This past week was a whirlwind of activity! The week started with a visit with S. I have known S for almost a year now, and it has taken time to build up the trust needed to allow us to help her beyond just giving money and food. We had a great conversation over lunch while sitting in the median watching cars drive by. At one point, she needed to leave to use the restroom and although she was only gone 10 minutes, I became very uncomfortable as cars were driving by. It’s not so bad when she is there with me; however, I felt how alone and isolated it feels to be out there all by myself. At one point, someone rolled down the window and gave me a few dollars. I put it on her chair and she was shocked – as I was – that someone gave me money while she was gone. The feeling of someone rolling down the window half way and handing a few dollars out the window and then rolling it back up afterwards was not a great feeling. As wonderful a gesture as that was, I felt low, and beneath everyone who was driving by.
S came back and had taken a few extra minutes to pull together clothes from her car that needed to be washed. That action in itself warmed my heart as I had asked for months if she needed anything washed and the answer was always no, that things were too dirty. She did not want me to see how things were, instead, wanted me to see the smile on her face and hear all the uplifting stories she would tell. This was huge for me, that she trusted me enough to hand over a part of her life she felt shame over, and to allow me to help her with it. I went home and started a load and S came over a few hours later to take a bath and shower. She asked me if I could wash what she was wearing so that she could put it back on when she was done. One of the items was a cloth jacket. After she was all done, we continued our conversation over dinner. I warmed her jacket up in the dryer while we were eating. As I put it around her shoulders, she snuggled and just melted in its warmth. She was the most relaxed I have ever seen her. She gave me the biggest and most awesome hug I have ever had as she left. She felt lighter. Much, much lighter!
B has been in the hospital for 3 months now, and in the ICU for over 3 weeks. When I have visited, I have asked the nurses and doctors questions about how he is doing. Sometimes I visit alone. A good portion of the visits are with his girlfriend. She feels comfortable having someone with her to ask questions, and to talk to. On one of our visits last week, I found out I had been blocked from the hospital for visiting with him. His girlfriend was able to visit him and relayed how he was doing. It felt a little strange at first to be told I was not allowed to visit; however, I know that things happen for a reason and this gave me an opportunity to pray for him in a different way, without distraction.
We moved B’s belongings out of his apartment on Friday and into a storage unit that is close to an area that he likes to visit. This was a blessing as we were able to gather information that has helped us to locate his daughter and grandchildren. We have not been able to connect yet, but we continue to reach out using different methods we have found in hope that we may get a response and can reunite them.
Last week, we were so excited to see forward movement with C. We were able to help with the removal of an eviction that was holding her back from getting her own place for herself and 2 children, and also found a trailer that she was going to be able to stay in on her own, without having to share it with someone. She has been desiring, and needs a good and safe place where she can raise her children, and we thought we had found that. It was very close to her church and she was very excited to be back around her church community after being away for several months, in another city, sharing a home with several others. Unfortunately, we found out the next day that the owner decided she did not want to rent out the trailer anymore. She came to Raleigh for a few days to look for other possibilities and had to go back without any leads. She has until the end of this month to find a place to live, or she may be on the streets again. It’s amazing how hard something like housing can be for folks on a fixed income. She has tried harder than anyone we have worked with, and it seems that she is defeated at times, but something always comes through – right at the last minute. Her faith has been tested over and over, and even though she admits that there are times she starts to wonder if God is there for her, he comes through. Even though things feel hard right now, she is able to see the growth in where she is now as compared to the same time last year – and that keeps her going.
The outreach meeting on Saturday was great! We have a new place to pack our lunch bags! I am grateful to Green Pines Baptist Church for allowing us to use their amazing kitchen to put together the lunch bags! We increased from 10 bags a week to 20. The extra space to put them together is greatly appreciated! We were joined by two new folks who have a calling on their heart to help the homeless. We are so grateful to them for purchasing the coffee to hand out with the sandwich bags! We got to meet some amazing folks on Saturday! There is just something about handing out bags of fresh and healthy food, giving them choices on what they receive, and talking with them, hearing stories, laughing and gathering together as good friends and family do! I look forward to the meetings each Saturday!
A HUGE Thanks to Tanya for not only decorating the bags we hand out, but helping with the packing!