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April 2007
As we find ourselves well into 2007 we are amazed at all that has happened so far.
As a result of the Christmas fundraising efforts of HQ Land in Wilton we were able to purchase a ride on mower for the New Life Project.
This will save a lot of time and also provide some enjoyable work for the lads helping on the project.
The Crisis Beds
The New Life Centre is going well. Part of the project is the crisis beds, where people who have no where to stay, or are going through some crisis and have lost their accommodation can stay for a few nights. They are picked up from town in the early evening and taken back after breakfast the next morning.. We have had several people staying in the beds for up to 7 days at a time. It is a short term solution to what is often long term problems, but it is amazing what can be achieved in a short period of time, and how peoples hearts can be touched by the Love of God for them. The New Life Centre is all about giving people an opportunity to change their lives around, some grasp the opportunity and with help and support find a different way of life, for others it is a little more difficult and can sometimes take a few opportunities, before they can really be free of the past. Sometimes people stay in the crisis beds, but it is a smaller step towards getting their life together, they find it harder to settle down after being on the road for such a long time or they are held down with their past. It is hard for us to imagine what life on the streets is like, we thought it may be good to share a few extracts from a wayfarers journal this is the first part and final part will be posted on the website in the next update This journal was written by a man who stayed in our crisis bed for a few nights. The words themselves have not been altered in anyway.
(Names and some locations have been changed to ensure anonymity )
“Wednesday 28th March 07
I left N. about 12.45am very early, I hitched a lift on a veg. lorry, all the way to the outskirts of London, then I started walking. I had my pack stolen from me the day before in N. everything I owned. So when I left N. with only had what I stood up in, I spent a long day walking the Thames, I found a small park where I managed to get some sleep, a man asked if I was alright, I thanked him and said no, but I would survive no matter what. He told me about a food kitchen which opperated very near from where I was trying to sleep, but I never found it, I got lost as usual. I got another lift on another lorry, the driver dropped me off on the outskirts of Salisbury. I got some more sleep, it rained and I got soaked, so I started walking again. I ended up in the centre of Salisbury, I was tired, wet and had very blistered feet, my inner man’s little flame was very small, I whent to Salisbury Cathedral stayed there for 2 -3 hours. I went outside and tried to dry myself, I got everything dry apart from my trainers which remained wet, my blistered fee was very sore??? I had been a few days without my medication and I had started getting problems, I asked different people if there was a place I could get some help, they told me about a food drop, that happened a few times a week, so I made my way to the drop point. A man selling newspapers told me it happened in the afternoon so I wandered off to rest up in the cathederals park, I found a bench out of the wind after a sleep trainers off, I started to think, time to put my roots down. so I went back to the paperman and asked him where the local council offices were, after about an hour of walking round in circles I found the place, I told the lady that I was homeless and living rough, she gave me a form to fill in, O Lord, I thought to myself, paperwork which freeks me right out, so I packed that and found my way to the food drop. There was a few people there, so I make myself comfortable. I had a read of the forms I was given, but I still could not make head nor tail of them. I had been talking to a man called simon he had a full pack and seemed to know what was what, then these people turned up out of no where, one lady and two gentleman, I talked to all three of them. The youngest he was serving coffee and then I spoke to the lady who gave me a sandwich and some cake, I also spoke to the other gentleman who I told my plight, he was very understanding and told me to hang back until the food drop was finished, which I did. The lady and the gentleman told me if I was at the same place at 8 o clock p.m. they would put a roof over me, it was called a crisis bed. I agreed to be there at the poultry cross, so they left and I wandered back to the cathedral park, the cathedral is an awesome building!
I got back to the meeting point in good time then the lady and gentleman turned up in their car to pick me up. A short ride out of Salisbury into the country then we were there. I was invited into their home, I was given a lovely hot meal and a cuppa, I was then asked if I would like a bath they gave me clean clothes, I felt like a new man. I feel guilty about how I was, no money and messed up, at least I was not drunk or on drugs, there but for the Grace of God go I, my faith, my inner flame was very low. The couple said you are safe here. Tonight you will stay in one of our crisis beds, well I got my head down, the next thing I knew it was morning, I got up the couple had cooked me a big breakfast, what a fry up, as much as I could eat and more. The night before I had told the couple that I needed to get my medication sorted out, by the time I had finished my breakfast the lady had an emergency appointment sorted out for me………..” to be continued………..
Please pray for us that we might be ever sensitive to the Lord allowing Him to use us to reach people who are hurting, and broken. So often when people come to stay, they are so touched, they seem to be in shock for the first few days, that people can be so kind to them. We often take the love and care we receive from others so much for granted, let alone the Love that God shows towards us in so many ways.
The Daily Programme
Thanks to all the lads who have helped with the work in the garden and the Polytunnel. We now have a big variety of flower plants and veg. Which is very exciting. Some of the veg and plants we will sell, and the money will be ploughed back into the project, the rest of the veg will be used to help feed those involved either on the residential, daily or crisis programmes. We also use the veg (which is all grown organically )in the soups for the Banquet Run.
We also have 16 hens and a cockerel and 6 ducks. So we have a good supply of fresh eggs each day/ These are used for various meals at the banquet run, for the dialy programme and those living at the centre.
The Banquet Run
 Last year we gave out 2,890 meals to people who were sleeping rough, couch surfing, (sleeping on friends couches if they were lucky, many sleep on the floor) those living in hostels.
A firm favourite at any Banquet Run session is the home made soup, usually made by Dave. He Manages the Gardening Project but also is the Master Chef for making home made soup. The soup has often been the topic of conversation, in fact people get really caught up in what the soup contains and what is on the menu for the rest of the week. In the winter months very often it is the soups that fill people up and keep them going through the cold nights.
We thought you might like to try one of Dave’s recipes. Here is one that he has allowed us to print (many of his recipes are top secret), even his wife can only guess at some of the ingredients.!
Argentinean Beef and vegetable Soup
4 Large Potatoes
2 Small Leeks
2 Large Carrots
1 Onion
1 Parsnip
1 Small Swede
1 Stick of Celery
2 Large tins of Corned Beef
2 Chicken Oxo cubes
1 Crushed Garlic Clove
1 Sprig of Fresh Thyme
1 Pinch of Oregano
2 Bay leaves
Freshly Ground Black Pepper and Salt to taste
Method:
1. Place 2 pints of Water into large saucepan and boil.
2. Chop all vegetables into roughly one inch cubes
3. Chop both tins of corned beef into roughly one inch cubes.
4. Place all vegetables and half of all corned beef into the pan of boiling water
5. Add garlic, thyme, oregano, bay leaves, salt and pepper and oxo cubes to pan
6. Cook until vegetables are just tender.
7. Add remaining corned beef and simmer for a further 20 minutes and serve, with fresh thick slices of bread.
Makes approximately 12 bowls Enjoy!
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