A full stomach with no place to lay my head to Rest...The first 24 hours update.
My first day in Canton was very eventful. I did not expect to meet so many people and get to hear their stories but right as i stepped away from the church steps it seemed that God had people already lined up for me to meet and share hope with.
i cant share every encounter i had but i can begin by sharing a few of the highlights from today.
i will start with one of the more intriguing stories from today where i met a homeless guy near the mcdonalds downtown and i just sat there and observed as he emptied the tobacco remains from the cigarrete butts he had collected from ash trays and using mcdonalds wrappers as his paper to roll out new cigarrettes. i found that to be very ingenuous and creative as this guy had created a system to get his tobacco fix.
Another man i met was a gentleman that lived at the canton towers apartment complex. He said that he was a former drug abuser who had a $1200 a month habit before he got free a few months back. He went on to tell me that he is taking online bible course to become a minister of the Gospel. This was an amazing testimony as i sat there amazed at this man who was a true example of hope.
Tonight i attented a service at the Apostolics of Canton Church patored by a good friend Pastor Eric Foster. i got there earlier than most people and found the guy pictured sleeping in one of the pews. This saddened me because it brought up alot of what the homeless community in canton says about our city. Through the day i encountered homeless people who said that Canton had one of the best feeding programs but there was no shelters to help those in need. Many of the men said that the only place offered that they knew of was the refuge of hope but they said it is always overcrowded because of the great need for shelter.
After Leaving the Church i got settled in at popular homeless sleeping area in aultman that cannot be disclosed. After settling in i opened a handwritten note from a lady at the church that read:
"Its not much .Please add it to what you have. I hope it will help with what you and your team are doing. i'll be praying."
This letter had the best 3 dollar donation i have ever received. I could help as tears started to drop down my face as my emotions overwhelmed me.
i leave you with one question to think about for today.
Why are the poor more generous than the rich in our City? let us change the culure in Canton to one that cares for our neighbors.