April went out like a lamb but May came roaring in like a lion. My first adventure took place and a burgh of Pennsylvania know to some as the Steel City but to most as Pittsburgh. There we were able to see the young people there, play some disc, pool, ping-pong, go carpet skating (it's an interesting experience worth trying...google it), and enjoyed some Jesus. It was really good to leave Cleveland for a bit and spend time with other saints. I ended up driving a bunch of people back late Saturday night and then getting up early the next morning for the Church in Cleveland's Jubilee meeting.
I had about a day's rest before I was off again. My new destination was Hanover, PA, a small town that I grew up by. I went with Ian Konopinski, Peter Elhardt, Zane Biddle (another local), Sarah Watkins, Derek Schmalz, and Orion Fu. Corbin Moon from Hanover joined us as well. I was uber excited for this because people who I've told about where I grew up were actually coming with me to see it for their own and to evangelize it.
The first day started slowly because of the rain and school was still in session, but the highlight was talking to a young woman who didn't believe in God and wanted nothing to do with Him because she lost a lot of people in her life. In a last ditch effort to somehow put Jesus in her life, I asked her if I could leave her with the Bible that was in my hands. I thought I was going to get shot down and refused, but she took it right away, no hesitation. Not such a bad ending to a mediocre day.
Day 2 was a whole lot better because we ventured over to Gettysburg College where there were loads of people who had a diverse opinions and beliefs about why creation exists and how they got here. Surprisingly, the largest group of people we talked to were Catholic. There were a handful of decent conversations including one with an atheist who pulled other unsaved people into the conversation. I tried telling him about life after death and eternal salvation. He responded with "So you're doing this to get into heaven?" I didn't want him to think I was a Jehovah's Witness so I quickly responded with "No I'm doing this because God loves you and because I care about you and your eternal destination." He was at a loss for words and didn't try to argue that point further. There were two other guys he dragged into the conversation and we talked with them a little longer. Out of the three, I thought the atheist would be the least receptive, but like the day before, he was the only one who accepted a bible from me. We talked to a lot of people, had some good conversations, and spread Jesus to the point that multiple people had been talked to more than once about Jesus and ones who hadn't been talked to, heard about us.
Day 3, my team headed back to the Golden Mile (a mile of road packed with stores/restaurants/hotels/theaters...basically you can find whatever you want within that mile) and had a number of cool conversations with Christians. But the real highlight was we prayed with a guy named Brad for the Lord to be real to Him again and we got another guy thinking about where his life is headed. Corbin and I were asked to leave the Kohls parking lot after we tried preaching to the manager...Oh well. At least he was asked about his beliefs. Later that evening we had a live mobile band in Hanover Square. Ian played the guitar, Zane on the French Horn, Derek on the viola, and the rest of us with our voices. Some random stranger gave us an appreciating hug and people in cars were singing along or making requests. Once we were ready to call it a night, we raced over to a local ice cream place (Tropical Treat...so good and such nice people) and got there at 10:00pm...closing time. However, these kind-hearted people stayed open long enough to serve nine hungry people. Just one of the few things I miss about where I grew up.
Besides the gospel, we stayed at a dear sister's, name Sue, house. My family met in her house for 8+ years when we lived there. It was good to see her house filled again. We also had dinner at my Grandparent's and I hung out with my bud Joe D. who I've known since the age of four.
Zane, Peter, and my sister stayed an extra day and the Lord really shone on them, allowing people who were saved but didn't know it to realize it and had more amazing conversations throughout the day. Overall the trip went well and the Lord moved in Hanover. Hopefully, He will send someone to later reap where we sowed.
