Homeless in Mansfield
By Donna Whitehead
Thu Oct 16, 2008, 01:44 PM EDT
Mansfield -
The Rev. David Arruda, pastor of the Faith Fellowship United Methodist Church, says his five days camping out on the lawn of his North Main Street church to try and raise awareness for homeless will always be with him.
Though he knew his situation was temporary and by Sunday night he would be in his own bed, Arruda said was taken by surprise by the depression and anger he experienced.
“I was shocked by what I learned about myself and how quickly I was brought down,” Arruda said. “This experience will be with me for a long time.
“These five days will clearly stick.”
Arruda’s stint on his own church lawn was an effort to raise awareness about homelessness in connection with the church’s screening of a documentary on the subject, “Lost in Woonsocket” Sunday, Oct. 12. The screening was attended by more than 70 people and was part of the church’s focus this year on relationships, Arruda said. They have explored relationships with self, family, community and God. This month they are discussing homelessness and domestic violence. Future months will address topics from adoption and foster care to managing finances.
The pastor knew people involved with the film and wanted to help get it seen by more people.
“Everyone thinks that homelessness is an urban problem, it’s not in the suburbs,” he said. “But the reality is it’s everywhere in rural communities, suburbia and urban areas.”
Arruda stressed that no one sets out to be homeless. He said homelessness affects the mentally ill, and others who fall through the cracks. There are veterans who are homeless and more coming home who may have trouble getting their old jobs back in this economy, Arruda added. He also stressed the rising number of homeless families. Some are people who have never had to struggle to survive before and lack the skills to do so.
“I’m concerned because these people don’t have skills to survive,” he said. “Someone who has scraped by and had hard times can live without a lot of things.”
There are also the “working poor,” people who could easily become homeless if a family member becomes ill or loses a job, he said.
So to raise awareness, Arruda took a sleeping bag and tent to his church lawn to spend a few nights. He limited his food supply to what was on hand in the church food pantry. His first meal was cold canned spaghetti and Spam. He also limited himself to the church lawn.
By the first night Arruda was already feeling depressed.
“I didn’t expect it,” he said.
He said he had a warm, expensive sleeping bag, the temperatures weren’t bad and he knew his situation was temporary .
“I’ve camped out before,” he said. “I thought it would be a walk in the park.”
But Arruda found himself getting angry and upset with the friends who stopped by to see him, bringing him coffee and words of support.
“I was thinking, ‘Why aren’t you here with me,’” he said.
During the day he would ponder his reaction but never found the reason. He described himself as normally a “true optimist” who wakes up singing.
He also noticed people’s reactions to him. The first few days people would not make eye contact, especially older people. On the last morning when he went to Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee looking “like a homeless guy,” people would step around him in line.
However, once publicity spread about who he was and what he was doing, people began saying hello, stopping by and offering food.
“It was interesting to see the change,” he said. “People tooted horns and waved.”
One experience stands out in his mind.
“One gentlemen rode by on a bike in the mornings,” Arruda said. “The first two mornings he said hello and seemed to have no problem with a man in a tent.
“Saturday morning he said, ‘Good morning pastor.’ Then he came by again and asked if I needed anything. I said no. He came a third time and asked if I was sure. He came a fourth time and asked if I wanted coffee or a muffin because he was going to Dunkin’ Donuts.
“The fifth time he returned with a bag from Dunkin’ Donuts. ‘I just wanted to tell you,’ he said. ‘I know where there’s a guy living in the woods. If you don’t want this I’m going to bring it to him.’
“That made the whole five days worthwhile,” Arruda said.
To read Arruda’s blog of his experience go to http://11thhourchurchturnaround.blogspot.com/2008/10/sleeping-out-for-jesus.html.
By Donna Whitehead
Thu Oct 16, 2008, 01:44 PM EDT
Mansfield -
The Rev. David Arruda, pastor of the Faith Fellowship United Methodist Church, says his five days camping out on the lawn of his North Main Street church to try and raise awareness for homeless will always be with him.
Though he knew his situation was temporary and by Sunday night he would be in his own bed, Arruda said was taken by surprise by the depression and anger he experienced.
“I was shocked by what I learned about myself and how quickly I was brought down,” Arruda said. “This experience will be with me for a long time.
“These five days will clearly stick.”
Arruda’s stint on his own church lawn was an effort to raise awareness about homelessness in connection with the church’s screening of a documentary on the subject, “Lost in Woonsocket” Sunday, Oct. 12. The screening was attended by more than 70 people and was part of the church’s focus this year on relationships, Arruda said. They have explored relationships with self, family, community and God. This month they are discussing homelessness and domestic violence. Future months will address topics from adoption and foster care to managing finances.
The pastor knew people involved with the film and wanted to help get it seen by more people.
“Everyone thinks that homelessness is an urban problem, it’s not in the suburbs,” he said. “But the reality is it’s everywhere in rural communities, suburbia and urban areas.”
Arruda stressed that no one sets out to be homeless. He said homelessness affects the mentally ill, and others who fall through the cracks. There are veterans who are homeless and more coming home who may have trouble getting their old jobs back in this economy, Arruda added. He also stressed the rising number of homeless families. Some are people who have never had to struggle to survive before and lack the skills to do so.
“I’m concerned because these people don’t have skills to survive,” he said. “Someone who has scraped by and had hard times can live without a lot of things.”
There are also the “working poor,” people who could easily become homeless if a family member becomes ill or loses a job, he said.
So to raise awareness, Arruda took a sleeping bag and tent to his church lawn to spend a few nights. He limited his food supply to what was on hand in the church food pantry. His first meal was cold canned spaghetti and Spam. He also limited himself to the church lawn.
By the first night Arruda was already feeling depressed.
“I didn’t expect it,” he said.
He said he had a warm, expensive sleeping bag, the temperatures weren’t bad and he knew his situation was temporary .
“I’ve camped out before,” he said. “I thought it would be a walk in the park.”
But Arruda found himself getting angry and upset with the friends who stopped by to see him, bringing him coffee and words of support.
“I was thinking, ‘Why aren’t you here with me,’” he said.
During the day he would ponder his reaction but never found the reason. He described himself as normally a “true optimist” who wakes up singing.
He also noticed people’s reactions to him. The first few days people would not make eye contact, especially older people. On the last morning when he went to Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee looking “like a homeless guy,” people would step around him in line.
However, once publicity spread about who he was and what he was doing, people began saying hello, stopping by and offering food.
“It was interesting to see the change,” he said. “People tooted horns and waved.”
One experience stands out in his mind.
“One gentlemen rode by on a bike in the mornings,” Arruda said. “The first two mornings he said hello and seemed to have no problem with a man in a tent.
“Saturday morning he said, ‘Good morning pastor.’ Then he came by again and asked if I needed anything. I said no. He came a third time and asked if I was sure. He came a fourth time and asked if I wanted coffee or a muffin because he was going to Dunkin’ Donuts.
“The fifth time he returned with a bag from Dunkin’ Donuts. ‘I just wanted to tell you,’ he said. ‘I know where there’s a guy living in the woods. If you don’t want this I’m going to bring it to him.’
“That made the whole five days worthwhile,” Arruda said.
To read Arruda’s blog of his experience go to http://11thhourchurchturnaround.blogspot.com/2008/10/sleeping-out-for-jesus.html.
