|
The Crisis Beds
“journal of a rough sleeper” Part two continued…………
Friday
After breakfast the lady took me into town and showed me where the Doctors surgery was, my appointment was later that morning. I was also shown where the drop in was located.
Just before my appointment time I went into the Doctors, he was very understanding and he sorted my medication out.. Whilst I was in the Doctors I noticed he had a “money plant” it was the biggest one I had ever seen, I asked him for a cutting, which he gave me, then I left there and went on to the drop in centre. After having a meal there in the late afternoon. I wandered back to the Cathedral, I sat and rested until 6.30 p.m. and then went to the Market place, where I had been told I would be picked up at 7.00p.m. The lady and her husband were on time a usual, I was taken back to the country, and my place of rest, I was given a meal and a cup of tea. I also had my first intake of meds for a few days. As usual it switched me off, at bedtime I went out like a light.
Saturday
I awoke the next morning feeling like a heard of elephants had trampled over me. My feet are still very sore. When I move it feels slow like mallasses everything seems to be happening in slow motion. This morning I was given another cooked breakfast toms, toast, egg, fried spud, baked beans, and a nice cuppa. The lady made me some sandwiches and put them in a bag with some cake and a flask of coffee, the night before I had a nice shower now it was Saturday and I was fresh and rested apart from being groggy from my meds. When the lady and man dropped me in town they went to the Christian Café and paid for me to have a cup of tea and slice of cake later. I said my goodbyes to them and went on my way. I had a good walk around Salisbury went to the Library its dry and warm in there. I got a couple of good maps of Salisbury one for myself and one for the lady and man. Went to the cathedral park and had a good munch. I sat first of all on the bench outside the cathedral about two or three hours, by this time I had made quite a dent in the food and flask of coffee. I went for a walk by the entrance of the cathedral, I could hear people singing, well my curiosity got the better of me, I went to the side entrance and was allowed in so I went to the centre of the cathedral and took a seat. There was a small stage to one end of the cathedral where an orchestra was situated also there was five or six people which I found out to be the singers. They were great I was transfixed for about two hours, it was absolutely marvellous, time was getting on so I made my way to the café where was two cups of tea and a slice of cake awaiting me. I arrived at the café I had one cup of tea and the cake I asked the gentleman if he would put my last cup of tea into my flask, he did so then I left and went back to the cathedral park and relaxed. That night again I was picked up and taken back with the lady and man.
Sunday
Today the lady and man invited me to go to church with them. I accepted the invite. It was a very different church to any that I have ever been to, very lively and very good songs, I have never heard of before, but quite deep, I nearly cried on several occasions, the lady and man were there to support me. I talked to a few people afterwards, One young man told me how he would soon be getting married, I also talked to a very tall man, an African his name is Jimmy he’s building something? A church in Africa? When the service was over we came home and had a lovely roast dinner.
Monday
Helped the man in the garden today, roughed up some of the bald patches on the lawn and sowed some new seed there.
Its 3.00p.m. I am in my bedroom, I feel very sleepy. I am nearly at the end of my tobacco, I will probably be climbing the walls tomorrow, if I run out. My feet are healing well there are still sore in places, its been a nice day, the wind has been a bit gusty, the dog has been hassling me to throw her ball for her, she has so much energy, I wish I had it. I think it is time for me to be heading off, I don’t know where, , O please Jesus give me strength to find what I’m looking for………….I must just take one day at a time, we will see what tomorrow brings, my fate is in the Good Lords hands, he has a use for me.
This gentleman had been on the road for many years. Due to a tragic incident in his early life, that he felt unable to deal with, he left everything and took to the road. We appreciate that some of the above is very sad, some of it hard to understand, but it also gives us a little insight into a man’s personal thoughts and life as he travels about the country. We may find it hard, and almost unbelievable, and perhaps it also makes us realise how easy it is to get caught up in the very materialistic world we live in, it is so easy to forget that there are people who have very little, but are so grateful for the few simple things they do have. To the Lord this man is as precious as any one of us.
We have heard from this gentleman since he left, he is still travelling round, staying here and there. We hope that his short stay at the New Life Centre did in some small way help him on his journey in life, that maybe he gained a little more faith, that will help sustain him in the future. The money plant remains in our kitchen window, a reminder of a man, we had the honour of looking after for a few days. We all have our own journey to walk, lets make sure that we remember those around us, who may not be having such an easy journey, and perhaps we can walk some of the road together, encouraging each other, sharing a bit of our faith to help strengthen them.
We need your help to make the most of this event and raise as much money as possible to help fund the extra beds for the coming year. If you would like to sponsor Rob or Colin to help us raise money for this work you can donate money in one of two ways.
Go to the website www.justgiving.com you can donate money safely on this website. In the box Sponsor a friend type one of the following names Rob Williams, Colin Prince, click on go, this will take you to next page. Under “participant name” you should see the name of the person you typed in. double click on this name and you will be taken to their webpage. Make sure the Morning star logo and info is in the left hand corner. Click on donate now and follow instructions.
OR
Please fill in the form below and send it with a cheque to: Morning Star Salisbury, PO Box 1965, Salisbury, SP2 8ZN. Or send the cheque and we will send you a form in the post to complete.
You may remember we mentioned in our first newsletter about the Easy Fund Raising website that by registering with this site the next time you shop online, using any of the 200+ retailers links provided on the easyfundraising website, we’ll receive a commission from every purchase you make at no extra cost to you.
Anything from 0.5% - 15% will be raised (depending on which retailer you select and what you purchase) and there’s over 25 Categories to choose from including; CDs/DVDs, books, DIY, flights/holidays, electrical, clothing/fashion, computing, broadband, mobiles phones and lots more.
So if you are a regular online shopper this is a great way to raise money for us without it costing you anything extra!
Amazing Crop…..
Despite the awful summer weather we have had this year we have seen some great results from the garden, much to the delight of local residents who have been making regular purchases of vegetables. Proceeds raised from sales helps to keep the garden going, which in turn supports the work of the charity, especially by way of offering a more varied work program for residents and those attending the daily program
Dave had been on the road for twenty odd years, never staying anywhere for very long. As he was passing through Salisbury, he attended the Banquet Run and we offered him a few nights in the Crisis accommodation. He then stayed on as a resident for a further three months. Dave soon settled in, while talking with him one day he commented "I have never had a family in my life, as a young lad I was brought up in care, this is my first family experience and it has really touched my life, it’s an amazing experience having people around you who care about you, and are sincere"
Dave loved the gardening work and was given his own border, which we called "Dave's border”, he took great pride in looking after it during the three months he was with us.
If you would like an information pack about supporting Morning Star financially please contact us either by writing to the address on the first page or by calling Richard Smith on 07789 898242
|
