Our youth began Holy Week by serving others. As adults who plan these events, our focus is on our young people experiencing what it means to follow Christ. We don’t use that language necessarily, and although we debrief afterwards and are willing and ready to talk about what the church does and thinks about the work we’ve just done, the emphasis has always been on developing the hearts of our young people to care about others. If we can do that well for our young people, th
ere will be a place for faith in their lives, for they will discover, almost unexpectedly, that their hearts will be turned toward bringing goodness and healing into the world, and there aren’t too many better definitions of what faith is all about than that!
We gathered at Bethesda Mission, a homeless shelter for men in Harrisburg. There were 25 of us from St. Andrew’s, there to tour the facility and the serve the guests (those who come through the Soup Line, who are not residents of the home) and the residents (those who live at the shelter and are actively engaged in steps toward creating a better life for themselves).
Deacon Wanda met us there as she had made the contact with the mission. She did a great job of engaging us with the residents, encouraging us to pray for those who had asked for our prayers, and to hold the mission in our thoughts.
We were delighted that the facility was so well run and kept. There was a brand-new medical and dental clinic available to the residents. The hallways were freshly painted. Everything was spic and span! They also provide lockers for the residents to have a safe place to keep their belongings, which is so important.Also, they recognize that when people come off the street, they come “as they are”. They offer them a package of clean towels and sheets and toiletries, and treat each person with dignity and respect.
They have a well-filled pantry, stocked with donations from companies and individuals. Anytime you would like 
to donate food, there is an outside donation center where you can drop off clothing or food. We brought lots of new men’s crew socks, since that’s something that often is needed.
They do have an over-abundance of men who stay there than beds, and pull out these mattresses at evening so all have a place to sleep.
We had a great time serving the meal to the guests and residents. Some offered salad, others desserts (very popular) while others served the main course of fish, rice and beans and vegetables. All the residents were so grateful for our presence. I loved it that our young people felt so at ease with everyone, always wishing them “a good evening”. It’s the little things that really matter and our young people naturally thought of just the right things to do and say.
After we had fed them all, we went out to eat our dinner and to enjoy each other’s company.
It was a great day and wonderful way to enter into the holiness of Holy Week, by doing what Jesus did, feed the hungry.
