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Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Campaigns, Collaboration, DRIVES, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Love Kits, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , The Local Church, Transform, Vision

The Countdown Begins (21 DAYS Weight Loss)

Today marks a historic day (I’m on ALL juice)! Why? Because today I am officially 21 DAYS away from walking thirty miles to raise awareness on behalf of homeless people around the country who have to walk long distances to survive.

Paralleling my preparation to walking this many miles, I have been on a weight loss journey. I have been overweight for a few years, and thought it would be awesome to transform my eating habits and lifestyle while aiming to serve and help others. I started my journey 29 DAYS ago eating salads, fruits, veggies, and drinking nothing but water (I haven’t had a juice or soda in 29 DAYS). This has helped me to drop 15 of 35 pounds that I wanted to lose to accomplish this task! Since eating healthy, I have had more energy, been really focused, and am confident to continue the journey.

Now, I am on a juicing regimen along with walking many miles each day for preparation. In order for me to accomplish this task, I desire to be in top notch health and shape. It is my hope to drop these pounds, and cross the finish line at Paschal’s Restaurant on North side Dr on March 1, 2014.

In fact, I am inviting people to meet us on North side Dr to meet me and walk the last mile with me…More info will comes in days to come.

Below is a picture of my route

30mile

I ask that you continue to pray for #lovebeyondwalls and this journey!

Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Education, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Serve,

The Countdown Begins (DAY 23 LEARNING)

Over the last 27 days, I have learned a lot about commitment, devotion, leadership, and discipline! Currently, I am 23 DAYS away from doing one of the most life daring things I have ever done in my life (walking 30 miles), and I still have more weight to lose (23lbs).

It has been hard, but I have stayed the course… It is my hope that I can achieve the goal of 30-35lbs as I continue to change my eating patterns, and excersie every single day. However, along the way I have learned five important lessons about leadership…Here goes:

1) Leadership takes effort — If you want to lead, it will require effort on your end. Leadership is never given, it is earned.

2) Leadership requires discomfort — If you are out in front, there will be times you will be uncomfortable so you may serve others. However, the discomfort will grow you as a leader, not damage you.

3) Leadership is always seen — Even in the gym, random people would ask my trainer and myself what we were doing, and when we told them (people would watch harder). Not because we are great, but because leadership will always become a model for others.

4) Leadership takes sacrifice — At various points and times, a leader must sacrifice his/her time, energy, and talents for the well-being of others.

5) Leadership is intentional — All leaders must have strategies, plans, and accountability systems in place to accomplish the goals they set. If not, it is easy to become distracted and lose focus.

Hope these help!

Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, DRIVES, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Vision

KIDS GO TO LEGOLAND FREE WITH DONATIONS

Recently, LEGOLAND reached out to us to do a drive for our “LOVEKIT…” campaign.  In fact, they are doing a DRIVE for #lovebeyondwalls to help us reach our goal of 300 hygiene kits for the homeless in ATL. Read an earlier blog [HERE] about why we are doing this drive.

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Below is the verbiage they have placed on their site,

“We’re having a hygiene drive for Love Beyond Walls throughout the month of February! Donate 10 items to receive a special offer!

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta will be having a hygiene drive for Love Beyond Walls Organization throughout the month of February! Bring 10 hygiene items for a special discount offer!

We are so happy to be working with Love Beyond Walls Organization this February”

Click the image below and it will take you directly to the offer! Thanks for your support.

legoland

Terence

 

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, DRIVES, Education, Engagements, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Serve,

The Countdown Begins (DAYS 28-26 STORIES ARE AMAZING)

I really can’t believe I only have 26 more days until I walk 30+ miles on behalf of ALL who are homeless in this country! This is totally something I have never done before in my life, but I feel like I should. I may be as focused as ever at this point! Why? Because I truly have a heart for those without a voice!

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Here’s why:

This past saturday, we mobilized 40+ volunteers to hit the streets with us to engage those who are homeless in ATL! I truly encourage those who serve with us not to give ONLY a hand-out, but connect with them as people and HEAR their stories.

I encourage people to build relationships in hopes to create trust between the served and those that serve. NOT TO SAVE, BUT TO RESTORE DIGNITY! Well, something special happened this past Saturday…

A young lady (Flowers) who has been serving with us connected with a gentlemen, heard his story, talked to him for hours, and wrote down tons of free resources for him to use to get himself together (and off the streets).

Well, when we went out there again… this same guy walked up to her, and shared with the entire group all the steps he had taken. He was clean shaven, showed the group many of the things he had collected, was looking for work, and mentioned he was checking himself into a facility this week (WED). Even better, he prayed with us at the close…

People who served (young and old) got a chance to see what God can do through relational power!

This story is powerful because he remembered not the handouts, but Flowers taking time to hear his story.

We are checking up with him this week for encouragement and to make sure he follows through. With stories like these, I can’t help but to see this 30 mile walk through, continue to build #lovebeyondwalls, and continue to love on those that are forgotten… Continue to pray for my strength as I prepare mentally to take this huge step of faith.

Below is a picture of our new friend Tony! Pray for him, and his new steps toward freedom!

2014-02-03 06.06.37 Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, DRIVES, Education, Great Commission, Homelessness, Interview, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Serve,

30 Mile Video (The Journey)!

Have you ever seen what 30 miles looks like in a video? Here it is… This is the journey ahead of us…#lovebeyondwalls

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Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, DRIVES, Great Commission, Homelessness, Interview, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Serve, , Uncategorized

The Countdown Begins (29 DAYS LEFT – Four Reasons to Walk)

Yesterday, I received a few emails from people asking me, “Why are you walking so far for homelessness?” or “Can I walk with you?” Well, you’ll find my answer in the four points and picture below:

 1) I am walking because I believe the voiceless often times go unheard — There are many people who have hit rock bottom, and have had a hard time recovering from that low place. You’ll never hear their stories, or see them on the news. Nonetheless, their stories MATTER (no matter where they are, or what happened). Therefore, #lovebeyondwalls would like to sacrifice our time and energy to do something that will uplift them.

Maybe you can relate with being voiceless… I know many of us who were trapped in cars the other day for hours and hours can relate.

2) I am walking because of my homeless friends under the I-20 75/85 bridge — There are many that I have befriended under that bridge. In fact, they call me every other day, and I truly care about them. Of course I don’t have tons of resources to pull them off the streets (yet), but I listen to them, know their stories, shed tears with them, model Christ to them, and consider them people that God loves dearly. And, if God loves them, I am going to love them too… Hopefully, my walking will inspire someone to come along side #lovebeyondwalls, and help restore “some” that want to be restored.

3) I am walking to teach people what I’ve learned — While homeless around Christmas time, I learned five lessons from walking in the shoes of the homeless. And, I would like to share those lessons. One of the lessons has to do with walking. When you are homeless, there is non-stop physical movement… especially during the winter months! Without the ability to walk, you could stay somehwere and literally die (if you don’t have that ability or support).

Do all people who are homeless have to walk? No. However, many people who stay on the streets do…

4) I am walking because of the picture below — Below is a picture of one of my homeless friends that uses socks for shoes. Have you ever walked miles in socks? I haven’t either. Therefore, not only am I walking to raise awareness, restore dignity, and mobilize people — I am walking to help some people get simple things like shoes to survive and live.

Short answer, YES people will join in at various points to walk… That information will come in later blogs…

Until then, continue to pray our strength as we prepare to make this journey…

2014-01-25 10.30.55

Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blankets & Socks, Campaigns, Collaboration, Diversity, Education, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Serve,

The Countdown Begins (30 DAYS LEFT – SECOND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN)

Do you want to know why I am losing almost 30lbs? Here goes…

Did you know that people who are in transition (homeless) have to walk to survive? In fact, if they live in a major city like Atlanta, walking is a must.

“You have to walk to shower…Walk to eat… Walk to use the restroom… Walk to get food… Walk to find clothing… Walk to find employment… Walk to the bus stop (or train station)… Walk to get medical help… Starting to get the picture yet?”

Walking is a means of survival, life, and wellbeing to someone who doesn’t have a home or the necessities of life. These are hard shoes to wear! Why? Because it takes a toll on your body, your hope, and your energy level….

WATCH THIS VIDEO

[embedplusvideo height=”500″ width=”500″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1ez98jl” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/pK1SpZjs5hU?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=pK1SpZjs5hU&width=500&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep8003″ /]

 

Could you imagine walking 50-70 per week just to survive and make it (hoping to transition off the streets)? Could you imagine walking 365 days out the year? Could you imagine being tired from survival and having very little energy to do anything else?

Well, #lovebeyondwalls is going to do something about it…While living on the streets for three days, I found out that many of my homeless friends walk tons of miles per week to survive (watch the video). Walking is equivalent to water and food to a homeless person.

On March 1st, 2014, I am going to attempt to do something I have never done in my life to teach people what I have learned about the survival of people in transition (homeless).

Along my journey, I am going to invite people at various points to join in with the walk on later blogs… Also, I will release the specific journey that I will take, and how you can meet me at the end of the journey (and what we are doing in March)…

I am going to wear the shoes of the my homeless friends again by walking thirty miles straight in one day (four miles over a marathon). Why? Because many of my homeless friends in Atlanta and across this country have to walk to survive! It’s a little less than the distance that some homeless people have to walk per week. BUT, It’s going to take me 10-12+ hours to do it…I am also doing this to teach the world the top five lessons I learned while homeless. This will be a way #lovebeyondwalls can show the world how much a person without a home has to go through to live and survive. Why? Because many homeless people walk marathons every week (without notice). #lovebeyondwalls has created the second homelessness ribbon! It is a ribbon for the voiceless. We have created this ribbon to give those who are overlooked, and deemed rejects of society a voice. Therefore, we are calling it “VOICE FOR HOMELESSNESS…”

Our organization feels that this is one way people can correlate walking with “walking to survive…” (literally)

Instagram 1.1

I’m walking in the shoes of the homeless again, and hope to help many restore their lives from the streets… Pray my strength!

Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Great Commission, Homelessness, Interview, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sociology

The Countdown Begins (DAYS 32 & 31 STRANDED)

Yesterday, I experienced one of the longest days of my life (in a car)…

I was stuck in traffic, ice, and a snow storm for more than 14+ hours. I ran out of gas, had to be pulled out of a ditch, and drove on the wrong side of the road at 1 mile per hour to get home around almost 2AM in the morning (I had been in traffic since 10:30AM the day before).

However, two miracles got me home… Firstly, a nice older man gave me gas after running out sitting in traffic six hours in Douglasville. This same old man pulled my car out of a ditch and led me to the gas station in his truck so I could fill up again. From there, he led me all the way from Douglasville to Fairburn Rd where he wished me luck to get home.

After traveling some distance, I arrived on Camp Creek Parkway where I sat another seven to eight hours… All of a sudden, a random truck driver approached me vehicle and said, “I want to help you get unstuck…”

He suggested that I drive up the wrong way to get home… I was hesitant, but persisted to do so, and to my surprise was able to bypass tons of cars, and traffic. I saw cars in ditches, 18 wheelers flipped over, tons of ice, people crying and walking, and several trucks and cars stalled. It was a horrible sight.

However, I was able to maneuver through it all (while sliding) hoping to make it home. After 14+ hours, I made it home. I can’t tell you how, but I can tell you that I was exhausted, hungry, tired, and overwhelmed. By God’s grace I made it.

After experiencing that yesterday, and hearing all of the horrible stories around the city of Atlanta, I am more than pumped to continue journeying toward #lovebeyondwalls second campaign… Why? Because it is almost parallel with what the city experienced. We will release it this Friday…

Terence

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