What I Took Back With Me To My Jerusalem

by: Sarah-Laney Long (Columbia, SC)

The conference was amazing this past year.  It trully was.  Anyone who went will tell you that.  From the fact that as soon as you got to the hotel there were eager faces of your fellow brothers and sisters waiting to see you and to meet you...knowing that probably in a few hours they and you will probably forget their names. I loved the fact that we would all stay up late even though we knew that we had to be up the very next morning at 6am for the Day of Service.   And of course I loved all the messages, the classes, and the fellowship.

But now let me talk about the main event.  The Day of Service.  WOW!!! That was utterly amazing! Words cant really describe the way I go back in my mind and think about all that we did.  I can remember last year, and the year before during the 4th of July.  Watching fireworks, last year at the waterfront in Boston, MA.  The year before with my family and friends.  But this year was like no other.  This year, I got to serve like Jesus would have served.  To know that every pile of dirt that i moved and spread was a step closer to the end result...giving back someone's life, someone's security that was taken from them by a tragic storm. I remember I would stop working for a few seconds just to look around me.  Just to see how the other groups were doing.  And I remember at one point I videotaped it.  Because it was so moving just to see all the volunteers, all the college students that could've been doing something totally different than serving, to see everyone just working side by side and changing the lives of the people who once lived in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, LA.  We know on the blue Hope worldwide shirts, their moto is Bringing Hope, Changing lives.  I believe we achieved that goal and lived up to that moto that day.  We brought hope, even the residence that were sitting by the stage while everyone was working said that.  We brought hope that this place could be beautiful once again.  That the song "Encourage My Soul" isn't just a song of the day, it was the song that was in their hearts, and I believe in everyone hearts that day, even now.  Then as we were all finishing our lots, you could truly see a difference.  I remember my group was finishing up, and there was still another group on the corner that still had lots to do, so my group and some of the other groups came over to them and just started helping them finish the race for that day.  And in the end they were able to finish. 30+ disciples working side by side on that one lot, helping each other to finish.

So, when I think back to that day.  I start to think about, if we, if I could do all that in just one day, to impact one life in a different city....what more can I do in my city?  What can I Rebuild in my Jerusalem? Yes everything else was amazing at the conference.  I loved every second of it.  Wished it could've lasted a little bit longer but everyone would say that, and the truth is it will never be long enough til we reach Heaven and be able to do that everyday for eternity.  But I think what I ended up taking back to my Jerusalem, is the courage and being determined that I can serve in my Jerusalem.  I can serve and bring hope to others.  I can serve and change lives.  Which every chance I get I am doing just that.  I pray that God will help us all to help rebuild our cities.

But I hope this encouraged you.  I'm no writer, in fact I'm horrible in my English classes but I just really had this on my heart and wanted to share this all with you.  And yes I could've put in scriptures in this but there's so much i would've wanted to put in that there would've never been a stoping point.  But I did love the scriptures about Heart, Serving, Love, Joy, Encouragment, or how Jesus severed throughout the Gospels.  Which I encourage everyone to study out.  But I love you all, and I hope everyone can write what the also took back with them to their Jerusalem.