Sandwich Day 6 : October 16, 2007

Not an ordinary day. This will be long but it needs to be documented.

Menu: Sacked lunches, bolonga & cheese sandwiches, chips and cookie. Fresh farm eggs from Rick. We hit the "mother load" with Jerry. He showed up with several large bags full of all kinds of clothes. We set off knowing this will not be an ordinary run.

The Cove

There is a "cove" on the corner that is formed by a rock wall which provides a great place for one group of our friends to gather during the day. The gas station allows them to stay there in return for keeping the parking lot cleaned up. I bet this is an unoffical agreement with the gas station management (probably barbarians).

I am not sure how I can get this all down on paper. I pray that God will make sure that what He wants told is brought forward...that's all that matters.

This is as far as we get on this day. In the cove is Claude, Joe, Earnie, Chris, Kevin (I can't remember his name) and Rabbit who is very sick and laying down. This is the day that we have promised to get Rabbit to the VA clinic in Cedar Park for medical help.

The group accepted all of the food and clothing gratefully and promised to make sure that all gets shared. Our mission was to get Rabbit medical help. He is in bad shape. Rabbit is extremely alcoholic and you don't have to be a doctor to know that he is going to die if he does not get detoxed soon. As Rick and Jerry helped get Rabbit into the truck - the rest of us prayed for Rabbit's healing. I love praying with these people.

The ride to Cedar Park was somber. Rabbit knows Jesus...and Jesus knows Rabbit. If the religious crowd can't handle that...all I can do is warn them to keep their mouths shut... I'm in no mood for their judgements...I'm very close to turning a few temple tables over! Rabbit has a great sense of humor which he has hidden his pain behind. I can relate to that.

We get to the clinic and they cannot find Rabbit in the computer. It took the three of us to push for them to keep trying. At one point, Rick takes Rabbit outside for a smoke while Jerry and I are with the lady as she searches for Rabbit in the computer. I noticed that Jerry is holding his head and looking at the floor...I asked him if he was praying and he said yes. I joined him ... it wasn't too much longer after that when the lady said..."here is somthing". Another answered prayer. Thank you Lord. To make a long red tape story short...we got Rabbit entered into the computer and then waited for a least an hour until the doctor saw him. Rick went in with Rabbit while Jerry and I stayed in the waiting room.

The doctor knew that Rabbit needed to be hospitalized fast. He was already showing signs of seizure. Arrangements were made with Temple hospital that we would be bringing Rabbit to the emergency room immediately. It was around 2:30pm - we dropped Jerry off at his house as he was needed at home. Off to temple we go. On the ride to Temple, Rabbit told more of his story. He comes from foster homes and a painful past including two failed marriages and a son. He admits that he is scared to sober up. I can relate again.

We get to Temple and get Rabbit into a wheelchair and Rick goes to park the truck. While we were waiting...Rabbit promises me that he will not give up. He knows what the coming days will bring....detoxing is not pretty. My heart is breaking for him.

We get him checked in - we say a pray over him and it's time to go. I spent most of my night in intersession. Not by choice...it was the most painful intersession I have experienced. I was probaly detoxing with Rabbit. What I did not know was ... Rabbit was never admitted to the hospital.

The next morning at work Rick tells me that they called him that night and said that Rabbit was not eligible for benefits. The Cedar Park clinic had made a mistake. Rabbit had been taken to a shelter close by. They said that he was asking for us to come get him. There is a health privacy act that keeps the hospital from giving us much information. What we do know is that this shelter can help detox Rabbit.

I believe with all my heart that God is in control. God knew Rabbit was not eligible for the VA hospital - I believe that God allowed the mistake at the CP clinic - I believe that God allow the doctor to see Rabbit - I believe that He knows that this shelter is where Rabbit can get help and we have been used to get him there. My prayer is that Rabbit does not leave this shelter. I am sure that at this point - he will try as the urge for a drink is probably overwhelming. Please Lord - send angels to hold him there.

I can't type anymore - the tears are falling again - not all of this story is told. Please keep Rabbit lifted up. He is truly a child of God.

--Vicki

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The Cove, A Family and a Place of Prayer.

In meeting the folks at the Cove for the first time, one thing was very apparent. These folks care about each other.
They rest in Faith that God will take care of them, and He will. As we concern ourselves with how we are going to pay for this or that while enjoying our catered lunches and dinners, the family at the cove is concerned with taking care of each other and thankful for something as small as a sacked lunch. God has such a presence their life it is amazing. You see Him working through each of my new friends in different ways and one of those ways was Rabbit.

My first encounter with Rabbit was yesterday. Vicki already covered the facts of the day and where Jimmy is now so I won’t. However, what I was blessed with yesterday was the chance to get to know Rabbit if only for a few hours. Rabbit has a GREAT sense of humor, but I know it also hides pain.

While we were waiting to get Rabbit back to see the Doctor, at the clinic, I noticed he was staring at this beautiful watercolor painting on the wall. For visual purposes, the painting was of a beautiful house on a pond surrounded by trees and flowers of all kinds. Rabbit decided it was Ireland. As he was staring at the painting, he stated, "Who painted a picture of my house?" Vicki and I chuckled along with Rabbit as he started to talk about the painting. Others in the room sadly turned their heads from him. As Rabbit started talking about the painting he asked, where is my canoe?" I didn’t notice a canoe until he said that, and I pointed out that it was on the other side of the pond. We agreed he parked it over there to take a nap under the tree. He also noticed that a woman and little girl were strolling through the flowers along the bank of the pond. As he stared at this painting I came to the understanding that Rabbit had a life similar to this before today. He had a house, maybe not a mansion in Ireland, but a house, a wife, and a child. Rabbit said he wants to become part of society again and is making an effort and I admire him for that.

It is not my place to ask why Rabbit is where he is now and how he got there, just to pray that God can lead him and take care of him.

--Jerry

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I love our friends.. Without a doubt I know that if I ever needed anything they would gladly give me all they had knowing God would provide more. They live what Jesus preached much better than most all "Church" going people I know. They know Jesus, they know the Bible and they apply their faith daily to survive. I would like to believe I do too but it sure isn't at this level.

I never get around these people that I don't hear several sermons as they speak and interact with us. This day was no different. I got to really talk to Rabbit this time and ask about him and his life. We are the same age which started the conversation but I found out we had much more in common.

Rabbit's birthday is 12-28-56. He will be 51 in December. Like me he has three kids, the oldest a couple of years younger than my oldest but his next son is a year younger than the first just like mine. Then a space of time and a third. I didn't find out for sure but it might be from the second wife just like mine. He has been on the streets for 17 years. 17 years ago I was newly divorced and "Homeless". His past before that was rough and ugly with foster homes and such so when this final incident hit him it was just to much and he was pushed over the edge. I could have been where he is so easy.

Rabbit is smart, has good vision and a memory that shocks me knowing the abuses he has been through. He is very observant as he sits quietly as Jerry's story of the picture tells. Everyone I have talked to seems to look sad when they talk about their lost families. I wonder what would happen if his family could see him like this now.

Rabbit told us the story of when he was saved. He said the Lord struck him and he cried so hysterically he laughed. He said a weight like a ton of bricks was removed from him. I asked him why he had picked all the bricks back up? I told him he needed to let them go again. I pray this time his bricks are removed forever and he can walk upright without the very obvious load he carries today. His "Rabbit shuffle" is due to this terrible load.

Rabbit made it very clear he was going to pray that we got paid back many times over for what we were doing. The blessings from these events are far greater than most folks can imagine with their religiously sterilized brains. I am already paid back a thousand times and then some.

The nurse at the clinic was so sweet to Rabbit. She was Christian and wanted a card so she could come to our Church. She said where she was going just wasn't getting it since the Pastor moved on. I hope she comes to Church, she saw our hearts and was touched. The Doctor on the other hand was rough and honest (Though attractive and Rabbit flirted with her). She told Rabbit he was going to have to help and apply himself and that she didn't want to waste resources if he wasn't going to try and do right. Seeing the obvious lack of resources for help I understand where she was coming from. The VA system is about as bad as it gets. You WILL need God's help if you have the misfortune of needing this system.

All the folks back at the hole were happy to hear Rabbit was going to be helped. I saw general looks of concern when we told them he was close to death if he kept going. You could see the wheels turning as they thought of their own situations. Claude asked if I knew someone who could get him a Net-ten card for his phone. He has an Aunt he tries to stay in touch with. It seemd very important after he heard about Rabbit. Maybe he will seek escape from this place.. I will find the phone card.

We had all kinds of stuff and our "Trash" became Christmas at the hole. The food, clothes, bedding, bicycle and our friendship made for a great time, just like Christmas should be! Honest thoughtful gifts that would help them live better and not the useless clutter junk we all see millions of dollars spent on at Christmas time. What does Jesus say as he looks on the waste we have in our country today? How many vets could we care for with the money we spent to put a 2'X3' picture of the President up in every federal office? Don't we all know who he is? They need to hang a picture of Jesus. Much more effective and it will save money! You won't be having to change it every 4 years..

--Rick