Fred

Throughout my time in Denver, I’ve met numerous people who have changed my outlook on homelessness and how I should view/live my life. One man in particular, Fred, whom I met last night (7/14/’10) on our emersion. (Emersion = an activity where we took the role of a homeless person.) Fred is a left handed 35(almost 36) year old from Maryland who has been on the streets for a year and a half. His story is simply - he worked for Bank One who has been recently bought out by Chase, as a result, Fred lost his job. Over time, money was becoming scarce because he failed to do is finances correctly and save up money. He was never involved with drugs or alcohol. His dad became ill and was placed in a nursing home in Colorado Springs. He and his father communicate by phone every now and then, but we all know it’s not the same. [Please pray that one day, he’ll get to spend time with his father.] We approached him to purchase a copy of the Denver Times and we ended up striking up a conversation with him and he told us everything that I have just told you. We had many other conversations but there isn’t enough time or space to explain it all. In total, I think we talked to him for a good hour and a half. (We ran into him – not literally – three times.) I could attempt to explain and express how much this man has changed my outlook on life, but words will never, ever be able to explain it. I wish I could, but I simply cannot. If any of you see me or catch me under-appreciating life, or see me kind of down-and-out, just remind me of this amazing man or even bring up Leo (another incredible older gentleman I met.)
That is all for today, I’ll blog again soon… Hopefully.

Ariel Hanna ‘10

Being Bilingual

Hey everyone! It is hard to believe that we really only have one day left in Denver. Our schedules have been so packed with activities that it is all quickly becoming a blur. Before I came here, I was busy preparing for college and taking four-hour language placement tests. I thought I would get a break from that, but yesterday, I realized that was not the case. In one of my favorite experiences of this trip, I found myself standing with two Hispanic day laborers on a street corner, speaking entirely in Spanish. We were delivering Mexican pastries and water to a group of laborers waiting for work on the street. Our task was to interact with them, and to listen to their stories. This was a problem for most people in our group, since almost all of the laborers spoke only stilted English. Though I was initially nervous, it took only a few moments before I was deep in conversation with two laborers, who seemed relieved that I could speak with them in their first language. The ensuing conversation was fascinating. Both men were illegal immigrants, who had come from Mexico because they could not find work there. One of them had lived in Arizona for six months, but he left recently because of his fear of 1070. I got to hear about their views about corruption within the Mexican government and police. We talked about the economy, about the extensive Mexican cartel problems, and about their struggles to learn English. On last year’s mission trip, the one thing that we all regretted was that we never got to speak to actual illegal immigrants. Yesterday, I felt like I finally got to complete that experience. I am so excited that I could truly communicate with them, after studying Spanish for so long in high school, and I am grateful that they were willing to share their stories.



Meredith Jackson, ‘10

Northeast Church of Christ

My group has been going to the Northeast Church of Christ every day of the week to play with the kids of the neighborhood surrounding it. The neighborhood is a little impoverished, so the church provides activities for the children so they do not get in to trouble. One of the activities that we did with them was playing with water balloons. As most people know, water balloon games eventually turn into a big water balloon fights and it is impossible to restore order until they run out of balloons. When the kids ran out of balloons they turned on the hose and soaked us completely. It was lots of fun until Ishmael, a 14 year old participant of the water games, got his hands on some more water balloons and decided to hurl them at us point blank as hard as he could. Now, I had been talking to Ishmael earlier and he said he loved to play baseball. This kid had an arm. I mean it was ridiculous. He hit me right in the chest and I had a red mark for a few days. I wasn’t his only victim though; he had hit Jack and David in the head too. At the time it made me a little angry but when I think back about it, I realize that these kids would be out on the streets in gangs or doing drugs and getting into trouble if they weren’t able to come and have a good time at the church with us. I would be happy to take a water balloon to the chest if it means keeping these kids off the streets.

I miss you Mom, Dad, and Heather!

From, Nathan Arkwright

Vlogosphere 2010 - Episode 5 - "Interview With Jon Rice"

My Calling

I have always wanted to go on a mission trip but I have always come up with excuses on why it wasn’t for me. But hearing at church the Sunday before the youth was to leave that they were short parent chaperones I sat there feeling as if God was standing before me saying “They are talking to you”. I almost found myself saying out loud in church “who me”. I sat there for about 30 seconds before I realized there was no turning back I had prayed about how I could be of service to him. I talked to John and he seemed to be as excited as I was that I felt as though I was being called to go on this mission trip. I was someone who had a hard time talking to people I never met before. I was going to be way out of my comfort zone but just felt a real calling to do this. Today I went to the senior services center and met a man named John who ran the place like he was proud to be there. This establishment is a center that serves homeless seniors; the requirement is that you have to be at least 55 to get a meal here. They serve three meals a day and learn all they can about every person that walks through their door to accommodate as many of their needs as possible. Usually they stand in a line and get their dinner from a window and it sometimes takes hours to serve them. Tonight since there was 11 of us to serve them they got to sit at their tables and be served restaurant style. They thought this was wonderful they were so grateful and thanked us all. When we had finished serving them we spoke to John and learned a little about the center. He shared with us how he use to be homeless, he went from owning four condos and making good money to homeless within weeks. This was due to depression from losing his son. He came to the center to get help one day and the case manager helped him with clothes a place to live a meal and gave him a job there. He was so grateful he now has been there for 4 years and even has bought himself a car. He says he works there to remind himself that none is beyond homelessness and he doesn’t ever want to forget where he came from, or the fact that God had a plan for him. He touched my heart he was so passionate about his job and showed the people before him respect like they were his best friends, all 75 of them. I left there realizing I wanted to be like him serve people in the name of Christ and hold nothing back regardless of who they are. Comfortable or not from now on I will hold nothing back, I will finish off this mission passionate about serving God instead of worrying about what makes me comfortable.

Karen McMillen

Vlogosphere 2010 - Episode 4 - "Interview With Melanie Heredia"

An Awesome Day:)

Hi everyone it's Mady again.  Today was such a great day, all the kids at the Bridge Project are really starting to get comfortable with us so we're having more fun with them.  Some twins today were celebrating their birthday there today and you could tell how special it made them feel to have thirty kids singing them "Happy Birthday" and playing games in their honor.  I felt pretty special myself today when we were waiting around for the lingering students to get picked up.  One little girl, Kelly, was very excited about the purse she was carrying that day and was showing me the contents, a ring and a bookmark.  When I complimented her on her treasures she asked if I wanted anything.  The fact that this child living in the projects was asking me if she could give me the contents of her purse struck me as one of the kindest and most innocent actions I had every seen.  What struck me even more was that after I declined she said, "Okay, I'm going to bring you something tomorrow."  These kids are amazing and I feel so lucky to get to hang out with them every day.
Thanks for reading!
-Mady

A Surprising Start

This is my first mission trip and after less than three days of service I have been pushed far beyond my comfort zone. On Monday morning, our first day in Denver, my group (group 4) drove into the city and stopped in the area that is the pedestrian mall. Our CSM hostess dropped us off in front of a Walgreen’s, split us up into to groups, gave each group $8, and told us to buy some items and hand them out to homeless people on the streets. I have never done anything like this in my life and when our hostess told us she wasn’t coming with us I experienced a minor panic attack. The idea of just going up to people on the streets terrified me, but the experience was well worth it. I met many people; some were grateful and eagerly told us their life story while others wouldn’t even take a water bottle. One man, however, left me feeling inspired. As we walked down the stone street looking for someone to help, Madison Heath and I heard a man playing the piano and immediately recognized it as “A Thousand Miles”. I approached the man playing the piano and put a water bottle next to his bench. His face lit up with gratitude and soon our whole group was gathered around our new friend Derek listening to him talk and play the piano. The amount of happiness that seemed to be streaming out of him despite his situation amazed me. The fact that he could seem that pleased with his life actually made me feel ashamed about how I have complained about some of the smallest little things in my life. His positive attitude was infectious though, and as I walked away I felt like I really was making a difference in these lives. Because of this man I met in the morning of my first day, despite any uncomfortable situations I have kept my mind open and made the best of it.

- Allison Heredia

Vlogosphere 2010 - Episode 3 - "Ethnic Food With Zack Mills"

Vlogosphere 2010 - Episode 1 - "Welcome to Denver"

Wednesday- Group 2. Good Morning

We got up early this morning and had breakfast and headed off to the Bridge project, which is a safe place where underprivileged kids can achieve academic success by learning how to type on computers and how to read higher level books. The child that I was able to help today was Adam. He was only four and was very quiet when I first met him and he told me he couldn’t read. When I was reading his “Magic Tree House Kids” he started to read along. I asked him to read and he started to read really well. It was really rewarding to see an underprivileged kid be so happy to read to someone. After we said goodbye to the kids today, we went to Convergence Park in downtown Denver and had our sack lunches. It was a little breezy and kind of hot but, then we went down to the river and put our feet in the water. It felt so refreshing on our feet and cooled us down. We just got back to the CSM building and are enjoying a couple hours of rest before we embark on our next task in which we will get only two dollars and go around in a poor African American neighborhood in search of the best deal on food to fill our stomachs. This task will help us better understand how to eat enough that we don’t starve but, not too much that we waste all our money on food. It has been such an amazing experience so far and I don’t want it to end. I have learned so much and I keep learning new things as time goes on here. See you all soon.
-Taylor Davis

Smugmug Pictures!

Here are pictures of our trip so far. Check back later for more!

Monday - Group 2

Today we all decided to go help out younger kids; the funny thing is we all really decided to go back to the same place again. We had to do an activity yesterday; we all got $8 and went to find some homeless people on the street. We searched and searched all around downtown for people, but there was no luck. So we decided to head back, while we were going back to the vans we met a guy laying on the sidewalk. His name was Morry Owens; I will never forget what he told us that day. “Stay in school, and enjoy the little thing in life.” He was working for NASA, he built rockets. He was one of the people who helped built the rocket on the first trip to the moon. It just hit me how people can lose things so fast and how people don’t take the time to pay attention to people and listen to what they have to say.

“Sir, I will treat you like a gentleman not because you are one, but because I am one.”
-Thomas Jefferson

I hope tomorrow will be even better, this trip has really impacted my life and that I should enjoy what I can in life.

-Esteban Saathoff

A Small Bandage on a Large Wound

I never thought I would feel as frustrated as I did on the mission trip, let alone the first 12 hours. The absolute difference between rich and poor was incomprehensible. Anyone who has ever been to downtown Denver has seen the magnificent capital building. Its beautiful architecture is unmatched, and yet, not twenty yards away, a man is sleeping in the park with literally nothing to his name.

The city of Denver is a peculiarly economically diverse city. Within less then ten minutes, you can go from the projects of Denver, to the actual mansion of Molly Brown (yes, the unsinkable Molly Brown). Before tonight, I never had an exact definition of social injustice.

When I woke up this morning, I felt that nothing I could do on this trip could possibly help anyone. I felt my efforts would be a small band-aid on a ridiculously huge gash that would not stop bleeding. My attitude changed when I met Awaleh. He had no father and his mother was probably living pay check to pay check. This little preschooler was easily the most happy and content kid I have met in a long time. His constant stream of energy changed the way I looked at this mission. I can sincerely say that my hope for the future week is rejuvenated.

Miles Kent '13

Day 1

Hey everyone!
It's Mady and Melanie and we're writing from Denver on the afternoon of our first full day in the city. 

After a long two days of travel, we arrived at CSM last evening just in time to visit an AMAZING Vietnamese restaurant.  It was awesome to get to expand our culinary horizons - although we didn't use quite as much hot sauce as the Jo(h)ns did.  We, unlike them, do not have a death wish (or at least a wish to be miserable for the rest of the night.)
Following the phenomenal mango milkshake we got for dessert, we took a prayer tour around the city.  This involved seeing a lot of the different neighborhoods in Denver as well as learning about some of the different organizations that are fighting to help the city's impoverished.  We were able to get a close-up view of some of the problems and to pray for them on location.
- Melanie

Six hours of sleep later we hit the streets again to go try and meet the needs of the homeless with a few necessities bought at a corner drugstore.  It wasn't too hard to find someone we thought could use the towel and water bottle we had purchased, but the first three approached weren't interested, they simply thanked us and said there was a kitchen on the corner that served three meals a day, they were covered.  It's amazing how well Denver takes care of their homeless population, most have the basics met, they're just looking for steady work and stable housing.  When we finally found a man who was interested in what we had to offer we had already started conversations with a handful of people, all of whom weren't involved with drugs or alcohol and one was even on her way to school, which I thought was awesome.
- Mady

We need to leave now for our Greek dinner and then to another service project, but we love you all and will blog again later. :)

Clayton House Experience

Hey everyone,
 Well today was our first official day of working in Denver. Last night we went on a prayer tour and drove around the different parts of the city and learned about how each gentrification is changing the neighborhoods. Anyways back to today, my group went to the Clayton House to go play with the preschoolers. Most of them come from low income families. When we walked into the classroom we all sang a song so the kids would get to know our names. Then the kids picked one of us to be their buddy for the day. My buddy was a really sweet little boy who I can't give out his real name in order to protect him. We then read our buddy a book, which they got to take home with them. After that we did arts and crafts, played with toy race cars, and then we played outside. At the end of our stay all of our buddies took our name tags to remember us which was really cool. Unfortunatly our time there was really short because these kids were awesome. It was amazing to see how that even though these kids come from a poor home life they showed a lot of respect for one another and were extremely well mannered. Well thats all I have for now, I hope everyone is doing well back home.
- Zack Mills

Memoirs of a Jackson

HELLOOOOO BLOGOSPHERE!!!!!!

Senior Blogger, Jackson Parker, here. I AM THE FIRST BLOGGER ON THIS TRIP! After spending around sixteen hours with one another in vans, we have finally made it to Denver. The ride was filled with laughter, sorrow, and “holding it in for a little longer’s.” I am pleased to inform you all that we managed to run over a mere three dogs throughout the entire drive. However, it is with great sorrow that I tell you that Lindsey Kerr no longer has any more hair due to an unfortunate accident with an exhaust pipe. (By the way, the thing about the dogs and Lindsey's hair is a joke).  Nevertheless, we made it and are very happy to be here. We were greeted by CSM’s “City Hosts” who broke us up into four groups and took us on a tour around the city. It was truly amazing to see the contrast of living situations from one block to the next. We were taken down a road of extremely luxurious, 19th century homes and not a quarter-mile down a corner of the road were streets teeming with homeless men and houses being left in shambles. Later we were taken down Colfax Avenue, a street that stretches across several cities and spreads for dozens of miles, that is located in the heart of Denver. Zack Mills and I noticed that a band we like was playing a show in a theater that we passed and could hear a familiar song from outside. I considered that if I lived in Denver and was not on this mission trip I would likely be spending my evening in that theatre. Not even five minutes later we came across a part of town that had homeless people sleeping up and down the sidewalk. I thought about how if I’d been in a different place of mind, I would have seriously desired to be at that concert. However, after spending about on hour on the tour before seeing the theatre, I realized that doing a good work this week and learning about poverty is my main concern. We ended the tour in the outskirts of town with a perfect view of Denver’s skyline. We reflected on the good and the bad that reside in this city and look forward to spending the next week of our lives here.

Getting Ready for Denver! and New Blog Features!

After months of planning we are finally here! In less than 24 hours we'll be on the road to Denver. John, Mary,  the rest of the codirectors and I have been at work getting everything ready. We have added a few features to the blog to keep you all informed about what we will be doing this week, including:

• Email subscriptions: you can now get daily email updates about our trip. type in you email below or on the sidebar and follow the directions for confirmation to receive a daily update that contains all of our blog posts
• Facebook "like" button: If you don't want to comment but want to show your support, you can now "like" articles. this feature is linked to Facebook and it will post a link to the article on your profile.
• Video Blogs (vlogs): If everything works out right we will be able to do several "vlogs". These will be short video testimonials made by youth, giving a clip glimpse into what life is like on our trip.

I'd like to give a big thank you to everyone for their support, prayers, and encouragement over the past several moths as we have been getting everything ready. I can't believe we are already about to leave!
-David Ingraham

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