First Day with 7 Bridges (Saturday, January 3)

Today was our first day going on route with the team from 7 bridges and we started off the morning in scripture and prayer among the group of people from the ministry. Shortly after the time of scripture and prayer we began making lunches, we made 300 lunches for our routes for today. It is amazing to see what God provides for 7 bridges each and everyday from the food provided by the community to the men who help run the mission. After completing 300 lunches we went on route. We had many encounters with many people and got to pray a blessing over a lot of people and give them the lunches and sanitary supplies they needed and we pray that God uses the seeds we planted and works through each and every one of them. On our route I met a guy named Garret. We handed him a lunch and prayed together with him. After our time of prayer he continued to talk to us and thank us for the work we are doing and helped open our eyes to understand better why the people are in these situations situations they are in. He said that God doesn’t place people in these situations as a punishment but instead God gives people different paths that they get to choose and often times they choose the wrong path leading them into a dark place. But, because of ministries like 7 bridges they can introduce that right path that leads to Christ. Overall today was incredibly eye opening as it was our first day out and I definitely made connections and memories I will never forget as God is working through the hearts of all we encounter!

~ Addi Norton

Today was very impactful. It was our first day on route. I was feeling nervous because I had no idea what to expect and I was feeling scared because I didn’t know who I was going to encounter or what people would say or do, but most of all I felt a sense of comfort and joy because I knew God was with me and all the 7 Bridges men were there to protect us. 

I read Psalm 23 as my devotion in the morning and the verse that really stuck with me the whole time  we were out on route was verse 4 which says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” As we began handing out lunches I was scared to ask people if they wanted prayer so I kinda let the other people in our group ask and do it first, but then as I heard others praying I got the courage to to start asking people if I could pray for them. The first few times I got rejected but I just kept asking every person I handed a lunch to and eventually I prayed for a couple(Dj and Sauce) that was living in a tent (it was like a tent city they called the cul-de-sac). I could tell immediately that drugs had taken over there life and they were living in really really sad, rough conditions and I just let the Holy Spirit speak through me and I prayed that whatever they are struggling with that they will break free from that and find the light and hope in Christ and step foot in the right direction. Going through that area really hurt my heart and was definitely the most impactful because you could just feel the darkness and hopelessness around you and there was so much trash everywhere and many dogs tied up. It just really opened my eyes to how intense homelessness is and how we are so quick to judge them and tell them to just get a job, but they physically and mentally cannot and need help and most of all need Jesus. It was so interesting to see how many people actually did want prayer or they would even pray for themselves along with us. 

Another one of my favorite moments was when we saw these two little kids playing football with their Dad and we gave them lunches and we also prayed with the little girl and boy (Harmony and Elijah Jr.). Then what almost made me tear up was when I saw EJ give his lunch to his dad and say “we can give this to the homeless people that need it more” This just made me realize that even though you could tell this family was very poor the little boy was still willing to give up his lunch to someone who needed it more and it was just so sweet. We also went through an Hispanic trailer park and it was just so cool to see how much joy all the kids have that live there and how well the 7 Bridges men connected and played with them. Overall, I think today was truly one of the best experiences I’ve experienced in my life and it really opened my eyes and made me more comfortable with praying with strangers and I just felt so happy and joyful the entire time we were on route.

~ Emma Leikip

Leading up to this trip I was extremely anxious, worried about fitting in, worried about the plans, but most of all worried about the route that we would go on. It has felt like a whirlwind, many set backs, many changes in the plans, but also so much good. This morning, before route, I read Proverbs 16, the verse that stood out to me most was verse 33, it said “We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.” The thing that worried me most was how to pray and what to say, but again verse 33 tells me that the Lord determines the day.  I interpret it as He gives me the words to say and wisdom during prayer. On today’s route we went in many different neighborhoods, a community of tents, and a trailer park. In a way it was beautiful how people who had little to nothing had other people, had a community and lived all around each other, supporting each other. On route many things stood out to me, my anxiety grew less and less as we continued. The theme that really stood out to me was how most people wanted the prayer, they agreed right away, gave us things to pray about, and were very respectful about it. One couple that really stood out to me was Sauce and DJ. They lived in the tent community and were so extremely welcoming right away. As we gave them food we asked if we could pray for them and they agreed quickly and even wanted to hold hands in a circle, they were extremely enthusiastic about it. This moment felt so surreal and incredible. Sauce and DJ didn’t just pray with us to get the food and make us leave, they wanted the prayer. Today was such an eye opener and made me change the way I think about many things. I am extremely excited to go on route on Monday and just spend even more time in the community and help those who need it and grow in my own faith.

~ Paige Mentink

Heading over to 7 Bridges

Breakfast time:)

Personal devos and journaling

Morning scripture and affirmations 

Charles and Chris

Time for making lunches...

Brief orientation before heading out on route

Praying in

Handing out lunches and praying

A tent city called the cup-de-sac

Visiting an Hispanic trailer park

A group shot before heading back to 7 Bridges

Helping finish unloading the truck

Supper time!

Hanging out before heading to our hotel

Quick stop for ice cream 

Debrief / reflection / devos together in the hotel lobby

Game time:)