POST by JED: California Dreamin (Part 6)

Several people, in the Churches we visited throughout Northern California in 2013, offered Elizabeth, Francesca, Lorenzy-Ella, Rafael & Anna, a home to stay in, rather than have them sleep on the Churches’ floors. (very kind people)

At New Life Community Church in Sacramento, California, our delectables were invited into the home of a beaut. couple, Steve & Pam, where they had love lavished upon them day and night. The rest of us Nicaraguan riffraff slept on beds made out of church chairs at New Life’s main premises.

At first sight of the sleeping arrangement my top lip did a sort of impermissible, uncontrollable,  unavoidable curling motion, but when my head finally hit the pillow, and after all the teenage pranks and jokes were out of the way (shoe throwing, siren noises, passing enough gas to heat half of Sacramento’s houses), well I slept like a baby.

Morning time and the reality of New Life’s main premises not containing showers became a significant and smelly reality. I would learn to deal with this reoccurring issue, on a daily basis, but initially I begged, stole and borrowed, in order to feel liquid heat sliding down my tired old body.

In any case, a true-blue, young and fun loving couple took pity on our plight, and opened up their home so that we could rinse our woofy physiques. Taylor and Jamie were great hosts for us, mid-twenties, neck-deep in Church and ministry stuff, plus working their jobs and taking care of their daughter.

Once we smelled a bit better, the dude asked us all to sit down and shared his awesome testimony. He’s a man’s man, so it wasn’t too flowery (no flowers, NOT ONE LITTLE DAISY!!!). The sentences were short and meaty. The boys jaws were wide open by the end (gangster lifestyle complete with drugs, sex and rock’n’roll to-boot + a decade of prison time – It was upon learning this that I swapped the recliner beside the fire place for the straight-back-chair by the front door).

This young man left nothing out of his story and offered our lads his love and encouragement to gun (it turned out to be a figure of speech, so I quickly took my hand off of the doorknob)-for-God. It was an emotional time with lots of hugging and prayers – I live for moments like these. Just… Beautiful…

When we were once again sitting comfortably, with everyone on lounges and recliners and me straight-backed by the front door, the man of the house brought out oodles of DC caps, sneakers and t-shirts, enough for everyone to have one or two of each.

The boys became little girls, squealing with delight, and bickering over colours, shapes and sizes. Nicaraguans LOVE clothing, above everything else, and so this will certainly remain a HIGHLIGHT for these boys' trip to California. However, the generosity displayed by this kind fellow was symbolic of the norm at New Life Community Church.

Now on another day we had the awesome privilege of yet again visiting the Dream Center and going with them to spend some time with a few of Sacramento’s poorest people.

In telling our Nica-lads about this trip into a dusky poverty and homelessness, the boys’ faces betrayed them, their expressions revealing shock and horror. They weren’t in America to visit poor people, there was plenty of that at home in Nicaragua.  They were in America to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ AND enjoy the plentiful bounty that was America (Please sir, I want some more).

Nevertheless we got into our people movers, and headed once again to the magnificent Dream Center in downtown Sacramento. We walked into the first room and were confronted with piles of boxes, food stuffs, chaos and love. We were asked to be seated and took our places on the floor.

The hefty gentleman kept everything upbeat and joked between himself and his overweight counterparts, who also laughed through their smoker’s voices and left us all a wee bit bemused on account of their hearty, yet slightly socially misplaced interactions.

We fitfully went through the process of how to pack a gift bag (full to the brim with food and drinking water) and with the do’s and don’ts of interacting with the homeless.

I half didn’t know what to expect when I arrived in one of the shadier areas of Sacramento’s downtown. The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Frankenstein? The Elephant Man? The Grinch??? We gathered at the end of the street and listened to final, last minute instructions.

We were obstructing the bike path and so moved out of the way and re-gathered. Our Nica-fellas listened-on intently, pretending they understood everything.

Receiving last minute instructions, before ministering to the homeless in Sacramento, CA

And we were off! We marched back onto the bicycle path, completely disregarding the first instruction, which was to keep the bicycle path clear at ALL times. Everyone chatted feverishly, trying hard to contain our bubbling excitement.

The moment felt kind of like “weeeeeeeeeeeeeee’re off to see the Wizaaaaaaaaaaaard, the wonderful wizard of Oooooooooooz…” But only because we were a bunch of complete misfits, and not because of who waited for us at the other end – in fact, looking back, I think the homeless people must have wondered if they’d not been informed it was role reversal day! We were a mixture of nationalities, sexes, ages, body types, languages, cultures, socio-economic statuses, etc. Our only uniting feature was our love for God and humanity.

The first bunch of people encountered stood on the path, clearly homeless. They were a bit on the nose, a couple of them appeared to have something wrong with their intellect and they wore shabby clothes. But besides all that, they were human. 

The first people we encountered on our mission of hope to those in poverty (Sacramento)

The one surprising factor to me was the absence of drugs and alcohol. Really, I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was sure there’d be at least one wine-o amongst ‘em, swiggin his booze and singing sailor tunes. No. Not one! In fact, due to their sober state, we were able to converse as if we were sitting in a fancy-pants café somewhere.

They seemed educated! “He’s an engineer” a fellow beside me said. I turned and looked at this unfamiliar chap and wondered for a second if he too were homeless.  But I saw him later, back at headquarters, interacting knowingly with one of the leaders. “I guess he’s with us” I thought to myself.

“Oooooooh” I responded, not quite sure if I’d been staring, and wondering what my next move should be. Too late, the fellow beside me continued, “Yeeeeeah, it was Vietnam that killed him.” Now looking at the food bag in my hand I extended my arm to the homeless chap. “Riiiiiiiiiight…” I said, still talking with the bloke beside me, but looking straight into the eyes of pain and discomfort.

“How are you?” I asked sensitively. Sezni’s hand began squirming in mine. I suddenly realised his poor little limb was losing circulation on account of my crushing clasp. Was I nervous? Uncomfortable? Disgusted with what I was seeing? Angry? I don’t know…  I released the child to frolic with the natives.

Bicycles, it's how the homeless get around Sacramento

The Vietnam Vet. spoke with a mild British accent and with all the manners of a Buckingham Palace official. We chatted for a while and then it was “Tally-Ho” and into the night he rode - They nearly all have bicycles… They’re very, VERY busy, the homeless… They have to get from this feeding center to that one...

Next we came across a bunch of people too far from the path to visit with. We waved and called out and then a small group from the church and Rene detoured from our trail and headed down into the grassy depths below. They wandered behind trees and bushes to where this specific group camped. 

Rene heading off with his crew, to give love to homeless people in Sacramento

I turned around, realising that another small contingent from our army was departing the bike path. I did my mental tally “1,2,3,4 Briens aaaaaaaaaand 1,2,3,4,5,hang on! Start again 1,2,3 – BEYCKER, STOP MOVING!!!” It was to be no use. I would never, in the dark, be able to keep tabs on everyone. I decided to focus on just the Brien children “1,2,3 – GOOD GRACIOUS!” I glanced around just in time to see Lizzie & Sezni’s bodies disappearing around the underside of the bridge. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

Jonny exploring poverty in Sacramento - a tad shocking for the lad

I twirled around in a panic and again saw something quite startling. Two young people, in their late teens or early twenties, blonde as could be and one of them heavily pregnant. The Dream Center folk handed over their goodies, laid hands on the young couple and began to pray.

Still further down the path, my kids and our Nicaraguan youths disappeared into the brush with other youth from New Life Community Church, handing people food and offering to pray with them.

Nicaraguan youths from Capital on the Edge, learning about poverty from white people in Sacramento

We saw many things on our travels through homelessness. Even in America, the 7^th richest country in the world (Forbes Magazine, 2012), it was interesting to note the diversity amongst those who were homeless. It seems homelessness knows no boundaries and is too, multicultural.

We were told there are several thousand homeless people in Sacramento, just one city in an American state that prides itself on forward thinking and social justice. Yet it seems some are just unable to escape the cycle of poverty, even in such a rich country.

Sadder still, so many Californians appear to be completely comfortable with the poverty that surrounds them. Sadder again? The Churches – who are helping Churches like the Dream Center and the Salvation Army? Nearly nobody… Thank you New Life Community Church of Fair Oakes for caring…

We treaded carefully back to the cars, avoiding human waste at every step (YIKES!!!). We were in high spirits, but had been deeply moved and were contemplative. Once back at the Dream Center we participated in a time of debriefing.

Some people from our team felt grateful for what God had bestowed upon them. Others were moved with compassion and had many questions. Rene, our youngest teen from Nicaragua had this to say:

“In Nicaragua we don’t have homeless people (not true). Every person in Nicaragua is helped by the government (also not true). Even the poorest people try to make a house out of something. I think it is very sad that there are people in America, such a rich country, who do not have a bed to sleep on and a house to live in.”

Debriefing at the Dream Center (Sacramento)

Although a bit juvenile and overly simplistic, the sentiment is there. The Nicaraguan boys were deeply shocked, not by the poverty, but by the context of it. Poverty exists, even in America…   

Final moment at the Dream Center in downtown Sacramento (Capital on the Edge & New Life Community Church Youth)

It seemed to be a week of eyes being opened for our team. On another day we trotted off to help at a foodbank in Orangevale. Our group divided into three. One group assisted in a door-to-door letterbox drop. Another group helped at the center, providing free food to the community’s poor. Whilst a third group helped in the garden, moving dirt from point A to point B.

Mr. Food Bank, our mascot (Rafael from Capital on the Edge)

It was a fantabulous time, with everyone involved laughing and joking whilst working away. We ate hotdogs for lunch and were offered an array of drinks to keep us motivated. 

Working our (Capital on the Edge) Nica-fingers to the bone at the Orangevale Food Bank

Of course I was chief whip-cracker and kept the dirt removalists under the microscope. Nicaraguans are proud people, and it was far too easy to keep them going by stating over and over again that nobody on the face of the planet works as hard as a Nicaraguan. The truth is, I believe it! Nicaraguans don’t have machines like we do in the West, so when it comes to manual labour, they win, hands down.

Staff of Orangevale Food Bank with helpers from Capital on the Edge & New Life Community Church

By the afternoon we changed tack and started performing for the public our dyno presentation of bboy (breakdancing) and tricking (street gymnastics/martial arts). Beck-star, a lovely lass from New Life Community Church, shared her testimony and every person who walked through the doors was offered a haircut – several of our Nica-youths also took the opportunity to have their hair tidied up. What a day! It was terrific…

At the Orangevale Foodbank with New Life Community Church (thanks boys from Capital on the Edge)

Now I have to confess that I’m not GREAT with remembering dates. BUT, I think it was Good Friday that we went to the Pastor’s house for showers. Pastor Mark is no ordinary fella. Underneath that tough, handsome exterior, is a tough handsome interior. He and his beautiful wife, Cathy, are true servant hearts and they’d have to be to do what they did!

Capital on the Edge, performing at New Life Community Church (Sacramento)

Our smelly, dirty crew were invited with open arms and love into the home of the Tuckers. It was there that each young fella stripped off and utilized the showers in the Tucker home, even in the MASTER bedroom. The boys were then treated to EVERY pain relief and swelling reducing medicine available in modern medicine. 

Ericson, being tended to in Pastor Tucker's home (Sacramento: New Life Community Church)

One of the Tucker’s kids, at just 18, came second in the state for wrestling. So smelly boys and all that goes with, are just “normal” in this blessed household. Cathy rolled her eyes a few times, but by and large I could tell that she was blessed to be a blessing. Because of their familiarity with physically demanding sports, they were able to assist us with bandages, crèmes, and braces. They had machines to massage, chairs that extended for patient care, loads of sports channels on tv for our amusement (honestly the boys had never SEEN so many channels), and a sack throwing game outside just for fun. Fresh, fruity drinks were served and all I can say is wowowowoowowow! 

Pastor Mark, throwing his sack... (Sacramento: New Life Community Church)

The Tucker family, a model of generosity, which makes loads of sense why their Church is so committed to helping the broken, both within their home, their Church and throughout the city.

And because of the Tucker family, you see a flow through effect to the other pastors, senior figures within the Church and the youth. I have to say at this point, that the New Life youth group were over the top for Jesus and expressing their love for him in every way. At no other place in California did we feel as welcomed, loved and supported as in the youth group of New Life Community Church. Thanks New Life for a marvelous outreach week. We will be back. WE WILL BE BACK!!!

If you would like to learn more about who our Nica-Youths are, or to support them, please visit their page, SUPPORT Nica-Talent

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page, NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE. 

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTING something significant?

To learn more about New Life Community Church, please CLICK HERE