Trash to Treasure

Here's a picture of a sign that was made to promote the outreach event that happened in the hostel last Friday. So, now you have a better idea of what it is that we took from trash (empty juice and milk cartons) to treasure (handy little wallets!). The crafty event took place in the cafe and the turnout was awesome, we even had a group of guys excited about it as you can see:

I prepared a little talk that happened while guests were still working on the wallets. The theme "trash to treasure" worked well because it can easily be applied to ourselves as well as to how we are seen in view of God's mercy. I used Zachaeus, the tax collector, as an example - considered as trash by society, and probably felt similarly about himself; however Christ considered him a treasure worthy of seeking out (Luke 19:1-10). I also mentioned 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I closed by asking the group to think about the "trashy" parts of our lives and whether or not we believe God wants us as his treasure. That's a brief little summary of what was said, thanks for the input that some of you gave, clearly very helpful! God used this outreach event powerfully, in my life but also in the life of a guest from Malaysia - so sweet to get to see fruit of what the Lord is doing through us here, I know that doesn't always happen and that more often we help to water the seed or till the soil so when it does happen we savor the moment and allow it to encourage us to go on with the Great Commandment and Great Commission here in Amsterdam!