Some glad morning.

Welcome to the Tara post-Poverty Simulation.

(not my picture)

It changed my life. I spent 44 hours with only the clothes on my back and a sleeping bag. No shelter, no money, not knowing where my next meal was coming from. I can't even adequately describe to you everything about the feelings or experiences. Although, the massive sunburn I have from being out in the Texas heat could attest to something. (Have I thanked you guys for my chacos enough yet? because really they were such a BLESSING to me this weekend) I'm not supposed to disclose details and I won't but I did things I would never imagine having to do from begging for money to digging through trash. You get the picture.
My whole mindset toward the homeless completely changed when we had the chance to hang out with them on equal ground and actually ask advice on how to live on the streets. It was so crazy running into guys that we serve breakfast to and having to ask for help in finding water or food. It gave asking 'how their day was' a whole new meaning.
During one of our day, we had to put on a Street Camp in the projects, including getting there by foot. And it was basically the same thing, but something happened to me that I will never forget. I had a five year old tell me 'F you' and he meant it because I wouldn't let him steal another kids skooter. I could NOT believe it. I can't believe what I'm seeing/hearing sometimes. Thank God for opening my eyes.
It was so startling how harsh it feels to have all your resources taken away. And to walk with every half-block there being a church and realizing the immense poverty in Waco and the world. Waco has double the amount of poverty as an average city. On average, city's have 12% poverty, while Waco has 27%...almost 1 in 3. And when you get outside of this American bubble and look at the great need in the world, it is NO wonder Americans are looked at as immoral, arrogant snobs.
Sorry to be pessimistic. The experience was educational to say the least and definitely moving.

I was so ready for it to be over because of all the stress from hunger, heat, and lack of sleep. I can not tell you how good my shower felt and then my bed last night. Shoot...it was heaven. And thank God for A/C.

So thankfully, Jamie (our work group director) gave us this morning off to recooperate and I just went into the office and piddled around. It was an easy day and especially easy to enter right back into the middle class world. Went to Target and now i'm at my usual table at Common Grounds. I'm so ready to get back into it though. There's a new motivation now to mobilize the youth groups that visit and to connect with the poor here. My perspective has definitely changed.

I gotta run, my ride is leaving. More to come soon. Love you all (Thanks for all the cards and letters!!)

Thanks for reading. Peace to you.