Last night I sat with a new friend and her mom.  Her mom graciously opened her home as we sat with some great coffee and began hearing her daughter’s story.  I love sitting around with a couple of women and I’ve had many of these kind of  ‘coffees’.  We would laugh, sometimes cry and often editorialize on any subject that would come up.  Last night was a little different, and yet very much the same.  There were some laughs, but mostly her mom and I listened.  We listened as we heard her daughter share her answer to my question “How did you become homeless?”

This evening began a few weeks ago.  I was still working with HELP International and I received a phone call from a dear friend, Ken John of Homeless Gear.  He said he was sending in a volunteer to help gather items for his monthly distribution to the homeless.  That day a young woman came in and went right to work.  She never stopped moving as she gathered shoes, backpacks, sweatshirts, water bottles etc.  It was hard to find her most of the time as she would be waist high in boxes and bags, hand picking each item with lots of care and lots of love.  She was intent in doing whatever she could to collect just the right items.  She was quiet as she worked.  The only time she would say anything was when she would ask about items in her hands. “I know someone who needs a pair of shoes.  He wears a size 13.  They are really hard to find.  May I give him these?”  The compassion in her eyes, the intent in her voice…how could I say anything but “Yes, I hope he is blessed”.  She smiled and went back to work.

As I watched her work and tenderly gather items for her friends who lived on the streets, I became curious.  Who is this woman?  What is her story?  So I watched, I learned and looked forward to my next time with her.  And so the friendship began.

I can’t wait to introduce you to her.  I can’t wait to share her story.  A story of survival, pain, fear and love.  Tomorrow we will begin.  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and get ready to be engaged.