Conflicting Joy By Shianne

There's a joy that comes from serving here. A joy that's hard to explain; it's something I never thought I'd experience. On one hand you're surrounded by pain, and on the other there is something much different. It's what I know as conflicting joy. Prayer walks at night aren't what I would define as easy. There's a lot of crowds, bumping into people, and some difficult emotions. However, through this process, I've experienced joy and been reminded of forgiveness. There's magicians laughing and making jokes with us, children playing along the street, and the fellowship of teammates- a bond unbroken. Sometimes I feel guilty about having this joy, and then I remember that this is how Christ intended it to be. He intended for us to find joy in our hardest times. I thought coming here that I would be the joy in the darkness, but found that these people were my joy instead. It has been a true blessing. Eccl 4:9-10