Hair, Nails and Hope

Most names have been changed.

Ellen comes out of the improvised hair and nail salon at Friday Night Outreach. Her beautiful flowing hair has been washed and trimmed. She is beaming from ear to ear andher step has a new spring to it. Her husband has been patiently waiting and you can seethe pleased look on his face. Ellen is just one of several women who have had their hairwashed and trimmed this evening. Others have enjoyed having their nails done. Every other Friday night a mother and her daughter come to FNO and help give both men andwomen a new sense of dignity by having their hair cut and washed. The room is filled as we serve over 125 men and women a warm meal and a chance to sitaround a table to eat. Volunteers who come to serve and minister join many of them attables; engage them in conversation, and offer them hope that their lives can be changed. Candy, who formerly lived on the streets and is now leading a productive life for Christ, engages a young woman in conversation for more than twenty minutes. Together theylay out a plan for her to come to the Crisis Shelter and the possibility of going to Anna Ogden Hall. Volunteers in the clothing room often have a chance to engage those living on the streetin conversation as they hand out a blanket, a pair of socks, or a much needed coat, gently nudging them to consider a changed life.About a year ago the Mission started feeding the homeless in an alley near the I-90Freeway. Those who came were at times hostile, only too sure that the real reason theMission came was to ‘jam God” down their throats. Tonight before a time of playing bingo for some ‘life on the streets’ necessities, Dean (his real name) offers a prayerasking God’s blessing on the evening. Most remove their caps and at the end of the prayer and there are many hearty amen’s.“What difference do it make?” that we go each Friday night. Denver Moore, formerlyhomeless, from the book he co-authored by this title raised that question. The difference in my view is a step in the direction of a changed life offered freely to all who come.