Guest Blogger, Stephen Petiti Shares About the High School Missions Trip to LA

Hey everybody, this is Stephen Petiti. I'm a senior in the High School ministry and this past week I went with about 8 other high schoolers and 3 leaders. I have to say out of all the things I've ever done that was one of the best experiences of my life. One of the places that made the biggest impact on me was Macarthur Park. The first night we arrived we drove around town and when we drove past there, we saw people gambling for drugs and fake id cards. We drove to the other end of the park then got out and prayed for the people who sleep there and/or shoot dice(or something else) there every night. There was a famous building across the street from there as well as a government building so we prayed for the rich people who hang out across the street as well as the government to help make the park a better place.

A few days later we went back down there to eat lunch and on our way back to the car we went through a tunnel under the street to get back to the other side of the street. Under the tunnel there was graffiti everywhere except for one spot, which caught my eye. It said "Spend your energy seeking for your eternal life................ There is a God." I was really struck by that. Around this was tons of graffiti layered over, time and time again, but this single quote, which was dated 1990, is the one thing that is not painted over. I find it amazing in an area known for being a place of drug deals, gambling and every other kind of illegal activity you can think of, the one thing thats been there for as long as ive been alive is this quote about seeking eternal life. It gives me hope that there can be a difference made in that area because apparently there is a great respect for God even in that area.

Comments

[Lisa NdA]

Sounds like it was intense. I'm glad you went!

[Sergio]

Thank you for writing this and giving us your point of view. I enjoyed reading your comment.