Walk Out

One of the main reasons I went to Denver was to participate in a poverty simulation called Walk Out. On Saturday morning we gathered and were given our new identities for the walk.  Here was mine:

Other identities included people with felonies, refugees, and parents with small children.  My brother was a single dad.

We were given a garbage bag which held our "belongings" and then we headed a couple of blocks down the road to the Denver Rescue Mission.  We signed up for a bed and then were given a tour of the mission and how it works.  They serve a tremendous amount of people including providing around 2,000 meals a day.  Some of us were not allowed to stay at the mission because we were women or because we had small children, so our group had to look for other accommodations.  Our next stop was Champas House, which takes in women and children in a rigorous program.

From there we made stops at a simulated food bank and government assistance agency, as well as McDonalds, where we applied for a job.  Each step along the way we were handed a mound of paperwork to read and complete, which was a challenge in and of itself.  As I was filling out the application for McDonalds I was struck by how much of it I wouldn't be able to complete if I were a homeless person.  Address, contact information, and references would have all been very challenging.

Our final stop was at the offices of Cross Purpose.  My brother and sister-in-law work for this organization.  It works with people by walking with them as they work their way out of poverty.  Cross Purpose provides support through financial assistance, training, and mentorship.  One of the ideas that they share regularly is about relationship.  People in poverty are not just poor financially, but are often poor spiritually, emotionally and relationally.  A Cross Purpose mantra is "There is no significant change without significant relationship."

I was really struck by what a struggle it was to deal with all the problems we faced during the Walk Out.  To me, it was like being in a deep pit and trying to climb out, but so many things just keep pulling you back down.  Cross Purpose provides the support for people to keep climbing upward in their efforts to make a better life for themselves and their families.  It was great to get to see up close what this ministry is all about.

It always leaves me wondering, "What am I supposed to do with what I've learned?"