The End is Nigh

Oh man!  Our last day is tomorrow.  Everybody is talking about how this week has just flown by.  We have done some amazing things in this short time we have been here.  I have seen kids break out of their shells and start to open up.  I have seen kids who never seemed to have shells...or maybe their shells were tie dyed, had P.A. systems installed, and had flames painted down the sides...come even further away from their shells.  It has been fun and a pleasure to work with this group of people.

We had something amazing happen and the sequence of events is nothing short of amazing, but I am still going over it in my head and will have to take a day or so before I write about it.  It will definitely be something to look forward to.

Today our group fed 888 people in the dining hall at St. Vincent de Paul.  They had such a well run operation that even our band of rookies couldn't slow it down.  I can't say that there was divine appointment in our assignments, but it did seem like we all got to go somewhere different that suited each of our personalities very well.  Lauren and Sarah got to help the women and families section of the dining hall.  Matt was given the job to "drop and click."  He dropped the forks on the trays and clicked the device that told how many meals we had served.  Sylvia got to start the food trays going.  Jake and Dylan were in the middle of everyone handling drinks. Anita, (our host for the week) was in charge of vegetables.  I, was the runner.  Did you hear that?  Me!  Runner!  I am thinking of having a shirt made that just says, "Runner!"  I liked that job because it kept my easily distracted mind busy by making me do a lot of things.  I also liked it because the title made it seem like I was actually running without being required to do so.  (It is not safe to run in the kitchen boys and girls)

The dining hall was busier than a centipede at a shoe sale.  There was a steady stream of customers right up until 11:45 when the volunteers got to eat their lunch...and be back to their jobs at noon.  I sat with some of the people who worked at the hall regularly and one of them had been doing this for 23 years!  Seeing that people have been helping for so long warmed my heart.

We then went to the Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM) and we were affected more than perhaps any other place so far...but that is a story for later.  At the end of our night we all gathered with the hosts and played Mafia in the gathering room.  It's just a game, so if your kids come home saying that they killed someone, it was all pretend...probably.

Friday...Our last day.  :-(

We are all fairly exhausted after this day and we are all going to be happy to be back to our beds, our one day of sleeping in past 6:15 before going back to work and school, and our shower that could last longer than 3 minutes!  None of us have had the same experience, the same feelings or emotions, or even started from the same place with our perceptions...I also know that none of us will walk away from this week unchanged.

Together we have served more than a thousand meals, prepared food for thousands more, talked to total strangers, stepped out of our comfort zones, stepped into where some said we would be in a danger zone.  We sorted clothes, organized hangers, filled bags with rice or oats, worked in a day school with toddlers, and worked in an after school program with teenagers from the inner city.  It seems that the only thing we didn't do was sit around wondering what was for dinner or trying for find out what was on TV.  We were busy for the entire time we were here and almost nobody can say with certainty what we did on which day.  It has all become a blur of work and fulfillment.

As many times as we were thanked for the work that we did at all of the places we visited, we thanked them for allowing us to come be part of their wonderful missions.  We thanked them for the opportunity to come and help them for a few hours when they are there, in the trenches, helping on a daily basis...and keeping smiles on their faces the whole time.  It is good work that they are doing.  It is important work that they are doing.  It was a great experience to be a small part of it for a little while.  

Closing in on the end of the week

On the food front...We have been very diverse.  We started with curry, made it to Pho, and last night we even tasted the legendary Chicken and Waffles.  It was good.  Considering that we have been operating on very little to eat some days, it very well could have been great.  I think the people who have had it before may have built up my expectations a little high.  "It's the best thing ever!" was often heard.  Whenever someone mentioned the restaurant people would hoot and cheer.  We finally got to go...and it was good.  I probably would have said that it was really good if I hadn't been led to believe that my taste buds would jump out of my mouth in protest of having never had it before.  Don't mean any disrespect...but, I probably won't be suggesting that we drive the 45 minutes to come eat there anytime soon.

Today seemed like a spa day compared to the other days that we've been here.  We have been walking neighborhoods, bringing meals, organizing give-a-way clothing, preparing meals, working with kids, walking districts, filling needs, walking, walking, walking.  Today, our group was given a gift.  We were still out there helping people, but we got to go on a field trip.

We started at Laguna Honda hospital and got an orientation about what we would be doing.  Then we trekked upstairs to a "neighborhood" and took eight patients, (seven of them in wheelchairs) with three nurses, on a trip to the Berkeley Marina.  We had a picnic lunch, walked along the path, looked out at the water, and were surrounded by the fattest squirrels I have ever seen!  These things apparently knew where to come for a free meal, and ended up looking very much like furry armadillos!

One bonus of the day was that the walking we did was at a snail's pace due to the fragility of the patients, one of whom was 93 years old!  I was content going for a stroll instead of speed-walking to someplace to make it on time.  Some of the places we are going to have huge needs and are on tight schedules.  If the CSM program doesn't honor their time commitments then it puts everything off for the day.  Today was a little more relaxed.

It was nice to be helpful to people who, in some cases, could not express gratitude due to their condition.  Others couldn't communicate due to language issues.  The only people who spoke English were the nurses.  Everyone did great though.  We all did what we could to help, entertain, and maintain dignity for these long-term patients.

Following our work at the marina, and after we dropped everyone off at the hospital, we went on a prayer walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.  We drove to Sausalito, took a picture with the bridge in the background, and then walked across to the other side praying for the city we have been working in for the past few days.  I say "We" but what I really mean is, "They."  I drove the van back across the bridge so we could pick them up and go on the one bit of free time that we would have this week.

Following our walk we met with the other group at Pier 39 where each student was given some money, instructions about the boundaries and how to NEVER be alone, and told to go get dinner for themselves.  I think it is a testament to the cohesiveness of this group that they pretty much stayed together in two big groups.  And when we were walking back to the rendezvous point to go back to Harbor House, they were already walking all together.  We have really been blessed with a great group of students to work alongside.

Tomorrow, or today...depending on when I post this...will be a challenging day.  We will be working somewhere where the work will be physically challenging and emotional all at the same time.  We will be working in a dining hall for the homeless and down on their luck in the morning, and then off to a rescue mission to work with students who have seen too much in their short lives so far.  It will be challenging initially due to seeing so many kids on this situation.  But there will also be a secondary challenge that I am hopeful to be able to write more about tomorrow.  Without giving away too many details, because of confidentiality. I can say that we may know one of the students there.  I am planning on having an emotional day.

Guest Bloggers Part Deux

Nothing says Christian youth group more than a  large white van filled with teens. What an experience riding in a van with teens.  One benefit of traveling in a high van was the ride over the bay bridge.  We could see over the guard rail so we saw the Embarcadero, all the piers, Coit Tower and the cruise ship from the vehicle.  We really get to know each other so much better during our time in the vans.  Music is the biggest way these kids express themselves.  I have gotten to know their personalities through their music choices.   Gone are the days that you turn on the radio and listen to what the DJ selects.  Maybe change stations to find a DJ you like better.  Today they can select anything they want from Spotify plugged into the van radio.  The DJ, usually Krisi, is tethered from the middle seat to the front console by a cable.  Then everyone yells what they want to hear.  I rarely have ever heard of any of the music.  There is a lot of screamo singing.  Sometimes they actually know the lyrics they are singing.  We have found Disney songs to be the common ground between the various age groups.  Everyone  knows all the words to those songs.  I have to say Mitchell has the most bizarre selections with Austin J.  a close second.  You have to check out the songs Nuggets in a Biscuit plus Violin (the most random song).  I don't even know where they find these songs.  I wracked my brain to think of the most unusually funny song I knew and remembered Tie me Kangaroo Down.  When we played it I was amazed that Mitchell knew all the words to that song too.     -Sue

I woke up this morning feeling well rested and energetic.  I got to sleep in another hour.  We also found bagels in the kitchen this morning. So turn up.

-Austin Jungers

MEET A NEED for a "No Name, Vet"
All morning we were trying to find someone to help.  It wasn't coming to us so easily.  We came across this "No Name, Vet" sitting on the ground in front of Popeye's Chicken on Mission.  As Sue and I approached the door to go in a use the restroom, he yelled at us that he could use a piece of chicken and a biscuit.  Of course we would buy that for him.  When we came out to give him the chicken, he was cussing and yelling at someone I didn't see.  We gave him the chicken, but we could tell he was embarrassed by his behavior and tried to give us the chicken back.  He explained that she was treating him horrible as a vet and that she spit on him.  With his head lowered, he tried to explain how he served our country and gets treated horribly.  He was so upset, and tried so hard to control himself in front of us, but was having a difficult time.  When we insisted he take the food, he took it  out of respect, but with the box of chicken in hand an his head lowered, he proceeded to cross the street in the crosswalk and stopped in the middle as the walk light began to count down 3 - 2 - 1....Perhaps he saw the rest of our team on the other side waiting for us.  Sue & I immediately went in the street and put our hands out to the cars to stop as to not hit him while we tried to coerce him to continue crossing so he wouldn't get hit.  He told me it didn't matter.  We begged him to cross and finally he did, but he put the box of chicken on the curb and continued walking fast with his head down in the street for a bit, then on the sidewalk until finally out of site.

I was crushed.  My heart was burdened for this man.  I could hardly talk as a lump grew in my throat and tears welt up in my eyes. Why God?  We picked up the box and began walking again quietly.  We tried to wait for God to show us who we might offer the food to.  We saw a girl on the street sitting against the building and Krisi was going to approach her, but she had an urging that this wasn't what we were supposed to do, so we continued walking.  I walked ahead of the group and all of a sudden this "No name, Vet" came up from behind and began walking next to me with his head down explaining to me again why he got upset with the lady who spit on him that he was so hurt because he has served our country and saw so much...women and children killed and he doesn't deserve it.  He was concerned about what our group thought about him.  I told him we were thankful that he served our country.  (I just wanted to comfort this man.)  I asked him his name and he said his name doesn't matter.  I told him his name matters to God.  He said he knew that.  I asked him if he would please take the chicken and take care of himself.  He nodded that he would.  I turned around and the team was quietly walking about 5 steps behind me...praying (I'm sure) and handed me the box of food to give to him.   He took it and continued to walk, but when I went back to the group, I turned around and he came back and gave me a hug.  That hug was the hug of Jesus. He met both our needs.

-Tammy Sawyer

Matt's Message

Matt's Blog Post


Of the three trips we take our high school students on, this one is my favorite. By far. Sylvia Garrett (on of our leaders) put it best today when she mentioned that our trips to Ganado and Mexico are much more physically demanding while this one is more emotionally demanding. It's true. This trip pops a lot of our comfort bubbles, pulls on a lot of our heart strings, and reshapes the way we see the poor, strangers, ourselves, the church, and Jesus; all in ways that break us down and build us up stronger and more connected to the heart of our God.

A few things I have found to be true.

1. Urban ministry is very hard. I know rural, suburban, and international ministry is hard too, but urban ministry is not the context in which I work consistently and therefore stretches me - and has stretched our group too. I have realized you can't minister to the city without (a) knowing the people in the city and (b) knowing the problems facing the city. Both are numerous. Both are diverse. Both are complicated. I have a growing respect for my friends that live in and share Christ with the urban cities in our country. May God be your source of strength, encouragement, and delight.

2. Teenagers are freaking rad! Yeah, I used "rad." It's time to bring that back. While we don't go to sleep when I'd like and while I have to endure some questionable taste in music and humor - watching our high school students be lead in the paths God has made has been so fun to watch. I am confident that God uses teenagers to teach me, more than I teach them. What I love the most is that they haven't yet bought into the lie that real change is impossible - something we adults more easily believe. I see change in them and change through them already in the three days we've been at this.

3. We ALL have strings (or conditions) to our love. We know and serve a God who loves unconditionally and we would like to do the same. But we don't. This trip we have been working on identifying and cutting those strings that are attached. We have identified the strings of security, familiarity, self-righteousness, past-mistakes, condemnation, and fear. Often times our love for others, for ourselves, and for God are connected to one or more of those. It's hard to identify these in our lives. It's harder to cut them. Christ's love is an unconditional loving kindness that models a love that has "no strings attached." I ask that you cut your strings with us so that our world may reflect the love God has for us through Jesus Christ. 

Pictures

Here are just a few pics of the group.  We cannot take a lot of pictures in our settings since it isn't safe for some of the occupants.

I have heard that a lot of people can't see them.  I will try to fix this when I get home.  Meanwhile, go to the cpc youth facebook page and you should see a lot of them.  We will try to tag parents on FB so you can see them.
Sorry.
Jeff

Guest Bloggers Extraordinaire!

I thought that today/tonight was a good time to have people contribute to the blog.  Here are some of them.  In their own words...describing what they have seen and done.

day 2 and The Lord has opened my eyes so much - Scott


It started off super early. Everyone was tired but the level of excitement and unknown for the rest of the day was   Breakfast was cereal and milk.  We did devotions and prayed.  Group 1 left for their activities, and our group headed out shortly after.  We went over to the SF Marin Food Bank.  We were brought into a room with ten huge crates of oranges.  Our job: put the oranges into smaller boxes and separate the good from the bad.  After about 2 hours of separating oranges, and finishing all ten crates, we got a 15 minutes break in the staff room. Once 15 minutes was up we went into a different room with stations set up.  In one station there was a bucket of rice with scoops in it, 2 scales, and a hot pressy thingy.  Each person had a job and we had to bag rice, make sure it was 1 lb., and then seal the bag with the hot pressy thingy.
When we finished at the food bank, it was time for lunch.  We drove a couple minutes away and arrived at the beach.  We all took our bag lunches and went and sat and ate together watching the waves roll in.  There was a trail near by, so we all went hiking together.  It was a good time to talk and get to know each other better.  Once 2:00 rolled around it was time to head over to Project Open Hand.  Project Open Hand is an organization that gives daily meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, Cancer, or any other disease that limits them from making their own food or makes it hard for them to get out of the house.  So, our job was to take the meals to specific hotel rooms and deliver them to the person.  We walked all around the Tenderloin area, and delivered meals.  Handing the meals to the people wasn't quite what I expected. I expected really happy and grateful people expecting the meals, but most of them hid behind the door and stuck their arms out to recieve the meal.  So it was just different than what I was used to.  After we finished our route, we went to Kevin's Noodles, which is a Pho place.  There we met up with the rest of the group.
That's Group 2's story for Monday.
-Krisi Rose

Moo.moo milk milk
-A naughty moose

     Early in the morning on Monday,  we had all woken up and got ready for the day. I am in group 1 so we left first.  We went to the Salvation Army and first helped to organize clothes so that when homeless people walk in and need clothes, it makes them feel like they are walking into a store. Afterwards, we then started to open boxes full of clothes and had to cut the tags off so that people couldn't return them.  We opened up 18 boxes and went through about 900 pairs of clothes!  All of these clothes were donated from different stores.
     After we had finished working at the Salvation Army, we were then taken to the City Hall and given $2 each and a whole lot of time to buy lunch for ourselves and someone else.  We had 4 hours to do this.  My group stayed together and combined our money to buy bread, bologna salami, mustard, mayo, a water jug, and cups.  We all had a sandwich and walked around in front of the City Hall all day and gave sandwiches to the homeless people, who were actually very nice.  We met a lot of people and got their viewpoints of the city and about being homeless.  We learned that all homeless people want is company and comfort from others.  We had a lot of really interesting talks with a lot of them.  We have only been asked for food or money ONCE out of everyone we talked to and saw.
     That night we ate at a Vietnamese restaurant call Kevin's Noodle and I had some steak pho that I really enjoyed.

     Today on Tuesday, so far from the point of which I am typing this, we are at Saint Vincent Day Home and we are helping teachers to take care of children ages 2-5.  I got a class with an age group of 4 (not that it matters though) and they are REALLY energetic.  However no less fun to be around.  I so far have enjoyed the trip and have enjoyed the activities and the food.  The experiences are amazing and I can't wait to experience more throughout the week.
   -Dylan Johnstone

Today I had much high fashion.  I modeled for Salvation Army and tried many different clothes.
-Austin Jungers

For part of the day we went to this after school day care sort of thing to help out. The first hour was filled with playing around with the kids, age 5-18. Then after that we helped the kids out with their homework. And we finished off with doing a bible lesson with the kids. I feel like I was able to get a lot out of today solely due to this program. It was a lot of fun and also nice to help out children.
-Austin Gee

Today was a fun day, we worked at the Salvation Army and volunteered at an after school program working with kids of a variety of ages. The two activities were very different but rewarding in different ways. The work we did at the SA was very repetitive and mundane but it was cool knowing that we were helping fulfill a need in such a simple way. We sorted brand new, donated clothing and removed or crossed out any labels. This was to ensure that the donated clothes weren't just sold for profit but instead go to people and families that actually needed them.
At the Rescue Mission we hung out with kids, played basketball with them, helped with homework, and shared the Gospel with the teenagers. It was cool getting to know them but also very awkward and it took most of the day to feel comfortable with them. A lot of the kids come from very different situations than how I was raised so it can be hard to relate and it was very sad to hear the types of things they have to go through at such a young age. I enjoyed getting to know the kids a little bit but it's hard to only volunteer for a day and actually build relationships with the kids. I saw God in the interactions we had with kids even though it was only for a few hours, we still helped that Rescue Mission function well for that day.
Our challenge for the day was to do a random act of kindness for someone without expecting anything in return. I saw members from our group donate money to a homeless man who was selling newspapers, they also gave away some food to people we interacted with while walking to our ministry sites. It has been awesome seeing our group slowly get more comfortable serving in some awkward situations and I am excited to see what he has left in store for our group!
-Seth

Today was a really fun today helping the kids. I got put with the pre-schoolers. They were all so adorable and all wanted me to play with them at the same time. They all kept asking my name and telling me their names over and over. When I left during their nap time they all shouted "BYE SARAH!" It made me feel really special inside knowing that they love me. -Sarah Fair


Dear blog today is april 22nd 2014. Today we went to Saint Vincent day something. we went in and met this lady named Jennifer. she was so funny. shes one of those people who likes to joke around. anyways i got assigned to the 4 year olds aka the dolphins.  I walk in and I sit down and the teacher is teaching them the months and the days of the week like Monday Tuesday etc. When she would have them answer most of the kids would go umm. The teacher (no kids it's not umm). Then a kid wouldn't sit down so she said sit down bruh. I was laughing in my head. Then they were doing crafts and play time. Right away a kid came up to me and put his hand on my arm and said will you play with me? I said of course I will. He took to me to the play dough area. As we got the stuff out more kids came over to play with it to. All of them were guys so you know what guys do? They talk about guy stuff. Well the word poop is so funny to 4 year olds. So there was this thing with a hole and then you push the play doe through it and it makes a snake shape. Well to them it was poop. The little boy said look Lucas I made orange and green poop. I saying really fast very nice. But really I was cracking up in my head. After that it was recess. The kids were so excited. We played hide and seek and dodge ball. (Don't worry it wasn't normal dodge ball) it was roll the ball. It was a flat ball so it wouldn't hurt them. One kid from another classroom came to me on the play ground and thought Matt was my brother. I said no we aren't. But then I said hey Matt we are bros for life now.
 
     After the kids we went to Berkeley and went to the peoples park. At that park there was huge groups of homeless people. Our task for the day was to found out a need. Like we had $20 bucks as a group and we had to go talk to homeless people and see what they need. It's like giving them a present because they don't know what we are giving them. So my group (Matt Dylan Jacob and I) walked around and around. The hard thing for all of us was going up to a homeless person and asking them like questions or starting a convo. So we walked more and more then every single time we would go up to a single person like a herd of them would come. Those herds didn't look scary they were frightening. So we met up with the rest of our group. Then we walked some more. Burn those calories!!! Anyways we found a guy with a dog and 2 other guys next to him. It was the most awkward moment. We said hi and then stood there for a min. Then we left awkwardly and found a guy on a rug with his dog. His name was Ian. He was a down to earth dude. He was wherever the spirits are. But he was really cool cause he had these rocks like Amber. His rock he wants to find is the tigers eye. I don't know what that is but it sounds good. So we talked and talked then a dude came up to us and wanted food. Then he said I'm Christian and he was yelling at Mrs. Garrett because she said the Holy Spirit. It was interesting so Matt took him to get burritos. After that Ian said he could use a backpack to put his rock stuff in so we went to a store and the store owner gave us a discount. Then we gave it to him and he said he was really thankful. It put a smile on his face. Oh I forgot a part. Back it up. When we walked and walked looking for a person Matt said and I quote I'm giving you an hour to find someone and see what they need. If you do I'll go hiking mission peak with you. Really I thought nah he won't cause he's been saying that to me for years. But now he says he promises and he says I never break a promise. I hope he doesn't I been waiting a year for this!!!
That was my day today
      by:  Lucas Evans

Look for more insight and observations from people tomorrow.

We are all well.  We are all safe.  We are all having a good time and glad we came.

Any guesses, parents, on who wrote the "milk and cow" comment?  

Filling Needs

Wow!

Rarely do I sit down to type and not know where to begin.  On the other hand, it's very often that I start writing and not know when to quit.  I guess I will start by saying that today was a meaningful day.

Our group started the day at The Salvation Army in San Francisco.  The other group went to Project Open Hand.  Our introduction to the Salvation Army was to go through rows and rows of clothing racks to have space between the hangers.  Larry, our contact, said that he wanted the people who were getting the clothes to have as much of a store experience as possible.  He is interested in having the people they serve have the dignity they deserve.  Following this we were given the task to remove all the tags from boxes of clothes that were donated and separate them into hangers.  We processed eighteen large boxes of clothes in a relatively short period of time.  As we cleaned up the tags and finished putting the last box on hangers Larry announced that there were typically fifty pieces of clothing in each box so we had just processed nine hundred articles of clothing!  He didn't say what a typical group of volunteers processed but he did say he was impressed.  They rely almost entirely on volunteers having only three employees in the entire warehouse.

Our second half of the day was a challenge.  We walked around observing the people and the activity of the city for four and a half hours.  We focused our time by imagining what it would be like to be a homeless teen.  We tried to imagine what it might be like for us if we were really homeless.  We were given two dollars each, a boundary encompassing the entire Tenderloin district, and instructions to feed ourselves and others.  My first thought was, ok...how much do we really get?  The kids' first thought seemed to be...talk to others??  They were a little apprehensive at first, to say the least.  As leaders, we stayed back and allowed the kids to determine their course of action.  They decided to find the most food for the least amount of money and to do this they went to the YMCA in the heart of the Tenderloin.    They directed us to places that would feed us for free but the last thing we wanted to do was take food out of the hands of people who really needed it to help us pretend to be homeless.  They had obviously misunderstood our goal and went on to say that there weren't any places that sold food within our geographical boundaries.  We were skeptical but left.  About two blocks away from the YMCA we found a store where we were able to buy mustard, mayo, a loaf of bread, salami, water, and cups.  It wasn't until we sat on the grass to make the sandwiches that we figured out that there wasn't an easy way to spread the mayo on the bread.  Lauren suggested that we break a plastic cup and use the pieces to do the job.  It did the job and the kids learned a bit about being resourceful.

We all ate our half sandwiches in a little picnic lunch in the park by City Hall and then the kids ventured out to offer sandwiches to those who looked like they were in need.  The only mishap (if you want to call it that) was that they offered a sandwich to someone who did not need it, and he said no in an unpleasant manner.  Undeterred, we moved on and eventually gave away about a dozen sandwiches to people who did appreciate them.  We ended up with a slice bread left over and, minus the meat, it didn't have much appeal.  When people came to us asking for change we explained that we didn't have any since we had used it buy food but offered the last slice of bread...no takers.

It was while we were giving away sandwiches that Dylan and I met Bob and Tease (not their real names).  I would say that this was my most meaningful experience thus far.  It started simply with just two guys on a bench accepting our sandwiches.  We explained that we were out trying to help people and find out the challenges that the homeless face.  Bob was more than willing to help.  He explained that there were challenges to be overcome and responsibilities to be met when you make the choice to be homeless.  He and Tease made the choice to live on the streets because it was too expensive to have an apartment and eat.  We talked about the responsibilities of cleaning up after yourself and keeping your things in order so that you would be comfortable...or as comfortable as you can be.  He talked about needing to take care of his health also.  Just last year he had a problem with his kidneys since he wasn't able to find a restroom as often as he should, but he is doing better now.

When I asked him what he would do if he were the mayor he didn't know.  He said that there was a liaison in the government who was supposed to be for the homeless but didn't seem to be helping very much.  He described a situation at the park where, for many nights in a row, they could sleep on the lawn and not be bothered.  Then, without warning, "they" would come with hoses to get everyone to vacate.  He said that he usually stayed under a bridge.  I asked about a sense of community among the people gathered and he said there was some...to some extent.  He also said that he had never been beaten up so much as when he decided to be homeless.

We talked for about twenty minutes and I found out that he and I have similar tastes in books.  I don't know why that surprised me, but it did.  I suppose I thought they wouldn't have much time to read for pleasure.  We didn't really talk about how he came to be homeless but I think he would have shared with me if I had asked.  He did say that he "started [being homeless] late in life" and he pointed to the gray on his chin.  Tease was the quieter of the two.  His situation was a little different in that he was on disability due to an illness.  He explained that it was difficult to be homeless because of a lack of relationships.

We learned on our tour that there were about eight or nine hundred shelter beds available each night.  Approximately sixty of them go unused per night due varying circumstances.  Now, Bob said there was an influx of new homeless who were moving here from other places where they were also homeless.  He said that the ease of getting services here in the city was what was making people want to move here.  It was obvious as we walked around the city that the homeless were not welcome.  The cement under store awnings had large rocks embedded in them.  Flat places where people might sit or lie down have metal spikes in them.  The only benches in the park were in the playground which had signs that said, "You may only enter if you are accompanied by a child."

I thanked him for talking to me and he thanked me for not being afraid of him.  I shook their hands and we walked on.  The encounter changed their lives in that they may be a little less hungry for a while.  The experience changed us in ways that I am sure we cannot fully appreciate now.

Finally!!

We have experienced what seemed like three weeks of arduous travel.  The threat of disease was real.  Cholera, the plague, and Montezuma's revenge were the main worries.  Three people demonstrated the beginning signs of scurvy.  About halfway through our journey morale sank to an all time low.  Matt tried to calm the troops but soon found out that classical music does exactly the opposite.  There was talk of mutiny.  When all hope appeared to be lost...we pulled into the parking lot after about forty minutes.


Yes, we are here.  We keep trying to count but they keep moving so we'll just guess that everyone made it.  Kidding!  We all made it.  Everyone is healthy, happy, and we have moved into the smallest space possible to house a group of guys and it looks like a slumber party.  Sleeping bags all over the floor.  The girls, of course, have mattresses and bunk beds but we won't go into that right now.

The whole team was given an orientation to the program and then we were whisked away by the staff (technically we whisked them since they aren't allowed to drive our vans) to Na'an and Curry in San Francisco for dinner.  We all were treated to wonderful food and even though they "toned it down" for the weakest among us, one of our group nearly burst into flames when tasting the smallest bite of chicken kabob possible.
Most of us tried a little of everything and I even tried the chai tea.  It was interesting but I think I will stick with Dr Pepper.



Following dinner we loaded back into the vans and began our prayer tour of the city...or "The City" if you are so inclined.  Our guides, one per van, are Anita and Justine, or Jess, or Jesse, or any number of names, are treating us well and in no time they will see that we are special and will naturally become their favorites.  We started out by driving to the park by City Hall by the State building and the Federal building.  There were people settling in for the night and we were struck by how cold it was for us standing outside for a few minutes, and these people were going to spend the entire night.  This thought was punctuated by someone diving for the heater control as soon as we got into the vans.

We drove and prayed for all of the sections that we drove through.  We saw the oldest cathedral in the city and gentlemen's clubs around the corner.  We saw people in suits and cocktail dresses walking by groups of sleeping bag communities.  We turned corners and saw the changes that happen in just a few hundred yards.  We learned a little about the history of the city and how the Tenderloin got its name.  Apparently the illegal activities were so prevalent that the police would just look the other way...for a price.  They were so corrupt, and gathered so much money, that they were the officers who could afford steak...Tenderloin steak.  We also learned of how the mayor ran out of money for a building project and "borrowed" $500,000 from public funds while telling people it was from private donations.

We prayed for all the people: the lost and hurting, the homeless and abandoned,  the scared and lonely, the corrupt and the people who are working, like CSM (our hosts) right in the thick of it.  They know that they cannot possibly help everyone, but for those they do help, it means a lot.

Our tour concluded by seeing several of the sites where we may be working.  We drove by the organization that delivers meals to SRO's  (Single Room Occupancies), and the streets were teeming with people at a late hour.  Since their apartments are essentially a room with a bed, the people get outdoors and treat the street as their living room.  We saw the after school programs right in the heart of the Tenderloin, and we learned that the average age of a homeless person is nine.  Not nineteen, nine.  Following this we drove to Coit Tower where we looked out over the city and noticed that the dual nature of San Francisco blended into one beautiful landscape of lights and beauty.  I noticed the fragrant jasmine as we stood outside looking over the trees into thousands of lights.  I wondered how many of the people who were living on the streets noticed that the city they live in is quite beautiful.

Countdown...

I am taking advantage of the last time I am going to be able to touch a full-sized keyboard to say we are off.  from here on out I am winging it with an iPad.  Wish me, and my kielbasa sized fingers, luck.

We are all set to go.  We all attended church in our matching jackets and were prayed over by the congregation.  We have already had our first set of good luck too.  Our 12 passenger van turned into a 15 passenger van when we picked it up so we will have plenty of room for luggage.

Just a piece of housekeeping.  I added a link on the side of this blog so you can sign up to have it emailed to your computer.  You'll have to come to the blog to see the pictures (when I can post them) but the words will come to your inbox.

OK, the clock is ticking away.  We are meeting at the church in about 3:15...Away we go!

Ready, Set, (and then tomorrow) GO!!

The youth group from Centerville Presbyterian Church (CPC) is ready to embark on an epic journey!  All of our applications are complete.  All preparations have been made.  All planning meetings are a thing of the past. Sparing no expense and spanning dozens of miles we are ready to brave minutes on the freeway to go on this year's mission trip!

In recent years this youth group from CPC has traveled for days over their spring break's from school to work on the physical grounds at a Navajo Mission in Arizona and, most recently, to do construction and destruction (on purpose) in Mexico and while assisting in a brand new church plant.  This year, over our spring break, we are upping the ante a little and traveling about forty miles to stay in Oakland.  From there we are going to go and work in San Francisco, Richmond, and anyplace else that could use some people to lend a hand.  

We will be walking neighborhoods while delivering meals to home-bound people.  We will go to a hospital to play games or maybe take some long-term residents on a field trip.  We will work in an after-school program to tutor, teach, and play.  We will walk the streets engaging with some homeless people to get their stories and, hopefully, fill a need or two.  We will try to display the love of Jesus as we serve joyfully in places that are very close to home.  

In preparing for this trip we have been told a little of what to expect, but I am counting on the unmistakable truth about going on mission trips like these...forget what you thought was going to happen.  We will all be touched in one way or another and, according to people who have gone on all three of these trips in the past, the one close to home is their favorite by far.   Having said that, the thing that most of the participants have said in preparing for this trip is, it is "out of our comfort zone."   I have an idea about this.  When we went to Arizona and Mexico, there were differences.  There were different languages, different cultures, different physical characteristics, even different architecture and landscape.  In Oakland and San Francisco we are going to see things that we have seen before, that we see every day, but hopefully through new eyes.  I also think there is another reason for apprehension on the part of the participants.  There is no ordinary sequence of events that could drive you down the path toward becoming part of those far-away cultures.  You cannot just wake up one day and realize that you are Mexican or Navajo (unless you were adopted and your parents kept the secret for a really really long time.)  The same cannot be said about being homeless.

I am looking forward to this trip.  We all are.  I am also one of the ones who says that I will be out of my comfort zone.  I am looking forward to relating our experiences here on this blog and hope you will keep our group in your prayers as we are out and about this next week.  We will be closer, this trip, than any other we go on but I think we will also be a lot farther away than any of us now realize.