Urban Challenge -- DAY 2

Today I woke up at 7am. As I walked down the stairs I dreadfully remembered that today we were to live off of the food that we purchased with our welfare cash. For breakfast, I improvised a shoddy meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water. As I looked further into the day, I realized that our diet lacked the protein, vitamins, and other minerals that are essential for good health. Thousands of mothers in Camden deal with this problem every day, and I began to sympathize with this harsh but true situation. Such dietary problems exist all around the world, as over 30,000 men, women, and children die from food-related illnesses each day.

With a no longer empty, and, therefore, satisfied stomach, we proceeded to the Abigail nursing home just a short drive away. This center cares for a wide variety of patients, including those who are mentally or physically disabled. Both fulltime residents and short-term rehab patients stay at the center.

The first person we met at Abigail's was Sam, a very outgoing and independent resident. He had lost control of his right hand and his speaking abilities were impaired as a result of an accident (?) a few years ago. However, his determination and will to continue a relatively normal and productive life were incredibly inspiring; he wanted to live with purpose rather than remain stagnant. A particular accomplishment of which he was very proud of was a bird house he had made out of yarn for his sister Robin.

The second person we met was Jesse, a former pastor who had recently turned 89 years old. Playing the piano was his passion, and throughout the morning he played many hymns and songs for us. He got especially emotional when he played a certain hymn without the notes, purely by memory. When he had finished, he started crying. It was at this time that he recalled a meaningful childhood story. He told us that when he had learned to play the piano, he had asked God that if he was to one day lose his sight, he wished that he could still be able to play the piano. Thus, when he closed his eyes and successfully played a hymn by heart, he was witnessing the manifestation of God's answer to his prayers long ago.

Later that morning we served coffee and tea in the dining room. I got lucky because Sports Center was on TV, and I was able to see the highlights of Home Run Derby which on was the previous night. But I also noticed a man named Fergie and his girlfriend talking at the table. The lady had recently lost her husband, and because her memory was impaired, she thought that Fergie was her spouse. I soon found out that Fergie was already arranging a mock wedding for the future. This was indeed an interesting story.

At lunchtime we served meals to those residents who remained in their rooms. I had an awkward moment when an elderly man asked me to put on his shoe which had fallen off. It was a difficult task, as the foot would not fit in the shoe. Yet at the same time I sympathized with the man, who was confined to a wheelchair, and I realized that this one small act of charity could greatly help him in his current state of helplessness.

In the dining room I also spent some time playing the game Trouble with two residents. They greatly enjoyed our company, and they enjoyed listening to our stories.

As we left the Abigail center, the thing that struck me the most was the purpose that the center served its residents. Amidst the the violence and danger of the surrounding areas, here was a haven for many individuals, privileged by the standards of Camden. While I never would want to end up in a nursing home, I understand that people like Jessie, Fergie, and Sam have backgrounds that are very different than mine, and the Abigail Center may just be the solace that such people are seeking.

After we arrived back at the Romero Center, we listened to two different guest presentations: first, a sister from Ukraine (Eastern Rite, like me) talked about communism and injustice; then we listened to the founder of a local soup kitchen and his son (both had Jesuit backgrounds) talk about the importance and role of Christian service. It's just the inspiration I need as I prepare myself to tackle tomorrow's challenges.

Boy, this day's journal entry took a long time to write. By now I am a little hungry, but not starving, and I take pleasure in knowing that I have survived another day in Camden, one of the most dangerous cities in America!