Monday, August 25, 2008

Part 2

Well my aunt dropped me off in front of the church at 8 or so and I walked to the front door to setup shop there. I pulled out of my bag my blanket, a sign I had made that said "Homeless and need help. Please spare change. God Bless." I had a cup we had picked up at Tim Horton's and I put out my little Gideon Bible. I then put my book bag next to me and sat down, covered up, and leaned on the church to fall asleep. Not long after I did this I heard something going on inside the church and voices were getting closer. I didn't move, some because I was still tired, but mostly so that it looked like I slept there all night. After a few minutes a guy opened the front door and and asked if I wanted to come in and get warm. I declined the offer and told him I was fine out there. He asked if I wanted some coffee (which I don't drink anymore) but I thought sure that would warm me up so I accepted. I gathered up my things and put them in my back pack and walked in behind him. Nervous looking and surveying every room I walked slowly with a slouched body language and a head hung as of a broken man. He took me into the Pastor's office and the Pastor introduced himself again and said that they would see what they could do for me and so I was taken into a large room where socials are held and given some coffee and cookies. After a while the guy who invited me in brought me a half eaten bag of Frito Twists and a can of Vienna Sausages. I quickly put them in my bag and held onto the coffee for warmth. There was also a Sunday School class being held at the tables where I was seated and the Sunday School teacher had looked on my website and found that I was going to be at that church so he called the Pastor and found out, but he kept it hush hush. So as people came into class they introduced me as Perry and said I was at the Block Bash that they had held the day previously. Kind words were said but they were few and quick because I definitely was stinking and probably wasn't the person they thought of when the word "visitor" was said. So I went through Sunday School class and since I had been sitting there for 2 hours my seat was starting to hurt my butt so I squirmed and scooted around to make it a little more comfy. At one point the guy sitting next to me offered to share his Sunday School and when the teacher got up and went to look for another one the guy sitting next to me patted my leg and after his hand left there was a $20 bill!! I didn't say anything and just put it in my pocket and was amazed that somebody would do that!! The Sunday School teacher came back unsuccessful but the guy next to me offered me his book to share so I looked at it and it was so hard not to say something because it was about scripture, my favorite topic!! After Sunday school the guy who was sitting next to me offered to take me into the sanctuary and wanted to know if I needed to use the restroom so I said I did. I still had the coffee that I don't drink, so I dumped that into the toilet and took a break for a second and straightened up my back for a second because it was hurting to be slumped over all that time. As I came out of the bathroom I just walked past everybody and tried to sneak into the sanctuary. However I was stopped by a couple of greeters and they handed me a bag of goodies for being a visitor. I had talked previously with the Pastor about where to sit to see who would feel uncomfortable with me around. He told me and I headed that way as I entered, however they were already there, so I sat in front of them, I figured if nothing else they would at least smell me! As the service started a few people greeted me but the music started and the service was about to begin everybody took their seats....

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