Christmas Break!  For most kids, that means it’s time to leave scholastics behind and enjoy receiving gifts, eating, sleeping, playing games, and much more for two whole weeks!  How exciting!  Though there was plenty of time to eat, sleep, and play games over this holiday break, the Goshen Valley Boys embraced a different type of scholarship.  Urban Missions!

It was dark and cold that morning when around seven o’clock approximately 35 of us packed into vans to headed to the streets of Atlanta.  Our mission was to serve Christ by ministering love and compassion to over 350 men, women, and children who were in need of a hot meal.  The Goshen Valley Boys Ranch joined forces again, for the 4th straight year, with Redeemer Lutheran Church and their soup kitchen ministry for the opportunity to feed those experiencing homelessness.  Even Santa himself showed up for this exciting event. 

This was not the typical learning environment the boys were used too.  They are learning how to cook for themselves back at the ranch, but that day, there were over 350 hungry people needing food! It was lot of hard work, but very rewarding. Their minds began to embrace that sometimes, you can find yourself when you lose yourself in the service of others.  Seeing all these individuals in their current situations reminded many of the boys of their past, similar situations.  “You can’t help but to thank God for all the blessings we have and all the opportunity and love the ranch has provided us,” said one of the boys.  In spite of the smells, heat of the kitchen, and hard work, the joy of serving others created a powerful emotion as they boys realized that, “God can use me to help others!”

Thank you Lord for loving us and writing on our hearts, teaching us your Word so that we may share it with others through our hands and feet! May we be always learning from our heavenly father!

Wes Pals, Hope House parent