"Patience and fortitude conquer all things." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen." - Ralph Martson
Boy can I relate to these quotes today. After my interview with Delta, Andy took us to the Varsity and we discussed the book we're currently reading, Exclusion & Embrace. That was pretty nice, minus eating at the Varsity because it gave me a stomach ache for the rest of the day:/ After we went to Atlanta Mission where we met Aaron who showed us around the place. He currently works there and he was really cool! When we finished, we all decided to go to the Lot for a little bit... which is where much patience was needed.
Fredericka saw us and, because she is usually not the happiest of people, did her daily screaming. I didn't pay much attention to it until Mother Theresa (another homeless woman) came and was asking for some water. Since Andrew had an extra water bottle, he gave it to her.. but apparently that didn't please Fredericka. She got real upset with us and cussed and got "all up in our faces" and told us how we only pick on a few to talk to and that we choose favorites. She then continued screaming at us and demanded that she get another pair of socks. Jesse told her that she already got 2 pair but she got up in his face and demanded for another one, which he gave to her. She cussed him and walked away. Jesse then left and when he did Fredericka continued screaming at us. I am not gonna lie... my patience was dwindling real fast.
Here is a woman who, no matter how much I want to talk to her, won't talk to me but will only cuss at me. Here is a woman who has so much hatred in her that when I look into her eyes I sincerely see it. Part of me just wanted to tell her why she is so angry all the time but all I could say was that we already gave her socks. She just continued ranting and I let her be. I was really flustered then but then got to thinking... I wonder how her life is or was in the past? What made her become such a bitter person? Before someone becomes a drug addict, alcoholic, or homeless, they were still just... people. And that's how I had to treat her.. like any other person. So I just walked passed her, even though I really wanted to talk to her, and went to talk with Lauren and my new friend, Rodney.
He told me about his life, how he was shot and has a grandson but never sees him. He told me how he was a drug dealer but stopped and now he believes that he has to face the consequences. I just felt like hugging him. All these people have such different stories. And they all ended up here, like Rodney and Fredericka. Rodney said that he wasn't planning on being homeless. That since he began dealing drugs and involved his girlfriend, he soon got himself into some trouble and ended up on the streets. Goodness, that reminds me of what Kenny told me awhile ago: Those eyes that you're looking at could be your eyes in the future. Such a true statement. We never know what might happen in the future, I pray that God continues to light my path and guide me towards the right direction. But I also pray for Him to continue to humble myself and others, because in an instant anyone's life can change.
Please pray for Fredericka,
Jenny Sample
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