Home again...

Sorry that I haven't updated since being back, we got back on Saturday night from San Francisco, and moved in Sunday, and trained all day yesterday. So finally I have a little time to sit down and let you all know how it went, I am sure you are all dying to know, lol.
We started the week off by driving up Sunday morning. We stayed in a YWAM center, Youth With a Mission, kinda like a hangout spot that ministers to Street Kids. The center is located right in the heart of what is known as the Tenderloin, an area of about one square mile that houses over 35000 homeless people, right in the heart of SF.
On Monday we began by leaving at 6:00 in the morning and driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, and stopping at the parking area on the Oakland side of the Bay. We were told that we were to spend some time just us and God, in prayer about what was hindering us from being able to love those that we were going to be ministering to, for some fear, pride, etc. Once we clearly knew what it was that was holding us back, we were to walk across the bridge, leaving it on the Oakland side of the Bay. It was a beautiful thing, because the Fog was so thick that you could barely see 20 feet in front of you, you could not see the top of the bridge, you could not see your destination. For those of you who are curious, I left my trust issues in Oakland. Walking the bridge was a very profound and symbolic act, and left an amazing impact on my heart. After walking the bridge, we split up in our AC groups, and did something called Urban Plunge. We were simply given a piece of paper with 8 addresses on it, and were given only one dollar to spend on lunch for the day. We didn't have the names of the places we were trying to go to, and we didn't have a map. It was a great time of learning, ask and I will tell you about the people I met, and what I got from it.
Tuesday we woke up and went to a place called Laguna Honda Hospital, a hospital that works primarily with the elderly and mental patients. There I met a woman named June, that had one of the worst cases of dementia that there is. In speaking with her for 5 minutes, I had to reintroduce myself to her about 6 times, but she was so beautiful, joyful, and kind. She was 84 years old...and has changed me for ever.
Wednesday our group woke up and cleaned the YWAM building, then went across the street to a Church called Glide. We learned about the history of the church, and then were blessed with the oppertunity to serve about 800-900 men and women lunch and dinner. It was hard work, but amazing. There I met one man who is actually from Uganda, and moved here after the LRA had killed his entire family!
Thursday we got to go to the San Francisco food bank and pack boxes of food to be distributed through out the city once a month. In 3 hours we packed 1306 boxes of food. It was a great oppertunity to do some behind the scenes work. Afterward, we went to the Church of Scientology to learn about, well, scientology. We got to watch a video, look at their displays, and talk to one of the women that works there. Definately an interesting story, if you want to hear, ask.
Friday was a different type of day. We woke up and had a long debrief period all morning, and then had a few hours to go into the city and have some free time doing whatever with whoever. A few of my group decided to walk up through Chinatown, catch a trolley, and have lunch at fisherman's wharf and pier 39. That was a difficult afternoon, that definately tried my patience.
That night, at 11pm, we went on what is called the district walk. We went out to experience each of the different districts at night. The first one we hit was the Tenderloin, or TL. There we watched as people did drug deals, went through stolen bags, and light up crack pipes. We also saw prostitutes and drunks. Then we went from there through to the Civic Center, where the courthouse and everything is. There was little to see there. Then we hopped on the MUNI, the subway, and rode it up to the castro district. The castro district is really nice and upscale, but is predominately homosexual. Walking down the street, there were gay pride posters, flags, etc everywhere you looked, but it was a very light atmosphere. The guys in my group got hit on, and said through that experience they could almost understand how women must feel all the time. From Castro we rode the subway to the financial district on Montgomery street, where there are huge banks on each corner and expensive cars, hotels, clean streets, etc...essentially the ritzy neighborhood. We walked up Montgomery to the red light district, a street that is full of bars, clubs, stripclubs, and all that goes along with it. It was a difficult place to be, I definately felt vulnerable and unsafe, but the guys did a great job of surrounding and protecting us. From there we walked through Chinatown, which was absolutely deserted, took a trolley car up california street, that incredibly steep hill that you see in all the pictures. We got off and walked down Polk Street which is were there are a lot of male prostitutes. Finally we finished by walking through the TL again, where we saw a man bleeding profusely while running from the cops because he had broken into some sort of store.
Saturday we loaded up to head back, and before doing so, were taken to the parking area on the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate bridge, and as before, informed that we were to walk across it...only this time, spending time with God realizing what we had learned from the experience, and walking back, taking it back with us. That was my week...there is more to it I would love to share, but it would take to long, so just ask. I get my freshman in 4 days, and I can't wait. I love you all!