Snaggle Toothed and Bald Headed...

Friday night...let's see.

It was the second week...so the new people to the AOM got to switch areas...so they can experience both the Underground and Little 5 Points..

So this week...it was David, Whitney (she's not new...but she took a break last semester...so now she's back!) and myself...

Underground was packed. There were so many people it was a little overwhelming. It isn't normally packed...so it was a little bit different. The people that come to Undergound to hang out are mostly African Americans...youth...20s, 30s...and a few homeless. So we stick out pretty bad...ha.

Well, tonight one such homeless guy started talking to David. He wanted to buy a cigarette off of David...but of course he didn't have one. Well we kept walking and he walked with us and talked to David...David ended up buying him a Snickers. We figured the guy just wanted someone to talk to, to listen to him. After David bought him the candy bar...we asked if we could pray with him. And there we stood in the middle of Underground with people milling around and we prayed. David prayed for him...and then the man prayed for us. It was humbling.

Well...Whitney had some contacts that we 'reunited' with. Two ladies that work at the African Pride shop...Funka (pronounced Foonk-A) and her mom who are from Nigeria. It was really cool talking with them...they mainly caught up with Whitney. Talked a lot about the economy and jobs and such. Interesting coming from an immigrants perspective...

After that we went and talked with Sarah for awhile...she's struggling spiritually. She needs some encouragement. We talked a lot about how she met her fiance--they've never actually met face to face. They met online. He's from Pakistan...it's really all quite interesting. He's a Christian too. Well...we prayed with Sarah and then headed out to George's.

At George's....we met up with Houa, Moua, Ben, and Jimmy (the rest of the team). We talked together for a bit and then some random guy came up and started talking to us. He was pretty high. Okay. He was REALLY high. And he talked for awhile...we nodded. He left.

And then...we met Matthew. "like in the Bible." well Matthew was a character. He came up right after the high guy left...and asked us if anything that guy said was truth. And we said probably not...well Matthew told us to be careful about people that spill out crazy talk like that other guy. Well, Matthew was a little crazy himself....but at least he was coherent. He was pretty funny...he talked about Obama and Bush (who he called a not so nice name "pardon me ladies...")...He also said "Snaggle toothed and bald headed...but I'm still your brother."

What an interesting comment to bring me back to reality. As he was speaking I was more distracted by his sense of humor than the fact that he may be a brother in Christ. He said he knew the Lord and loved him...sometimes I get so distracted by the outer appearance (he really was bald and had maybe 4 or 5 teeth) and the smells to notice the living soul standing in front of me. Matthew then preceded to direct us to the people who would show us what to do (I don't think he knew that we go there every week...). He thanked us for coming to serve and that by our serving he knew that we were good people.

The meal for the night was hot dogs, chili, chicken, bread, and donuts. There was a TON of food! It was awesome to see all the plates leave full....there were also sack lunches that a church group brought by. I handed hot dogs to Houa who was crazy fast at putting the hot dogs in the buns...it was pretty comical.

I got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Boone. Dr. Boone and his wife are both preachers at a holiness pentecostal church in Atlanta. Pretty much every week Dr. Boone preaches before the meals are served. He is a very loud speaker...but sometimes his messages seem to point to 'health and wealth gospel'..."if you are sick or poor you don't have enough faith" so get some more faith and all will be good...and other times his messages are decent and powerful. After meeting them, they're both very nice, I know his heart is in the right place. I can only hope that the people are hearing the important parts, that God loves them and that He can give them true life even if they don't have a house or money. And that He is the one that can restore them and deliver them from their sins.

Overall it was an awesome night that left me with a lot to think about. I hope I never get to the point where I am no longer moved by the plight of the helpless. I hope I can remember to see people the way Christ sees them, with love and hope.

Michael the Archangel

Last night was an interesting evening...as it always is.

After arriving at Underground David, Sam, Cindy, and I met up with some familiar faces.

We met with a couple of African guys (one was from Cameroon...not sure where there other one was from) who run an African jewelry stand. David and Sam did most of the talking about soccer and Africa (David did his internship in Guinea). We then headed over to see Alfred (also from Africa). David and Sam did most of the talking again. Alfred is in school at Georgia State and he will graduate in December. He told us that he and his wife will celebrate their third anniversary in March.

We then headed over to see Sarah. It was so good to finally see her after being away for so long! She is doing well! Business is still really slow but she has faith it will pick up. She is set to graduate from Agnes Scott in May which is really exciting. Afterward she plans to go home to India to get married to Waqar and then they will return to either the US or Canada. Apparently Canada is easier to get a visa for because the Africans and Sarah all mentioned moving to Canada.

Sarah is having a hard time because her roommate moved out and now she is more lonely. So we could tell that it meant a lot that we didn't forget about her. She laughed pretty much the whole time we were with her. (also 'prophesying' over me that I will get married next year...haha)

After Underground we went to Woodrow Park which is maybe a block or two away. We walked around a bit and then we met Michael the Archangel. He doesn't really believe he's Michael the Archangel...but because his name is Michael he feels a connection to the Archangel...I think. Anyway...we started talking with him and he was quick to inform us that he wasn't on drugs and that is not the reason he is homeless. He is homeless because he is jobless. He was very well versed in Christian theology and the gospel. Michael was an interesting guy. He told us that he was going to ask us for money but that if we said no he would not take offense because he can't control what we do only what he does. When we told him we had no money but that we were going to serve meals a few blocks away (he knew exactly where we where going) he told us that we were still doing the work of God even though we couldn't give him money.

Well...Michael then had us all hold hands because he wanted to pray for us. That was a first. We all kept our eyes open...just incase. Well...he prayed and shouted Halelujah! and then allowed us to pray for him (he originally told us he doesn't let anyone pray for him...) and we prayed. Then some random guy came up and tried to join in but looked confused and then left. And some guy in a car yelled at us asking where the civic center was...it was all a little bit chaotic. Anyway...we left Michael with him asking for money so he could get some food and pay for a room to sleep in for the night...we told him to come with us and we could fix him a plate...but he said no thanks. Interesting.

One thing that struck me as interesting was when he was praying he thanked God for the fact that we stayed and listened to him. How many people only desire to be listened to? How it must feel to be walked by and ignored day in and day out?

Well...after meeting Michael we walked down to George's.

There were tons of people there to help serve meals...which was awesome. It was great to see Will and Stevie and George and his family. However, we didn't see Jerry. I was quite disappointed not to see Jerry. Stevie said he saw him Wednesday night at the safe house...so maybe Jerry was able to get a bed last night too. We didn't see Christian or his mom either.

It was an interesting night. It's funny how you can be gone for 6 weeks and nothing change. I'm hoping that we will get to see Jerry again...I really want to learn his story. It'd be cool if we were able to meet up with Michael too.

Atlanta is a crazy city. God love it.

well.

Tomorrow night is the AOM's meeting for new people...a lot of people from last semester are not returning this semester so we are hoping for a good turnout! This Friday will be our first week back to ATL...I'm super pumped.

This time around my hours in ATL will count towards my Urban Ministry Practicum requirements...(sweet!) so I will be updating this thing every Saturday (because we have to keep a journal for the Practicum)...so be on the lookout for new and exciting (if somewhat repetitive) entries...woohoo.

Things to pray for:

• Money (we need to raise another $600 dollars this semester to pay for gas...)
• Fundraising ideas...
• New connections at Underground
• Continued safety
  
• Deeper relationships with the people at George's
  

Thanks!