Today is the first actual day that we were able to rally people around the office and paint! Why? Because we just secured our certificate to occupy paper yesterday. It’s the middle of April and a little behind, but definitely on track (God’s timing). Below is a panoramic picture of some of the team working today!
We are definitely excited about planting “LOVE” in ATL!!!!
Terence
The single greatest gift we can give to another person is empowerment.
As we continue to move toward the warm weather season and begin enjoying all of the activities that are offered to us in our city, we need to remember that there are people and families still continuing to struggle to make it through each day.
Currently in Atlanta, there are an average of 4,000 beds available each night, for an average of 6,000 + people who need them. That means that there is a 2,000 + deficit in available beds.
Many people that are currently living within the homeless population underwent a major life crisis that led them there, and they are either unsure of how to get themselves out of the situation, or have lost the means to do so.
As our focus continues to be empowerment, we are beginning to explore more options that could be made available to the population, to help them find stability in employment and housing. This is very much so a “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” scenario. Getting a job will enable people to get housing. However, without housing, it’s difficult for people to present themselves well enough to get a job.
As we move forward, we continue to recognize the need for us to work together as a city wide collaboration effort to combat the homelessness epidemic here. Many people who read our blog and stay current with our organization, not only have many talents to contribute to the cause, ideas to share that could bring more insight, but also potentially the means to help empower a group of people who otherwise could be stuck in a cycle.
If you have any special skills, talents, or resources that you would like to contribute to our cause, please contact us. Thank you!
Jamie
We are 18 days away until I release our next awareness campaign! I am excited.
Terence
Below is an image that highlights some of the work that we’ve done the first quarter of 2014. Continue to pray that God uses #lovebeyondwalls to take the love of God in hard places.
Terence
I got a couple of text messages from a good friend this AM. It went something like this, “Bro, so you aren’t going to tell me the next awareness campaign?” I responded, “I thought I already told you…” Long story short, I didn’t…
Nonetheless, the text messaging conversation went back and forth for a while, and ended up inspiring me to go through with it even more… Honestly, the more I think about this particular campaign, I get even more nervous about doing it. I am normally a very adventurous person, but 90 DAYS is a long time. In fact, it will take 2,160 hours to complete!
I am literally 22 DAYS away, and it will not be easy! But, as I think about the possible impact it will have on impoverished families and children, the more God strengthens me. I am praying that God uses this next campaign to raise awareness, reach people, and mobilized people to love others the way that God loves people. I will release soon.
Below is a fun fact about the campaign:
Terence
Today, I’m sitting here thinking about how intense and how long it is going to take me to complete the third 3rd awareness campaign.
In fact, I have shared the idea with many close friends, and some people honestly think it is nuts. Well, I really don’t think it is nuts… I just think it will make a strong statement for all the children who struggle with generational poverty, lack, and broken families. I only have 24 more DAYS left… I will reveal this Sunday what it is…
Pray that this campaign changes others, changes me, and helps us #lovebeyondwalls!
I’m up… I’m thinking… I’m filled with compassion… My heart is racing really fast as I think about the next awareness campaign… It’s literally 5AM, and the prayer request I received 48 hours ago now is pushing me to go through with it!
The prayer request came from a mother in another state that is battling domestic violence, verbal abuse, and little support for her children. And guess what? She wrote this email from a hospital… Why? Because she is pregnant and is close to delivering another child (did I mention she’s married?)
In fact, her and her children are without many items and is being overtaken by abuse, poverty, and lack. This breaks my heart knowing this… This breaks my heart knowing that she thought enough of #lovebeyondwalls to reach out for prayer…And, I DID JUST THAT… I prayed that God grants her and her children safety!
Do I know this lady? No. BUT, I do know the pain the children may feel. I know what it feels like to have been around this type of brokenness. Can you relate?
Nonetheless, as I read her prayer request in the form of questions, I was moved to tears. Imagine getting this type of email over the weekend. You don’t believe me it brought me to tears? You read her words below (PLEASE EXCUSE THE EXPLICIT WORDS):
Courage: how many times have you verbally abused your pregnant wife? Called her b*tches, hoes, dumb mother f*ckers? How about in front of company? Ever had sex so rough that she ended up in hospital or weeping uncontrollably? What about promised her you’d never work if it meant paying bills instead of buying beer? Oh what about pulled her hair? Maybe calling her seven year old son a bastard or bi*ch as$ m.f. to his face was hurtful enough? Maybe you ran off unannounced for two or three days with the house and car keys? Those girls were just useful for the money they could give you, right? You didn’t want them for sex though? Hickies in your 30’s, but who gave u those? What about the ‘line or two’ order cocaine habit that keeps you from working and constantly falling urine tests? Did her dad suggest they work it out when she told him all about it? Well, this wife has had all that and more, but is too broken to leave. At the end of my rope. Pray for me as many church folk advise me to stick through this. My pregnancy caused me to not be able to work out pay my own bills. unemployment has run out, and with 9.5 weeks left, my cervix is shortening, I’m on bed rest, and baby may come early. All this while my husband constantly leaves me alone with no car and we have not paid any bills so eviction is eminent. Lord, I need Your help just as You’ve come through before. Said, You’d never leave me nor forsake me.
You may be asking, why would you share this? Firstly, I shared it in a way not to reveal the person’s identity. Second and last, I shared it because it is reality, it is what people are going through in this broken world, and I am saddened by the advise that was given to her by “church folk.” She stated that she was at the end of her emotional rope from being abused, cheated on, and some people told her to stay…………… Does this make you cringe?
Of course we have been able to connect this lady with one of our partners to recuse her from this situation, but I am still left with the question, “Who else?”
“What other women and children are experiencing this type of mistreatment and lack?”
“How many more children are suffering with this type of poverty and brokenness?”
Better yet, “What will I do?”
For the last 48 hours, I have read the above prayer more than 100 times… And, it bothers enough to act. Can I save the world? No. But I can zero in on children, and help to give children a voice who experience the residue of brokenness? Yes.
In another email the lady expressed that her children were without clothes, necessities, and other items that kids should have. This broke my heart even more because children never ask to be in situations like this, and still deserve to have their basic needs met.
Therefore, on behalf of this lady, her children, and many other families that I have encountered being plagued by dysfunction, life circumstances, and poverty– I am going to do something.
In 25 days, we are launching our third awareness campaign to raise resources for children who battle brokenness and poverty. Pray for this lady, her children, and the many other children out there battling…
Terence
Yesterday was bittersweet for me! Why? Because when returning to Atlanta, GA. I received a phone call from a person I befriended under the I-20 bridge when I was homeless in December. They are no longer in the state of GA because #lovebeyondwalls reunited them with their family members in a another state. It just so happened that we were passing by an empty “Tent City” when I received the phone call.
When I glanced at the former “Tent City,” it was hard knowing that just a few months ago, many people who we were working with are no longer there. Of course we were able to get eight people off of the streets by reconnecting them with their family, but I am clueless as to where many of the others are…And that pains me a little.
“Are you okay?” my friend asked. I sat in silence before I responded with, “I guess we have to keep working and taking #lovebeyondwalls.” My friend said, “You guys have got to get into that building, and work to get more people off the streets like you did for us…”
“I know…It’s just hard knowing that “Tent City” is empty now….” I said. We caught up some more, and then said our goodbyes…
Not only was the phone call encouraging, but it was heavy too. However, I believe it was the push needed for our “PLANT LOVE” campaign. Imagine being encouraged by someone who had nothing months ago, and is now starting to take steps again. What an amazing feeling…
Today, we are 6 days into working on the actual facility (preparing it to occupy and do more work in our city).
This past Saturday, we gathered with a few volunteers and prayed in the space for the first time, and also saw some landscape get accomplished. This week, we are knocking out a few more essential pieces, getting some more paperwork completed, and planning a little more.
Below is the first shot we took with a few volunteers this past Saturday in our empty office…LOL.
Terence
With the summer quickly approaching (finally!), #lovebeyondwalls will be facing new challenges, while trying to serve the homeless in Atlanta. Instead of looking to find ways to help people stay warm, we will need to find solutions on how to keep people adequately cooled and hydrated.
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the significance of running water in our homes, but here are some facts to think about:
• More than 6,000 Metro Atlanta people (women, children and men) are without a home on any given day.
• Adult humans need between 11-15 cups of water daily for survival in mild temperatures. When temperatures reach mid-summer Atlanta heights, the need for clean water intake goes up significantly.
• Young children are extremely susceptible to severe dehydration and heat stroke, because their internal temperature regulators are not fully matured.
• There is limited availability for free water in the city of Atlanta, and most of the homeless population will be dehydrated during the summer, many of which will need medical attention for heat stroke or severe dehydration.
While we focus on bringing essential tools, support, and opportunities to the community in Atlanta, we also have to ensure that our dedicated volunteers will have proper hydration during our ongoing projects. In our first three months of operation, we had over 750 volunteers contribute their time to the cause. Our volunteers are at the heart of our operation, and we thank each and every one of them for their time.
If you would like to get involved in any of our projects, whether it’s to volunteer time or to donate goods, please contact us through our “Contact” tab. We are also looking for monthly sponsors at this time, to help us raise the money we will need to continue providing opportunities to the community, and to further make an impact on the homelessness crisis we are facing as a city.
#projectTHIRST – Launch May, 2014 – Stay involved to learn details on ways to help!
Jamie
