First week of nonstop missions work from 8 am to 5 pm is officially over with the first youth group, all I can say is I am physically exhausted, but mentally fulfilled. If we are going to be completely honest, I had no desire to come to Houston when I first heard the Lord's calling. What I have learned over the years is: you don't question the Lord, you follow even if every part of you wants to turn away.

Well, just like every new setting, I adapted really well and have learned to call Houston a home away from home. From the festivals around every corner to the amazing food to last for days I couldn't help but fall in love with this city. The first couple days I remember going over all the statistics and thinking I should just lock myself up in a box for safety reasons. I honestly feel safer here in Houston most days than I do in most places because I have become aware of my surroundings. Someone pointed out to me that the hardships are probably just as prevalent back home, I am just oblivious and now I have learned to become more aware.

I love waking up every morning knowing I am making a difference in the Gano community. Even if we spend most of the day organizing the food pantry, I know I am leaving an impact that mean so little to me, but so much to the people of Houston. The Missions Centers of Houston reminds us daily how they appreciate us and honestly I appreciate them so much. They trust a bunch of college students to basically run important aspects of their ministry and not make any mistakes which seems crazy in a sense, but the MCH just overwhelms us with love. I knew the essence of prayer before I came on this trip after some events not being truly gospel driven for the BCM, but I have learned even more so the importance of your prayer life has to be thriving for this mission to be successful.

Since last Monday, I have desired to make a difference for the community, but I didn't realize the essence of it until I meet the people. If I could put into words the joy some of the kids have on their faces every time they walk into the center, I would. So many of these children come from home lives that I couldn't even begin to relate to. In the matter of a few weeks, I have begun desiring to just wanting to hug them a little tighter and offer them the recognition they are searching for. I had no idea how much a child enjoys you dancing like a fool or destroying you in a game of soccer until this summer. My heart burdens for these people I find myself wishing I had the money to buy them everything their hearts to desires, but so far all I have been able to offer them is my time and love. I think at the end of the day that's all they are searching for because you can provide someone with all the money in the world to have nice things, but that won't buy happiness only me sharing the love of Christ will.

I can already tell after this past week my favorite days are going to be Wednesdays and Thursdays, simply because I get to interact with babies and the elderly who are basically young at heart. On Wednesdays we offer ESL classes to the community and during that I get work in the nursery. I literally almost cried the first week getting to hold cute Hispanic babies with the cutest chubby cheeks.Last week was really cool because I got to teach one of the kids at ESL how to play battleship which reminded me of the endless hours I spent playing battleship with my siblings last Christmas. Honestly, these little moments totally foreshadowed the events of the rest of the day because it just put me on such a spiritual high. Thursdays put up a tough fight with the cute old ladies all dressed up and ready for us to paint their nails. Most of them were just dying to talk to someone.

My moment of really seeing Christ was on Thursday when I got to talk to a man who had completely lost everything to his alcohol problem. He had been arrested a few times and finally God really tested him when he got in a car wreck under the influence. Due to this car wreck, the man suffered from brain damage and had to move in with his sister for a while. During that time he lost everything he knew his family that he no longer speaks to, home, job, and the lifestyle he had learned to love. For so reason, God decided to save this man after he was so wrapped up in sin and gave him a chance to redeem himself. Now he lives in a little apartment right next to the fiesta store with just a radio and a bunch a books, yet he feels content with Jesus in his heart. It broke my heart because he had lost so much, but then I quickly realized he had gained so much at the same time. Earthly desires are nothing compared to what the Lord has to offer. I could go on and share more about this wonderful man and the elderly here, but you'll just have to come sometime to really experience it. Which I highly recommend.

I got to experience the first hand affects of Trumps immigration laws on this trip as well. Realizing someone I care about constantly lives in fear, not knowing if her mom will be there when she comes home from work, was an eye opening experience. It makes me wonder how do I have more of a right to live here than someone who was just born in Mexico, but still has made a way for their family here? My heart breaks knowing some of the kids I have fallen in love with may be gone in September. Their parents work the jobs that we ourselves don't have the desire to work and my question is why would you be okay with that? They deserve to be here just as much as I, or anyone else does. The brokenness in this community breaks me. I wish I could hand out green cards like an ice cream truck, because they are God's children. If they aren't causing any harm than they deserve to be apart of this "great land." The same place I often times find myself questioning why it is called "the land of the free."

On a lighter note, I finally did get a real taste of Houston and I think I will never look at "Hispanic" food in Georgia the same again. I loved having the best food of my life at a car wash, which seems so crazy, but I am telling y'all this little roadside stand will change your life too if you tried it. Overall, Houston is great. It has so much to offer especially, the food! I thank God everyday for sending me here and transforming my heart so much already! Just continue to pray for this place.