New Experiences

Moving to Los Angeles from England is the biggest thing I’ve done so far. Yet despite being as prepared as I could be practically, I totally underestimated the scale of the changes I’ve had to make to live here.

Reading about the experiences of the other interns when they were new, it seems everyone goes through similar experiences. At first I felt bad about feeling like I wanted to go home or feeling overwhelmed, and I often tried to overcome that by trying to throw myself in at the deep end work wise and got involved in as much as possible all at once.

But God slowed me down. He has a lot of grace like that… showing me that it was ok to just settle in. The people I met here are also totally God sent: He’s never left me alone and I’ve always had the support that I’ve needed at that moment.

In other situations too, he’s been teaching me to trust him. Like at the airport, when I was told my visa would only last for six months. I had already applied to come to The Dream Center for a year. I could have freaked out, and I nearly did, but instead I took a really deep breath and gave it to God. The next thing I knew, I was informed by immigration that it was apparently all just a big misunderstanding! But I had managed to keep my peace because I trusted Jesus because I knew he had my back.

There have been situations where I have nearly lost my peace, but even those times are teaching me to trust God even more knowing that if my God is for me, who can be against me and He has shown me that again and again.

I have been so blessed by the experiences of this first week. The first outreach I went out with was Under The Bridge, where we went out serving meals to people who needed them. This was my first experience of seeing so many people with such great need and in such desperate situations. It’s shocking to see that there are people living like that and it is a lot to take in, but it is equally awesome to see so many amazing people taking time out of their ordinary lives to serve this community, these people.

The second outreach I went out with was the food truck. It felt really good to serve the community in a practical way and to love on them in a way that they could receive it – groceries. I got to give out many smiles and received many back. It was awesome to be a part of something that was so simple but which had such a great impact. There were kids helping us unload the truck and braiding our hair. It was so nice to be in that moment where everyone was working together for the sake of loving others.

So my first week is over but it has been a good week. God has put me here and He is looking after me throughout all the difficulties. Living at The Dream Center is a constant reminder of His goodness and faithfulness and grace.

- Charli

Without Help, It’s Too Bad To Be True

The past couple Thursday afternoons I have been able to help Project Prevention as they make food deliveries to families at risk of losing their children to foster care due to poverty. Until my recent experience, I did not realize this was even possible, and I wish it were not.

Our first stop was a single mother living with her two children. Before she found help at The Dream Center and Project Prevention, she and her young boys had little food and no furniture, including beds. After listening to her story and seeing how much she loves her children, I cannot imagine the pain she has already gone through and the thought of potentially losing her very own boys. On a daily basis she is faced with more pain and anxiety I have ever felt in my entire life, but her smile week-after-week challenges me and my attitude.

Next, we stop on a corner occupied by a small convenience store. After heading up a narrow stairway leading to apartments above the property, we knock on the door of another single mother living with her five children. That alone would be difficult for almost any single parent, but as I unloaded the food on a small table that could tightly seat two, I notice there is only one bedroom in the apartment. I realize this entire family lives in an area about the size of my college dorm room!

While I thought about my college years, I spoke with the eldest child, a boy who is going to be a senior in high school in the fall. He told me about his plans after high school, which includes attending college in the Los Angeles area next year. I was impressed by his attitude and the fact that he did not use his current situation as an excuse.

After receiving many “thank you’s” from the grateful family, we made our way to a few more stops before heading back to The Dream Center. Sadly, each one had a similar sad story of parents struggling to provide the basics for themselves and their children. Thankfully, as I have seen so many times, whether with Project Prevention, on Skid Row, or in the housing projects of South Central Los Angeles, there is a sense of peace and hope in those with so little to the naked eye. But through sharing Christ and taking the families to church, many have found the strength needed to make it through each day.

Thanks to those who work with Project Prevention every day and those who support the ministry, we are able to give hope to those with not much else.

- Jesse