How Does it Feel to Be Truly Poor?
To my Family and Friends,
I am writing you to describe an experience I had this past Saturday morning. I am the co-chair of an inner-city ministry (Heart for the City) that deals with families that are poor and desolate. I personally did not grow up missing any meals. I have a heart to help and empower people. My biggest challenge is I did not have a total grasp on what it meant to be poor, without and having to provide for my family.
On Saturday morning December 12th I had a plan, called Project Generosity. I set out to pan handle and beg for food and money. This was my experience.
I started at 8:am at the freeway entrance on Thomas and the I-17 in Phoenix. I was dressed in a blue sweatshirt style jacket with the hood pulled over my head. I made a sign from cardboard that read "Will work for food. God bless you ". As the morning progressed I started receiving money and food. The occupant of one particular car had me come up to the window and asked if I was hungry (he was a plain dressed officer). I replied yes. He then gave me his half eaten donut and ten cents. I ate the donut in front of him and took the dime. After eating the donut I was asking myself "what I am doing". I knew it was temporary. I found myself draining my own pride and thinking people do this so that their family could eat.
This is only one of many stories that I have to share and others that I would like to share in the future as I process it all. One paramount lesson I learned through this experience was I faced my FEAR of humility and shame. I was completely emotionally drained after 4 hours of being on that corner.
Though I only felt this kind of shame for half a day, the kids and families we serve go through this on a daily basis. The bible says where there is no hope the people perish. We want to give kids hope and purpose. Over the holidays we will provide over 400 food baskets and over 2000 Christmas gifts for kids.
How can you help? I am asking you for a generous donation. Our budget has not been met and more kids still want to be involved. You can go browse this website to learn more about us and/or donate securely online below, or mail in a donation to; Heart for the City, P.O. Box 2 Glendale, AZ 85311
Where is the Love, better late than never?
PS. If you have any ideas of more projects, please email me your fearless ideas.