Stories from STUMP (part 2)
For a week in July, 14 people entered into a journey of Sydney’s “dark places” as part of Edify STUMP – The Salvation Army’s Short Term Urban Mission Project, based at Streetlevel Mission. What they discovered was light, hope and Jesus. These are their stories:
Day Three: Tuesday, 9 July
After a great night walking the city and meeting its wonderful children of God, we awake to a new day and new adventures.
The freedom fighters and the nightriders were held captive by a truly inspirational devotion by Streetlevel’s centre manager Leonie Bolton. What a wonderful journey Leonie has been on and is still experiencing.
All teams were divided into groups ready for service: some in the shop, some on cleaning duties, some for a workout, others in the FoodMarket store and others to the Streetlevel cafe where Davina and I were.
Wow! What a way to spend our time - serving. We were introduced to the cafe manager, Kristy, who showed us around. We were also shown how to take the orders and use the cash register. Coffee making, table cleaning and dishwashing duties were all undertaken with enthusiasm.
I was lucky enough to help cook, where I met the wonderful, joyful, loving and very patient Monica. She introduced us to cooking bacon, hamburgers and eggs.
After cooking, the whole STUMP team came to eat in the cafe. Wow, how awesome to watch all the team eager and pumped to sit and do life with the community.
I was so blessed to sit with two very grateful men - grateful for the service provided at Streetlevel and grateful for a chat, for feeling equal, and included. One man mentioned how good our chat had left him feeling, and that he felt special after we prayed. It was at that point when I silently knew it was me who was left feeling special, feeling included, and most of all, equal. I felt included in their community and what a blessing it was. I spoke with other STUMPers and similar feelings were expressed.
My blessings today were many, as all I spoke with on the team have a passion to see others who need love, compassion, truth, warmth, shelter, justice and support, receive it.
I believe when all of us go back to our communities we will never be the same. Eyes have been opened, hearts have been overwhelmed but, most importantly, we have seen God’s love shared.
Great relationships and support networks have been made through STUMP. Our time here has given all STUMPers a humble, thankful, blessed experience to learn from and dwell upon all our lives to come. How good it is, and it is only day three...-Michael Smith
Mike is married to Davina, and lives in the Macarthur District of NSW.
Day Four: Wednesday, 10 July
This morning began with a little oddity, as it generally does here at STUMP. Jacob, who took us for a time of morning prayer and journaling, requested that we take the time to be still and know that God is our God. We meditated on each other. Yes, that’s right, on each other. We lay in circles, one head on another’s stomach and so on, attempting to switch off the world and reflect. We also did a “trust-fall” exercise that was both lovely and frightening. On the whole, though, this morning was great in bringing us all closer together… only to then be taken in different directions by the day’s activities.
With a few of the other ladies, I headed over to Samaritan House (or affectionately known as Sammy House) for a tiring workingbee, while the others visited community members and Macquarie Park.
After further examination of the strenuous cleaning we undertook at Sammy House, I had a thought and although we ended up quite exhausted, it was a great experience. It’s better we help them than the wonderful women there having to do it themselves. What a blessing that we had that opportunity.
It felt as if the day should have ended there, but instead we had some very interesting training on the most cheerful of topics: mental illness/suicide. This, with all jokes aside, was quite engaging and I feel as if important knowledge was gained that we may now implement when we head home. Thank you, Stephanie Wilks,from The Salvation Army’s Hope for Life Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Service,for that.
The best, however, was yet to come in the form of the most amazing community dinner of pizza and pasta,served with a side of karaoke! If smiles were money we’d have no homeless to help after such an inspiring night of undignified joy. I’m so thankful to experience it with such fantastic people. -Natasha Pappalardo
Natasha is 19 and is studying fine arts. She lives in Narellan, NSW.
Read part 1 of the STUMP stories.
Photos: 1. July STUMPers - Team Photo, 2. The July STUMP Toilet cleaning team - what a happy bunch!, 3. Mike is working up a sweat in the Streetlevel Op-shop, 4. July STUMPers serving in the Streetlevel Cafe. (Photo supplied by Edify STUMP)
To find out more about STUMP, head to edify.org.au
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