TacyPyles

Tacy Pyles

Dr. Campbell

TN Alternative Spring Break

Jounal Entry 1

07 March 2009

Today began interesting with mishaps and challenges just like any good mission trip does. After eating what food could be found in the “continental breakfast” and getting lost, we had a pretty humorous morning. But laughter turned to some element of silence and the importance of a good breakfast seemed to quickly fade as we stepped into the largest shelter I have ever visited - and this was just the men’s wing.

We passed bedrooms adequate for two people with bunk beds enough for six. We saw inspirational quotes and passages of Scripture on the walls - lighting the darkness of their everyday life. The Nashville Rescue Mission houses 130 men in this building, but they bring hope to the entire community through their drug and alcohol addiction program, homeless ministry and gambling and sex addiction program combined.

Arriving at 8 in the morning, we worked until 11 in the warehouse (or rather, basement) of the mission. Sorting everything from shoes to sheets and boxes to books, organization was the goal - a very idealistic goal, but a goal nonetheless. We worked under a man by the name of Willy who has been at the mission since 2002.

At 11:00, we went back upstairs to help in the kitchen. After we ate, we helped serve those that live the mission, clean up after them and were simply given the opportunity to talk to them - to hear their story.

One man, who never told me his name, walked in to the kitchen to speak with a man working there. They greeted each other as only friends would - with a huge that erupted in laughter. The man who came into the mission was clean-shaved with a happy yellow smile. He looked at the other man and exclaimed, “I graduated!” The polo with “TSU” plainly embroidered in the corner said it all. He was congratulated by the man working at the mission.

When this TSU graduate overheard we were volunteering from West Virginia, he looked at me and said with surprise in his voice, “You came all the way from West Virginia?” I told him we had and then I asked if he had gone through the program at the Rescue Mission. He said, “Yes, but I never did drug or drank alcohol. I had a gambling problem. In three days, I spend $29,000 and then my daughter found out and got me help. Now, I am done with all that.” His story was both humbling and inspirational.

Throughout the day, multiple workers at the mission thanked us for being there. Perhaps this is one of the things I am struggling with most at this point. I am glad we have been able to be here and I feel like these people bless us more than we could ever bless them. “You’re welcome” avoids these feelings of humility, while “thank you” still says too little. Being here causes the taste of food to lose its excitement, the joy of shopping to fade and the thought of vacation to merely seem selfish. What more is there to life than to love on another? These relationships - they keep people going. The only reason those men are in the Rescue Mission is because they know that the people working there haven’t given up on them. They know they have hope because someone in this world loves them. They are allowed to dream once more because another person is standing beside them holding their hand all the way. This is life and it makes me wonder…what am I doing every other day?