A small story

       On Thursday our house (Casa Mamas) hosted the community meal. It was delicious, obviously. At each community meal the house who hosts is in charge of creating a question to ask the group. Something to make the conversation around the table a little more intentional. It can be something profound or something light. Or a mixture of the two, like our first question at our meal 2 weeks back. Gracie came up with it, "How do you see God's love through your favorite pizza topping?". Funny yet poignant. 
Anyway, this week our question was "If you could have one wish for the world what would it be?". And we made a disclaimer that of course we all wish for food and clean water etc so it can't be that. Everybody's answers were funny or deep or unique. I had invited my friend Ana, whom I met last summer. She is 19 and super sweet. Her answer was so beautiful. She said she would have it so that everyone was on social media a whole lot less, and people instead spent their time traveling and meeting new people in real life and doing things like our community meal where we talk and laugh and take time to get to know one another. It was so cool because she really did see something special in our time together. She kept writing it off as Californians being open and friendly because she knew our group from last year and felt the same way about them. I did slip it in that I think it has more to do with our faith and we want to share God's love and we try to bring an inviting atmosphere of joy because that is what God wants. Who knows if she received that. I am going shopping with her on Saturday so maybe a conversation will start. 
Man, so many of our friends here love our group and our energy but they don't see Jesus in it!! They think it is just a California thing, or an American thing, or I don't know what. Vidal, who works with Susanna at Bits and Bites, said similar things about us being so open and friendly. I joked with our group that I hope some of these people meet some rude or mean Americans to prove that what we have comes from God, not our culture/country haha. 

       But hey, what a confirmation that we truly are carrying that light. Sometimes I get nervous that we come off as weird or overwhelming. The Lord proves me wrong every time. His spirit is always present in our meals, events, outings, etc.