Post By - Bianca Turco
Reaching Out
We see Michael sitting on the sidewalk at one of the busiest intersections in our city. He looks like he's in his early 20s, he's a bit disheveled, and he's holding a handwritten sign that reads, "Hungry and Homeless. Anything Helps." When we see Michael, we're on our outreach vehicle: our 30-foot motorhome stocked with hot food, water, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, survival supplies, and health care from nurses. He's welcomed on board and he receives a hot soup while he sits down at one of our tables. He asks for a pair of socks and a bottle of water, and one of our outreach volunteers sits across from him. Michael's physical needs are met when he joins us on the RV, but we know that Michael's needs go beyond the material. Michael is just like you or me - he is complex, unique, and he most definitely has a story to share. When the Light Patrol volunteer sits across from him, she looks in his eyes and she sees beyond his appearance; she sees the deep human needs for connection and love, which we believe are just as essential to healthiness and wholeness as food, clothing, and shelter. When Michael spends time on our RV, he's walking into a community of people who are motivated by the life-changing love of Jesus. We don't just want to feed him and leave him. We want to know Michael, to care for him fully, and to be a Christ-like presence with him through the ups and downs of his life. This means that this volunteer listens to Michael and asks him how he's doing. She pays attention to his body language, his hopeless disposition, the way his head hangs heavy. She does not try to solve or fix his problems right then and there, but she reaches out and offers a word of truth: You are not alone. Outreach is a vital way to connect with youth that call the street their home and be part of caring for their whole person. Our relationships may begin with providing food and clothing, but the goal is that they grow into long-term, healthy, trustworthy relationships that emulate God's transformative love. We believe each youth, no matter their circumstance, is loved by God and has unlimited potential, and we want to help them believe that too. The first step is showing up and reaching out, and we do that through our outreach program.
Celebrate Good Times (Come on!)
Some of our most treasured memories come from the celebrations in our lives like birthdays and holidays and weddings. Celebration is not something our friends on the street get to experience often. When one is just trying to survive - not just the elements, but also the chaos of street life - it can be difficult to find much to celebrate or honour. Living on the street is hard and it is often made harder by the unkindness of others, barriers preventing movement away from the street, and the lack of hope for a better future. But participating in celebration - joy, laughter, feasting - is vital to our emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being. Jesus himself celebrated holidays and went to weddings, so we know that celebration is part of our human experience and can be profoundly spiritual. We believe that no one should be disqualified from that and a little bit of joy, laughter, and feasting can bring some hope to even the darkest of places. Light Patrol’s team experienced this first-hand during our Canada Day Celebration on the RV last summer. The RV was decorated with Canadian flags and symbols, & we played trivia games, ate poutine (a generous gift from a local restaurant), & even had Canadian karaoke! There were gifts and nanaimo bars, and all of us experienced the pure joy of celebration that night. In the midst of the often difficult realities those living on the street face our party was a sacred time to honour the good gifts we have despite our living situations: food, friends who care, and this very day. These times of celebration are invaluable and give us shared experiences and memories with the youth we meet on the street. They provide a little hope in the midst of darkness, and we believe they give our friends a little glimpse of the fullness of joy that life with Jesus offers. We hope that when we celebrate, we will point beyond us to the grace and love of Jesus.