Monica, Columbus, Ohio
Beyond words was the experience last night with the homeless on Williams Rd., with the portable soup kitchen of Hope on High. I went to be with my South side buddies, mainly the homeless who live in the woods close by, to simply sit and share lives at meal with each other.
Aaron still struggles greatly with addiction, and all I did was listen to a litany, beautifully and eloquently spoken, of what has been taking place in the woods and his personal life through all this. If he could only see how exquisite he is in the eyes of Jesus, which is what I prayed unceasingly while he was talking. I have done this with him at least four or five times. He said at the end, "Next time I see your smiling face, I am going to be clean and beginning a new relationship with my 17 year old daughter."
Fred ("Santa") and Red, his girlfriend in a wheelchair from crushed bones in her feet (from a great height suicide attempt) were there. So glad to see them and get to catch up! Scott came, whose girlfriend Harmony is in jail awaiting a sentencing for probation violation on March 1. He was just released the day before from two weeks in a facility for mental health (from missing her during her arrest). I prayed with him, and ask all of you readers to please pray for Harmony. She must call her probation officer every night at 6:15 to see if they should meet the next day. Being homeless and having no cell phone makes this very difficult (and being surrounded by others who do not have cell phones -- and there are no payphones anymore!).
Scott emphasized that the homeless are discriminated against every single day. She was caught because she was breaking apart a very dangerous verbal fight between the friend and her boyfriend. The neighbors called the police. Pray for Harmony on March 1, please.
"Baby," a huge man (tall and big), "fifteen years living as a homeless man," got so angry at the man I was eating and speaking with who was laughing at something separate that he pulled out a large wide knife and sat it on the table while he yelled at him some. Scott stopped him, took his knife and put it in his coat, and almost started a real fight. I stormed the heavens and they both took it outside the big tent and cleared it up.
Viola was there and her boyfriend Tim! Tim broke his foot tripping on a cut-off small tree stump, and is on crutches (they were the ones living in the closet of a boarded up home). I was able to bring four large trash bags of clothing from those who donated to the December parties we threw there. Viola got new clothes, a coat, and a much needed blanket. I gave them three propane cans to get them a few warm nights. Such a sweet couple. I gave propane to others as well, because it is still winter out there.
Tyrell came and looks better than the last time I saw him, always smiling wide! We sat and talked. Such a DOLL baby!! I get FAR more out of all this than they do!! Michael did not show nor Tim Tom; and I was so sad. Tim is the one homeless even among them, without a tent, and Michael has serious spinal and other health issues. I hope they are okay, and I pray for them often. Michael has the titanium rod along most of his spine, etc.
Papa Bear came!! He looks sooo different from December! He's been very sick in the past couple of weeks. He has lost so much weight and is weaker (in his seventies?). Thanks to EDDIE BAUER for donating an additional 25-30 brand new winter coats!!! All of them were taken and very well appreciated! Papa Bear got the sassiest red and black ski jacket -- for UNDER his winter coat that was a jacket of jean material. He said it felt much much better.
Throughout the night I was able to take one to two groups "home" to the edge of the woods, at different openings, with all their new belongings. My favorite trip was with Michelle, a woman I just met in her 50's whose been in these woods for a year with a 27 year old daughter, Mikaela. We just sat at the edge of the woods and talked and talked about both our families. Words cannot describe the beauty of the conversation. I always always pray in the Holy Spirit as I listen, and He always shows up.
I feel God may be asking me to buy a house or two down there, with land, to possibly begin a little community of these homeless and "forgotten" people. It would be difficult for them to just be added to a middle class family, in a Christ Room that Dorothy Day promoted. One reason is how different and even lonely they would feel apart from their friends and people who have shared their experiences. They need community.
They are SOOOO in need of everything though, and I want to REALLY help them, not simply say, "God bless, keep warm and well fed," as Jesus (or St. Paul?) warned in the Scriptures. Not just to "preach" to them, or give them an experience of God then walk away, with such dire situations and circumstances. I am speaking to myself as well. I am guilty.
Coming here once or twice a month and befriending them is just not enough for me at all. Show me the way, Lord. What do you want?
Please pray for me! And especially for all these people on the South side. "We" - all 80-100 main BFF's in heaven and I - claim this South side area for Christ! We bind and cast out anything of evil from all these woods (boy did Aaron have some stories), and all those whose mascot is the Marion-Franklin Red Devils, the school right by there that generations have gone to and heavily support! Please God, help us claim this all back for you, especially any spirits of addictions, hopelessness, and atheism! Come, Holy Spirit, come!!
