SOS Day 2

As we entered day two of our service over self. The 8th grade boys in our group decided that working hard would be their number one goal that day. As we began the day's work the students had been told of a student Justin that was just down the street playing basketball. The students began playing with him and as I talked with the students later I witnessed a desire to love Justin in the hearts of these students. When playing with Justin they were saddened that he had a flat basketball and a basketball hoop that had a destroyed backboard with holes. One student said, "Lito, I'll buy him a basketball." What an amazing heart to want to reach out and meet the needs of others.
As we sat there we noticed the house we were working on had a basketball hoop the only thing missing was a rim. Now we had to ask the homeowner to have it and we would clean it up ask Justin to put the rim on our backboard and give it to him. The students rallied with an excitement. It's as if they put himself into the shoes of Justin. If they didn't have a basketball hoop or ball the would appreciate someone reaching out to them with this gift in love. We had permission to take the hoop. We cleaned it prepared it for delivery. Finally, as we took the hoop we were immediatly told by the homeowner they didn't want us to give the hoop to the boy and we needed to bring it back. My heart broke that she would continue this vicious cycle of not loving your neighbor. The students felt a little deafeted as well.
We then talked with Justin about setting up the hoop in front of her house and to play with us while we were there. The students still wanted to reach out to Justin. later we had found out an SOS worker had delievered Justin a basketball and he was playing with his new inflatted ball. The students are at such a pivotal age where they need to see people who will reach out in love but even witnessing the times that someone doesn't love may even help them see that there are some people who need Jesus to change their calloused heart. I just pray that the students here would not continue to hit road blocks that would cause them to develop calloused hearts as well.