Lenny and Sara's Tent

Sara in her mid twenties, has been homeless for about six months now, has depression and anxiety issues, is a cutter, originally from the upper midwest. And Lenny is around the same age, I believe he's from southern CA originally, has a bachelor's degree in accounting, is very personable, but said in a previous [intoxicated] conversation that he doesn't like the 'responsible' life, and this week got out of jail after a three-ish week sentence.

Sara and Lenny along with a handful of other folks live in an encampment near a river or resoviour which is normally a safe and comfortable place in the grand scheme of things. But with all the rain we've been having the river rose 20 feet and washed away their tent and all their belongings. I found this out on Wednesday and Sara was pretty sure they'd figure it out and be fine. They'd stay in the shelter Wednesday night and during the day Thursday to get dry. Then start figuring things out. I gave them my umbrella so they at least wouldn't get too much more wet on the walk to and from the bus.

I was really surprised to see them on Thursday at the lunch since I thought they'd be at the shelter, but apparently Lenny won't stay in the shelter because it was too much like prison for him. So instead they rode the bus until they stopped running at 1am then tried to find shelter and got back on the bus when they started running again at 4am. Needless to say by the time they arrived at the church they'd barely slept and were pooped. They both sat down at the tables and slept heads down on the table before lunch began. Sara had asked me if I knew anyone with a tent. The condition didn't really matter, just something. She described the last tent to me and it's duct taped patches and jerry-rigged tarp... it sounded pretty pitiful. I decided that out of my descretionary fund I would get them a new tent.

I know I shouldn't play favorites, but with them I kind of do. I think they really have a chance to break the cycle and have so much potential, and perhaps they don't seem all that different from me in some ways... so I feel more inclined to help them... not that a tent will change their lives, but at least they can have a shelter.

I took Sara with me after lunch to go get the tent, Lenny wanted to stay back at the church with their stuff. I think it was nice for Sara to get to just have someone to relate to and talk with in a normal way. She was funny about the car ride, when I was cleaning off my passenger seat she chuckled a few times and said, "Wow... you're so normal... you eat breakfast in your car like the rest of us (I had a banana peel in the seat), and have mail on the floor... that's cool." and a little while later, "It's so nice, yet weird to be doing something so normal as riding in a car... It's just so normal... I miss my car, it's funny the things you miss that you never though you would, I told Lenny last night that I want to argue about drapes with him. He told me I was silly, but I told him I wanted to argue with him about something as mundane as the color of the drapes. Or be able to sit next to him on the couch and have some tea... I think that's the blessing of all of this is that now I appreciate so much more, and I know how to budget really well now. I can make just a few dollars stretch further than I ever thought I could."

I imagine I could learn a thing or two from her now about priorities and budgeting... I pray they can sleep a little sounder and drier tonight in their new shelter. What a blessing it is that I, on behalf of the church, can care for my neighbor in such concrete ways. Thanks be to God!