After going for a great breakfast at the Westsider with an uncle and then proceeding to the gold place to get some golf equipment and having some great shots at the indoor golf range, we later connected to the live global 31st/1st service that evening and rejoiced when it was declared that 2015 is our year of Triumph; i and my wife, there after drove to my favorite Steak House; Outback to join the rest of the family for the New Year's Eve traditional family meal. We later had games and prayer time until after midnight here with our Ugandan friend and his wife, and other family members. Everything was as good as it could possibly be. It was the best 31st of December day i had ever had. The next day, we were joining the mother-in-law, other family members and friends in giving out lunch packs to the homeless people in down town; yet another big day to look forward to.
The 1st of January 2015 arrived so fast and there we were, dressed as warmly as we could since it was a cold day to be walking in town. I am always excited when it comes to doing charity work and this day was no different. However, by the time we were done, i was very angry, sad and emotionally upset. I wanted to run away to some hidden place where i could be alone to process things. Usually when i am upset about something, i want to be left alone to process stuff, but sometimes it's very hard to be alone.
Anyway, i was upset about many things. We saw people of pretty different races, so, it was not anything to do with race; but broken dreams. I was mad because i am certain each of these guys at one time had dreams, may be dreams of having a great family, of being a good parent, i don't know but now, looking at their eyes, these dreams were gone. I kept wondering when it all got out of control; could it be their parents? could it have been friends? I even got angrier when i thought about what these guys could have been; may be some of them could have been doctors, teachers, preachers, may be even worshipers, etc.
There was an 80 something year old lady who was walking with her walker; Uncle Dave and Aunt Anne who were with me encouraged me to run and catch up with her and give her some food. I did and caught up with her. I called out: "Ma'am, good morning". She stopped and turned to look at me and her face was beaming with a big smile as she replied my greeting. I went on to ask her if she would do with some lunch and she was glad to have food. She thanked me and said a blessing and she continued. As i walked back to my group mates, my steps were heavier; i kept thinking how her normal daily routine was. Did she have children? How could she have ended up in the streets? Such a sweet old lady, out in the cold, her life in the hands of others than in her own.
We also met another lady whom we offered food. She declined it and said there were others that could do with it more than her. She told us about some children in one of the shelters who could do well with lunch since these kiddos get food at 5pm. That heart of a caring mother was still big in this lady. She had compassion on others worse off than her, she cared more for these little kiddos than herself when she could have taken the food for herself. I couldn't stand going in to take the food inside because i didn't want to look at these children.
Most of the people we gave food had that thankful attitude. They were grateful for the food and always said "God bless you and Happy New Year!". At least somehow, they know God is always in it.
We also saw two cases of some people lying down by the road side. They looked very sick. One seemed to be getting attention from some cops while one was lying out in the cold and a lady (probably his girlfriend) was kneeling down by his side trying to give him some help.
I thought about how privileged we were to be inside a warm car and driving back to a warm house. These guys were out in the cold, waiting for the time when the shelters would be opened for them to go in later in the evening. How do they even get their treatment?
As i looked at these guys and knowing that the devil had robbed them off of their inheritance and futures, i got so angry with satan that if i knew where he was, i would have gone there straight to fight him. I also kept thinking about my own self; may be i could have ended up like one of them, had God not intervened and kept bringing the right people into my life at every delicate stage. I thought about all these people and how they each appeared and came into my life just at the time when things seemed to be getting out of control, and i prayed for them and thanked God for them. I kept wondering whether each of these guys had a privilege of meeting such people. Were they told the truth before their lives turned upside down? did they hear about His saving grace? Did they even have a choice in the events that led to their current state? How about these innocent children; born in the streets and raised in the streets, did they get an opportunity to be taken off these streets and given a home? I have little information on how things work out here, how the kids get taken to foster care and all that, so, all my writing is based on my own feelings. I have had contact with street children in Uganda, but not the homeless adults. So, that was quite an experience for me.
I know giving them food is great, but as good as it is, it's temporary. I am wondering whether some of these guys can be rescued and helped to get off the streets and lead normal lives, especially the younger ones. Could they be damaged beyond repair? Can some of them be salvaged?
I think this calls for us to share the gospel more and more and help people see the light before they are robbed off by the enemy in our own eyes. I wish there was a way for me to sit down and listen to these people's stories. May be if they had heard the good news of the saving grace of Christ before, may be one or two of them would have been rescued from going down to their current state.
I am glad i am not them and can't imagine if i had to trade my life with any of these guys even if it was just for a day! I know i am very blessed and privileged; i can't complain about anything, this has given me a new angle to be even more grateful. I can open the refrigerator and see all these options of what to eat and drink, and yet down the road somewhere, someone is hoping and praying for what i already have in front of me!
From that day on, i have purposed to keep praying for these homeless people, i know some of them don't even have anyone intentionally praying for them; i will keep praying for the Father to rescue them and for His will to be established in the hearts of these men and women so that some day, even though they are homeless in the earth, they will have an eternal home in paradise; just like poor Lazarus.
2 comments:
Ruudy, I thought you might be somewhat comforted to know that there are groups that reach out to the homeless, offering shelter and food, but more importantly, The Word. The Salvation Army has done this for over 100 years and are all over the country and most cities where there are homeless. They have a huge program, a successful one, for those on the streets who are alcoholic and drug addicted. They get them straight, provide them with work or retraining and minister to their spiritual needs by sharing the Bible and bringing them to Christ. It's a wonderful organization and we support them. However, many on the street will not go to a shelter as they fear being separated from their "street family", not knowing if the shelter will protect them and their possessions. Some shelters have given men and women headlice and in their street homes, they don't have it. On the street, they watch out for each other and the few possessions that they have. Alone in a shelter, your things are too easily taken while you're asleep. Women feel at risk if they go off to a shelter alone, safer with there "family' on the street. I can't ever imagine that kind of life, but I do understand why many choose to remain on the streets. I don't know answers to help all out there and I wish someone could solve it. But, most of the homeless are offered assistance, some accept it and others choose to stay with what they know. All we can do is offer food, blankets, and prayer if that's what they choose. Karen- Bill and Connie's eldest Carlson niece.
Yes, we are so blessed. I know God loves your heart of compassion.
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