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Philadelphia
This month we’re heading on over to Philadelphia! Be sure to visit our city's page for more information about serving with us in the “City of Brotherly Love”.
News from the Philadelphia Team
In light of the summer season drawing ever closer to us, it seemed appropriate to me to find something in my journal from last summer to reflect on this month. As a city host, summers are full of busy–ness, joy, excitement, and many new experiences. In Philadelphia, there are many places in the city to sit and people watch (just about one of my favorite things to do). One of my favorite places to reflect is in Olde City, which is the area that has a lot of the historical aspects of the city. There are great shops and bookstores and coffee places and parks. On the afternoon in June that I wrote the following reflection, I was sitting in a coffee shop and nearly fell asleep. So I walked outside to the park by Independence Hall and sat on a bench to read and reflect on my time here thus far:
“I still get this overwhelming feeling. A feeling of being separated from this sense of an old life; and part of that is I find myself caring less and less about theological systems. And maybe it’s just that I’m reading Donald Miller and being totally influenced by his words; but I think maybe, part of it at least, is that this city is really getting to me.
Because when I’m sitting next to a woman in a wheelchair who can barely speak and can’t even pull her own body up to sit straight, theological systems don’t matter.
When I’m at an after school program and the teacher is yelling at the kids and complaining about the heat, when these kids probably go home to unair-conditioned, packed houses every day, and I’m just sitting with a young Vietnamese girl, who when she plays house and serves me food, and I begin to look into the future and wonder about her life, theological systems, and quite frankly most everything else, goes out the window.
Because at the end of the day, all that matters is that these people need love.
And love cannot manifest itself out of a system.
Because at the end of the day,
All Regina needs is love. And the way I can show her that is by touching her shoulder, and at the risk of hurting her and the risk of my personal comfort, push her entire body so she can sit up straight and play Uno.
And all Lisa needs is love. And I can show her how much Jesus loves her by playing house and connect four with her, because in this instance and moment, one person can have her energy and focus entirely on this little girl and tell her how smart and valuable she is.
And even that teacher, who constantly has me questioning her reasoning for having this job, even she needs the love of Jesus.
And I am no better or no worse than these. Because Jesus came to save me too. And I know this. And I know how much God loves me and how much patience and grace he has for my life. And only he understands the true depths of how much I need it.”
Summers are always a time of new experiences: new staff, new ministry sites, new groups, new restaurants. But in this time of newness and somewhat unfamiliarity, it is important to remember that God is with us in the midst of that tension. He is with us to give us strength and compassion to love those that surround us.
-Tricia Snyder, CSM Philadelphia Apprentice
Local Resources
Local News Links
- Cheesesteak Pretzel out today May 17, 2010
- From Homeless to Lawyer: One Woman's Amazing Journey May 2, 2010
- The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia to Hold Million Meals for Haiti Event May 21-22 April 29, 2010
- U. seeks solutions for Philadelphia’s 3,000 homeless April 21, 2010
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