Yesterday a mentally-ill chronically homeless woman screamed profanity through the phone, saying she never wanted to see me or come around Renovation Community’s property again. She called back today, sobbing instead of screaming, and uttered heartbreaking words.
I drove to her location and sat with her on a roadside curb next to my Dad Minivan (😎). Anger often filled her face as we spoke.
She’s aged quickly on the Streets but wore heavy makeup, a low-cut spaghetti strap shirt, and no bra.
I usually avoid giving details (sometimes even the gender) about those I serve. But her description may explain the awkwardness I felt as drivers stared and wondered while at a stoplight.
“Is she yelling at a man harassing her?’
“Is he trying to pick up a prostitute?”
At one heated moment, an older man with a military baseball cap in a pickup waited at the light. He glared, with torso turned to his door. I read his intentions. He’d quickly exit his truck and confront me if I raised my voice at the woman or made any aggressive movements.
As the conversation cooled, I called the woman’s brother. But this tired man seemed frustrated I’d even called.
No judgment.
This woman’s mental illness has exhausted me in the short time I’ve known her. Imagine how much worse it feels for hopeless family who have walked this path for years.
Eventually I drove home. Although we regularly provide temporary shelter to those in need, multiple factors make this woman’s stay with us nearly impossible.
She needs a safe place away from men. Less than an hour after leaving, I’d arranged a bed for her at a downtown women’s shelter. Such shelters abide by strict curfews for clients. But they assured me I could bring her at any time tonight.
When my friend didn’t answer my call, I texted her the news. Sadly, she hasn’t replied.
People often ask about our church’s weird name. Why did I choose that?
May this woman’s heartbreaking words on the phone today serve as explanation…
“I’m just so broken but nobody hears me.”
Renovation Community is a church for the unheard Broken. We need Jesus to renovate our broken lives and want to join Him in renovating all that is broken.
There’s room for you, too.
