there was a reason that i didn't tell y'all about this mission in my post today. one reason is that i want to devote some time to it, and the other reason is that i plan to return this coming up week. I'm not moving back downtown, unless something happens to the house where I'm at. I've grown to love living here. me and bubba get alone with each other excellently. even his kitty, which i now call itty-kitty, spend more time with me, than she does him. I've never really had a hard time with becoming friends with most animals.
I'm planning to go to the City Rescue Mission, which has another name: The New Life Inn. i plan to go Thursday, and donate my time serving Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless. bubba wanted me to attend his mothers gala, because they are having this years Thanksgiving affair at her house. I'm sure the dinner will be excellent, but I've had my heart set on doing this for a while now. it's very important for me to give back where I've been given when i most needed it.
I've stayed several night at the new life inn, and honestly, they put on the best show in town. I'm really impressed by the treatment that I've received. they always have been consistent with their actions. i really need to explain this first. all the residents are a part of their come to Jesus program, and as far as i can tell it's working fabulously. all the fellers get along with each other, and they only work 8 hour shifts. there's about 70+ men to run the program with out causing too much stress on them, and they work three shifts. they comfort, and lift each other up when it's needed. i can tell you that it's needed often, because dealing the homeless ain't always easy!! there is always a couple hecklers to get on a mans last nerve.
the first thing that happened when you first check in is that they assign each man a bed. then they give each man an opportunity to take a shower, and clean up. the amazing thing is that I've never heard the staff yelling at a person to hurry up. the showers are excellent. they have plenty water pressure, and the hot water usually last until pretty close to the the end. they always have clean clothes to exchange your old nasty ones in for a fresh start.
after you take a shower then they tell you to line up for dinner. dinner is most always immaculate. every now and then it's not so good, but that only one item on your plate. they usually have some form of meat, and vegetables on your plate, along with a piece of bread. before you get out of line you choose the desert that you want. if all this wasn't enough you go around to the salad table, and pick up fruit, and a salad. they always serve you a glass of kool-aid with ice, and have several grocery carts full of fresh bread if you desire more.
the next move is to go upstairs to your bed. the first think that i couldn't help but notice was the fact that your bed is already made up for you. you don't have to wait until the end of the night, before you fight to get some cover on your bed. they allow you to lay down, and rest until chapel time. now,............I've said this before,............and I'm going to say it plenty more times,...........being homeless is a full time job!! it's much easier to have a life, and work.
keep in mind that anytime that you want to leave that you can. there not forcing anything down anybody's throat. if you decide to leave before, or after chapel then somebody else gets a bed. they are not done dealing until every bed has somebody in it. on cold nights, and rainy night they do what they call over-flow. nobody is turned away. you might have to sleep on the dinning room floor, but at least your inside for the night.
as far as the chapel service goes they seem to always have an amazing group, or preacher to show up. they put them on a strict time limited also. you never have a boring preacher attempting to sear your heart for over an hour. by this time of day a homeless person has a short attention span any way. the truth is if the Spirit don't move them with in an hour, He just ain't gonna move them at all!!
after chapel it's bed time, and they turn the lights down at nine. they also have what i prefer to call a keeper, or a shepherd who stays up all night to help with any needs that may arise. most of them heathen men call him a guard, but he is not there to guard anything, because nobody is locked down.
at six the next morning they serve you a nutritious meal to start your day. it usually consist of one or two meals. it's either a pastry of your choosing, and all the cereal that you want to eat. the pastry is heated up in the oven, and served with hot, ....real coffee, and you have all the milk that you need to drink. the other meal is sausage, scrambled eggs, grits ( thank you Lord that we live in the south!!) with all the fixings.
i guess that my favorite part of this mission is watching the staff dealing with each other, and the way that they deal with the guest. that's what they call us either guest, or family, and they can sure make you feel like your wanted. the love of God is flowing throughout every thing that they do. the building is very clean from the top to the bottom.
the very most important thing about the New Life experience is the fact that God's presence is alive and very well!! he is transforming lives all over that building. any time that you get amongst all that much God, you simply have to be effected by it. i have never had a bad experience with anytime that I've stayed there, and I've always left the next morning with a smile on my face, and a great hope for the day!!
i might need to back up a little, because i need to tell the truth. i did stay there once 10-12 years ago, and had the worst experience of my life. it was a total disaster, and i swore that i would never stay there again. thankfully...........i checked it out this year, simply because i was in a bind, and i had run out of options. I'm really glad that i did, because it has changed so much. i can happily report that the New Life Inn has grown with leaps and bounds. seems like the power of God is not only working through them, but also working on them!!
it seems that I've waited too late to sign up for Thanksgiving dinner, as far as to volunteer. i never knew that it was such an over-whelming turnout. i was really looking forward to being there. well,..........at least there will be plenty of people there to help. maybe i should go a head and sign up for Christmas?
....................much love
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