Hugh’s April 2008 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

When I write these letters, my gut instinct is to tell you a feel-good success story about mission work here in the inner-city. This is largely from a desire to protect you from the gritty realities I see. As a result, you may have a somewhat skewed view; a sort of Lake Wobegon version of the inner city, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, all the children are above average and the love of Jesus is on everyone’s lips. Is that Kumbaya I hear in the background?

Well, the reality is quite different. Where I am most days is very dark and very oppressive. I am surrounded by people with no hope, with little vision and few dreams. I have seen the ravage of crack, the sure knowledge of certain death by full blown AIDS, the face of hunger on a child and the desperation in a mother’s face as she tries to convince the workers at the Plasma Bank that she should be allowed to sell her blood for the third time this week so she can buy medicine for her sick child.

A typical day (if there is such a thing) may find me sitting on the steps of a church with a crack addict as we wait for the soup kitchen to open, being run off the steps of a church by the cops, or sitting in the dark with someone whose utilities just got cut off, with the certain knowledge the temperature will not get above 50 degrees for the next week. Some days I try to convince women who are 6 months pregnant that they should at least consider quitting smoking, other days I sit with a women as she grieves the loss of her son the State took immediately after she gave birth last week. I listen to stories of betrayal, of sexual assault, of brokenness, of longing for love.

However, in the darkest of days, I see a glimmer of the love that shines through the darkness. Sometimes it is something big, like someone getting a job that can get them off the streets. Sometimes it is the alcoholic who tells me she is four days sober. And some days, it is just the guy in the soup kitchen sitting next to me sharing his excess food with the obviously hungry guy across the table. In the depths of darkness I see the promise of resurrection, the hope of love, the promises of the God of the second chance.

It is in my nature to want to fix things, and sometimes, that happens. Sometimes I am able to use my education, my relationships, my skills and your money to solve problems, remove obstacles and help change to happen. Much more often, however, as a friend of mine recently reminded me, working with the poor is often not about fixing them or getting things done. No, most of what I do is share the rough journey with them, sitting there with them in the dark after the lights have been shut off.

Recently I have met and worked with some awesome people who want to help us love people. A few of them have provided some financial support, some have donated practical items such as socks and toothbrushes and others are praying for us and the work. Please never forget that while I may be the “point man” and the one who writes these letters, the work is made possible by a team of folks, both on the front lines with me and in the rear, providing support.

Right now, our biggest need is for reliable, predictable income. If you are able to commit even as little as $5 or $10 a month, this would go a long way in helping us to write a budget and take on bigger projects. If this is something you are able to do, shoot me an email and we will work out the details.

Thank you for your love and support; I thank God for you all.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

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