Friday, August 6th

Operation:  Sack Lunch.  This was the organization that we worked with today.  They serve out of the Compass Center where they serve the residents of the men's shelter there each day for their meals, and then also serve at an outdoor meal site to people who are living on the street (choosing NOT to seek shelter). 

Our day began by helping the staff to prepare the lunch we served at both sites.  We were kept very busy with various tasks from chopping vegetables and dicing meat to assembling the main courses that were served.  Once the food was prepped, we helped organize the kitchen and dining room for future use and meal preparations. 

We served lunch to the shelter's residents until it was time to head up the hill to the outdoor meal site, where we then served to the people who came there to eat.  What was so interesting about that site was that these people choose to live ON the streets rather than find shelter.  It was yet another example of just how much we do not know or understand about homelessness. 

One thing we saw day after day this week was lower numbers at each of our sites than usual (of course we didn't know any different).  Each of the staffs we worked with explained that this was because the first week of the month, everyone gets their checks (social security, government assistance, etc...) so they will typically go out to eat more often.  Once their funds start to run low, they'll begin to find their way back to the shelters and other places that provide meals.  Yet another piece of homelessness we did not understand until this week.

Our day ended at Safeco Field where we watched the Seattle Mariners take on the Kansas City Royals.  Everyone told us that we must have brought good luck because the Mariners won the game, 7 to 1!  It was a gorgeous evening for a baseball game and we all had a blast!  We were even blessed to be a blessing with 10 extra tickets and were able to invite some people who had been VERY helpful throughout this entire trip.  Pollie and Steve McCloskey, friends of Dave's (Pollie used to be the Youth Director of Holy Spirit Lutheran and was a HUGE help in getting us connected with the church and turned towards our service opportunities), Danielle Dadashi, Holy Spirit Lutheran's Director of 9th - 12th Grade Ministries, Becky Cole, Holy Spirit Lutheran's Children and Family Ministry Director and her husband and 2 adorable sons, and two of the residents of the Compass Center who we connected with during our time there.  So our time at the game was outstanding!!!

After returning to the church, we gathered together for our devotional time and shared in a foot washing service.  How powerful...to share in something so intimate, and to know that this is how Jesus taught us to love.  This week has been a journey of loving, sharing, and serving.  We will forever be changed, and we have learned much because of the people we have met and the hearts that have been shared with us.  Early morning tomorrow...Billings, MT on the horizon.