Today I asked George if he planned to stay homeless.
He told me he didn't, but he doesn't seem like he is in any huge hurry to get things together.
He had appointments with the counselors today to look at his resume so hopefully he'll find a job soon. I asked him if he would consider working at a crappy job for a little while to save some money. He said " What like McDonalds! You have got to be outta your mind!".
I meet so many people who won't take jobs because they are more qualified than the jobs require.
There is this sense of pride among the homeless that says there are some things I just won't do.
But would I do them? I can't imagine being a software engineer for a huge company, having a stroke and then ending up homeless and working at Taco Bell.
But it's work right? So maybe I would.
Some times I wish I had a frying pan to carry around. I could just thump people over the head and then they would magically realize that they have to work.
Maybe George will get the job he is looking for.
He has only been homeless for three months. Maybe if he doesn't get a job he wants he will work some where crappy to get ahead.
I think I would have that pride as well. But then again the poorest of the poor in the world live off less than a dollar a month or something crazy like that.
So any American working at McDonalds is still in the very small portion of the world that RICH.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friends
Time has passed quickly and I find myself among friends when I arrive at the shelter.
We are always happy to see each other after a long weekend.
Its strange because I feel like I need to view the people I work with more as clients and less like friends. But they are more friends than anything.
Today I had an interesting encounter with Miz Mathis. She was talking about some pretty crazy things and I realize more and more that she really needs help.
I want to find a way to get her help, but I don't think she would take it. She would choose her crazy life of freedom over a safe, non-violent life where she was trapped inside buildings.
That is probably the hardest part. So many of the homeless people don't take help when they can get it.
I think shame and pride stops them the most out of anything.
I have to check myself because that makes me angry. I am always thinking that they should do whatever it takes to get out of their situation no matter what kind of help they have to take to get out.
I have to constantly put myself in their shoes and think what I would do.
I think I've come to the conclusion that some people just aren't that desperate. The ones who are do what ever they can to get back on their feet and they do.
So how do we enable the rest of the group to move on and see a better way of life and achieve it?
We are always happy to see each other after a long weekend.
Its strange because I feel like I need to view the people I work with more as clients and less like friends. But they are more friends than anything.
Today I had an interesting encounter with Miz Mathis. She was talking about some pretty crazy things and I realize more and more that she really needs help.
I want to find a way to get her help, but I don't think she would take it. She would choose her crazy life of freedom over a safe, non-violent life where she was trapped inside buildings.
That is probably the hardest part. So many of the homeless people don't take help when they can get it.
I think shame and pride stops them the most out of anything.
I have to check myself because that makes me angry. I am always thinking that they should do whatever it takes to get out of their situation no matter what kind of help they have to take to get out.
I have to constantly put myself in their shoes and think what I would do.
I think I've come to the conclusion that some people just aren't that desperate. The ones who are do what ever they can to get back on their feet and they do.
So how do we enable the rest of the group to move on and see a better way of life and achieve it?
Rain
What do homeless people do when it is raining and they have to walk everywhere?
I wondered this a few weeks ago, and today I found out!
They strip down to their bottoms and their undies and they wear trash bags. The men wear clear trash bags and the women wear your standard black.
They are pretty genius.
Rain complicates everything because it ruins their place to sleep, their travel and their work if they have any. You always see those poor souls on the side of the street getting drenched by mini tsunami's from cars driving by. This has been the talk of the cafe.
" How many times did you get soaked yesterday?" Joe asks.
" Twice, I beat the bast**ds yesterday. They can't soak me. I know how this thing works" says Frank.
" Yeah. I hate the rain"...
Its crazy how I think walking to my car in the rain is so annoying and those people have to walk for miles in the rain.
Today we also had a crazy moment. A guy came in from off the street, immediately walks into the cafe and starts cussing at every one.. during devotions. So of course immediately three guys stand up to defend Cory ( who is giving devotions) and I just sit and stare, deer in the head lights style and wait to see what happens. Cory jumped up and talked to the guy and he ended up getting some coffee and sticking around.
I have no clue how I would have handled that situation if I was the one giving devotions!
I wondered this a few weeks ago, and today I found out!
They strip down to their bottoms and their undies and they wear trash bags. The men wear clear trash bags and the women wear your standard black.
They are pretty genius.
Rain complicates everything because it ruins their place to sleep, their travel and their work if they have any. You always see those poor souls on the side of the street getting drenched by mini tsunami's from cars driving by. This has been the talk of the cafe.
" How many times did you get soaked yesterday?" Joe asks.
" Twice, I beat the bast**ds yesterday. They can't soak me. I know how this thing works" says Frank.
" Yeah. I hate the rain"...
Its crazy how I think walking to my car in the rain is so annoying and those people have to walk for miles in the rain.
Today we also had a crazy moment. A guy came in from off the street, immediately walks into the cafe and starts cussing at every one.. during devotions. So of course immediately three guys stand up to defend Cory ( who is giving devotions) and I just sit and stare, deer in the head lights style and wait to see what happens. Cory jumped up and talked to the guy and he ended up getting some coffee and sticking around.
I have no clue how I would have handled that situation if I was the one giving devotions!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Prayer in Closets
Today we started decorating our prayer closet.
There weren't that many in the people in the cafe today. I think that had a lot to do with the fact we didn't have any snacks.
The prayer closet is exciting. At previous cafe's that have been started with the Salvation Army there have been 24hr prayer rooms.
As we started to decorate we got one of the girls who has been coming to the cafe for some time to come over and help us decorate. At first she was hesitant but after a few minutes she got excited and looked like she was a little more comfortable.
I think the lady might be a lesbian and she gets a lot of flack about it out on the patio where she sleeps. She was a victim of hurricane Katrina and has been displaced ever since the storm hit.
There are a lot of frustrated people at the cafe.
One of the sweetest ladies has been going out every morning at four am. to try and get into the day labour pool but every day she comes back with no work. I wish I could find a job for her. She is the sweetest lady. I wonder what she thinks about Jesus too.
I don't know but its really frustrating for me to see some one who is trying so hard to do the right thing and she cant get ahead at all. Other people are working the system and abusing the gifts they have been given.
I hope people pray in our prayer closet.
It has stars in it!
There weren't that many in the people in the cafe today. I think that had a lot to do with the fact we didn't have any snacks.
The prayer closet is exciting. At previous cafe's that have been started with the Salvation Army there have been 24hr prayer rooms.
As we started to decorate we got one of the girls who has been coming to the cafe for some time to come over and help us decorate. At first she was hesitant but after a few minutes she got excited and looked like she was a little more comfortable.
I think the lady might be a lesbian and she gets a lot of flack about it out on the patio where she sleeps. She was a victim of hurricane Katrina and has been displaced ever since the storm hit.
There are a lot of frustrated people at the cafe.
One of the sweetest ladies has been going out every morning at four am. to try and get into the day labour pool but every day she comes back with no work. I wish I could find a job for her. She is the sweetest lady. I wonder what she thinks about Jesus too.
I don't know but its really frustrating for me to see some one who is trying so hard to do the right thing and she cant get ahead at all. Other people are working the system and abusing the gifts they have been given.
I hope people pray in our prayer closet.
It has stars in it!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Spagetti
Raspy Voice Ron has a Spagetti Run!
Every Monday night, Ron who lives in the slum, goes out and buys noodles and sauce. He cooks it and serves it to the homeless downtown. And they love him.
Ron is so rich in love. He does a great job caring for the people on the street.
He lives in a slum yet he takes time and puts forth the effort to feed those who are worse off than he is. Ron amazes me! He doesn't even have the money to pay for enough water to shower every day, yet he spends his money on feeding people.
The more and more I am at my internship I am beginning to realize that maybe God hasn't called me to just go to work and help people and then go home. Perhaps he is calling me to give of myself and my money and my time.
Maybe I need to live life in a different way. I'm not sure what that looks like. But when I see people from the cafe out on the street selling papers on Sunday mornings or sleeping in a park down town, I can't help but see them and think, " hey, that's my friend". Details about their life and who they are come to my mind and they aren't just homeless people or people I talk to at a cafe from 8:30 to 1:30 Monday through Friday.
They are Raspy voice Ron who would give you the shirt of his back and Keith the news paper guy who sleeps on his sail boat.
They are the least of these, the beloved, the bride of Christ.
Why don't I make spagetti for the homeless every Monday night?
Every Monday night, Ron who lives in the slum, goes out and buys noodles and sauce. He cooks it and serves it to the homeless downtown. And they love him.
Ron is so rich in love. He does a great job caring for the people on the street.
He lives in a slum yet he takes time and puts forth the effort to feed those who are worse off than he is. Ron amazes me! He doesn't even have the money to pay for enough water to shower every day, yet he spends his money on feeding people.
The more and more I am at my internship I am beginning to realize that maybe God hasn't called me to just go to work and help people and then go home. Perhaps he is calling me to give of myself and my money and my time.
Maybe I need to live life in a different way. I'm not sure what that looks like. But when I see people from the cafe out on the street selling papers on Sunday mornings or sleeping in a park down town, I can't help but see them and think, " hey, that's my friend". Details about their life and who they are come to my mind and they aren't just homeless people or people I talk to at a cafe from 8:30 to 1:30 Monday through Friday.
They are Raspy voice Ron who would give you the shirt of his back and Keith the news paper guy who sleeps on his sail boat.
They are the least of these, the beloved, the bride of Christ.
Why don't I make spagetti for the homeless every Monday night?
Return
Today, Dennis returned.
George and Dino are still gone, but Dennis is back.
I saw him briefly and I told him we missed him and were glad he was back.
He told me that he will be going to prison on Saturday for 18 years for possession of illegal substances. He says he has a lot of felonies so they want him in the slammer.
It makes me really sad because I like Dennis. Some where deep down I know he has a heart. I don't think I have ever seen him when he wasn't high. I know his heart aches for a better life.
But he won't take the hard walk to freedom and get clean.
So now he will go to jail.
Conclusion: You can't help people who don't want to get better.
George and Dino are still gone, but Dennis is back.
I saw him briefly and I told him we missed him and were glad he was back.
He told me that he will be going to prison on Saturday for 18 years for possession of illegal substances. He says he has a lot of felonies so they want him in the slammer.
It makes me really sad because I like Dennis. Some where deep down I know he has a heart. I don't think I have ever seen him when he wasn't high. I know his heart aches for a better life.
But he won't take the hard walk to freedom and get clean.
So now he will go to jail.
Conclusion: You can't help people who don't want to get better.
Norm
Norm. Animaited. He can only hear out of one ear.
He rides a bike every where. He plays the piano at a church on Sunday.
Whenever I see him he is wearing bermuda shorts with a man-tank top.
His best friend just went missing and he has lost all the family he ever had.
It's really hard to talk to Norm because he gets really close to you and he some times spits when he talks. He also gets upset very easily when you disagree with him.
It takes patience to sit with Norm and listen. He is awkward some times.
He is not very love-able.
He is always interested in other peoples lives. He wants to know where you are from and how old you are. He likes to find out what bothers you and what you think about the weather.
If you don't show up one day he was worried about you and wondered where you were.
How do I love Norm? I think probably just sitting and listening to him means more to him than anything else.
I am wondering what the people at the cafe need more, treatment for their problems or love.
If I could love Norm like Jesus would, I wonder how his life would change.
I wonder how my life would change.
How do you love some one professionally? I don't know if that can work.
He rides a bike every where. He plays the piano at a church on Sunday.
Whenever I see him he is wearing bermuda shorts with a man-tank top.
His best friend just went missing and he has lost all the family he ever had.
It's really hard to talk to Norm because he gets really close to you and he some times spits when he talks. He also gets upset very easily when you disagree with him.
It takes patience to sit with Norm and listen. He is awkward some times.
He is not very love-able.
He is always interested in other peoples lives. He wants to know where you are from and how old you are. He likes to find out what bothers you and what you think about the weather.
If you don't show up one day he was worried about you and wondered where you were.
How do I love Norm? I think probably just sitting and listening to him means more to him than anything else.
I am wondering what the people at the cafe need more, treatment for their problems or love.
If I could love Norm like Jesus would, I wonder how his life would change.
I wonder how my life would change.
How do you love some one professionally? I don't know if that can work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
