Homeless

I had recently noticed how dingy my khakis had become after living at the camp in Idaho, and this morning I saw the toothpaste stain still on my shirt after all that scrubbing last time I did laundry. I also was annoyed by how quickly my flip-flops had worn out after only 2 months of use.


In the evening we went to the Resuce Mission to do the evening meeting. As I looked around at all dirty, smelly people who wear the same t-shirt and jeans day after day, I felt out of place being so clean and cute, and so vain for being bothered by a small stain.


Last year when we were in Vegas we stayed at the Rescue Mission and slept on the chapel floor. We ate all our meals with the residents and then served food to the homeless a couple of times. Where we are staying this time we drive past the Rescue Mission everyday, and see them lined up and waiting for food.I’m sad that we don’t get to interact with the homeless and poor as much this year, especially since I just finished reading “Under The Overpass.” It had been on my reading list for a while, but the timing of reading it just happened to line up with our arrival in Las Vegas.


Now I sat in the meeting at the Rescue Mission wondering what their lives were like. Everyday wondering where they’d get their next meal, looking for water to drink and place to use the bathroom. Longing for a shower…or had they forgotten what it felt like to be clean and not worry about finding food?

Special Brunch

We didn’t have breakfast and brunch wasn’t until 11am, so we were hungry. Everyone drew a number, which told us what table to sit at. Joey asked, “where’s 4?” and was pointed to the bowl of rice sitting on the floor. I didn’t envy him.

I looked for table 5, and then asked where it was. Tiffany pointed to the trash can. Oh yeah, there was a number 5 on the ground next to some empty bottles and a half eaten muffin. Yummy…I’m not that desperate…


After everyone was seated, someone blessed the food and the “Special Brunch” began. Joe sat at table 1 asking if he could share his food with the hungry. He was told no, so he obeyed, but choose not to eat if others didn’t get food too. He did share food with his kids...


Table 3, had only a few slices of bread and 1 bottle of water for 3 people, and table 4 (on the floor) had plenty of rice and some dirty water. They represented the people in the world who don’t have enough food, or have lots, but lack nutrition.

I admit, part of me was jealous of those at the tables who had food, but I know if I had been in their place I would have been angry, and unable to enjoy the food knowing that others were hungry. That’s the reality of life though. We sit at home, pig out on food, and throw out the leftovers. We don’t box it up to give to the poor...except for 2 year old Isaac who wonders around trying to feed goldfish to people...

After our meal, or lack of meal, we learned the statistics of poverty in the world today, and then were challenged to fast till diner, and let the hunger remind us of those in this world who didn’t get lunch today, and might not tomorrow either.

It wasn’t too hard for me to go without food until dinner, because I knew I would have dinner. Being hungry just made us really appreciate Carrie’s amazing enchiladas and rice.

A Week in Vegas

We are staying at the Rescue Mission which is in the Getto. One evening when we were walking back from “The Strip” (the tourist area), a couple of kids yelled at us, saying we shouldn’t go in the Getto, it’s not safe. I’m not sure if they were warning us or threatening us, but either way we did not listen, because we are staying in the Getto.

In the mornings we had classes on sharing about the Father. In the afternoon/evenings we did lots of different things. One of the many things we did this week was serve dinner to the people who came to the Rescue Mission to get food.

Sarah and I were the cracker girls. We walked around with big bowls of crackers, and gave them to people to go with their soup. Sarah gave someone only a couple packets and they got mad at her for not giving them enough. I just let them take however much they wanted. They took very, very, large handfuls of cracker packets. We went though lots of crackers. It was pretty crazy how many crackers people eat with their soup. Of course some people had big purses and pockets, so I think they were saving some for later. Serving dinner was fun, but it was also kind of complicated, because we smiled and were happy, but then the guys would wink at us, or complement us, or ask our name and where we are from. We were trying to be nice, but not flirty, and we are all home school and from small towns. I have a feeling that I was hit on more than I realize...


The biggest thing that has impacted me this week, is how surprised people are to find out that there are believers in Las Vegas. Hopefully we’re challenging others to get out there and live what they believe. I think most of us see Las Vegas as a modern day Sodom and Gamorah. Why would we go to such a terrible place? The Father should just destroy it. Jonah felt the same way about going to Nineveh. The Father created the people who live in Las Vegas and He loves them just was much as He loves us. He wants them to know Him. Given a choice, I would not have come to Las Vegas, but I didn’t have a choice, so I’m here. I’m really glad that I had this opportunity to learn about sharing what we believe and put it into practice in a place that very much needs the light of Jesus.