LUUUUUUUUV Kitchen

Hey Mac Plymouth blog community! Its my first post! (Hi mom and dad)

Today team 8 (Claire D, Julia S, Clara D, Sari O, and me) along with Marge and Suzanna worked at the Love kitchen at Redeeming Love church. The church has a congregation of only 35 people! 5 of which are men!!!! For the last 20 years they have served people from the community (the homeless or people just going through hard times) lunch 3 days a week. It was great to help serve and plate food. We also had conversations with them. In total, 8 people came in to eat. 3 men, 3 women, and 2 kids (two very cute 2nd graders).

The man running the kitchen today was Deacon Henry, a very spiritual guy who has worked in the kitchen for almost as long as it has been around. He was very into praying for everything and when we were sitting around he practically gave us an hour long sermon incorporating anecdotes and bible stories. His "grand baby" Jessica also helped out.

The one person who really touched me there was a man who Marge and I talked to named Rick. This man has been homeless for one year. When his mom was dying he was there helping her, but after her death, Rick's sister swept in and put her name on the deed to their mom's home. He had no where to go. Yesterday it rained and he told us how miserable it was to sleep outside and how his sleeping bag would be wet for the next week. He did not try to cover much up, he told us about the violence that takes place on the streets and the alcohol abuse he sees everyday. He even told us about his criminal record. He paused, took off his sunglasses so we could see his eyes. He was crying. He told us flat-out that he was suffering.

Despite his situation and his daily struggles, he believed that these struggles were going to pass and that God would help him if he was faithful to his lord. The world may have taken his house, money, and job, but what it hadn't taken was his self-respect. He told us about how staying clean to him was extremely important, and that he wouldn't enter a church if he was dirty. He still had his intelligence and his heart. he was a "survivor" and knew that if he could keep on going things would someday work out. Before he left we exchanged a hug and he told me to pray for him, and I would encourage everyone reading this to pray for Rick.

-Henry Bushnell