In their world...

A friend donated a charcoal grill to the ministry so I can start grilling for the young men I serve lunch to on Wednesdays. I had been using a George Foreman grill and was only cooking 6 hamburgers each week. Also, using the George Foreman caused me to have to cook inside my apartment. I used the charcoal grill for the first time today and it was wonderful! You may be thinking, what is so wonderful about that? When reaching the people in this neighborhood, there is just something about being out there in their world. I am learning this on a daily basis. Using a charcoal grill immediately placed me in their world, while cooking inside still kept me in my world. These young men spend their lives outside, several of them for the purpose of selling drugs. In general this community does life together, outside and on the streets, not inside their apartments. I have never used a grill before, so this was a fun experience. Thankfully my neighbor was nearby. She sat on her porch and coached me through how to grill. It was definitely a funny site, I almost caught some things on fire! She and I had a great time together. I asked her if she would start sitting out there with me while I grill, for her expertise and her company. The guys were ready and waiting near by for the burgers to be done. Cooking outside allowed me more time to spend with these young men and I believe has broken down a little more of that wall they have over their hearts. I truly enjoy being outside with them and diving a little further into their world.