. you can feel it every time you enter. A reminder that God lives in those walls and the people who live there.
It was a great night. It was exactly what I want to do every Friday night. Doing the work of the Father, literally, nothing compares.
*God brought me back to this blog two weeks later to add to how I feel about Reach*
I think He wanted me to come back and emphasize the feeling of family. Friday nights feel a little like having Thanksgiving every week. Maybe that’s because Rich makes some bomb food or maybe it’s because these people have welcomed me in with arms wide open. probably both. I feel so blessed to have these people in my life.
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Saturday morning rolls around.
I leave the house around 8:30 am to be there by 9 am at the same location from Wednesday night.
I pulled into the parking lot & I was astounded by the number of people I saw. You see, Northwest University partnered with Reach that morning & because of that we probably had 100 volunteers. It was so fun!
The time flew by, like one moment it was 9 and the next its 11:30. I wanted to keep going. I could have gone all day. My introverted self said, uhhh nahhh fam. Fun Fact of the day: I am an introvert!! Woop Woop!! Maybe not the stereotypical introvert yall are used too but that’s okay, I’m here to break stereotypes.
I think Saturdays are my favorite day of the week now. I love the busy, chaotic moments of serving. When you are running around actively participating in a task. Like I could do that all day, ALL DAY! ( <<< Any New Girl fans?) Although, Fridays are also my favorite… and Wednesdays… basically any day I get to come to Reach is my favorite day of the week.
Saturdays I assume Reach has the most volunteers… I wouldn’t really know since I am brand new but there is organization/order to the day. Basically, there are different teams with a team leader all doing different tasks. Worship, Feeding the Unhoused Community, Prayer walks, and people stationed around the park ready to talk to the unhoused community once they have their food. I was on worship… which is another blog in the making, I missed a lot of what other people were doing but I’m soooo excited for next week and to continuously bring all of you along for the ride.
Once we finished we circled up and prayed the morning out! God is Good!
One week. I have volunteered for Reach for one week. That is it. I’m still pinching myself a bit because it’s so perfectly what I needed in every regard.
“She knows God is the only reason she has made it this far.” // amen I do!!
If we want to come help out, text me or email me because I would LOVE to share this insanely cool organization with any of you who are interested!!!
Call/text at 425-219-5954 or email at [email protected]
Or if you ever just need to talk. 🙂
OR
To contact or find more information about Reach go to their website: https://www.reachministry.org
You can sign up to volunteer and donate if you want!!
God bless you all with a wonderful week! Praise God for The Fall season!!! Have fun in the leaves and getting lost in the colors!!
