Community is incomplete.

Disabled. This word can be used to describe a car that has broken down on the side of the road. But can the word really be used to describe a person? I think not.

Day 4 of SOS just ended, but I will keep the memories and experiences it brought close to my heart for as long as I possibly can. Today, my team was sent to the home of a woman named Judy and her daughter Susan. Our original plan was to do some yard work for them for a half hour, forty-five minutes tops, and then move on to another location. But the Lord told us to stay, so we did. Our tasks were simple - weeding flowerbeds, cutting down barren tree branches, and so on. We managed to turn some of these into fun and creative adventures. For example, to reach some of the higher branches, I was hoisted onto my friends' shoulders. It was good teamwork for sure. The Lord took us above and beyond our original plans. We even painted some of her garden decorations and picked up the dog poo from her yard. But the best part was getting to talk with Judy, hearing about her life, and seeing how blessed she was by our simple actions. We were so drawn to her that a couple girls from the team went out and bought her some flowers. She cried as she held them in her hands. Actually, she cried several times while we were there. Judy has not had an easy life. Among other things, she lost one of her children to brain cancer and is now wheelchair-bound, unable to walk or even stand up on her own. The latter would be considered a disability, right? Well, I don't think so. I'll explain further into this post. First, take a look at this video:




Last year at SOS the 800+ students were rushed into the host church auditorium on Thursday afternoon directly after returning from outreach. Without warning, the lights dimmed and this video ran. Quite a few students were in tears by time it was over but who could blame them? Harmony (the beautiful young woman from the video) walked onto the stage and explained the event a little more, then asked if we (the students) would like to do something similar sometime. The crowd erupted in applause. Then Harmony asked, "How about right now?" The room fell silent and immediately filled with tension. In the coolest way possible, Harmony announced that 600 or so special needs guests were on their way to the church building for a luau. This luau went so well that they brought it back for an encore tonight. I had a couple of options open to me. My team was selected as escorts for the guests, so I could have either gone out and been an escort or stayed in the production room to help with a game. I strongly considered the second option because I was feeling tired and knew it would give me some time to rest up. But the Holy Spirit was quick to speak to my heart and talk me out of it. I went outside to be paired up with a guest. Quite honestly, I was a little aggravated because of how tired I was. I was about to turn back, but then I saw a familiar face. Her name is Sarah. Sarah was my guest at the SOS Luau last year and is a wonderful friend of mine. Her beautiful eyes widened as she screamed with joy [very] loudly. She ran to me and threw her arms around me, nearly choking me in the process. But I didn't mind. Sarah then took my hand and said, "Let's go!" then led me into the party. I felt a good energy return to my body and mind, so as I held Sarah's hand I silently prayed to the Lord and said, "Okay, You win."

We had over 1,000 guests tonight. What's amazing about this group of people is that they know how to have a great time. One of the bigger rooms of the building is always turned into a giant dance party, and man oh man did we dance. I could barely keep up! There was so much joy and energy in that room. I can still feel it in my heart when I think back. All 1,000+ guests are considered "disabled" in some way by society just like Judy is. But I think the Lord allowed me to take a look through His eyes today. While Judy's legs may not work very well, God has enabled her to live through her many hardships with the strength and grace that many Christians pray for every day. Sarah, my dear friend, may have trouble saying some words and she may not think the same way that I do, but God has enabled her to be a woman of beauty and power. She influences me to be a better person every single time I see her. And while society only sees the wheelchairs and the health troubles, God has enabled these people to live through it all and still have the joy and passion to sing, dance, laugh, and cheer despite the challenges that rise up against them every day. God allowed me to see His sons and daughters, His chosen princes and princesses who He loves dearly, and the missing pieces of the picture of community we try so hard to complete on a daily basis. I want these sons and daughters of the King to be lifted up in the world, because it really is social injustice the way they are treated and left behind. This has to stop. Without these wonderful people, community itself is disabled.