Blog

Young Adults from St. John the Evangelist in St. John, IN went on a Mission Trip to Omaha, Nebraska where they worked with the ministry of Hope of the Poor. Hope of the Poor reaches out and serves some of the most forgotten, neglected, lonely and abandoned people in downtown Omaha and on the Native American Reservations. We encountered people living in the depths of poverty - some in conditions that seem unimaginable. 

We served coffee, oatmeal, and juice to over 100 homeless in the morning on the streets of Omaha. We encountered a love in the Native culture that is neglected by so many Americans today. While their situation is difficult, Jesus is present in each person we met. We brought them the love and hope of Jesus Christ that we all need! The overwhelming number of people in need calls to mind Jesus’ commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. So many young adults were impacted by the way they view the world and the call to share God's love to everyone we encounter and serve. Below are some of their testimonies and reflections.

"I found Jesus more in myself and becoming closer and in tune with my faith as well as connecting with my newfound mission family and knowing that I will have the everlasting support of not only God by my side but the wonderful brothers and sisters who look to serve Jesus as well alongside me." - Matt H. (27 years old)

"During the time spent at the coffee garage in downtown Omaha, I had the absolute privilege of encountering Christ through a man named Brian. I approached Brian after he got his oatmeal, orange, water, and coffee from the group members serving from within the garage. I introduced myself and noticed how happy he was, smiling even. Here was a man who had little more than the clothes on his back, yet was more joyful than I was. Brian would begin to offer me his water, his oatmeal, his orange. I began to think to myself, Who is this guy? He has no possessions, and no guaranteed food source, yet offers me his food? I couldn’t comprehend how or why he was so charitable, especially to me, a stranger he had only known for 30 mins. And for Brian to offer me everything he had so that I could eat一how much more did Christ offer Himself so that we could have life?" - Elijah W. (20 years old)