one of our PCA students, guest blogger

Hello! This is Su-min Bang and I’m enjoying every moment of my last mission trip at high school in NYC. The third day of the trip started quite early for most of us. Our team was divided into two smaller groups – PCA 1 and PCA 2. PCA 1 group met at the lounge around 6:10 am and headed to St.Paul’s House. Kayla, Jen, Jee Eun, and I from PCA 2 group came down to kitchen to do kitchen duty around 6 am. Since our team was the only one staying at NYSUM and half of our team had already gone to ministry, we did not have much to do at the kitchen this morning. We prepared eight sandwiches for our lunch and set up breakfast on the table. After delicious breakfast, PCA 2 group had a 30-minute-class to learn little bit about the ministry at St.John’s Bread and Life. Elizabeth from NYSUM was our helper and guide throughout the St.John’s ministry. She reminded us the very purpose of the mission trip – to serve God and to bring the Good News to people who need to hear.

After the group prayer, PCA 2 group took off to St.John’s Bread and Life by a van which Mrs.Watson drove! St.John’s Bread and Life had very nice facility. Their food pantry system was automated and very convenient. People would come into building, order what they need on the touch screen computer, and the orders would be sent down to the food pantry where we worked the whole time while we were there. Seven of us – Mrs.Watson, Kayla, Rosa, Jee Eun, Sammy, Jen, and I – helped taking orders and packing the bags. After putting on aprons, gloves, and hair nets(haha, those looked great on us!) We took the orders, found the goods on the shelves, put them all in the bags, double-checked, and handed them to the staffs at the St.John’s. Then, they called out the names of people to pick the bags up. At first, all of us were taking orders and trying to find things at the same time but soon we took different roles and worked systematically for about two hours. When we had some free time, we spent time giving massage to each other and taking pictures. Even though we did not get to interact with people directly, we were so glad and thankful that we were able to help run the food pantry and to bless those bags that we packed for people. We enjoyed working with each other and with other volunteers at St.John’s.

The second ministry of the day was the hospital ministry. All of our team members went to the hospital together with John from NYSUM. We walked around the hospital as a pair and talked to many patients. We had some nice conversations, sang songs to some of them, and gave them the handmade cards that students at PCA had made with the Bible verses. I believe this ministry was a great experience for everyone on the team. God blessed the time we spent at the hospital and took care of all our worries that we had before. Also, I was so humbled by a couple of Christian patients and their strong faith in God. Their passion and faith made me think about my faith. I imagined myself being in their situations and asked myself, ‘Would I have loved and believed in God as much as they do if I were them?’ God really made me humble by showing those strong Christians in such tough situations and I am so thankful for that.

We spent about three hours at the hospital talking to many patients with different background and different stories. Then, we came back to NYSUM and rested – some of us ordered some Chinese food while chilling. Now, it’s 11:51 pm and I probably should go to bed and get some sleep for tomorrow! Thank you so much for supporting all of us and keeping us in your prayers. I’m sure this trip has been such a blessing to everyone on the team. Please continue to pray for us to show God’s love to people we will interact and to stay focused on the real purpose of this mission trip. Thanks!