Release.

Posted by Amy on March 15, 2010 · 6 Comments 

Monday was the true beginning of it all. One of the most interesting parts of the trip was the fact that none of us really knew what was in store for each day. It was a very loose schedule, and we honestly only knew where we were going a couple times throughout the week, it was certainly a continuous element of surprise.

7 a.m.— A usual start to my day, but a bright and early start for most. All of us crowded the bathrooms, spent some time reading the Bible with God and we headed down for breakfast. We did a little debriefing to get our minds going for the morning and were given the word of the day:

Release. — Release your fears. Release your anxieties. Release your worries. Release your expectations.

It spoke to all of us in very different and very similar ways. We all had something coming into the trip. We each had something holding onto us, and we all had something we were holding onto, but we needed to release it all. I know I was anxious and had some doubts, I just love how God knew all of our hearts and knew the word we all needed to hear.

That in mind, we were then told to change into athletic shoes because we would be moving a lot today. We obeyed blindly and packed up the vans ready to set out into the city.

Our destination for the day was Centennial Park; the weather was clear and sunny, and it was melting the snow blankets Harrisonburg had wrapped us in all winter; it was just perfect weather. We circled up and Jeff, the main AIM leader for the trip, started conversation with the following question:

“How does God speak to you?”

The answers were many: Nature, other people, parents, peers, etc. For me, it was running and children. Unbeknownst to us, that question would be somewhat of the main theme for the week.

Jeff broke us up individually and sent us to find a spot to listen for God; such a simple concept that many of us fail to do. We pray, we read the Bible, but do we listen? Do we listen to what the Almighty wants for us?

I found a tree to sit by and peace swept over me. The sun shone on my face and I opened my Bible. I read, I prayed and I stopped; I watched people and listened. One elderly man with a beard and orange vest cycled the loop around the park 2 or 3 times at minimum while I was sitting there. People were running, biking, talking to each other, talking on the cell phone, tuned into their ipods, etc. Different ethnicities, different shapes, different heights, different backgrounds, different mindsets, different styles, different personalities, different thoughts…and they are all children of God. Jesus came to save and love each and every one of them exactly the same. We learn it, we say it, we preach it, but do we live like that? God was trying to prepare me for what was to come in the week, and He showed me ways to open my heart.

Next was lunch, and then followed a taste of God’s pursuit to develop me and stretch me.  Our next activity was an encouragement activity in which one person was tapped on the shoulder by Steph (another AIM staffer) while we closed our eyes. Once that person stepped into the circle, we were to listen to God for the words to speak; words of description and encouragement for that person.

I was first in the circle. “Driven,” “Determined,” “Strong,” “Protected by God,” and “Reaching and searching for joy in everything surrounding you” were just a few things I heard, and they were right on. Those were the words I needed to start the week; I needed to hear that I could do this and that I could do God’s work, and He placed those words into the mouths of the people surrounding me to encourage me that He knew what I needed.

Next, we broke up into different groups and began the first outreach ministry activity for the week. We were to listen to God for symbols, images, words and direction as to where He wanted to send us and who He wanted us to speak with. Three of us prayed and set out on images of a sundial, steps, a field and a few others. A parthanon replica stood in the middle of the park, so we set in that direction in hopes of a sundial and steps.

We arrived, looked up, and we found the ceiling tiles were made up of asterisk sun-dial like images that we sought after and standing by the steps was the man in the orange vest I had seen circling around the park on his bike. (Ironic? Probably not.) After a prayer for strength, we talked with him and his friend. We talked, we asked questions and the two men were so kind and eager to speak. The man I had seen was named John, and his friend was ‘Red.’ We told them we were in Nashville for a mission trip, and they were inviting to that response and didn’t reject us in any way. We learned about their lives, their children and how John bikes about 40 miles each and every day. Could it really be this easy to approach and just talk with people?

After our conversation, we set out to see who else God wanted us to talk to. After just a few minutes,  John biked toward us to tell us about the pond within the park. “You should go over there, I’m sure you’ll find someone to talk to over there.”  Wow, God, thanks for being direct!

In a few minutes, we came across a man swinging listening to his ipod; His name was Maurice. He had just dropped out of a university, but he was 26 and had done automotive work, computer and IT work, and taught BMX bike riding and tricks to children. His intelligence and open heart overflowed.

Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw John cycle towards us; one of the guys in our group went to talk to him. John told him of a beautiful church that did pancake breakfasts on Wednesdays for the homeless and he also told him of a couple of guys we should talk to in the park. After we chatted with Maurice, we set out to find the two guys John spoke of. We didn’t find them unfortunately, but God had made our aimless walking into a walk of ministry, simple ministry of love and conversation with directions to certain places and certain people.

That was only the beginning of our day.

The group took a break for ultimate frisbee and football and then headed to wash up for dinner. After dinner, we all packed up to go help with People Loving Nasville,  a group started about a year ago that helps serve hot meals to the homeless of Nashville. They welcomed us in, and we set out to serve.

Some of us helped hand out entrees, some desserts, and some silverware. The rest began talking and loving on the surrounding people. After talking to a couple of men, a group of us began talking with PeeWee. He was charismatic and full of life. The girls and I performed as TLC, Beyonce and even his beloved Rihanna; it was a running joke as people continued to join and the singing got louder.

It was our first true step on the path of a complex Release.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thosbenson/518213310/sizes/l/

Make sure to check back tomorrow for another story and a new set of photos!!!

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