Week 20

"Tonight the first thing we did was go down by the railroad tracks. We saw some tents set up right by the tracks. It was an extremely eye-opening experience. A train went by, and it was really loud--this is what the people live with--it's their home. "

"We met Jamie! He graduated from Hoban in '88! He was super nice and appreciative of our company. We found him sleeping on the staircase. Jake and Katie were a little iffy about going up there, but he was very friendly. He remembered a few of the teachers and talked to us about his high school days."

-- Katie Cottrill, tonight's scribe

Witnessing Humanity

"I talked for a long time with a very kind man named Carlos. He was telling me all about starting school next month at Brown-Mackey college. He wants to start a restaurant, because he loves to cook and bake. The EXCITEMENT in his voice was so sweet. He told me he loves to learn, because his brain is like a sponge."
--First Time Hopester Mary Dieglo writing about our longtime friend Carlos


Items we need: warm socks, gloves, large hoodies and large coats.

Another World

Basketball Team Shows Teamwork

Six members of the Hoban Basketball team, including coach Griffith, joined the Project last night and easily slipped into character, engaging our friends in conversation like old pros.

AJ Pero took the scribe book and wrote these words spoken to him by one of our friends, "He said he finds warmth from the love of God and the blessings he feels he gets from all of the people coming to help."

Our friend Ron copied down the poem Tumbleweed for us. As he walks through these homeless days of his life, he confessed to us that he feels like a tumbleweed, rolling about from place to place, without any home.

The Epiphany

Like the Three Maji, we came bearing gifts on this frigid January 6th.

Spirits were high as conversation swirled freely in the cold. Smiles could be seen on the faces of all, despite the failed hot-packs. Still, sips of tomato soup interrupted by laughter made for a warmer aura than any hot-pack could provide...sort of.

On this night, like many, the enjoyment was mutual. Our friends devoured the chance to tell their stories as we reveled in their trust.

We are comforted with the fact that this is our Wednesday nights, that every week we can wipe our frantic minds free of the frenzied world and spend it in complete joy with our friends.