A Day Trip for the Guys at Opportunity Farm

On Good Friday, April 6, 2012, the program participants at the Mission’s Opportunity Farm in Warsaw went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Missouri for a day trip.  We wanted to share with you a few of their comments.

“It was a pretty neat place with an old burned out castle, lots of trails, springs etc. This was a good day of fellowship and seeing God’s beautiful nature, His artistic work. What a great day of relaxation and great weather. I really enjoyed the whole trip.” -- Johnny

“The trip to Ha Ha Tonka was very exceptional. The views were beautiful and we did a lot of hiking through the wilderness and had an enjoyable lunch.” -- Bill

“It was a really good time. We walked a lot and saw some beautiful nature and history. I just liked getting out and doing something different!”  -- Jorry

“I had a super fun time laughing with my fellow believers. To see God’s creation untouched by humans was tremendous.” -- Franklin

Negative vs Positive

I have had both negative and positive responses to my living in a shelter. I would be walking down the street and someone would come up to me and want to know if I had any spare change because they are hungry due to the fact they are homeless. When I would tell them I am homeless also, they looked at me like I was lying to them. I don’t dress like the stereotyped picture of being homeless. The look of homelessness is not the same as it was before.

Another incident was at my last job, I let them know I was living in a shelter and had a curfew to return to the building and the last bus from downtown left at 11:42 pm. If I missed it, I would have to walk from downtown to 13^th & Wabash. They would always let other people with cars leave early and I would have to stay. I didn’t make enough to afford a taxi home. The job was semi-part-time. I was lucky to work 24 hours in 2 weeks. They told me if I couldn’t work the venue as scheduled, maybe I should not work at all. It was a mutual separation.

For the positive reaction, it was one which came from an unexpected source. In Sept./Oct. 2010, I was hospitalized for 3 weeks due to my heart condition. During that 3 weeks, I went into cardiac arrest and died. It only took the Code Blue Team about 2 minutes to get me back. My husband and I knew the bill was going to be extremely high. A lady, by the name of Michelle Clarke, worked in the financial aid department. She came to take down some information when we told her that we lived at City Union Mission’s Family Center, she was surprised. We told her our circumstances that brought us here. She told us that she donates to the Mission several times a year, but has never met anyone that the Mission helped. We were the first and she said she was glad her donations were going for something good, that she will donate more often and get her friends and family to do the same.

We believe that from meeting her, in some way she may have helped to have my hospital bill to be paid in full, all $188,000.  Whether you get negative or positive reactions, you may want to consider the source and let God handle them.

(Lee Ann is a participant in the New Life Program at City Union Mission)

The Toy

As children we played, in all the fun we had made.

Though it be dirt, our elders thought more work.

For what you do, Heavenly Father,

thank you, for playing as my younger brother,

Grasping something out of nothing,

forming miracles into everything.

Not of a toy that we shared,

Set up and stolen on a dare.

Undisturbed area upon the earth,

all the effort of no worth.

Angry, crying to say the least,

holding my tongue, or become a beast.

Days after I believed I knew,

as a child of what eventually comes over you.

Knowing we are not yet strong,

we attempt to correct what is wrong.

Time wears and shows no pain,

as a child, our thoughts don’t gain.

Thinking back upon that time,

what was given wasn’t truly mine.

Throughout the ages, lessons learned,

hardened my heart, I should discern.

Yes, God does love me,

I know it’s never too late

to play as a child at God’s Gate.

(This poem was submitted by David Roettgen, a participant in the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission.)

My Road to Recovery

All these years my addictions have been thinking for me. Now, all that is left is the shadow of what had been controlling me. I have been down some rough roads, through hard times and I have made some unhealthy choices and mistakes along the way. I have see that mistakes are for learning, not condemnation so - to err is human - to hold on to your mistakes is a sin.

I have made a conscience choice to not live my life in shame, guilt and sorrow. I have made a choice to take action and change. Overcoming mental blocks has been a period of adjustment for me. Being sober allows me to identify triggers associated with relapse, old mind sets and the darkness that would attack me and keep me down.

I will continue to trust God in everything, not because I need Him to think for me, but because I need Him to teach me how to think for myself. 

I will continue to trust God to help me identify internal warning signs of relapse, not because I need Him to do it for me, but because I need Him to help keep me away from my old mind sets. 

I will trust God, not because I have to, but because I have discovered who I am. 

I will continue to trust God as my choice of intervention, not because I am lazy, but because my flesh is deceitful and weak. 

I will continue to trust God in all my abilities, not because I cannot do it on my own, but because of the love I have for Him, therefore I trust Him.

God will always be my source of intervention, my constructive intervention, my choice of intervention, and God implements my intervention for me.

(Written by Dawn, a participant in the New Life Program at City Union Mission)

Homeless… and Job Hunting

Looking for employment is extremely hard when you are homeless. The reality is that trying to do anything while homeless is difficult, no matter how small the task.

There are a variety of hardships that interfere with the process of job hunting while homeless. Some of these are: the shadow of depression, undeniable anxiety, tunnel vision, not having a car, not having any money, lack of a support system, overwhelming stress, an unstable mind, and no work or interview clothes.

Writing this, I am having flashbacks of pure sadness about the time when this was me. But I have a God who is bigger than my problems and has always provided for my needs. With God on your side, you always have a hope and a future!

(Lakeshia is a participant in the New Life Program at City Union Mission)

Fifteen Minutes of Fame - Past, Present, and Future

Most people at one time or another have their fifteen minutes of fame. Mine was on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. What a day for that to happen. I was asked if I was up to an interview. I said I would be happy to do so, not knowing then what was instore for me.

I found out that the Family Center would receive a grant and Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver would be here. No pressure, right? Well, after meeting Mr. Cleaver I felt at ease. I got up along with another lady, Yaisi, and both of us told a cliff notes version of how we came to the Mission. Then came the pictures. Channel 5 News did an on-camera interview with me and a KMBZ radio DJ did an interview with both Yaisi and myself. Soon our fifteen minutes were over, but the memories will last.

Afterwards, I got to thinking about everyone all through history who experienced their fifteen minutes. For some, it lasted a short time. For others, it went on for years. Each time, it only lasted until someone else came along and took the spotlight. With 2 exceptions, all we have is a short time.

The two exceptions, I am referring to are Jesus Christ and Satan. Their fifteen minutes began before time started and will last until time ends and beyond. It is up to us to decide which side of the coin to be involved in. We can spend fifteen minutes of fame in heaven with Jesus Christ; Or, we can spend our fifteen minutes with Satan in the fires of hell.

Have you made your choice? I have. Hope to see you there!

(LeeAnn is a participant in the New Life Program at City Union Mission)

The Tiny Lighted Door

Wait, don’t go near there, it is not large enough for even a thought to pass through. Yet how is it we see a pinhole of light?

Drawn by something towards not of mere thoughts, but something foreboding, incomprehensible.

Lest we all stand here firmly planted we won’t know.

Whom is brave, daring, courageous, one without fear and a total understanding of what we face here, or within there.

Walking towards, seemingly gaining nothing not only of ground, we begin to hasten our pace realizing that our paths are no different than the speed of which shows no gain.

Resting and using what I just pondered upon, we notice the lighted object enlarged. What, why, how doesn’t answer, but in itself.

Taking another breath, visualizing this object suddenly it appears just out of reach and certainly attainable. This door recognizable now not so tiny and of immensely great light, shinning upon our surroundings, enabling us to a realization that of which is a type of moving picture.

The foreboding wasn’t that out of reach, but is that of which has always surrounded us.

Now standing, fearing what is to happen, we reach for a handle to aid in opening the door. Touching this handle is something that we all want. Our senses awakening as we firmly grasp the handle opening the door in haste, feeling our inner person leaping in joy as we sense also that something left behind, won’t be missed.

Anewness, AWE-NEW-NESS -- the very tiny door was opened, lighted, showing, guiding our way; here next to Him laid the key that was placed before our journey started and was drawn to the tiny lighted door.

(Written By David M. Roettgen,  a participant in the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission)