As you may know, YMCO keeps a busy schedule. Worksite in the morning, drive, bag lunch, drive, worksite in the afternoon, drive, arrive, shower, cook, eat, programming, sleep, & repeat. In this chaos, I make the effort to arrive at each worksite five minutes early. After the eager group of teens untangles themselves from their church bus, I pause and ask everyone to circle up in the parking lot. Then, I ask for a volunteer to pray. After so many days, this begins to feel like routine: arrive at the worksite, unload the car, text my director that we arrived, give a pep talk, pray, and move in to serve as Christ taught. Standard procedure. However, this week made me rethink our routine prayers.

My group this past week hailed from St. Stephens EC in Richmond, Virginia. Our time was filled with laughter, learning, and good works. I am inspired to write this post because throughout the week, prayer became a topic of conversation amongst the youth. It started with one young man who consistently delivered some of the most heartfelt prayers I’ve ever heard. Standing outside of each worksite, he spoke to God with kindness and confidence. Naturally, his peers commented on this: “How do you know how to do that?” “You’re really good at praying.” “You should be a preacher!” This led to further conversation about personal prayer life. One youth commented that they pray easily on their own, but never in public. This is pretty common - praying can feel like public speaking and public speaking is terrifying. On the other hand, I heard the opposite: “I don’t really do individual prayer.” For some people, there is strength in numbers and talking to God alone can be intimidating. These are all valid takes.
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A week at YMCO is about more than just volunteering. Yes, when we enter these organizations we are doing the good work of Christ and loving our neighbors as he calls us to do. However, good works are also happening inside of our hearts (and sometimes in the parking lots of worksites.) It warms my heart to see youth praying and encouraging their peers to do the same. It fills me with hope to be a part of conversations about prayer. Prayer matters. Having a personal relationship with God matters. I am grateful for the surety of this young man from St. Stephens. He inspired his peers to consider their feelings about prayer and encouraged them to pray wholeheartedly. By the end of the week, several youth would raise their hands every time I asked for a volunteer. I have noticed, especially among young people, prayer can feel like pressure. But the Bible calls us to maintain a personal relationship with our Creator and we do this by willingly engaging in conversation with Him.

Wednesday night of this past week, we were all gathered around, talking about
the parts of the body scripture from: 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. We talked about verse 26 in
particular that states, “ if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member
is honored, all rejoice together with it”. This led to the question of “What moral
obligations do we, as individuals or as a community, have for other people?” The youth
in this week's group did a phenomenal job answering this. We talked about how
important it is for us to stick up for others and be in community with others, because we
are all God's people, and if one of us suffers, we all suffer together.

The participants then started to talk about how one of God's many gifts to us is community,
and being a part of a whole. This is something that I had never even thought about, but I
believe that it is true. A strong community is something that can be one of the best and most
rewarding things. It made me think about all the interactions I had throughout the week,
including those with my team, the participants, and the organizations we worked with. All of
these little interactions I had and the communities I had been building were bringing me so
much joy. Which is a gift!

I see this gift of community from God in the people I am working with this
summer. Sophie and Lauren are two of the sweetest and most caring people I have ever
met. Sophie, the interim Director for Charleston Youth Mission, is such a great leader
who truly cares about everyone who walks through those doors. While Lauren, an intern
like me, is one of the most patient and intelligent humans ever. I really see God in the
way they interact with all the participants and me. I can always count on these two to
pick me up and give me a good laugh when I need one. These two individuals make me a
better person every day and turn me closer to God.

I also see the gift of community within all of the participants who walk through
the doors of CYM. Every week, there is a different group that comes from a different
area and background. Every week, I get to learn about these people's experiences and
see them grow throughout the week. This gift of being able to meet so many of God's
people is truly a gift like no other.

Lastly, I see this gift of community in the organizations we work with. I have had
the privilege to live in Charleston my whole life. Both my parents are also from here.
This experience has allowed me to meet organizations and people within my community
who are making a difference for good. Some of these organizations I didn't even know
existed, but they are truly a blessing to a lot of people. Which is a gift from God. It has
also been a gift to have connected with the community that God gave my family. One
example in particular, I saw this week, was when we met Albert from “Young but with a
Purpose.” This is someone who is an avid community member, teaching young people
life skills by helping others. Mr. Albert was someone who knew my family and my dad in
particular. My dad helped him get some of the resources to start “Young but with a
Purpose”. Now, Mr. Albert is helping me teach others about what it means to be in
community. This is an aspect from this past week that gave me so much joy, and it goes
to show how much of a gift community really is.

Overall, this week has taught me a lot about community and the real gift it is. So I
would agree with Idlewild Presbyterian Church from Memphis, TN, that one of God's
amazing gifts to us is community!

​Hi all! My name is Ruby, and I am so grateful to be spending a summer in Asheville as an AYM intern. As I’ve experienced AYM’s partner worksites over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten to know the communities in those spaces. One theme I’ve reflected on this summer is welcome. Each week, I present a morning devotion on Matthew 10, verses 40-42 (NRSVA) which demonstrates Jesus’ teachings on welcoming. It reads, 40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that when we welcome folks in, we welcome everything they represent – their experiences, emotions, wisdom, and perspectives. During our morning devotion, I often invite the group to consider the reward mentioned by Jesus in this passage. Throughout the summer, youth have shared that their reward could be making a new friend, discovering something in common, hearing a cool story, or understanding a new perspective.

I’ve certainly come to understand countless new perspectives at our partner agencies. I’ve realized that at our worksites, our groups, myself included, are usually the outsiders. We are the foreign ones stepping into a room of established connections. I’ve witnessed the deep-rooted communities of people who are often seen as being on the outskirts of society. I’ve been challenged to reframe my self-centered thinking about mission work, that I’m the hero by taking the time to get to know others who are “less fortunate.”

Instead, I’ve witnessed this misconception flipped on its head at 12 Baskets, a community cafe which serves rescued food to folks from all different walks of life. Every day begins by writing stereotypes on a whiteboard that we often associate with people experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty. Every week, without fail, some version of “no family/friends” or “burned all their bridges” is written. Prior to my work this summer, I believed in that stereotype. I assumed that when people were on the streets, it meant that they had no community or no one to support them. While it is true that people in poverty are not getting the support they need, that doesn’t mean they don’t have important relationships and friendships in their lives. Two weeks ago at 12 Baskets, I saw a table of four or five men eating together, chatting and laughing the whole time. I sat down next to Trevor, who told me all about his friends who have been a source of light for him. He said their “good energy” is valuable and provides him a safe space to exist amidst the hardships of living outside.

Similarly, at Haywood Street Congregation, community is spectacularly visible. One of the friends I’ve made there is Peter, who has been attending since he was 14, back when Haywood Street was a different kind of United Methodist worshipping community. He knows almost everyone that walks onto Haywood Street’s campus, and he is always the first to thank our groups for coming and tell us how much our work means to the folks who are there regularly. A sign of his longevity and commitment to the community is that he is painted in the Fresco, Haywood Street’s incredible mural built into their sanctuary wall that serves as the backdrop to worship.

Haywood Street intentionally blurs the lines between who is serving and who is served. They believe, as I do, that everyone has something to bring to the table. Haywood Street’s goal is not to solve poverty, homelessness, or hunger. Instead, it is to be in community – one of their core values is “relationship, above all else.” In fact, volunteers are lovingly called “companions.” At many worksites, including Haywood Street, the most valuable thing you can do is to sit down and have a conversation with a neighbor who is unlike you.

Ultimately, my time in Asheville working with unsheltered and impoverished folks has shown me how rich and fulfilling their communities are. I’ve noticed that the people I’d expect to be the least welcoming, those in poverty who have every right to be frustrated and angry at their communities, are often the most welcoming. I’ve also learned that my role, and the role of groups who come to AYM, is to integrate into and enhance their communities, not to invalidate or negate them. I have seen how God puts others in everyone’s lives, reminding us to trust in one another and build up our own communities. We are bettered when we welcome others in, especially those who are different from us.

Matthew 5:14-15 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

As I start my third week here in Atlanta the most impactful and meaningful moments have been at MAC, also known as Midtown Assistance Center, which is a food and rent assistance center. I have had the opportunity to attend and serve at MAC four times so far since being in Atlanta, and, as I go and pack food for families, adults, and children, it has shown me the ways in which one person who has light has so much impact and light upon those around them. For example when I first went to MAC, I didn’t know how to pack orders, so I followed around Dr. Paul and Edward — the fellow volunteers — and after two visits I was able to show our group how to pack food orders.

Today, I was able to deliver the food directly to the client, meaning I packed the cold stuff and helped them take it to their car. This small assistance center on the same block as the All-Saints Episcopal, where Atlanta Youth Mission students are housed during the week, has such a major impact for local families, unhoused friends, and adults. I have met only three workers and two volunteers at MAC, but through their daily devotion to those who are struggling with finances, food insecurity, and daily meals, they are changing lives. In this way of serving at Midtown Assistance Center one person's light becomes brighter every morning when full time workers like Savannah, Liz, and Nellie hand sandwiches out the door for two hours. A person is fed and is able to go and tell others and so in this way the service that MAC provides the community shines brighter everyday as they feed and keep housing for families who may be facing a financial struggle whether it be with rent, utilities, or car troubles.

When we are willing to be shared and not hidden by stepping into volunteer opportunities such as MAC our light is spread throughout those we show human-like qualities to like asking whether they prefer turkey, ham, or chicken salad sandwiches from whole foods. Knowing people's names and what they love, whether it be food, the people they care for, or which sandwich is their favorite, we notice them in a way that makes them feel valued.

​Through ATLYM’s volunteer opportunities we share our light in ways that show up through remembering the names and faces of people we meet at agencies. When a person is noticed and respected it creates a sense of belonging and value to their lives through recognition of one another.