I'm going to be totally honest in this post. I have never cried at a funeral or viewing of anyone. Ever.
One day in November, I was driving and I was pretty upset over some stuff both of my roommates were doing, and I saw this homeless girl and God told me to help her. I argued for a minute and eventually gave in. My friend and I bought some stuff for this girl. I gave it to her, and we talked for about 30 to 40 minutes. I gave her my number and we talked for about a month before she dropped off the face of the Earth.
I had talked with my roommates about letting her spend the night on our couch and it was alright with them. With this winter being so cold and my friend telling me one of her friends almost froze, I was worried she had died.
A few weeks ago, I had texted her before I took her out of my phone. I figured if she didn't respond she was dead, and at least I tried to contact her. She responded, and we talked for a bit.
Then later that week, she sent me a text confirming where I lived and asking if she could sleep on our couch. I said yes, and I picked her up where she was at. We spent time talking and we're actually fairly good friends. She taught me how to gas chug, which is homeless lingo for panhandling at gas stations for gas and money. I learned how to do this, because I want to know what it's like to be homeless, I want to be "homeless" for a week in each season.
She went to the hospital last night and went to jail tonight. She went to jail because she had a bench warrant which is from not going to court. She got a ticket for panhandling and she paid it off. When the court sent her the summons or whatever it's called for her hearing they sent it to an address she couldn't have possibly gotten it from. I don't know how the cops found her as a bench warrant isn't a really big deal and isn't a cause of concern for the police.
She told me she got arrested and asked me to write her and visit her. I'm going tomorrow to see what I can do.
Back to the whole funeral part, thinking my new found friend was dead almost made me cry. I don't know why someone who is so "insignificant"* could have such a huge impact on my life. I mean, I've seen God moving through me by helping her and I've seen how much I have, but I don't understand. Today her friend was taking her to a doctor's appointment, and the car ran out of gas and needed a jump. I helped them. My friend and I hugged for the first time since we met. I can't even begin to describe how the hugs we shared today felt or whatever. I'm still trying to process it, they didn't feel like "normal" hugs. They felt like the hugs I share with family.
My friend likes to cook and I told her she had free reign of our kitchen. Today on the phone before I helped her and her friend, she told me she got her food stamps worked out so she was going to cook for my roommates and I. It is just kind of scary to think that I don't know how long she will be in jail. But I know that God has got her covered and I know that she'll be alright. Prayers for my friend and I would amazing and appreciated.
*I say "insignificant" because to most people the homeless aren't a big deal to them. They have no need to worry about the homeless.
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