Hope in the Darkness

This morning we visited a drug rehab center and had the opportunity to sing and share with a group of Trinidadians at the center. It was amazing to me to sit and talk with some of these individuals and be able to see the life in their eyes in the midst of their current and former circumstances. I spoke with one man, Paul, who has been at the rehab center for a little over 6 months. When I asked him about his family, he told me he was unable to see them and hadn't for some time because he has been basically disowned by them. In spite of his current situation with his family, Paul has a dream to one day visit New York City and see the Statue of Liberty, and he would like to leave the center, find a home of his own, start a family, and give them the life he never had. It was incredible to me to see the hope he had within himself for the future despite his past. As we talked about more spiritual matters, he told me that he trusts in Christ as his hope and his future for today and for tomorrow. I hope I can express that same kind of hope that he showed me to others here in this beautiful place during these next few days. God bless! ~Charissa Pederson