SIX DAYS WITH SHELTER

SIX DAYS WITH SHELTER: It’s been six days since Ronald stopped sleeping on the ground and started living in this small house our organization built and he’s already talking differently.

He says, “Now I feel like I have to accomplish some things like getting my ID, social security card and birth certificate. I also want to see if I can reconnect with some of my family back home if I can find anyone.”

Although he has not fully transitioned out of homelessness, having a solid support system has started to build his confidence that it’s possible to start again. He says, “Being warm has given me the space to think…”

Wow. “Being warm….”

Think about it, when life happens who can you call? Maybe a mother, close friend, dad, mentor, etc.

Well, when you’re experiencing homelessness there is a social isolation and depletion of all social equity that strips your strength from community.

That’s why we urge people who make generalizations about the homeless to NOTICE THEM. Noticing someone might give someone the courage they need to keep fighting.

Over the next two weeks, we are going to help him achieve some of his goals.

If you’d like to contribute basic necessities (such as food, bus cards, etc.) until we get him back home safe and sound reach out. 

Terence

Less than 50 – Love Tour!

In less than 50 days, we are going to #loveGA by going on our first tour with our #mobilemakeovers bus! It’s called the #lovetour because we will mobilize/educate people, collaborate for change, and raise awareness for people living in poverty and experiencing homelessness!

We are going to travel the state and take love to multiple cities! More details to follow soon… The Countdown begins now!

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LBW Team

Top Four Challenges of Living on Bus – Mobile Makeovers!

It hit me this AM around 5… It is only four days left until I attempt to do this!

Yesterday, when I picked my daughter up from school she hands me a card that touched my heart… For the last month, my wife and I have been preparing her (and my son) with the information I have been sharing about living on top of the bus for 30 nights.

I told her that she’d see me everyday but that I would be living on a bus trying to awareness/funds so we can help people with #lovebeyondwalls. At first she was uncomfortable because she said, “It was dangerous and she don’t know how I would take a shower” (LOL). But, yesterday it clicked for her. She has been serving with her mom and I since she was a 1 year old. We have modeled our lives in showing her how to be a giving person.

So yesterday she walked up to me, and says, “Dad, I will always be your best friend, and will help you…I’m going to be there…” In fact, she has encouraged me more to start and finish. Check out out card with my beard all grown out…

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This touched something deep within me, but it also caused me to start to think about the top four challenges I’ll face while up there. Here they are:

1) I’ll be staying up there at night in freezing weather. Although, I’ll have a power supply it will still be very difficult because the wind chills will get rough.

2) I will not be able to be with my family. Living on the bus will have me away from my family for a large number of days. I will see them, but it will be very difficult.

3) I will not have tons of social interaction. There are some days where we are going to ask people to come out, but I will be on top of the bus tons of hours and not around anyone. I am going to post my number so random people can call me and check on me.

4) It will be a battle mentally. Because I’ll spend close 700 hours on this bus it will be very difficult for me. I will have a lot of free time, and plan on writing, reading, and posting videos giving people updates.

I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I attempt to do this to glorify God, and hopefully mobilize people to help us get this bus up and going to serve/reach more people in Atlanta.

Terence

First Film Screening was Amazing!

This past Saturday, we encountered a little over 100 people on the campus of Ga Tech to preview our first film (Love in The Trenches)! It was an amazing experience. People stood around, engaged in conversation, looked at many of our art pieces, and got a chance to preview the film.

It was amazing because two minutes into the film, people instantly connected and started shedding tears. We all cried, laughed, and ultimately left inspired to make a difference in the world around us.

We will release the film this week on Vimeo’s platform show viewers who were not able to see it…  Below are some cool pics from our first screening at Ga Tech. IMG_8699IMG_8914

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Terence

Brittany gets furniture, Man finds friends!

Last week, we released Brittany’s story, and got amazing responses! This week people started giving to this single mother with eight children. In fact, a generous couple gives away their furniture to help us start the process of furnishing her new townhome!

She was once homeless, and now is in need of a little help….You can help too! She still needs baby bunk beds, kitchen items, winter clothes for her kids, etc…

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Read her story [HERE]

This past Saturday, #lovebeyondwalls teamed up with Vinings Church, and several volunteers to take love to those who are homeless in ATL. While out serving, the Love Beyond Walls team encountered a man who had been given very harmful drugs and had lost his memory. In fact, he wasn’t homeless but had been robbed and was living as a homeless person…. He was only trying to connect with his friends.10672273_759400770763757_5790484636429957234_n

Long story short, he was visiting Atlanta for the games that were in town, and was able to reconnect with his friends from our time serving. Not only was this amazing, we encountered several homeless friends with amazing stories.

LBW Team