Homeless Bro
12:30 a.m.: Walking through the Park of the President, I saw a silhouette of a person. He was sitting on a bench in the dark, untying his shoe or massaging his ankle. I would’ve thought maybe he was a delivery man taking a break from his scooter. But it was much too late for that, and an odd place to break, in the middle of a hill not near any services. Then, perhaps, I thought he was a homeless guy getting ready to bed for the night.
I passed on with my night walk in the other direction. Not because I expressly wanted to avoid this shadowy figure but because I was on my way to visit the president and see the palace at night before it got too cold.
~~~
Today, I went for my daily walk, in a roundabout fashion. I passed by a man seated on a bench, who called at me, “Hey, are you Chinese?” in an inquisitive fashion.
Normally, I ignore this kind of thing and say “No”, and move on. Yet somehow, I was compelled to turn around and say, “No, I’m from America.”
Anyhow, a whole conversation ensued. He’s a believer. He’s got no job. No place to live. I believe he was the shadow I saw last night; he filled a similar profile from this park bench. He told me he was suicidal were it not for being a Christian and his belief in God. He wanted to get out of the country since no one was helping him. He didn’t ask for money or food but he willingly accepted my prayer. After the prayer, I asked him again if I could buy him a meal (since we were sitting outside the cafe). He said no, the meal is not going to help him. He just needs a place to live (coincidentally this conversation takes place across the street from the presidential palace), and it’s very hard for him to think about finding work if doesn’t know where he’s going to sleep at night.
“What will I do?” He says. “Get off work and then go where? I’m still homeless again.”
He stays near the palace because it’s covered in cameras, rather than the outskirts of town where some criminals may lurk. He’s showered for the first time in a week, paying $2 to shower at the spa. He can get by without brushing his teeth. He just needs a roof over his head and a warm place to sleep, and once he has that main thing then he can start thinking about where he can work.
I told him I would find a job for him.
[I happened to meet a man who opened up a guesthouse-hostel and finished renovations on it last week. They will need new staff and there’s plenty of available bunks. Maybe there is a spot for this brother to sleep and work here. I got to typing this letter, to make introductions to the guesthouse owner regarding providing a bed and job for this homeless man. Unfortunately, as I typed this letter, literally as I am typing this letter, I find out my other friend has been let go from her position at this guesthouse, with no notice. This really sucks! I was hoping my connections would be able to get this man a job. Perhaps my friend who works at the hostel could meet him and see if he would be suitable for a job. But now that opportunity has been lost as she herself has lost her job at the hostel].
It’s a very unfortunate circumstance. He is like my shadow.