One of the "tasks" of a host is to read those tricky evaluations right? Well I LOVE feedback as long as it's constructive, therefore this is my favorite past-time in between groups. A couple of weeks ago we had some very thoughtful comments come through and one in particular stuck out to me. After going to the Harbor Light Salvation Army, one youth took away an invaluable memory.

At Salt and Sea Mission, we always assist with the morning worship service before handing out food for the food pantry. Then students need to be prepared to hand out clothes, visit with the dozens of regular attenders, clean the kitchen, sort and repack food, or whatever else the mission's pastor needs.

I am reading a book that a former staff member blessed me with called: Here and Now by Henri Nouwen. An excerpt out of the book is called "From Competition to Compassion".

"Compassion - which means, literally, 'to suffer with' - is the way to the truth that we are ourselves, not when we differ from others, but when we are the same."
....
"It is not "excelling" but "serving" that makes us most human. It is not proving ourselves to be better than others but confessing to be just like others that is the way to healing and reconciliation."