This morning was day three waking up on the freezing cold air mattress. I COULD NEVER GET USED TO THIS! I've never been so cold in a house. Cold Cold Cold. : )
I slept in until seven. That was nice. Then we had a nice, warm breakfast that Kathy and Brenda (previously I called her Deborah, oops) made for all of us. I actually put on make up and cleaned my face today. Ah! Marvelous!
After breakfast in the newly-painted dining room, we went into the sanctuary where Pastor Neal and his wife, who are Hispanic, thanked us profusely for the work we did yesterday. They and a few others from their congregation, including Brooke (the woman who's been instructing us, who works at the church) sang in Spanish and English, and prayed for us and thanked us bilingually as well. It was more of a blessing to me and a spiritually enriching experience then any hyper-spiritual, politically correct, intensely planned service I've ever experienced. It was heartfelt, and kind, and they were more blessed by what they called our 'gospel in action' then any of the words or religion that we carried with us; a true testament to my faith, and the fact that I believe Christianity has no meaning unless we are influenced in a positive way to live a different kind of life.
Anyway, that was really beautiful.
Then we headed to the rescue mission in Nashville (which is about 25 minutes away from Franklin, Tennessee, where we're staying). I fell asleep as soon as we got into the car. I can't stay awake as soon as I sit down for a second with nothing to do. I'm exhausted.
Anyway, at the mission we served over three hundred men a lunch of steak, mashed potatoes, gravy (that was my job! I was gravy girl!), hot veggies, salad, bread, desert, and a drink. We had the assembly line down to a T. Each person with their own food item, passing trays, loading on food. During this process I stood next to Bary (potato man, or Mr. Potato Head). Bary worked with my brother C.Ray on the building and grounds crew at Brotherhood until my brother quit this summer. I like Bary. He has two daughters, and an ex-wife, and he likes to talk, although he claims he's a listener. He isn't afraid to mess with me...alright no one is. Everyone has a fantastic sense of humor.
We finished serving everyone, and then we sat down to eat. During the meal, I gagged, and panicked realizing that in a men's rescue mission there probably wasn't a ladies room anywhere, let alonge within running distance. There I was gagging on that lovely steak, panicking because I didn't know where to force the thing up except right there in front of everyone, so I made a mad dash to the kitchen, to one of the sinks, and...that was that. Anyway, the rest of the meal's conversation centered around (irate) Morgan, as I call him. He's actually the most good natured person I've met, but Mr. Allison and I always refer to him as (irate). Morgan doesn't approve of myspace or facebook and is currently shopping for a wife for his "very good-looking" 23-year-old son. I told him I wasn't interested. He told me to let him know if I change my mind.
The rescue mission was a glorious and terrible place to be at once. I love serving the poorest of the poor, in the most practical ways. I can't understand them, as well as I can sympathize. I have to be on my guard because I'm a young female and there are certain procedures I must follow as such, so as not to make myself vulnerable. But I do love and hate it. It was really important, yet really simple. It felt really valuable and worth while. One of the most worth while things I've ever done, and yet it seemed too easy. Ah... mixed feelings.
After lunch we headed back to Franklin for a couple hours between meals. I did an hour or two of Statistics. Ghastly subject. Eww. And daddy brought me back Starbucks, ah sweet man, I love him, and am becoming more and more positive I can never love anyone as much as I love him...I worked on school all afternoon, then we went back to the mission again. I stayed awake for the car ride this time. While serving dinner, we sang gospel songs at the top of our lungs with the black men who worked in back. They had lovely voices and we split into four part harmony. It was lovely. I enjoyed serving dinner twice as much as lunch. We didn't eat at the mission this evening. We did go to the chapel service after the meal, which dragged on a bit, but was good. Half the men slept right there in the chairs. Going to chapel is the required payment for a bed and a meal. At the end, the teacher asked if any of the five hundred men wanted to give their lives to God. A few stood up and Brenda cried. Lisa is going to read this and so I want it to be positive. But it's also my blog, and she asked me to be honest. She doesn't have to print this part...
It was difficult for me not to be very cynical and slightly offended during the service. Half the men either slept through it, or were drunk. I don't think the response was very heartfelt, and even if it was, it seemed that the preacher was throwing the same old hell at the men, threatening them with the destiny that they "deserve". I wasn't moved, it wasn't an extraordinary moment for me. I was much more touched by the sincere "thank you's" and the smiles they gave when they received their hot meals and heard us singing so obnoxiously about how Jesus is alive and how we like him a lot and all that. It seems to me, the boys need encouragement, and something to live for, not this horrid fear of death. I think they're more afraid of living than dying. Encourage them to live. Teach them how to live. Not how to die and go to heaven, once they've drunk themselves to death.
Tonight we came back a little late, and I caught up on myspace, and showed off pictures to Morgan and he showed off pictures of "his handsome boy". Then we ate a late dinner of pizza. I wish I hadn't eaten. Now this is done and I didn't get any more homework done.
Ah well.
I'm very pleased with today. I think I'm going to start volunteering at the rescue mission in Fort Wayne, because I have it in me to do it. I want to. Tomorrow we're leaving to volunteer at the Salvation Army at 7:15. I'm headed to bed.
I'm still content. Still happy to be here. I'm tired, but not unwell. I'll be happy to get home, since I miss everyone, but I've learned a lot.
If anything, the most odd thing about this trip has been that I am so much younger than everyone here. They're all old enough to be my parents. It makes socializing so different. I'm still me. Very comfortable with myself, outgoing, talkative, probably a little obnoxious. I'm afraid they all think I'm so immature, and unsuitable for the heavy intense, serious work we're doing here. But it's in my heart and who I am to do this. To live for others, even if I don't know them. To do what needs to be done, the jobs no one else wants to do. Even if I have to raise almost four hundred dollars, and come to Tennessee to do it. I want to help, and this is the oppertunity I was given. Hopefully I'm suited for the task, but if not, oh well. I'm not discouraged, just aware of the different setting, the different dynamics. I am young. I am no doubt naive and somewhat self-important and absorbed for the more mature folk. But I hope I'm helpful and kind. My greatest hope is that I'm not annoying. (This part won't be published either. It's just for me.)
I'm quite exhausted now. I hope I've maintained a fairly thorough chronicle. I'm leaving things out on accident I'm sure. But I'll go back and put them in if I realize I've forgotten them.
Lisa: Kathy and Michael took pictures today, but I left the camera, because I didn't want to leave it lying around while I was serving the food. We've all been sharing the load of taking pictures when we have a spare moment. We'll compile our collections and hopefully that will give you a good selection dear.
To the rest of you, I miss you all. Long hugs, and quick kisses from me! Thank you for keeping up with me. I know these are long.
Good Night.
