This was the question my roommate Jen and I were asked in Tuscon, AZ as we observed a church day labor program. The woman who asked it was possibly in her 50s. When I first asked her what her name was, she said, "Delicious." As I was talking to her, she said, "I know that you mean well, but you've never even been homeless before. How can you pretend to know how to help me? You don't know what it feels like!" She then invited us to stay with her at her camp site. As I was leaving the next day, I could not stay. But I told her that there are opportunities to experience homelessness, similar to the Urban Plunge program at Seattle Pacific University. As soon as Jen and I addressed the want of experiencing and empathizing with her, Delicious told us her real name: Sheryl. She only told us her real name because she respected us for wanting to approach her life from her point of view.
We had to leave the church almost as soon as she told us her real name. But Sheryl hurriedly mentioned to me that she was having a historectomy next week due to cancer in her uterus. After learning of this, I told her that she would be in my prayers. Because she does not have medical insurance, she will only be allowed to stay in the hospital for 2 days. I cannot imagine having to recover from a procedure like this living on the streets! Please remember Sheryl in your prayers.
And, friends, I would ask of you: if someone blows you off at first like Sheryl first did to me, how will you respond? Will you try to approach them with love as Christ did? Or will you merely see them as an angry, lazy homeless person and brush past them. I challenge you to try to see their life from their shoes. The perspective this brings you will be life-altering.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Star "Teethment"
I pride myself on never having had a cavity before. So last week, when a black spot developed on one of my back molars and wouldn't go away, I decided it was time to take action and look up local dentists. One of my roommates proved very helpful in finding one that we live very close to.
As I entered the office, I was greeted by classical music and an assistant and was shown into an examining room. X-rays were then taken of my mouth, but not just any x-rays. These were digital x-rays, with 99% less radiation, go figure. After also putting a wand-type camera into my mouth and taking lots of pictures, the dentist finally saw me. He first congratualted me on having amazing teeth, and then proceeded to ask if my parents were in the health professions. When I replied no, and that I had had a very good dentist in Michigan, he was still perplexed. "You mean your dad isn't a doctor?" "No," I replied, "but my dentist was great."
The dentist then proceeded to tell me I would need a minor filling, but no one would be able to tell, and that I could even tell my dentist in Michigan that I had never had a cavity. I was then given a little printed-up booklet of the pictures of my teeth and cavity, and then a welcome note from the dentist.
Right before he left, the dentist also mentioned that we could whiten my teeth on the same day. Teeth whitening?! On the same day as having a cavity filled?! Only in Hollywood, the city of appearances, could this have happened. I am happy to say that the cavity was filled successfully (it was more of like a sealant on a developing cavity...) and that my teeth were not artificially whitened. If I want whiter teeth, I can use Crest white strips, thank you. But I did feel like a celebrity or something, having so many people happy with what a great set of teeth I have!
As I entered the office, I was greeted by classical music and an assistant and was shown into an examining room. X-rays were then taken of my mouth, but not just any x-rays. These were digital x-rays, with 99% less radiation, go figure. After also putting a wand-type camera into my mouth and taking lots of pictures, the dentist finally saw me. He first congratualted me on having amazing teeth, and then proceeded to ask if my parents were in the health professions. When I replied no, and that I had had a very good dentist in Michigan, he was still perplexed. "You mean your dad isn't a doctor?" "No," I replied, "but my dentist was great."
The dentist then proceeded to tell me I would need a minor filling, but no one would be able to tell, and that I could even tell my dentist in Michigan that I had never had a cavity. I was then given a little printed-up booklet of the pictures of my teeth and cavity, and then a welcome note from the dentist.
Right before he left, the dentist also mentioned that we could whiten my teeth on the same day. Teeth whitening?! On the same day as having a cavity filled?! Only in Hollywood, the city of appearances, could this have happened. I am happy to say that the cavity was filled successfully (it was more of like a sealant on a developing cavity...) and that my teeth were not artificially whitened. If I want whiter teeth, I can use Crest white strips, thank you. But I did feel like a celebrity or something, having so many people happy with what a great set of teeth I have!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Images of Hollywood
Here are some pictures from the first week of September:
An advertisement for the Dr.Phil show, which films at Paramount Studios, right behind our house.
My wonderful roomies and I, from L-R: Jen (from Iowa), Kristina (from Massachusetts), and Shelton (from Alabama), watching a movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary.
And last but not least, who could forget the famous Hollywood sign, which we see pretty much every day, depending on where we are going.
Welcome to Hollywood!
Hello, All,
Welcome to my blog. Many of you already know that I am in Hollywood for a year doing urban ministry with the Presbyterian Church USA through their young adult volunteer program.
I live in the city of Hollywood, CA. This statement alone may bring many pictures to your mind. The movie stars, the crazy traffic, the beach. When I first mentioned that I was headed to Hollywood, many people asked me if I had been cast in a movie. At first my reaction was to laugh and give a description of the program I'm participating in, but I actually ended up convincing someone that I had been cast as Liesl in a remake of the Sound of Music. My joke was foiled, however, when they replied that the Sound of Music could never be remade without Julie Andrews. True statement, which is why I am not in Hollywood to be in a movie!
I am in Hollywood to live in an intentional Christian community and serve in my neighborhood, which is made up of predominantly migrant people from Latin and South America. I also intern 32 hours a week at an agency called PATH, which stands for People Assisting the Homeless. I look forward to the coming year and all that the Lord is equipping me to do and learn in Him. And I also look forward to updating all you on what is going on in the city of Hollywood, CA!
Welcome to my blog. Many of you already know that I am in Hollywood for a year doing urban ministry with the Presbyterian Church USA through their young adult volunteer program.
I live in the city of Hollywood, CA. This statement alone may bring many pictures to your mind. The movie stars, the crazy traffic, the beach. When I first mentioned that I was headed to Hollywood, many people asked me if I had been cast in a movie. At first my reaction was to laugh and give a description of the program I'm participating in, but I actually ended up convincing someone that I had been cast as Liesl in a remake of the Sound of Music. My joke was foiled, however, when they replied that the Sound of Music could never be remade without Julie Andrews. True statement, which is why I am not in Hollywood to be in a movie!
I am in Hollywood to live in an intentional Christian community and serve in my neighborhood, which is made up of predominantly migrant people from Latin and South America. I also intern 32 hours a week at an agency called PATH, which stands for People Assisting the Homeless. I look forward to the coming year and all that the Lord is equipping me to do and learn in Him. And I also look forward to updating all you on what is going on in the city of Hollywood, CA!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)