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.
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.
Powerful. What an amazing privilege to pray through and over the city and the "forgotten" people. God has not forgotten.
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