RestorationATL

RestorationATL is unlike any urban ministry I’ve ever seen. Their motto is «being with» is valued more than «doing for.» Volunteers spend an entire weekend with families whom are transitioning out of homelessness. You aren’t here to serve meals, sweep floors or pack gifts. You goal as a volunteer is to have meaningful conversations, build individual relationships with both women and children, fellowship over a meal, and share in activities. By doing so, you add validation to their lives by listening, loving and learning that we are all not so very different from one another.
You may come here thinking you have much to offer and you are gonna really bless someone, but you leave realizing YOU are the one who has been blessed. It is truly transformational to talk with some of these women and hear their stories on what brought them to this point in their lives. You’ll discover in most cases just one bad influence in their lives or one bad choice set them on a course with calamity. Trusting the wrong person can destroy your life.
— Did you know that most MEN who are homeless are that way because of an addiction or mental illness?
— Did you know most WOMEN are homeless because of a choice to be with the wrong man?
THE EXPERIENCE
DAY 1 — Friday (December 11^th, 2015)
Our group arrived around 4:30pm. Spent first hour settling into the communal sleeping area making our bed (with sheets & pillows from home). At 5pm RATL leaders go over protocol for the weekend. At 5:30pm we went to the main dining hall to eat dinner with the residents. The idea is not to sit in team groups, but find a place @ tables WITH the residents, engage in conversation and build a relationship.
Tonight I met Bella, a 3 year old who does not know the meaning of stranger. I was wiping the nose of a little guy probably around 14 months old when Bella came to investigate. She tooted up her nose for a boogie inspection hoping I could help her look her best too! When I informed her she had no boogies for me to wipe, she hugged me and immediately took up residency in my lap. I stayed with Bella for a while as her pregnant mom gathered dinner for her and two other children. Bella’s older sister Joyelle gave me the lowdown on the family. That mom was a great singer and that she was carrying a baby brother in her belly. She was upset with her unborn brother because when she talks to him he doesn’t talk back! I assured her he would be talking so much someday soon that she might wish he were quiet again. Mom agreed. I also met a host of other children & families as later we played games in the gym. But tonight’s memories belong to Bella & Joyelle.
DAY 2 — Saturday
Breakfast with the resident’s at 7am then free play with the kids. The boys chose dodge ball but would later regret that when I unleashed my super accurate dodge ball arm! LOL
During lunch I spent time with a pregnant mom and her two kids. We discovered we have identical personalities. Listening to her speak you would think she was a powerful female CEO. It was hard to understand how someone so well spoken could find herself homeless. But in a familiar story, lack of family and the wrong man left her with no options as she struggled to support two children with one on the way.
We ended our amazing Saturday doing karaōke with the kids. Of course my wife and I did ebony & ivory!!! It was truly a fulfilling day.
DAY 3 — Sunday
Breakfast @ 7am then it was off to serve meals on the streets @ 9am.
We were not the only group. Even the security guard has a ministry. While our group help another group serve food, the guards ministry was giving away, hats, gloves, bags, toiletries and even shoes. He is a reformed gang member whom was changed by this very ministry.
We ended our time here Sunday afternoon after church service where I reunited with a family I’d met on a previous visit. This New Orleans grandmother was already homeless and struggling, but took on the burden of raising her two ADORABLE grandchildren after discovering DFCS was taking the children from the mother. City of Refuge helped her get back on her feet and now she is working at a hospital and living in her own apartment… but still comes back to help others.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely challenging moments. Some of these women have mild mental illness and may not be receptive to conversation. Some can get rude. Others are very unhappy life has temporarily placed them here, and your presence symbolizes pity (in their eyes) that they don’t want. However, modeling GENUINE love breaks down barriers!!! Many that were not receptive on Friday were hugging us by Sunday.
Simply put, I want my life to matter and I want my children to live a life that matters. This ministry is the perfect opportunity for my wife and I to put to action what we believe and model it before our boys. The true measure of any human is how they treat those who can do nothing for them in return. I hope you agree!