The summer of 2001, I had an opportunity to go on a work & Witness trip to Indianapolis, working in the inner city. Around this time, my sister, Barb had lost her battle with cancer and passed away.

Some may wonder why go on a work & witness trip when a family member is diagnose with cancer? Some may even think I was selfish for going at the time.

I planned this trip before she got the devastating news that she had cancer. Believe me, I almost didn’t go because I was taught to be there for your family even in the toughest times; no matter how dysfunctional they may be. My mother didn’t want me to go at that time; but at the same time, it was an opportunity of a lifetime. My sister, Barb was a saint for all she put up with throughout her life. This blog is not about her though.

Someone from church, Paul Dennis, who was part of the missionary program in the church and I got together before I left. He knew I was struggling with the decision of should I or shouldn’t I still go, during this time. He told me that missionary would leave their family, even in times like this.

Even Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead,” and follow me as He picked His disciples.

I took the bus down to Minneapolis, Minnesota to meet up with the rest of the team that was going on this mission trip. I met some good friends on this trip and it was growing experience I will never forget. At the same time as the mission trip, there was a General Assembly going on at the old RCA dome, where the Colts used to play before they got their new stadium. That stadium was huge.

We drove through Wisconsin past Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While going through Wisconsin, we stop along the way where there was a pink elephant I had to see and take a picture of; otherwise, some may think that I was drunk.

I also made a comment that you don’t say to someone from Minneapolis, and that was, “Wisconsin is so beautiful.” We all know the rivalry between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

My mother loaned me her video camera to videotape the trip. Even though she didn’t want me to go at that time; she knew it was a chance of a lifetime not to pass up. She missed her chance of a lifetime, and didn’t want that for her kids.

When we got in Illinois, there was lots of toll booth before hitting Chicago. When we entered Chicago area, I made sure that the car doors were locked out of fear of that crazy big city. It took 5 hours just to get around Chicago, only because we got lost. In other words, it took a little longer to get to Indianapolis than expected.

We stayed at a historic building used as a hotel near downtown Indianapolis. It was a beautiful hotel. The meals were included, and there was a laundry room there to do our laundry if needed. A big dining room where we could sit and eat our meals, breakfast and supper. There was a big yard to spend outside to play volleyball and such.

We went to spectacular kickoff of music from other countries and cultures, to kickoff the trip. It was full but very enjoyable. The next day was Sunday morning, and we went to an old Nazarene church in the inner city. It was near the site where we were to be working.

On Monday, we were working on a house in the inner city, helping do repair works on the house and yard. The Mission program was called, “One Heart, Many Hands.” It was a chance of a lifetime for me; I will never forget. In the inner city, the streets were narrow and they drove very fast, like they were driving the Indianapolis speedway. Some worked on the roof and some did yard works. It was an older house and the people who lived there and in the neighborhood couldn’t afford very much. They wasn’t able to do as much either, so they were appreciative for what we did for them. They had a welcome to the neighborhood at the neighborhood park with music, food, and fun. For lunch, some people in charge of putting this all together brought sandwiches and such. There was even an ice cream truck that went by everyday at the same time. (Believe me, I remembered the old ice cream truck in Fargo when I was a child.) It was a good experience even though, we had some tools stolen while we were there. We also had some play time while there.

It was while I was there, I got the news that my sister, Barb had passed away. The people I was with was willing to help me make it back to her funeral if I chose to go. I prayed and chose I needed to do this. It helped me to see the other Americans and know that there are people who are worse off. It helped me understand the situation better, to what my sister, Barb went through.

There was a General Assembly going on at the same time at the old RCA Dome that I had a chance to go to the evening service. It was smack downtown! They had a lot of old historic buildings and even horse drawn carriage to give those a ride downtown if they wanted to.

You could see the big difference between downtown and the inner city. It was like the rich and poor.

While there, Paul Dennis was also there for General Assembly and he took me out for supper after the convention. We went to a historic building turned into a nice restaurant.

When we left at the end of the week, we took a different route to avoid Chicago. We went passed the Indianapolis speedway and then north avoiding Chicago.

It was an experience I will never forget; even though I missed my sister, Barb’s funeral. I was told that I didn’t missed much. Her funeral wasn’t to my family liking. Her in-laws made light of her life.

I recommend all to go on that experience of a lifetime. Don’t just give to be giving, experience it. We are to be self-giving, not self-serving. There are people who gives to such causes just to get notice as to say, “Look at me, I give!” They bragged about giving and hope to write it off on their taxes.

It’s like Peter Fendt, who is a part of the rescue and search team here in Fargo. Him and people like him are just out to impress people. Well I got news for them, that’s doesn’t impress me much. People like them are just hypocrites. They should try walking in there shoes instead. That is the only way to fully understand the other Americans.

If they want to help the poor, they must first comes to fully understand what we go through on a day to day basis. Walk a mile in our shoes! As Johnny Cash sang in his song, “Man in Black.” Johnny cash sang, “I wear black for the poor and beaten down. Living in the hopeless, hungry side of town.”

I hope you were able to see the connection between this week blog and last week. Next week in part 3, I will be discussing the other America, a look at poverty in the United States. The poor among us.