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the above quote is from the book Same Kind of Different as Me. It is about more than a relationship that blossomed between a rich white guy from Fort Worth and a homeless man from Dallas. I read it last month not realizing we would be working at a homeless shelter this month.
like I said in my last blog, last month we helped out at MES. I love what God did here. a typical day looked different everyday. basically we got to go and love on the homeless in the area. We wanted them to know they are not defined by their environment or their situation. that being homeless is not their identity, it is just their current circumstance/struggle. they are all beloved children of God.
We helped serve them lunch and broke into small groups just getting to talk with them and share small devos. MES does an awesome job and making them feel “normal” or I should say making them feel like they are not living off the streets. Instead of just giving them food or clothes, they have to in some way listen to the sermon for the day or for clothes they pay 1 rand each (which is not even 50 cents) this is so they can have their dignity still. Kimberly said it best: each day when we talk to them, they seem different every day (whether they are sad or on drugs or alcohol or just plain tired) BUT despite this we can see that they all have such big hearts.
On one of the days Joseph taught us how to play cricket!! it was one of the most fun days I have had yet on the race. our new friends enjoyed it so much. I think we should bring cricket to the states, its a lot like baseball. later that afternoon, we went up a mountain to see the whole view of Cape Town from below. it was gorgeous. we spent the afternoon praying for the city. praying for the broken, lost, and homeless. praying for their addictions and loneliness. praying that God will speak to them and show them how much He loves them.
We have met some amazing people who work for MES as well:
^^Gail and Mel
^^Harold showing us how to make sleeping bags for the homeless out of newspapers and trash bags!
^^Kimbo and I
it is surprising how many of them have so much joy and know so much about the Lord. it is also surprising how so many of them are straight up honest with you when you ask them what they are struggling with. They will tell you which drug or drinking problem they have. and I don’t blame them. if we could only be that vulnerable and transparent with each other. it is sad to think how much we actually degrade people who are homeless and think of them as the “lowest of lows” in the world.
they are no different than you and me. we are all homeless on earth in the Kingdom of God. let that sink in :]
