During a pre trip meeting, I held on Zoom with a group of college students from New York. I was asked what is my favorite thing about being out here. The answer is simply the people.

Every day, we work with a wide range of people. A wide range of ages. A wide range of situations.

Every day is different.

Too many of the people we deal with are invisible to society.  In most places, the community would prefer that homeless people would go away. Or at least not be visible.

We see them. We listen to them. We love them.

We deal with some incredible people. Despite the situation that they are in, they still have a sense of humor.  Laughter is a constant at the center. Sometimes, it is a dark sense of humor. Despite the trauma inflicted on them, they want to enjoy life.

Not everyone I work with is part of the shelter community.  Some of our cultural guides have become friends and personal supporters.  I would not make it through the week without the encouragement provided by these people.

Back to the shelter.

I have never been physically attacked at the center. Only a few times did I think I might be in trouble. Each time members of our shelter family rallied around me and stopped the other person. They have my back.

They also can support each other. We had a 18 year old boy dropped off at the center by his stepfather, who told him he did not want to deal with him anymore.  It was January of his senior year of high school. In May, he graduated high school while living in the shelter! At graduation, he had the largest and loudest crowd. The shelter community went to support him.

Recently, we had a parade go by the front of the center. Candy was everywhere. It was fun to watch our people act like little kids all excited to get candy. It was more fun to watch them share with some of the kids there to watch the parade.

After the parade was over, we served lunch. I sat outside with the community, listening to stories. Hearing people share memories. We laughed. I am often the target of humor. And most of the time it is meant as a compliment.

We have a couple of families that are at the shelter during the day. Two of them have baby babies, less than a couple of months old. And both have toddlers. A little girl from one of the families, she is super cute. Everyone loves her, came up to me after lunch, and offered me a piece of gum.

I thanked her and made a huge deal about the gift. She lit up!!!!! And many people around us smiled. I made her day. But she made mine.

We try to provide help and hope.

Because God loves them and so do I.