Day seventy six

I added another one to the multitudes yesterday. Another new customer at the Foodbank and I issued 5 food vouchers, meaning I fed 5 households this week. I don't need to justify myself, but I thought I would explain why, as bad as I'm feeling, I am still going to Southwold every week.

A couple of years ago we were in Tenerife on holiday. One day as we were walking around the island we walked under a bridge, and sitting on the ground was a homeless girl, with paintings for sale. She had a sign that said something like, "Homeless and Hungry". We walked past her and then I said to Anne that I had to go back, so I went and sat on the ground with this homeless girl and I asked her where she was from. She was from Hungary. They were paintings that she had made, so I bought one off her and it is now on the wall in the Southwold church.

Last summer we were going on holiday to Lanzarote. We were flying from Gatwick, so we were driving to our daughter's in Eastbourne. On the way, we went to Canterbury for a visit. For a couple of days before this I had a toothache - a bad toothache! A very bad toothache. It was agony. We went round Canterbury Cathedral and as we walked back to the Park & Ride bus we passed a homeless girl sitting on the ground with a sign that definitely said, "Homeless and Hungry". My tooth was so sore I didn't go back. I wanted to, but I didn't.

Every day of that holiday I thought of that girl sitting not far from Canterbury Cathedral - homeless and hungry. And I wished I had gone back and sat on the ground with her and talked to her and given her money.

But I didn't.

Yesterday, one of my girls, who I haven't seen for months, came to the Foodbank. She is very broken and lost (also foul-mouthed and angry!). I have a lot of compassion for this girl and I would not have been happy if she had turned up and we were not open.

No matter how bad I get, I don't want to stop. The official stance of the Circuit Leadership Team is that I shouldn't be doing anything in Southwold. They talk about mission, but there is little concern with people who are broken and lost.

As unpopular as it might make me, and as much trouble as it may cause me I cannot walk by on the other side again.

I know I won't be here for ever, but while I am I will do what I can, while I can, no matter how much pain I might be in.