Tonight as I think about this week, I am reflecting on this verse, the Golden Rule:
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This week we served over 600 lunches to many hungry kids and even some moms through our Spring Break Lunch Bus. We traveled through snow, wind, rain and sun. We experienced everything under the sun, literally.
I want to tell you about the little guy in the middle. I've known him since he was in 4th grade, he is now in 7th. I met him at the apartment my family serves at. He was the first kid I gave my cell phone to, which was pretty important when he and his family found themselves homeless. He was known to deliver extra food to neighbors in his apartment complex. He was known to call me in the summer and let me know of kids who were hungry, and when I would show up with backsnacks, he knew just the doors to deliver them to. He recently got a community garden started at his Middle School "because there was a time when his family couldn't afford fresh vegetables and fruit, and he knows other kids who will appreciate them and need them."
This week Carlos showed up every day at Mission Southside at 9:00 a.m. and even earlier one day, to help with the Lunch Bus. He pitched in just as much, if not more than other volunteers. He helped cook, load the bus, chop tomatoes and onions. He helped load the bus and unload the bus. He came up with the idea on the 3 VERY cold days, to deliver the meals to the doors so that people wouldn't have to get outside in the weather and he stayed until every last dish was cleaned up. As long as I have known Carlos, he has had a true neighbor's heart.
By the end of this week, Carlos had volunteered an estimated 30+ hours loving his neighbors.
Yesterday the day culminated at HIS apartment. He was in his element. When the day ended, I gave him a souvenir Mission Southside waterbottle and a thank you note with a $30 gift card to Wal-Mart. The intent of the gift card was for Carlos to buy something for himself. Maybe some much needed clothing or something fun. But, really, it was the least we could do for all of his help this week.
When he got home he sent me this message, " Thanks a lot for your part of my life, Amy, and for Mission Southside. Thanks for the gift. Love you".
Then he proceeded to ask if we had any extra snack bags, because he knows of an apartment that is "poorer" than his and he knows the hungry kids who live there. He wanted to deliver them to these kids. As I have learned over the last 4 years, Carlos ALWAYS looks out for others before himself.
Later that night, he messaged me another thank you. "Amy, can I tell you something? Thanks for the $30 dollars. We emergency need groceries, so thanks. That will last us about 3 days." At first I was super disappointed. I wanted that to be for HIM. Not for others, not for groceries. Hours later, I received another text....
"What a disappointment! We went to go to Walmart to get laundry detergent and groceries, and the gift card must have fallen out of my pocket in the parking lot. We looked for 30 minutes and couldn't find it, so we went home. I really needed it to buy food, like our groceries are low. Mom is using all our money to pay the bills. Never mind, have a great day."
As today went on, Carlos messaged me several times, telling me how they are struggling, again. This isn't the first time. It is up and down and this young man finds himself in adult situations of worrying about where their next meal will come from, and how rent will get paid.
I promised Carlos there would be food on his doorstep tomorrow morning when he wakes up. He told me, " You're always there for me and you will always be my family and my friend".
So, today when you are eating breakfast, or lunch or dinner or grabbing that snack out of your pantry, please take a minute to pray for this little guy and his mom and his brother and sister. Pray that their needs will be met. That this 7th grade boy can actually be just that, a boy. Care free, young, and not worried about where his next meal will come from. And marvel at how Carlos, a boy with VERY VERY little, will do unto others, just hoping and praying when he needs it, someone will do unto him.
