Sitting in the Sun…sort of…
Sunday is usually some sort of working day for us.
While E was at the Russian-speaking church (Sax), M briefly visited the English-speaking church and then quickly moved on to the food bus. From one goal to the other in a circle through the city, the shoe wears out pretty well. 🙂 The food bus is a great initiative from another foundation, where we can have a cup of coffee together with the homeless.
Just a little conversation here and there. How are you, how was last week, where are you from?
The food bus is located in a neighborhood that is / was not really the best (Wilda), but we are having a great time there, to be honest. You can actually have a really good time with the average homeless person there. They didn’t choose this life either, and they are just people like you and me, with sometimes fascinating stories!
Often it is about small things that we can do there. A cup of coffee, a kind word, a smile, a cookie. Today there was someone who was a hairdresser and could cut the hair of a few people, for everyone there was a good portion of soup + bread and a talk about who God is when things are difficult for you. They can also charge their phone there (Because if you don’t have a house, where do you charge your phone because without a phone, a potential employer (for example) cannot reach you).
All those things that are not really that complicated, and if you look at it as an outsider, it doesn’t seem that exciting, does it? Nice cup of coffee in the sun, some conversations and that’s about it. But still… without all those little things…. Life is not getting any better for many of those people… on the contrary… Reminds me of the following story:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Matthew 25:35-36,Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I always think that’s a good story. Doing good for humanity is not necessarily about big things. Its very often in small things. A smile, a postcard, a phone call, a bowl of soup, a good conversation. It may not seem exciting to you and me, but it means a lot to them….
Why are we doing this? Well, when I look at myself, very honest? I think it’s a wonderful and fun target group to be around with. Some sometimes become really friends for a short time (the rotation where they stay is quite high, so almost everything is temporary), but there is another reason behind it…. That king…. He asks everyone. Very simple: do something good for your brother or sister who is having a hard time. Give them a bowl of soup, give them some clothes, go visit the sick, give them a cup of coffee, if they are in prison (within their head)… go visit… etc etc etc. Not complicated, right??
Come on, make a plan. What are you going to do this week? It’s quite busy on this side, the city is full of people who are really struggling… and unfortunately… not just this city…. but also the city or village where you live. They can more than use all the help they can get, and we can also use all the help we can get to continue to do this.
