6/7/09…There are many people I have come across since joining the street ministry last October. I distinctly remember my first night. As a first timer, there were jitters. I was unsure of what to expect. All of us gathered in a circle at the Eudora Welty library; members from Broadmoor, New Jerusalem, Parkway, Pinelake, and Southside churches. Malcolm asked the group if there were any first timers and I timidly raised my hand along with some others. Then he proceeds to tell me it is not exactly safe what we are doing. My eyes widen a little bit. He says make sure we stay with the group and do not wander off. Do not offer any money because most of the time it will be used to buy drugs. Pray with our eyes open. And do not argue with anyone if they start ranting about a subject. Uh oh, what have I got myself into? With that said we break, climb into our church vans, and head into the night.
Priscilla was the first person I encountered. I was just standing there after exiting the van at the Opportunity Center. She walks up and begins ranting at me. In between praises to God, she curses like a sailor; pretty good at it too. Clearly she is drunk as she slurs her speech, wobbles on her feet, and widens her eyes at me when she speaks. Over and over she keeps telling me she needs to get home. After a lot of questioning by me and evasive answers by her, she stumbles into confession and admits she needs to get home to drink. What I find funny about this experience is she seems to take a “liking” to me if you know what I mean. Kind of hard to share about Christ when someone is sweet on you and redemption is not exactly what is on their mind. As she devours a sandwich, I try to listen but I am lost in her conversation which jumps from topic to topic. The night is coming to an end. Graciously Southside church volunteers to give her a ride home. So with a few more praises to God, and a few more curse words, she locates the van across the parking lot. However, she refuses to go unless I take her by the arm and escort her like a prom date to the van. Ummm…Malcolm failed to warn me about this type of danger, of which I later laugh to myself about.
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