When Passporter Katie Hassler set out to pass out food and drinks to the homeless of Jamaica, she had no idea just how much this ministry would impact her.

Every week, my Passport team does street ministry in Mandeville, Jamaica.

We go into town, buy food and drinks, and walk around, passing out these items to the homeless around town.

I’ll never forget our first week of street ministry.

It was a beautiful day and the sun was hot on our backs. Cars drove past us blasting reggae music as we walked to the grocery store. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a dirty sheet in the road. But then I realized that this was not just a sheet.

It was a human being sleeping on a piece of cardboard on the uneven sidewalk.

I felt a lump form in my throat and had to hold back tears. I have always heard of homelessness. I have helped at food drives back home, collected food at school to give to the food shelf, learned statistics about homelessness in my community.

But for some reason, seeing a man sleeping in the street made homelessness real and tangible to me in a way it wasn’t before.

I woke up that morning with a sore neck and thought it must have been because I slept uncomfortably. I have a roof over my head, bed to sleep on, my favorite pillow with me, a soft sheet, and a sleeping bag. I have no idea what an uncomfortable sleep is. I have nothing to complain about.

I cannot imagine sleeping on the rocky, uneven sidewalks of Mandeville because I have been so blessed by simply having a bed my whole life.

After buying groceries, we returned to this man with some food and a drink. Our ministry contact, Yvonne, gave him a haircut! We were so surprised by this and he was so happy to have his haircut. We were also able to give him a clean shirt to wear.

We continued walking through the streets of Mandeville, giving out food, drinks, haircuts, and clothing. Whenever we met people, their faces lit up, and I believe it has nothing to do with what we gave them, but instead, because of how they experienced God’s love through us.

I will remember the names and faces of every person I met. I will pray that they continue to see the Holy Spirit move and that they will continue to understand the love that Jesus has for them.

That day changed me. I will never take the simple things for granted again. I will try my hardest not to complain about an “uncomfortable sleep” or not being able to sleep at night. I will work harder to bear God’s image to others. For I truly do believe that He can turn around every situation, and through finding my strength in Him, maybe some of the hungry can be fed, maybe some of the sick can be healed, maybe some of the naked can be clothed.

I may not be able to change the world, but for Him, I’m going to try and change the world for as many as I can reach.

*First photo by Emma Moody. 2nd photo by Cori Ward (not the man in the story)

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