My nephew and his friends are sleeping in boxes outside their church this weekend to raise money for the homeless. Each teenager has to build their own little "box house" and sleep in there overnight. The pastor of their parish is joining them. I'm going to sneak by there Saturday night and take a peek at their "village". Please keep the homeless and these teenagers in your prayers.
Over the years the amount of homeless people in our small city has increased. One of the homeless that I met last summer was Jacob. I thought I spotted him riding a bike a few weeks ago but am not absolutely sure because he whizzed by pretty fast. Another homeless man that my husband met was Gregory (bizzarre story). I hope they're doing well.
Showing posts with label homeless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeless. Show all posts
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Jacob
My mother and I were cleaning the church center the other day when all of a sudden she said "Mary! Come quickly! There is a man lying outside the door and he's not moving!" We ran over and opened the door and I leaned down and saw that he was breathing so I sent my mother to get my cellphone. Another man came over and gently shook him. He woke up with a start and looked dazed and confused. I told him I was going to call an ambulance but he shook his head no.
I said " Sir, I'm very worried about you and if you don't speak to me I'm going to call them." He looked up at me with bleary eyes and said "Sorry, I just needed a minute to gather my wits." He then stuck out his hand and said "I'm Jacob, like in the bible." I shook it and replied "I'm Mary, like in the bible." Then he told us that he was homeless and had been for 7 years. While my mother went to get him some money for food he continued to tell me a little bit about himself. He said his fiance had died last August, that he missed her very, very much and when he spoke her name it was said so reverently that it deeply touched me. I told him that I would pray for him. He thanked me and said he would always remember me because he had a sister named Mary. My mother gave him some money and we said good-bye. I felt honored to have met him for I saw Jesus in his eyes. So... Jacob, wherever you are, you have a friend and I will not forget you.
By the way, I glanced at Jacob's watch while we were talking and the time was 11:11 [but this is another story in itself].
I said " Sir, I'm very worried about you and if you don't speak to me I'm going to call them." He looked up at me with bleary eyes and said "Sorry, I just needed a minute to gather my wits." He then stuck out his hand and said "I'm Jacob, like in the bible." I shook it and replied "I'm Mary, like in the bible." Then he told us that he was homeless and had been for 7 years. While my mother went to get him some money for food he continued to tell me a little bit about himself. He said his fiance had died last August, that he missed her very, very much and when he spoke her name it was said so reverently that it deeply touched me. I told him that I would pray for him. He thanked me and said he would always remember me because he had a sister named Mary. My mother gave him some money and we said good-bye. I felt honored to have met him for I saw Jesus in his eyes. So... Jacob, wherever you are, you have a friend and I will not forget you.
By the way, I glanced at Jacob's watch while we were talking and the time was 11:11 [but this is another story in itself].
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