katie in atlanta

hard goodbyes

2010-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Now, more than a month after my last official day as a Young Adult Volunteer, I am finally saying goodbye. The outreach center where I served during my year was able to hire me in a temporary role for about a month and a half, but that time is coming to a close this Thursday. Because I hadn't felt like it was over yet, I have been waiting to post my final entry. However, today was a special day, and so I want to acknowledge what it symbolizes for me.

My supervisor, Kimberly, wrote this is her daily prayer:

September 28, 2010 … Tender Moments

God, I am thankful for the reminder I received this afternoon of “why we do what we do here at the OAC”…

Katie has been working with George Gilbert in the Exodus Journey program for the last several months. I have watched their interactions from a distance and have listened to Katie when she needed to process the work they were doing together. I have been amazed at the honesty in the conversations they have shared. When Katie felt like she needed to ask George hard questions, she did so. He listened. He respected her.

Katie’s last day with us is this coming Thursday so today was her last appointment with George. I sat in on the meeting so we can make as smooth a transition for George as possible. When we were finished, I asked them if I could take a picture of the two of them. I stepped away after that and allowed them to say “good-bye.” It brought tears to my eyes. George is going to miss Katie. I heard him say something to the effect, “You started this journey with me. You have listened to me.”

As I watched that tender moment, I was reminded that “this is why we do what we do here at the OAC.” It is about genuine care for another; compassion for their struggles; the offer of a kind heart and the extension of listening ears. It is a dedication to walk the journey with someone who may not have anybody else to walk the journey with them.

God, thank you for George. Thank you for Katie. Thank you for the steps they have made together. Thank you for this tender moment I experienced today that served as a huge reminder of why we are here! Thanks be to God!

Throughout the past year, the outreach center has been a spiritually centering place for me, and I have met some of the most amazing people in my work as an outreach advocate. I've gotten to meet with Mr. Gilbert on a more regular basis and do some in-depth case management. He is on his way to obtaining permanent housing, and I am sad not to have the opportunity of walking a bit more of the journey with him. This afternoon it was very difficult to tell him goodbye. He held my hand and told me how thankful he was for me, and I made a feeble attempt at telling him the same.

Now I feel as though my YAV year is finally over. That was a tough but necessary step in closure. I am so grateful for the time I spent at the OAC, and look forward to keeping in touch with everyone there!

something of the Divine

2010-07-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

At the Abbey today, Troy shared a story with us. He’d been up the previous night visiting with his sister until the late hours of the evening. A couple came by the house and asked for a few dollars to help pay for a hotel. He described his response to their request, not as dismissive or as contemplative/discerning, but instead as playful and intriguing. He gave the couple some flowers his wife had received at her baby shower that afternoon, leftover food from the fridge, and some money. His intention was not to find out exactly how they spent the money because he was giving it in good faith and it was their choice how they used what he was offering. He also mentioned that it isn’t everyday he feels led to act in that way, but sometimes ya do just feel the best option is to share what you’ve been given, without condition, and give the askers your blessing-in full truth.

Later this evening, as I was headed to the grocery store to do the weekly shopping for our house, I encountered the Divine. Although I’d originally planned to shop at the Edgewood Plaza so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pain of not being able to find everything on the list or waiting in long checkout lines, a feeling inside told me that I needed to go to the Kroger in my part of town. So instead of getting on the road to the interstate, I kept driving down Metropolitan and took Abernathy to the Cascade Kroger (not the way I usually go). A man sitting in a wheelchair was at the entrance to the shopping center and since my windows were down, I spoke to him as I drove into the parking lot. He said hello and asked if I had 75 cents I wasn’t using. I pulled into a parking spot and he parked his wheelchair next to my driver’s side window and introduced himself, Alfonso is his name. I gave him the only 3 quarters in my vehicle and introduced myself as well. We talked for ten minutes or so. He noticed my Tennessee license plate asked if I was new to the area, to which I replied I’ve lived here almost a year now. Wow, has it been that long already? When I told him what neighborhood I lived in, he asked why I hadn’t come from the street on the far side of the lot, so I shared with him the feeling that convinced me to come to our Kroger and not go elsewhere. What I realized later, in relating this experience to my roommate, was that I was probably encouraged not to get on the interstate so that this encounter with Alfonso would be possible. He asked about college and my area of study. I said I was in recreational therapy and he pointed to his legs, and asked, “Oh, so you work with people like me?” “Yeah,” I told him, “and I ‘m looking for a job.” He wanted to know if I had applied for a job at the Shepherd Center, Emory, or Grady. I have applied at Emory and the Shepherd Center, but I said I hadn’t heard back from either place. HE shared with me a little about his experience at the Shepherd Center and how, “You learn so much there. I didn’t want to leave after 3 months, but knew I had to go.” And he said it’s the best place to work, especially because he guessed that I was a people-person. I asked why he assumed I was. He knew from the way I looked at him and talked to him-not the way most people do. And then, as he looked up at the sky and decided to go before it began raining, he prophesized that I would do great things and help people in my work and in my life. I thanked him and shook his hand.

Alfonso had something of the Divine in him and today I saw it.

slowing down

2010-06-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy this month, I haven't slowed down long enough to write anything. I usually try to use my journal at least once a week to get my thoughts on paper, and I've learned that this practice can be very spiritual and helpful for my racing mind.

And so, when I read the prayer my boss wrote today (she writes and shares a prayer every work day with the staff & volunteers via email), I could feel it speaking to me. Not just because she mentioned a prayer request of mine, but because what she says about often doing several tasks at once and not being fully present in any of them, really struck me.

I have not slowed down lately; I have been going non-stop, trying to do more than possible and do it all faster than possible. This morning when I got to work early, I couldn't even focus enough to take advantage of the extra time I had. My mind could not slow down. It's was if I no longer knew how to function unless I was running late or feeling behind.

In actuality, I have lots of time right now. I'm at a place in life where I work 32 hours a week and have much more free time than when I was a full-time student or than I will when I have a full-time job. Yes, I do need to find a job for post-YAV August and yes I do need to study for the rec therapy certification exam I'll be taking in October, but those are not the things that have caused me to sprint through these last few days and weeks. It's just the little stuff I've allowed to cause me anxiety and keep me frantic.

However, as often happens, the guests I meet and work with at the outreach center are the ones who force me to slow down. I always have and will enjoy working with people. I love the challenge of relating to all sorts of people. I am passion about people and motivated by people. Today was a great example of this truth.

A woman named Christopher talked to me for at least an hour, probably longer. We discussed homelessness, how tough it is, how cruelly others treat those who are homeless; we held hands and prayed together; we cried together and agreed that being female is not often easy; we laughed together and laughed at each other.

Much like other guests of mine who seem as if they may never stop talking, Christopher would not get up out of her chair and leave my desk, she just kept bringing up things to talk about and telling me how much my thoughtful, caring, friendly nature meant to her. She told me countless times that in the two days she had spent being homeless, I was the most genuine person she had met. I also took her to be pretty genuine, so her words were powerful; they spoke to my heart.

And although I thought about asking her to leave so I could assist other people, I just couldn't. It didn't seem like the right thing to do. Even though it goes against society's idea of productivity, I felt like there was a reason it was so hard to get her to leave. Perhaps it was a way to get me to slow down, to not be so "productive" in the common sense and instead, force me to be fully present in the moment and the task at hand, even if the task at hand was talking with Christopher about how much menstrual cramps hurt, but how they make us as women stronger.

Here is the prayer Kimberly, my boss, wrote this afternoon:

Feast or famine … a common phrase that we all may hear or say from time to time … This phrase can be used to describe the Outreach Center sometimes … there are days when we are bursting at the seams with guests and there are other days when hardly anyone is sitting in our lobby by late morning. Yesterday was one of those days … it felt like a famine, but today was a feast! The lobby was packed from the time we opened until we closed! It was busy and no matter who you were or what you were doing, you remained busy! There didn’t seem to be any time to slow down!

As I sit here and reflect on all of that, I keep going back to something Katie shared with us during our circle. She wanted us to think about “slowing down.” She was on her way to work this morning, when a man in her neighborhood said, “Coffee?” She thought he was asking her if she had any coffee. She said she gave him her standard answer, “I don’t have any cash” and she kept walking. She said she later realized that he was sitting in front of a convenience store and that possibly, he was just asking her to go in and buy him a cup of coffee. She said she could have done that with a debit card, but she was busy, headed in her own direction, and didn’t slow down. She said it was a good reminder to her and she wanted us to think about it.

God, I have thought about it this morning, a good bit of the morning in fact. I felt at times that I was trying to do three and four things at a time and I realized that I wasn’t doing any of them very well. I am often like this and I wonder if anyone else operates the same way?

God, help us to remember to slow down. Who knows what or whom we may encounter if we do? Amen.

random thoughts

2010-05-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some thoughts of mine from my journal. There isn't a true rhyme or rhythm to them, but it's what I have to offer from my experience at this time along the journey.

"Pray all the time. It will help in times of trouble."

Notice that it doesn't say "pray in times of trouble; it will help."
Our worldly spin on faith is often that it is something important we can rely on when things get tough. Although many sermons are preached on praying and groups devoted to collective prayer, hu,ans still seem quite confused in the matter of prayer. For me, prayer has always been a task, drudgery really. Because even though I know I'm supposed to practice continually, I do not. I don't feel confident in my ability to pray. I know intellectually, that it is not a task to be mastered, but an attempt that will be constantly reformed. When I lack self-confidence I tend to avoid doing what I think I should be able to do. Procrastination is my worst enemy. I give in to it on a daily basis and miss out on so many opportunities!
I've recently been studying the Enneagram personality types. Learning about my personality is helpful because knowing that I'm not alone, that others understand and share in my struggles is comforting. Surrounding myself with friends and people who are confident in my abilities and who push me to use my talents is so essential to my growth! Sally, my fellow Atlanta YAV is a great person for that because she believes in me and pushes me in many situations to be active toward my success. I hope I can be a similar force for her and others, in whom I see enormous potential.
Journaling is very therapeutic-it allows me to process things without having to rely on another person to be available to listen. I feel good about realizations I've come to while writing. And sometimes I really surprise myself with thoughts, reflections, or ideas that come out of this spiritual practice.

the words of others

2010-04-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

"There is so much to be done, there is so much that can be done.
One person of integrity can make a difference, a difference of life and death. As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry, our life will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.
We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would be to betray them.
Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately."
Excerpt from Night by Elie Wiesel

This is what I feel on the inside and want to live on the outside. His words speak so directly to my desires-- what I'm discerning as God's desires for me. Sometimes words are not enough. And sometimes other people's words seem to fit my life better than my own words. In my history, I have often carried with me the words of others, and these words continue to speak to me in new and surprising ways.

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." Augusta Rodin

"Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart." hymn Here I am Lord by Daniel L. Schutte

"Nobody's free until everybody's free." Fannie Lou Hamer

So what? Reading, thinking, praying, writing--these are only the beginning. As I am doing these things, I must also be living, loving, speaking, touching, connecting. And in what specific ways I can do all of these things I am not entirely sure. Right now I feel that I'm in a space where I am hovering, waiting for a glimpse of clarity as to how my education and present circumstance will overlap and mesh into a future. I pray for openness to sense God's call toward a future-- a job, a career, a lifestyle that allows for both my college degree and my volunteer service to fuel what I offer to others. I am okay with being in a place of uncertainty. I am anxious, nervous, curious, excited, but ultimately I believe that I must stay here for a while before I can move into discernment, action, actualization. I will continually place my trust and hope in God, the only one who is in control.

a hug

2010-03-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

I received a very unexpected hug from a friend last Tuesday. It was so needed.

Latley, I've been really stressed out with trying to figure out my student loan stuff and health insurance stuff. No, I'm not having to begin repaying loans right now and yes, I do have health insurance. But, navigating those two systems to make sure all of the paperwork is done correctly takes more than a college degree. I'm learning so much about the day-to-day struggles of the average adult, and I'm so thankful for this opportunity for knowledge and experience.

In one hand is the world of health insurance and my teeny-tiny existence in the cosmos of endless red tape. One of the goals set for me during the week of orientation by this volunteer program is that by the end of the service term, I should be in control of my health insurance and understand how it works. Well, I'm not quite there yet, but man am I working towards it! Lots of phone conversations with my doctor, my insurance company, and wise, seasoned adults are preparing me to not only deal with the present but also future management of the economical and political aspects of my health.

In the other hand is the equally complicated world of student loans. Calculating when to pay who and how much, or if and how I can seek deferment may seem simple enough because tons of people have gone before me and come out alive, right? Well, like I said before, at times it appears to take more than the education, for which the loan money paid, to navigate the loan/debt system. And wanting to handle it on my own without asking for help was somewhat of a stumbling block, as I currently find myself in a place of financial strain.

So, all of this garble is really getting at the cloud of confusion that's been looming over me for the past few weeks. I think this navigation process is to what people are referring when they talk about "the real world," and how rudely it can awaken us from the slumber we enjoyed for so many years while someone else, usually parents, took care of these details of our lives.

Back to the hug. After a long day of listening (which is often what my mornings consist of doing, because more and more I'm finding that the people who walk through the outreach center door need someone with whom they can share, uninterupted or judged), and an afternoon of slowly putting together a few more peices of the student loan puzzle, I left my office and headed home. It must have been obvious from my demeanor that I was carrying a heavy burden because no one tried to talk to me and even if they smiled I probably didn't notice, as I had my head down, staring deep into the sidewalk cracks, wondering what kind of mess I'd gotten myself into with all of these loans. As I approached the train station, I heard someone yell, "You just walked right past me!" I, of course, assumed they were not talking to me and kept going. Then I heard the same voice say, "Ms. Jenkins, you walked right past me." At this point I stopped and turned back. When I looked up, I saw Gino walking towards me. He stretched out his long arms and gave me an enormous hug. I told him I was sorry I hadn't seen him and that I was stressed out. I'm not sure if that's what I meant to say, but that's what came out when I opened my mouth, and he responded by saying, "Well I thought you were because you looked a little down." Continuing to walk, I thanked him for the hug and he said, "It was great to see you." As soon as I turned from him, I broke into tears. I had been holding back, trying not to cry, but he seemed to say with his hug, "go ahead, it's alright to cry." It was one of those surreal moments that I will cherish, in which I saw and felt God.

Gino came back into the outreach center today, and when I saw him in the lobby he said that he had come to check up on me. I told him several times how thankful I was to have seen him at the train station that day and that I was so grateful for the hug. He just smiled.

I've heard other stories very similar to the one I told, but something about other stories often bothers me. At first the other stories seem the same; however, one thing is different. Several story-tellers will point out that their friend is homeless and less fortunate and how surprising it is that she or he is able to be there and offer something, like a hug, at such a crucial moment.

Now, I didn't mention in my account that Gino is a guest of the outreach center, or that he is currently homeless. Although these details are a part of his life, they didn't seem relevant to my story, except that we know each other through our interactions at the center. And I was not at all surprised that Gino was able to offer me a hug and be such a peaceful and calming presence. The experience was one of simple beauty, of friendship offered and received at just the right moment. And I feel blessed to be the recipient of that hug.

fasting

2010-02-23T05:41:00.000-08:00

Distraction is an interesting concept because it is relative. If something or someone seems to be very distracting from the task in which I am presently engaged, I am often tempted to ask myself, why is this so distracting? Could it be because I am not so focsued on the task at hand? Or could it be because the distraction is actually toward what I need to devote my attention? It is even more curious to think about this in light of reading about fasting as a spiritual discipline. The book I'm reading for our house discussion speaks a great deal to distractions that surface during fasting, and just what those thoughts mean for our lives. Honestly, I don't think I've ever given fasting a whole lot of thought. Sure, I've fasted a few times before, but never very fervently or reverently. Praying has been more a forced part of fasting than a desired focus. The content of Celebration of Discipline:The Path to Spiritual Growth is fairly straightforward, yet the words are heavy and dare to point to reasons why I should fast on regular basis. So, needless to say I am considering fasting and perhaps doing it often. I can hardly find a reason, now, not to fast. But I will certainly approach this spiritual discipline in a much more serious and intentional way.

empty yet full?

2010-01-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

After writing the following entry in my journal, I heard something during a sermon this Sunday that I'm adding as a preface. Rev. Marinda Harris is the minister of West Hills Presbyterian whose congregation shares a church and a worship service with Rice Memorial Presbyterian, the church I attend here in Atlanta. She said "it doesn't matter if your glass is half empty or half full; what's important is that you have a glass and God is pouring something into it!"

Empty. That is how this new year has begun. So many aspects of my life are currently empty. The gas tank in my car (or rather, the car my parents have been lending me for the past 5 years) is just a few miles from being completely empty. My bank account is a few cents (.97) from being empty. My Marta card has but a couple days left before it will be empty. The pantry shelves that usually hold my food are nearly empty.

Full and overflowing. That is also how this new year has begun. So many aspects of my life are currently full. I am full of excitement about the work I'm doing at the outreach center. My social calendar has been filled with friends visiting me and me visiting friends over the recent holidays. The Y fills me with energy and endorphines from exercising. My housemates, neighbors, and acquaintances are full of thought-provoking questions that are helping me discern more about my life and my relationship with God and with others. Not to mention, my stomach is full of nutritious food, my dresser drawers are full of comfortable clothes, and my house is full of warm air and warm people.

So, why is the emptiness significant? It seems that sometimes stark emptiness or nothingness is necessary. A sense of being financially empty or without, tends to make me question just how much power I have when I do spend money. I often find it difficult to fully understand what many families go through as they struggle to make ends meet-- to feed their children, pay the rent or mortgage, and get everyone where they need to be without spending more money than they're making at their job(s). Going several days with nothing in my bank account but a handful of loose change gives me a slight glimpse into that world, a taste of the stress and burden brought on by financial hardship.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to struggle-- with myself, my choices, my contribution and participation in society-- and I will embrace this struggle, so that I may grow. Only when we as humans truly engage or wrestle with our circumstances, can we change our ways and move closer to the people whom God created us to be and calls us to be. If we do not love we are nothing. And if we do not struggle, we do nothing (worthwhile).

advent = waiting

2009-12-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

This has been such a wonderfully busy month! As part of a neighborhood Advent celebration, several of the people in my neighborhood took turns writing a meditation for each day in Advent and sharing it through email. I volunteered for Tuesday, the 24th day in Advent, and I must admit the act of reading various translations and reflecting on the verses was very meaningful and touched me in a way I could not have expected. I wanted to share the meditation with you, as well. Although Christmas day has past, I hope it speaks to you, still.

Zephaniah 3:14-20

A Song of Joy
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
15Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you* in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival.
*I will remove disaster from you,*
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.

And from Eugene Peterson’s The Message:

So sing, Daughter Zion!
raise the rafters, Israel!
Daughter Jerusalem,
be happy! Celebrate!
GOD has reversed his judgments against you
and sent your enemies off chasing their tails.
From now on, GOD is Israel’s king,
in charge at the center.
There’s nothing to fear from evil
ever again!
Jerusalem will be told
“Don’t be afraid
Dear Zion,
don’t despair."
Your GOD is present among you,
a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
and delight you with his songs.
“The accumulated sorrows of your exile
will dissipate.
I, your GOD, will get rid of them for you.
You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those
who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed;
I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
I’ll bring you back home— a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored
all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes—
all those painful partings turned into reunions!”
GOD’s Promise.

Discussion:
Back-tracking a bit in chapter 3, it is clear that God isn’t pleased with the people and wants them to repent— to turn around completely and change the way they are living. God threatens to destroy God’s own people, in no uncertain terms.And then, almost as if part of the story was left out or lost in translation, the passage for today elaborates on how God will save the people and protect them from all enemies.An earlier verse reads, “In the end I will turn things around for the people.” So, it seems that perhaps God was truly angry and frustrated with the people, pleading for them to turn around on their own. But God ends up doing the turning— God reverses judgment and goes in quite the opposite direction, reclaiming the people as God’s people and reassuring them of God’s presence among them.Could this be the cycle that God goes through with us every year, wanting us to repent and live peacefully, getting so fed up that God wishes to simply purge the population, yet continually releasing us from our deserved punishment and taking ownership once more?Advent is about preparing ourselves, about waiting to receive an unimaginable gift. The gift of Jesus our savior. And maybe for God, Advent is also a time of waiting anxiously, to withhold wrath and embrace us in grace and mercy once more.

Exercise/Motion:
Stand up a few feet away from a wall. If you close you eyes and walk forward, you will eventually run into the wall, right? But if you keep your eyes open, you will see the wall ahead of you and go a different direction. Imagine that the space in front of you is the path down which your life is headed. So, it is with our life. If we live with our eyes closed to God, we will hit a wall, past which we cannot go on our own. But, if we live with our eyes open to God, we will be able to see when we need to turn around. I encourage you to actually stand up and try walking toward the wall with your eyes closed. Can you tell that you are getting closer to the wall? What is your initial reaction? Was it to turn and keep your eyes closed or to open them and look around you?

Prayer:
God of Advent, we confess that we often close our eyes to you and your people. We want to experience Advent in a whole new way this year, and we are trying to open ourselves to the coming of Jesus, again. Please forgive us, as you did long ago and as you have continued to do throughout time, and embrace us as yours. Although we may have anxious hearts and minds, you are the God of peace and hope. Peace that will help calm our anxiety and hope that we will keep our eyes open so that we can know and share your grace and mercy this Advent. Amen.

laughter

2009-11-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

I met an older man today with a very gentle spirit and thick glasses. He needed an eye exam, but wasn’t eligible for the Prevent Blindness Clinic, as he had already been seen by them within the last three years. His glasses frames were broken in half and one of the lenses wouldn’t fit in the frame. I made him an appointment at a Lens Crafters with the Gift of Sight voucher; however, it was the last appointment they had for the year and it wasn’t until November 25th! Because it took so long to find an eye doctor who could/would see him for free, Esther (a volunteer) and I were able to take the time to look through the drawer of reading glasses and try to find frames that may fit his bifocal lenses. We never found any big enough, but we sure tried! There was even a moment when I was on the phone and the two of them were trying to pop a lens out of some plastic-frame glasses that it flew across the room and they both burst out in laughter. It was such a pleasure to spend time with that guest, and I am learning to appreciate each minute, since I’m never sure if they will come back or if I’ll ever see them again.

praying

2009-11-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

I prayed with a woman today. It was my first opportunity to do so. She wasn’t a guest at the outreach center. I was walking to the Marta station after leaving work, and when I stopped at the corner to wait for the light to change I got out my cell phone to call my mom. This lady called out “Excuse me, Miss,” and then she started saying how thankful she was that she found me, Before I realized what she was asking me, she started reading out a phone number, 678……. So, I decided to dial it and handed her my phone. When the person on the other end answered, the lady sounded so desperate as she tried to describe her current location. When she hung up and handed me the phone, I wasn’t sure what to do. She told me about her friend who was a t the Marta station and said he was headed over to meet her, but shared with me that she didn’t know if he’d actually come. She said she was pregnant and needed to sit down, and then she took a seat on the stoop outside the Catholic church. I stood in front of her and she lifted her shirt to show me her slightly enlarged belly with stretch marks. I still didn’t know what to do, but asked her where she was staying. She didn’t give me a direct answer, which I had learned was common for folks who move around a lot-they aren’t likely to say, “Well last night I slept on the sidewalk next to a tree.” Oftentimes when I ask the question, “where are you currently staying?”, and I ask that quite a bit as part of my job, I get answers that speak more to where the person was staying a week or a month ago. This also can be a very leading question; I have found that it can open space for someone to share their struggle with me-how they were evicted or kicked out by their son’s wife and traveled to Atlanta from across the country to try finding a new place to call home. Along the way they may have been robbed of all of their possessions or have nothing left after being released from prison. So, this pregnant woman begins to tell me part of her story-how she has stayed in a few shelters but couldn’t/didn’t want to go back. She said several times that she was hungry and was afraid she might have to sleep on the street tonight. I asked her about a few shelters I knew took in women, but it was already 5:30pm and she reminded me that they had already started taking in people for the night. Now, I have this personal thing that I don’t like giving people money; however, I don’t mind buying someone a meal or something specific they need. After her phone conversation with the unreliable guy friend, during which she had said to him that she had some “good stuff” for him, she asked me for money, and I said no. Yes, this was a lie, and looking back on it, maybe I should have given her the few dollar bills in my wallet, but at the time I felt that she was not going to use the money for food. Anyway, after some more back and forth conversation about night shelters and me finally asking her name, I asked her if I could pray with her. I’m not sure why I did, but it seemed like the only thing of real substance I could offer her. She said yes, and I sat next to her on the church stoop. I took her left hand and held it between both of mine and closed my eyes. I was a little scared and I had no idea what I was going to pray, but I did it even so. My words were something about how I didn’t have much to offer but I asked God to hold her in God’s hand and to let her know even when she can’t depend on the people around her or on a shelter, she can know she is not alone-God is with her. There were some more shaky sentences I can’t even remember, but I ended with, “Please continue to hold Ieshia in the palm of your hand. Amen.” When I opened my eyes, she glanced at me and said, “thank you,” then turned to the intersection saying she thought she saw her friend. She strained her neck to see around all of the cars passing by, but then shrugged her shoulders and stopped looking for him. A large bus had stopped at the light, blocking our view of the sidewalk, and although the light was red, I kept staring in the direction, wondering what I was going to do if he never showed up. Then the light turned green and the bus took off around the corner. A man started walking across the street and she looked up and then exclaimed “that’s my friend, he’s here!” When she turned back toward me I realized she had been crying and (at this point I was standing up beside the stoop on which she was still seated) I asked her what was wrong. She said my prayer had made her all mushy and she began crying even harder. I tried to comfort her, putting my hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into me, resting her head on my side. When the guy walked up to us he immediately asked if she was ok and I explained for her that she was okay, just a bit emotional. She told him we had just finished praying and then she turned and gave me a hug, thanking me again for praying with her. The friend also gave me a hug and then they hugged. It was all so strange yet beautiful. They started walking away and I headed back to the intersection to wait for the light to change. We waved goodbye and I crossed the street.

what if?

2009-11-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

Today was a very full day. I could tell when I first arrived by the length of the line of people waiting, that we would have our hands full and busy. I met some genuinely kind individuals in my one-on-one counseling. I have quickly realized how many people there are in this world that want someone to talk with, who just need a listening ear. If I can be wholly present and truly listen to them, whether they’re telling me their story or just complaining about life and how much it sucks some days, I think God can and will use me. It’s important to understand that homeless people like any other people have needs, desires, wants, dreams, hopes, and fears. While a homeless person may be forced to settle for less or lower quality/quantity, it is imperative that their wishes still be heard.

I walk past the same woman each morning and each afternoon on the street that runs beside the outreach center. She is packing her suitcase when I’m on my way to work and usually reading as I head home. I smile and say hello at every encounter, and though her eyes always meet mine, she only smiles, never speaks. I wonder if I should stop and try to start a conversation with her. Would she be stand-offish? Would she wonder why I never stopped before? What if she left?

not just another Monday

2009-11-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

(written a couple Mondays ago)

I volunteered to pray for our staff and guests this morning, in the usual prayer circle we form before opening our doors to guests each morning.

A guest I worked with last week came back in this afternoon. He was someone I had gotten frustrated with because he didn’t seem to appreciate the help I offered, and I personally thought he complained a lot considering his situation. However, when he came in today he explained that he was going to move in with his mother because although he wants to be independent, he has realized after a couple of week on the streets and in shelters that it’s not easy and he is accepting his mom’s offer to live with her until he starts college in the spring. So, for me it was uplifting. I commented on how much it takes to accept that offer for help, and he confirmed that it was not his first choice but after giving his best effort at staying on his own (in shelters), he needed his mother’s help. What began as a guest who disappointed me, ended as a guest I was humbled by. Funny how things turn around sometimes.

A co-worker gave me a ride home so I wouldn’t have to walk in the torrential downpour!

Today was a great day.

Oh, and free haircuts were today at the center-one of the many things we don’t think about being an issue for homeless persons but definitely an important service.

a week of "firsts"

2009-09-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Although this past week was my third living in Atlanta and my second working at the outreach and advocacy center, it was filled with many firsts.

Some noteworthy firsts:

~first intake on my own (filling out paperwork and putting it into our computer system)

~first time working with a guest one-on-one

~first time making a significant mistake... actually many, many mistakes!

~first hug from an appreciative guest

~first time being late for work (getting a ride from a friend actually takes longer than public transit, believe it or not)

~first opportunity to help a guest find a "new" pair of shoes for his new job

~first time having to tell a guest that we didn't have any shoes that fit him

~first time getting away from the city (realizing that although it's a great place to live and work, a break is nice)

So, quite a few firsts! It was a great week, full of tough conversations, delicious dinners, powerful prayers, and plenty of rain.

first week!

2009-09-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,

I moved into the Dwell house September 1st and have been going full speed since then!

I'm living with a 24 year old and a 30 year old female who recently graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, a 26 year old male who is currently in seminary at Columbia, and a 25 year old female who works with the Hispanic population at a non-profit in the city. We share a 5 bedroom house, and are all connected by our desire to live in intentional Christian community with one another. So, that means at least once a week we cook and eat a meal together and join in discussion about the Bible and 2 books we are reading. The entire household is responsible for keeping the house clean and going in together on some communal groceries.

It's only been 2 weeks, but it seems like I've lived here a while now. I enjoy my housemates and am slowly but surely learning my way around Atlanta. A large focus is placed on becoming part of our community and specifically the neighborhood. I have found several ways to get involved such as a neighborhood church called Neighbor's Abbey that meets in different people's homes on Sunday afternoons. I also hope to help tutor at the GED program that Steve (one of my housemates) began just down the road at a local church. Just getting outside and being physically present in the neighborhood really makes me feel more connected to the people who live around me, so I try to take walks and say hello to people who are sitting on their front porch (most of the houses have porches) or working in the yard or whatever.

A typical day for me starts at 6:30am. I wake up and am usually ready to leave my house by 7:45. I walk through the residential streets to the Marta transit station (about a 15 minute walk), take the train up two stops to downtown, then I walk to Central Presbyterian Church (about a 5-10 minute walk). Central Outreach & Advocacy Center, which is the non-profit organization with whom I am serving, is located on the ground floor (basement) of the church. Although it began as a mission of the congregation it now operates separately, but I have quickly learned that the church members are very supportive of the outreach center still. So, the full-time staff and volunteers start each day by sharing joys and concerns and joining in prayer. Then we open the door and the day begins! Kimberly, the operations manager (my boss) greets guests and determines how many we will be able to serve during our hours (9am-12:30pm) based on the specific services they are requesting. She sends them inside to the front desk, where they fill out an intake form, and then they wait in the lobby. We also offer bathrooms, telephones, and water to anyone who wants to come inside for a while. The outreach advocates (that includes me) see guests one at a time, sitting down to find out exactly what services they need and what type of assistance we can provide for them. Common requests are food from our pantry (for those with a permanent residence), clothing voucher to a nearby clothes closet, reading glasses, birth certificate, Georgia ID voucher, etc. After we have closed our doors for the day, the rest of the afternoon (until about 4pm) is spent doing paperwork, filing guests' information into the computer and filing cabinet, preparing for the next day, and yep that's about it. I take Marta back home and depending on how exhausted I am I try to exercise, cook dinner, and participate in some kind of cultural activity around town, or just settle into a chair on our small screened in porch with a housemate for a good conversation or quality book reading time.

Well, if you managed to read this far, thank you for your interest in what I'm up to these days! I hope this blog gives you some insight into my year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) here in Atlanta. Please feel free to share this with anyone else you think may be interested in reading it or looking into the program. The website is http://www.pcusa.org/yav.

Peace,
Katie