Atlanta - Homelessness

GREETINGS from the ATL!!!

Only two days into our spring break trip, I am already seeing things from a new perspective. Complaining that I am hungry or sweaty seems ridiculous to me now as I can look out our window here and see homeless people sleeping on the street with their belongings in a trash bag. We all complained that the shower here was too cold and had low water pressure; we should be truly grateful that we even have access to a shower! It is very interesting that even when we leave our volunteering sites, we are still immersed in the poverty and homelessness around us on the street. We have met several people on the street who have asked us to simply give them a dollar or two so they can get a ride to work or get food. Our learning experience about homelessness does not end when we leave our volunteer sites. It puts things into perspective when we are all middle class young people who have our basic needs satisfied and live good lives, while there are people living on the streets praying that they can get enough food to eat.

Today we had the opportunity to sit in on an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting today at Cafe 458. It was a deeply moving experience for me. It was so intense to hear people talk about how they realized that the bad decisions they made have ruined their live in certain ways. One man talked about how now he is in recovery from alcoholism and is putting God first and his family first. It was so inspirational to hear him talk about how he wants to improve and be better for his kids. One man in the AA meeting was only 25 years old and he had already been through prison and had lived on the streets and been shot at. He is only 5 years older than most of us. He said he is thankful that he realized he needs to turn his life around now rather than in 20 years like many of the older members. It makes me sad to think that many people our age are just now getting involved in drugs and alcohol and don't realize that the bad choices they are making now in their youth will make them end up in an AA meeting in 10 years.

Our group dynamic is AMAZING! I feel like I have known these people for so long. Every day we laugh until we cry. Several times. We are crazy silly and love to goof around and have fun. I am so thankful that we all get along and that I already feel so close to my group members. I know that after the trip I will continue to hang out with many of my new friends! :) This trip is already proving to be such a fun and life-changing experience; I am so glad that I decided to apply for ASB and that I was accepted. Hope you all are enjoying following our blog!

Love from Atlanta!!!!

Sincerely,

Jody Gerth & the rest of the ASB Atlanta family :-)