Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A Spiritually Directed, But Fearful Encounter

Sunday, November 11, 2018 - I had already attended 5 hours of bishopric, ward council, and Grand Valley block meetings prior to joining the Grand Rapids Ward sacrament meeting, sitting down by a very large, disheveled down-and-out male of mix racial background. While trying to listen to the speaker, he asked me if he had an offensive odor. Yes, I could smell tobacco smoke, but it wasn’t particularly strong and could have been from whatever environment he was living in. When he left the meeting about 10 minutes later, I followed him out, knowing he was feeling isolated, because he was just too scary for members to welcome. His name was M****** M*****.

I engaged him in conversation and then took him into the Family History Center where we could talk. He was waiting to speak with Bishop Birkinsha in the Grand Valley Ward, and I asked the dangerous question that I was feeling, “How can I help you?” Well, he needed a place to stay - and I invited him to stay with me for the night. The question was whether I was being stupid or truly inspired to reach out as a good Samaritan. We went back to attend Elder’s Quorum, and he really participated in the discussion about mental illness. Then we spoke with Bishop Birkinsha (who was concerned about the risk I was assuming) but I felt some compulsion or direction to extend myself. We got home and I offered him anything that I had to eat as I quickly made a peanut butter sandwich, and then hurried to see Kristie before going to my high council meetings. Three hours later I returned, washed his clothes, prepared some food for us to eat, and talked until 10 p.m. and we retired for the night.

I was off early to help with Kristie, setup for Adult Home Evening, and take care of my Ford Fusion airbag recall before returning about 11 a.m. (after inviting him to sleep on my bed). The strange part came when I then called a supply company about returning the knee braces that were sent instead of wipes for Kristie. When they said just keep or throw away the knee braces – he was overcome with emotion and began to cry because he had lost his cane and his knees were bothering him terribly. They fit him perfectly and were an answer to prayers. He was overjoyed! It was a tender mercy showing that God was aware of, and loved him.

I paid $60 for his monthly phone and $165 for a motel room (Bishop Birkinsha reimbursed me for the motel) where he had stayed previously. Miraculously, they had a copy of his ID which he had lost and were able to make him a copy. They would have destroyed that record the next day.  It was no small miracle and another tender mercy of the Lord's love! 

It was very unnerving when I received a text from Bishop Birkinsha about him having a restraining order to not attend church in the Chicago area. But I somehow felt inspired that this outreach was something I had to do. God wanted me to do it. It will be interesting to see why and what was going on in the next life. My question at the time was, what incumbrance have I taken on and would he take advantage of me? I helped him get into another motel room a couple days later, make some financial arrangements (which he was only able to do because he miraculously had a copy of his ID!), and then it was over and I have not heard from him since.

I do not know the full meaning of this experience, other than I felt it was what the Lord wanted me to do. It didn’t help finding out that he was no longer welcome at the Mel Trotter homeless shelter in Grand Rapids because of a ruckus he caused there. I am aware that I put myself in jeopardy and understand better the risks and dangers of being a good Samaritan – but I also knew that no one else could or would help him because he was just so scary.

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