Over the course of our week without teams, we have had the chance to see a lot more of the city as well as serve with our local community partners. It has been an experience of joy to be able to work with our partner ministries, but also an experience of sadness. The reason I say that is because it feels as though with each day we are here, we are seeing more and more need in a city that is so much bigger than any of us. Make no mistake, the ministry that God has placed before us is thriving and moving forward, but sometimes it feels like there just isn’t enough time to make right all of the injustices of such a big city.

I am humbly at peace with the fact that we don’t have enough time to right the wrongs of a broken city, but we do have the blessing of planting a seed for the years to come—that we could see God’s grace move in lives of the hurting and lost.

Something struck me quite hard the other day. That is, I don’t understand how people can be so oblivious to the needs of the homeless, widowed, and poor. How is it that there can be so much need and so little being done to fix things? I’ve tried so hard to put myself in the shoes of those around me, but it has been a failed effort. No matter what I do, I can’t truly understand the needs of the hurting unless I am where they are–unless God opens my eyes to see into their lives. My prayer is that God will continue to show me the heart of the hurting—to see into the life of a broken city.

The other day, as I was washing laundry at the laundromat, I was approached by a woman asking where I was from. As I began to tell her, she proceeded to admit that she already knew I wasn’t from around here. Assuming that it was because of my accent and the way I dressed, I was quickly surprised by what she would follow to say. She said, “I knew you weren’t from around here because most people don’t smile around this area.”

My heart sank at that moment. I began to see everywhere that what the woman had said was true—nobody smiles. Is it because there is so much hurt that joy is absent? Perhaps the abscess of joy in the lives of few have, in fact, impacted the unsuspecting lives of those who live their lives day in and day out passing by the lost and hurting.

Even in all of this, God is doing amazing things to change the life of Baltimore. There is an inescapable joy that exudes from the lives of God’s children. And as they move in this city and make the way for Jesus’ Love, the obstacles become more and more menial. Love breathes hope. Hope from God alone. Love still remains and we will continue to share that beautiful love with this city and see God’s hope restore the life of a broken city.

Peace Out and God Bless,

Blaine