Haven-- far from it

and so...after 4 days of work...i'm exhausted, yet full of quirky anecdotes.

my job right now is in a mens only shelter in the downtown east side, called the Haven. you can imagine that i never have a dull night-- fights breaking out, rigorous discussions about Jesus, being cussed out, confused clients, bathrooms with no doors or even stalls (don't worry, i don't use them), piles and piles of laundry, new friends, and finding bloody catheters in someones sheets. yes, it's true. there seems to be a new incident every evening. a new disgusting something found in someones bed, every evening.

you see, it is part of my job to check to see who didn't show up, and to strip their beds and wash the sheets. fortunately, it is not my job to tell the guys who have been waiting in the rain for 2 hours that there is not enough beds for them all. i leave that to the male half of the team...while i stick to the laundry, snacks, and evangelizing.

i refused to sign the "non-fraternizing" policy, and thus, i get to talk about Jesus as much as i want to! and i do. i basically spend most of my time hanging out and trying to get people saved...it's what i do already. it's a lifestyle-- why not get paid for it? (similar philosophy to my inclination towards officership.)

i also scored a free haircut by one curiously flamboyant client, a bag of Tim Horton's doughnuts found in the dumpster (a costly present someone gave to me), plenty of time to work on my book, 16 hours a week surrounded by lava lamps, a few marriage proposals, a lengthy phone conversation with a lady who called the Salvation Army simply because she wanted prayer (joyfully provided!), and my own swivel chair.
this is living.

if the Lord brings it to mind: pray for Jay, Brian, Marc, Aaron, Benjamin, Geoff, and James. These are a few guys whom the Lord is pursuing...i want to be there when He arrests them and they fall madly in love.
come Lord Jesus, come.