The Good Smaritan in 2011

Here it is, just another Wednesday night. I'm relaxing with the laptop, checking emails and scrolling through Face Book and see some pictures I need to learn more about. I notice all the captions are in Spanish, and one of my friends posted them. Okay, so everyone on F/B is friends, right? But this is a little different. She IS my friend.

Let me introduce you to Pamela! She's a young lady attending the university in Lima. She attends our home church here in Peru. She's bi-lingual (YEAH!) and has translated for us this past year a few times. She’s a fine young Christian not just talking the talk, but also walking the walk. You know what I mean. She's living for Jesus. No she's not perfect. She will even tell you that. But she has a heart that desires to seek the Lord, to share Him with others and to serve Him.

You may be thinking, "well, I know someone like that, too". Great! I hope there are a lot of "Pamelas" out there in our world. We all know the world sure could use 'em.

The photo journal begins with a young lady at the local Plaza Vea (much like a small WalMart) with several pieces of paper and a calculator spread out on a table in the food court. It appears they were checking their available soles (change) and their shopping lists. There are other photos of young adults in a hospital setting. I notice everyone is smiling. The pictures don't look posed. Many are candid. I can see these kids (I say ‘kids’, because they are so young compared to me, but they are all in the late teens or early 20’s) in action. Smiling. Walking. Talking. Serving juice. I recognize one of the other girls in the photos as one who has visited us with Pamela one Sunday noon. Her name is Rocio. She has demonstrated her love for the Lord through her lifestyle as well.

Within a very few minutes, Pamela actually comes up on the chat window in Face Book and asks me how I am doing tonight. I can't believe it. She can fill me in on what's going on in these pictures. (It will save me time from having to translate all the photo captions!) We chat a little and here's what I discovered.

On Wednesday, after classes, there is a group of Christian kids from the University who have a Bible Study in the afternoon. Pamela shared, “after the Bible Study we do different things, like go a local hospital to share the love of God and the gospel.” They minister to burn patients as well as the elderly and whoever might be there at the time. I asked Pamela where the hospital was and the name of it, but sure enough I didn't recognize either.

Today they purchased boxes of juice to offer to the patients. As Pamela said, "it was something different, to change their regular menu. They always eat the same stuff". Imagine that, the little things that we take for granted, these kids decided to do something about. They surely brightened the day for so many people and shared with them of their own resources by treating them to an afternoon fruit juice. How special!

This really spoke to me today because I was reminded of the many opportunities God has put in our paths, for us to come along and serve one another. We seem to walk around them like some did in the story of the Good Samaritan. But it touched my heart to see these pictures on Face Book and to chat with Pamela on line. She shared one last comment with me and that is that the mission of their Bible Study group is: “to do what He asks of them to do.”

I thought immediately of two big-hearts & hands-on ministries back in Alpharetta Georgia who also serve others. The first group is called FLOOD Student Ministries and it has developed local chapters in the middle and high schools. I have known Kimberly Scales, the Director, for a number of years, and many of the student leaders and participants were former Bridgeway Christian Academy students. Their mission? “Flood exists to provide local mission opportunities for students to saturate their communities with the hearts and hands of Christ.”

The second ministry in the same city is called ACT Together Ministries. It encourages everyone, singles and families, including children, to serve their neighbor. Heather Clark, Director, is also a personal friend of mine, and a former teacher of Bridgeway Christian Academy. There are all sorts of activities planned which need additional help, and which meet the needs of the less fortunate, or those who have found themselves in particularly difficult times. Their mission? “To meet the needs of children and families while sharing the hope that can only be found in Jesus. The Christ-centered organization is dedicated to improving the lives of children in distress while strengthening families and inspiring the next generation to serve.”

For those of you who are internet savvy, or have Face Book, check these out. You, too, will be impressed by the good deeds God has planned for them to do - Good Samaritans in 2011!