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.
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.
Thanks for sharing, Jeff. Looking forward to hearing "the rest of the story." I know…not your tag-line.. but you get the idea.
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