Day6 YWCA Taylor

Today we went downstairs and we had to finished updating their clothes that were ugly or out of date. We did that for quite a while, and then we made little cute outfits to hang up and look cute for kids. We had about 5 outfits all together because Jen said she wants it to look like Macy's. So we finally finished that up and then we went upstairs to disinfect the tables with clorox wipes. Finally, we planned what we were going to do Wednesday, which is bleach all the toys to get the germs off and get them clean.

Day 6 YWCA McKeever

Today we brought some toys up to the play room. We also organized some of the clothes in the basement and made some outfits and gave some of the clothes to goodwill. After we were done with that we went back to the toy room and disinfected some toys and shelfs.

Today hearing Ricky's story was very inspirational because it just showed how blessed I am to be someone who does not have to sleep under a bridge and hold up signs and move around the city. He was such a great guy, and I felt bad for him that he had to go through it and that he lost his wife who he truly cares about. It was very touching to me.

Day 6 First Place Johnson

Today we mostly just watched and listened to Mr.Johnson and his his helpers give jobs to people.

Throughout this whole experience there have been many things that moved me. The story the people told us on the first day was really moving. I started to tear up a lil bit. I dont think anything specifically made it moving, but the whole story in general was just really moving.  

Day5 YWCA Taylor

What we did was we road with Angelas mom again and we finished the toy room that we were wroking on. We had to clear out this room full of toys and we just had to make a path way or something to open the door and get thru. Then we took some new toys to the play room to update the play room with new toys. While we were doing that this little boy came and i handed him a truck and he started playing with it and talking baby talk.

Day 6 Stuart & Ricky Talk Sims

Ricky & Stuarts talk really moved me because he wanted to be here & wanted to tell us his story. He answered ALL of our questions. Some people don't open up to other people like that. He didn't just change for his self, but for the people that loved him. He cared for his family so much that he didn't just want to throw it all away. He cared enough that he went to AA every time he messed up.

Day 6 Stuart and Ricky's talk Van Tol

I enjoyed having Stuart and Ricky coming in today and speaking with us. I enjoyed hearing Ricky's story, but I was also surprised he shared it with us because he doesn't know us very well. I'm glad he opened up right away. One thing that surprised me was that he started drinking at age 14 and dropped out of school. Once I found out that he was an alcoholic I understood a little more, but it all made sense at the end of his story. It must of been really hard being an alcoholic, having two divorces, getting four toes cut off, losing jobs, and being homeless. I'm glad his daughter helped him realize he needed to go somewhere and get help, because he needed it. The one thing that was probably the hardest was not seeing his family or his grandchildren. I wonder if that was something he thought about a lot and possibly helped him stop so that he could see his family. If I was in that position, I would personally do anything to see my family even if it was very hard. I'd do my best at least. So I'm glad Ricky has been sober for thirty days now and he has a better life because of it.

Day 5 First Place Van Tol

Today Amanda and I went back to First Place and met with Mr. Johnson. He wasn't there when we got there so we waited about and then he came out and got us. Once we got in his room we sat around most of the time but we also wrote numbers on envelopes. The rest of the time we listened to him talk and we also asked questions. Mr. Johnson talks a lot everyday so Amanda and I always learn something new.

Day 6 YWCA Workman

I must say that I really enjoyed when Ricky and Stuart came to talk to us today. By having Ricky tell us his story I learned first hand one way that someone could become homeless. He told us why he became homeless and how he struggled with his alcohol addiction and basically lost everything. It was one time when his daughter really told him that she was worried and he saw how torn apart she was. That made him want to change the way he was. He went to Guiding Light Mission where he received help and treatment for his alcohol addiction. He told us that every day is a struggle for him and how its very hard to abstain from it. I have a lot of respect for Ricky because he went though something so hard and is still keeping at it. I also really appreciated how much Ricky cared about us. Most of us were strangers to him and he still wanted to help us realize the dangers of alcohol so that we wouldn't have to go through what he did and so that we wouldn't end up where he was. I thought that that was very thoughtful of him and I really enjoyed having both of them come talk to us.

Day 5 Guiding Light Briseno

Yesterday what we did was make lunch again and help out in the kitchen and sit in on another meeting.

Sitting in on this meeting really made me think how hard it is for someone to quit their addiction when they have a lot of outside forces that urge them to the high they get from drugs and/or alcohol. Seeing the guys that are in the class at Guiding Light makes me want to better myself and help other people that have the same problems that they have and are going through.

Day 6 Guiding light

Today the only thing we did at our placement was make lunch which I really like doing.

When Ricky and Mr. Ray came to speak to us in class it really opened up my mind to how good of a guy RickY is. Just because he has done some things that some people wouldn't agree was right, that doesn't mean he isn't good. Hearing his story made me feel good that he is at Guiding Light and getting better. God has his hand on Ricky and all of the other guys at Guiding Light, and just being able to say that really sounds powerful.  It IS powerful and hopefully encouraging to the guys.

Day 6 Family Promise Banaszak

Before today I already knew that homelessness could happen to anyone at anytime, but only because of medical bills or job loss. Now, since Ricky talked to us, I know that it could be for bad decisions we make in our lives right now. It could be drugs, alcoholism, basically any addiction there is out there. So that was something I learned. And then something that moved me is how much someone's decisions effect the people they love. Even if you don't think anyone cares, they do, and they want to help. But when you're addicted to something that becomes all you care about, so all you're doing is pushing your support system away without even knowing it. The most powerful thing I learned from Ricky's talk today is that one bad decision can ruin your whole life. One drink of alcohol, one cigarette, can lead to a whole life of more bad decisions, which lead to even worse things. So make your decisions wisely.

day 5 YWCA McKeever

Today we finished cleaning the gift room and then put toys in the playroom for the kids.

Over the course I have really come to realize what the little things can do for these placements.This has also been a very fun experience so far learning about what we can do and what causes homelessness. Learning about this has helped me not be so sterotypical when I see a homeless person.

One thing that made me grateful for the things I have is when we were putting the toys in the play room and the little boy that was in there came up and started playing with a truck right away, and I could tell he was so happy to play with it. That experience was a time that made me realize I am blessed to be able to play and do things that I want or get things that I need with no problem.

Day 6 Vis

Today listening to Mr. Rickey talk I learned just how hard it is to resist temptation. I've always heard about alcoholics, but I never really knew much about the addiction involved. I really learned how it's a day-to-day battle and one step in the wrong direction can bring you back to the start of the long battle. I also never realized how a small little drink can lead into such a big life ruining addiction. I was really amazed though that the people you love are the ones that will really turn you around. That having people hand you money on the street doesn't always help them get off the street. Some even learn they can make a good living just getting money on the street. I learned a lot about addiction on the streets and the struggles these people have.

Day 5 YWCA Workman

I have been very grateful for this class mainly because my entire outlook on homelessness and homeless people has changed dramatically. When we were talking about stereotypes the other day all I was thinking about what how a week ago, that was me. I thought all homeless people were lazy alcoholics. Even though that stereotypes does still hold true for some homeless people I really have realized that for most homeless people that's not the case. Some homeless people could be any old Christian like me with a house and a family and children and then all of a sudden something would happen like an illness where they had to pay hospital bills and they lost their house. Knowing that that could happen to anyone really has changed how I look at homeless people, how they didn't want to be homeless and not all of them are lazy and some of them are actually really trying to change their situation.

Day 6 Degage Ministries Feddema

Each day I have been learning more and more about God's kingdom, the broken things and the things made whole. Today, Ricky taught me a lot. He is this man who was been through so much crap, but I can honestly say he is so much stronger then I could even hope to me. He taught me a lot about how the mistakes I've made can yes, hurt me, but with the strength of God and the effort it takes, I can get through it. Ricky made us feel for him and understand why he had basically no choice then to give in to the things that ended up pulling him down, because sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop it. But he also showed me how much a single person can overcome, that all you have to do is ask for help to get back on your feet and you will get there. It's amazing to see how one person, who might not be the perfect person, can be so blessed in ways that we don't normally see.

Day 6 Bultsma

I was so thankful that Ricky and Stuart could come and talk to us today. This visit by them was extremely important because I met someone that has been homeless and is still working through it with the help of Guiding Light. I finally got to hear a story about how someone became homeless and what the shelter are doing to help him through it. Ricky helped me see the personal side of the issue of homelessness. He shared an emotional story about an emotional situation. I saw that he has tried to be strong throughout all his experiences. I saw how his faith has kept him strong. I admire Ricky's selflessness. Even though he had been through some extremely hard times, the thing he seemed the most worried about was his kids. I don't completely understand what it is to be homeless but Ricky and Stuart coming to talk to us helped me gain a better understanding of who the homeless people really are.

Day 6 Hope Community Fethke

Today 2 men from Guiding Light came to visit us and tell us more about the subject of homelessness and one even told his story. The man who told his story was Ricky. He is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for around 30 days now. I guess I was really struck by how easy it really is to become homeless. It actually kind of scared me...it makes me think about how selfish I am sometimes and how I need to be better about not taking things for granted and not wanting so much. Ricky told us how a lot of people are one paycheck away from being homeless, and this was powerful to me to. Some people have to live their life day by day, and are unsure of their future. As for now, I am pretty certain I am going to wake up in a warm bed and have a warm meal in the morning, etc. It's so surreal to imagine that if I were homeless I would have no gaurentee of any of that.

Another thing that I learned more about was how sometimes ministries don't do that much good to the homeless, because they are giving out handouts and not really teaching these people self sufficiency. I kind of understood this, but after Staurt explained this to us more in depth I have a greater understanding.

Day 5 Shepherds of Independence Bultsma

Today is the fifth day that we have been at Shepherds of Independence. Most of the days that we have been there we have cleaned mostly everything in the building. We've been hard at work sweeping, mopping, and cleaning windows. It's not what I pictured doing at a shelter. I thought that we would be working more with the residents instead of cleaning. I'm disappointed that we haven't interacted more with the residents but what I'm doing there is helping them in more ways then I know.  Many of the residents are extremely thankful that we are there cleaning the building. Many of them have said that the building has needed it for a long time. Even though we haven't done much with the residents this experience is opening my eyes and I'm extremely thankful for that.