So here is the great thing about this Christmas… Monday I started calling, the Union Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter here in the area. Sad news was that they had all the helpers they needed and didn’t need any more. I told him the story of how this is the only thing the kids really wanted for Christmas and it wouldn’t be Christmas without helping the shelter. They said they would call me back. I hadn’t heard, so I called again and spoke with the gentleman in charge of the dinners. He said, “be there at 4:30 Christmas Eve.” GREAT!! Now it will feel like Christmas.
Hoping that we would be able to feed the shelter and not get put in the back washing dishes, we were a little nervous not knowing what to expect. It was awesome!! When we arrived we were given instructions of what we’ll be doing and a prayer was given by Eric, the person in charge. In the prayer he had asked that our hearts would be opened and receptive and that we would see the face of God in those who we were about to serve. Tears came to my eyes; a blessing was given for us, not them. The prayer ended and MJ said, “Now that was a good prayer!” I have never felt so loved, so humbled.
We paired up, two to a table, and fed the homeless. We served them as they sat and waited for us to get them food. We offered coffee, salad, dinner and dessert. At our table (mine and Emily’s) three of the guys took their time eating (I think they just like to be inside where it was warm and dry), we talked to them and knew them by names and after we were done serving, we had the opportunity to eat dinner (rolls, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes and I think, smoked turkey or pork) with them. I felt prompted, as other helpers sat by at their own tables, to sit with those I served, Emily was hesitant, but followed the lead. Soon, Mark joined us. I was humbled, over and over, listening to them talk and the stories they had to share.
Maurice was funny. He had a French/Jamaican accent. He received a pair of new jeans and shirt for Christmas and carried a backpack. He had been in the states for 10 years. Very smart and spoke with Mark about engineering details. Alex was quite but loved pumpkin pie.
Derrick was from Kentucky, a drifter since he was 18. He’s lived all over the country. He recently wanted to settle down and get a job. He stopped drinking a while ago and was ready to make a change. He had been trying to get his identification but had been unsuccessful because that took money of which he did not have. It was thanksgiving here at the shelter when a couple met him and gave funds to the director towards getting a birth certificate to get his ID. That had been his saving grace, his new chance at life. I sat there thinking how many others want to get out of the homeless situation but can’t because they have no funds to get ID, or don’t know where they were born. He said he knew of someone who had been trying to get ID for years.
On our way out there was a little old colored lady, probably in her late 70’s. She was so sweet and so happy. She told us that she’s old but is not afraid to die that there was a mansion in the heavens for her. I believe it. She had been coming to the shelter since she was 55. As I watched her put food into her bag, I wondered if she had any family. Who was going to take care of her? Her faith in believing where she was going strengthened my belief and I knew too. For are we not all brothers and sisters she said. You babies have smiles of an angle and we hugged her, smiled and said good-bye.
I held my emotions until I got to the car, and then I cried. I was so blessed that night. I saw the face of God in these people, my brothers and sisters. I saw them in equal conditions and to me they were the angels that night.
Hoping that we would be able to feed the shelter and not get put in the back washing dishes, we were a little nervous not knowing what to expect. It was awesome!! When we arrived we were given instructions of what we’ll be doing and a prayer was given by Eric, the person in charge. In the prayer he had asked that our hearts would be opened and receptive and that we would see the face of God in those who we were about to serve. Tears came to my eyes; a blessing was given for us, not them. The prayer ended and MJ said, “Now that was a good prayer!” I have never felt so loved, so humbled.
We paired up, two to a table, and fed the homeless. We served them as they sat and waited for us to get them food. We offered coffee, salad, dinner and dessert. At our table (mine and Emily’s) three of the guys took their time eating (I think they just like to be inside where it was warm and dry), we talked to them and knew them by names and after we were done serving, we had the opportunity to eat dinner (rolls, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes and I think, smoked turkey or pork) with them. I felt prompted, as other helpers sat by at their own tables, to sit with those I served, Emily was hesitant, but followed the lead. Soon, Mark joined us. I was humbled, over and over, listening to them talk and the stories they had to share.
Maurice was funny. He had a French/Jamaican accent. He received a pair of new jeans and shirt for Christmas and carried a backpack. He had been in the states for 10 years. Very smart and spoke with Mark about engineering details. Alex was quite but loved pumpkin pie.
Derrick was from Kentucky, a drifter since he was 18. He’s lived all over the country. He recently wanted to settle down and get a job. He stopped drinking a while ago and was ready to make a change. He had been trying to get his identification but had been unsuccessful because that took money of which he did not have. It was thanksgiving here at the shelter when a couple met him and gave funds to the director towards getting a birth certificate to get his ID. That had been his saving grace, his new chance at life. I sat there thinking how many others want to get out of the homeless situation but can’t because they have no funds to get ID, or don’t know where they were born. He said he knew of someone who had been trying to get ID for years.
On our way out there was a little old colored lady, probably in her late 70’s. She was so sweet and so happy. She told us that she’s old but is not afraid to die that there was a mansion in the heavens for her. I believe it. She had been coming to the shelter since she was 55. As I watched her put food into her bag, I wondered if she had any family. Who was going to take care of her? Her faith in believing where she was going strengthened my belief and I knew too. For are we not all brothers and sisters she said. You babies have smiles of an angle and we hugged her, smiled and said good-bye.
I held my emotions until I got to the car, and then I cried. I was so blessed that night. I saw the face of God in these people, my brothers and sisters. I saw them in equal conditions and to me they were the angels that night.
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