Listening to the poor is at times all that is needed.

Ben (a fellow volunteer, and former roommate from North Park University) and I went to the Cardinal Manning center last Sunday. We have been going for several weeks now and to be honest the more I go the more I want to go. Relationships always take time.

Cardinal Manning is in the middle of Skid Row, which is close to where I live and is an amazing sight to see. During the day Skid Row is dirty and filled with people going to small inexpensive shops. The first thing I remember when coming to LA is going down to Cardinal Manning on Skid Row and seeing masses of people lined out the door trying to get it. I remember looking at the gutter of the street and seeing a river of urine flowing down the street, and it smelled just as bad as it looked.

When I was at Cardinal Manning last Sunday I talked to a man named Bob. Bob is probably 70 or so. He is slender and balding with a long white beard going to his midsection. I could see that Bob was bored, so I asked him how his day was and he said fine, and then he asked me if I was a resident; I told him no and that I was from Boyle Heights and then later explained to him who I was and what I was doing there. After a little small talk he started educating me on some various legal procedures. He continued, and with rather well thought out and logically sound arguments. He made a descent argument how many evictions are violations of the contracts in fault of the landowners. He also displayed how the legal system makes it almost impossible for a renter to have legal action against the landlord in LA. Bob surprised me by referencing a few court cases, and was very well spoken with a large vocabulary. What surprised me the most is that Bob knew the flaws of his argument and pointed them out to me as well. He went on for over an hour just talking. All he needed was someone to listen, someone to tell his findings to.

Bob made it clear that he wasn’t, nor has he ever been a lawyer. But he did hint that he worked in the legal field some. Bob also made a note that he was evicted a few times, (probably for not paying rent but I am honestly unsure) . And at the end of the conversation I find myself asking myself a few questions.

1. Is Bob telling me the truth, or was he just conjuring up a good story for some attention?
2. Most of all does it really even matter if Bob was telling me the truth? ( I would say probably not)
3. It is obvious that Bob has a perspective that few if anyone reading this has, but Bob started to value tenants more than money, more than property. Could Bob be onto something here, valuing human life and well being more than making some money?

My thought wasn’t complete until that night Ben and I went to get some coffee. We had to drive through Skid Row to get back home that night. That night I looked upon what I see every time I drive through Skid Row at night. Rows after rows of tents, of cardboard boxes, of piles of blankets with people living in them, people getting there good-night's rest is things we would deem as trash. I asked Ben what if I allowed one man who was homeless to come into my house and live, asking for nothing in return. All I did was feed him, house him, and make him comfortable. Then paid for him to go to a community college, (or at least find scholarships, and grants for him to go on) what kind of difference would this make. Ben replied, “It would change the world for that one man.”

I know this sounds a little crazy. There would be a lot of doubts and concerns about doing something so atypical. There would also need to be a few safe guards as well to protect not only myself, but also the homeless man. However crazy this scheme seems it appears to me to be a little saner the putting processions on a higher plane of importance then people. Cause putting a price on some one’s life seems irrational, and insane.

Jesus tells us to give out of our poverty,
"A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent. He called his disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on." (Mark 12:42-44)

But there is a problem with this; I don’t know what poverty is. I have never questioned where I will sleep, nor have I ever questioned if I will be able to eat or not. I guess I will have to give out of my wealth, and out of my excess for that is all God has given me. For many of us, this is all we can do, just help out our hurting neighbor with the excess that we have.

-In Love from Boyle Heights.

Ask... for the little things.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7)

At the beginning of the week I was approached by a parent of one of our students. Her name is Mercedes Alferez and she is also a substitute teacher at Saint Vincent from time to time. She had a basket full of various book for all of the staff to look though to see if they could use anything. The excess was coming from a public school that was going to throw this material in the dumpster. She personally handed me some books and computer programs that we help me with teaching my Accelerated Math Class at Saint Vincent School to look through and see what I could utilize. I told her that I thought I could use some work sheets and various Math CDs.

“You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.”
(Psalms 23:5b)

A few days later she brought 14 boxes full of books and worksheets. I felt a little overwhelmed and that my Math worksheet cup went from being close to empty to overflowing. My cup did overflow. I received more than I could ever imagine using this year. Thankfully my school hosts a program at the beginning of every school year called TIP. Tip is a program in which Catholic educators are able to come and receive good advice before the start their year of classes. At TIP there are tables upon tables set up with supplies for teachers to take and have for free. So I donated many of the extra boxes that were donated to me many of the teachers at TIP are worse off than I am in regards to supplies.

I never thought I would have been so happy to receive boxes of Math supplies. I told Mercedes as I was hauling all the boxes out of her vehicle that this was just like Christmas, and it was. Not only is this going to help me, it will also help my students too. My students need good tools and good motivation in order to succeed. God is still blessing me and my students, even if it is in little ways. The little things make the difference and little things are how the world is changed.

-In Love from Boyle Heights,
Mr. Akers

The Sermon at Santa Monica

Last night Ben Wickstrom (my roommate from my Sophomore year in college) and myself were walking around Santa Monica. In fact Ben and I were just going to go chill on the beach and chat, no real plans for the night. On our way to the beach, we walked past a random homeless man. He was wearing a blue T-shirt, and brown shorts. He had a green backpack that looked like it just came out of a Junior High locker next to his feet. On the side of the backpack were a few old water bottles that had his supply of water for the night, and I am sure inside was a few changes of clothes, maybe a notebook, some toilet paper, and a few other items he’s either found off the street, or discovered in a dumpster. This man asked if we had any money to give him. This was the same exact thing the he asked the people in front of us, and probably many others that night. I turned and looked at him and just said, “I’m sorry man.” This is what I usually say every single time someone asks me for money. I can’t in good conscious give out money, not like I am getting enough to give out anyways. Then this homeless man who hasn’t shaved in a few months replied through his think beard, “Well, could you at least buy me some food?” Ben and I turned right around and I told him that, “I can do that.” We walked into a McDonald's, and I told him get whatever he wanted.

He was a little reserved at first and said, “Two Double Cheese Burgers would do.” But, I knew better. I asked if he wanted fries. Dumbfounded yet surprised, he said “sure.” Then I asked him if he wanted a drink too, and he did. So we ordered the food, and found a seat in the restaurant still in the open but a little off to the side as well. And we just talked. See the homeless man’s name was Terry. And Terry told us story after story. I am unsure how many of these stories were true, and how many were made up just to impress us. In all honestly can’t really say that I was too concerned about the validity of his storytelling, because I was more concerned with how he was doing.

During the next couple hours we slowly saw his mood change from that of brokenness into one of high spirits. See this was probably the first time in a while he was allowed into such a high class place like McDonald’s. As we sat there and exchanged story after story the Security Guard would walk by from time to time to keep an eye on us three. For a period of time the McDonald’s Security Guard stood at the end of our table a little bit a way, but close enough to remind all of us that he was there. Thankfully it took a little while for Terry to finish his meal. I mean he was proper and didn’t talk while he chewed. I knew that he had to leave shortly after all the food was gone, or otherwise we would have been thrown out for loitering, or worse yet arrested. So we left and then we talked outside for another thirty minutes or so and then we went our separate ways. Hopefully Terry will get to his friends house that he is traveling to and get some work like he is told us he was doing, and if not I still hope God sustains and blesses him.

There were a few things I learned that night. One is Terry told us he talks to God and prays to Jesus often. Terry was also thanked us for the meal but more importantly thanked God for giving us the means to give him the meal. It was a reminder to myself that I need to spend more time dedicated to God, I do need to spend more time in prayer. Sometimes I get tired and life seems really tough. Sometimes I feel like the world is a mess and there is nothing we can do about it. These are usually the times when my prayer life is lacking the most. I thank God for allowing me to buy dinner for Terry, and thank God for preaching to me even though it wasn’t Sunday morning. I am also thankful that the strengths of others, even if they are homeless has encouraged me in my own life.

In Love from Boyle Heights.

Blessings seem to always come in unique and unexpected packages.

Blessings seem to always come in unique and unexpected packages. I came out to LA with the expectation of being in solidarity with the poor by trying to live a life of simplicity. I knew that I would be living with little money and few resources. Not being able to eat out when I please, and not having the means to eat meat on a regular bases, has not hindered me nor has it truly forced me to live simpler either, but instead this life style have forced me to live creatively. Sometimes every meal seems like an adventure. The other day I went to Ben Wickstrom’s cousin’s (Haley’s) house. She fixed us some amazing seviche (cerviche) with sweet potatoes. This was the first time I ate seviche, which is raw fish marinated in lime and it was absolute exquisite.

I also enjoy going to the street vendors from time to time. Around my neighborhood especially, there are several Taco Trucks. They are like Ice Cream trucks that sell tacos, burritos and quesadillas. And yes Matt, they do have Lengua Burritos out here, and yes, I do have to use my broken Spanish to order. However much I enjoy these places I am only able to go once in a while, which makes them all that much more special.

One thing that I didn’t know coming out to Los Angeles was that I would have to find my strength to keep me going through the poor and others. I have been so autonomous and self-sufficient for so long that I have completely forgotten that there is a world out there beyond what I can see. I thought that during my stay in Los Angeles I would be helping others, which may very well be the case, but I never expected others to help me.

One of the many examples of this is the secretary at St. Vincent school who has battled cancer and survived. Mrs. Maza is truly the happiest person that I have ever met. She talks about her cancer as if it was easy to go through; however we all know better than to perceive it that way. However Mrs. Meza treats everyday like its Friday and that God has shed a special ray of sunshine just for her. She is always smiling and cheery. Once I was making copies, and she was literally so happy that she was dancing with joy to the radio. I had no choice but join her for that minute or two until the song was over. Honestly, I think the Almighty has, and does have a special ray of sun just for Mrs. Meza. I also think that many days Mrs. Meza is that special ray of sunshine that God has blessed me with.

Last but not least, my students at St. Vincent are very intelligent. They are catching on to the material so quickly that I have to increase the difficulty of my quizzes in order to keep them challenged. I am looking forward to this upcoming year with St. Vincent School.

All in all, Los Angeles is treating me well, however this doesn’t mean that I have a challenges, it just means that I am able to get through them all by the Grace of God. Your prayers mean the world.
-In Love, from Boyle Heights, LA