Friday, February 13, 2009

Lady in Woods

There is a homeless woman in the woods, we share a favorite breed of dog. Hers is named after one of my best friends, we laugh when she tells me. Our meeting flooded me with heartache not for just the dog, but her... as she told me stories of living with Sheiks and Muslim women coming to eat ice cream with her to get away from her husbands. And how the government knows she is there, but they don't bother her because of her "position" It was then I realized this woman was delusional. Having experienced mental illness first hand, I inquired later down the line with one of her "camper" neighbors. He confirmed my thoughts, she suffered from mental illness and he confirmed, she takes medication and he has heard her tell many outlandish stories. My guess is schizophrenia of some sort, she is not violent, but perfectly content in her woods, full of trinkets, including china, a broken radio, wooden pallets placed side by side to make a walkway and a 6 person tent stacked from floor to canopy full of clothing, every stage of clean through dirty. The pallets lead to a fire pit where she "entertains her guests" and pieces of carpet surround areas to keep the dirt and mud from entering the tent. Tarps are stretched over the camp and tent to keep some weather and wind out and not unless you know she is there would you notice them from the highway...

I mention all this, so that if you ever meet a homeless person and they talk about strange things and tell outlandish stories, many times they suffer from Schizophrenia or Bipolar. The symptoms look much like a person on heavy drugs. Many of the homeless compensate for their thinking disorders by using drugs and some of the disorders are brought on by the extended use of hard drugs. It is truly a vicious cycle!

Update & Progress

We are meeting at Earl Brown Park Saturday between 2:30-3:00 to set up for lunch at 3pm. Serving Chili & Hot Dogs & Lemonade.

Clothing and Toiletries will be distributed and THE WORD SPOKEN.

We had three rededications a few weeks back and one man is doing really great, one woman has issues with crack and the other man was doing well, yet he has been missing for a couple weeks now. He is a drinker, so please pray for addictions to be broken over him and all of these people. We have also seen that many of them "know" the Lord, but we have concluded, they lack "heart knowledge" Reid has been speaking 1-2 times a week in an effort to disciple them. We also have recently had 6-8 kids (early 20's) join the group. Supposedly two of the girls are pregnant if anyone wants to assist in getting them help, that is most appreciative, however it is not uncommon for each woman on the street that I meet to be pregnant. So Beware! Someone has donated and we have distributed three tents, the recipiants were most appreciative, one guy said "WOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH." By the look on his face, you'd a thought is was Christmas for him. Also the man who received the work boots, seems to be working daily at Ardmore Farms and is greatful to be working from what I have gathered.... Three people have received eye appointments and will be getting glasses soon, thanks to the Lions Club of Deland (Thanks Guys!). And if anyone is interested in hiring a homeless person to do handy help around the house, there are several guys that have background in framing, construction, concrete, roofing, fencing, painting, the full spectrum really.

To all those that help, THANK YOU for all that you do!