The Aroma of Christ in the Poor

Another Holler first. So it all began with Mary Susie. After our encounter with her, Justin went to work devising how to best be equipped for the next opportunity to love some least of these. The very next Saturday, me and Brackin were put in charge of cleaning out the best room in Justin's basement (there are 15 horse stalls in the process of being renovated). We stripped the room and gave it a temporary floor, insulation, plastic water vapor guard, and two mattresses. It didn't turn out to be even a three star hotel room, but it's much more homely than having to sleep on the street.

So God gave us a chance to fill the room  within a week. Last Thursday, Brackin was driving home when he past a homeless guy on the side of the highway with a sign. He stopped and offered the guy a hot meal and a place for the night. Right then, his buddy showed up. They introduced themselves as Pegleg and Charles Manson, train hoppers trying to get to Tennessee. Not exactly the most comforting of folks. Nevertheless, Brackin picked up the two of them and brought them back to the Holler.

When they arrived, we found out their real names were Ronald and Don. Ron calls himself Pegleg because he lost his left leg while trying to hop on a train. Don calls himself Charles Manson because he says he looks like him. According to Justin, they don't get much rougher than Ron and Don. They were the worst smelling homeless people I have ever smelt, and I've been around quite a few. They were very dirty, almost like they had been the ones to shovel the coal into the furnace of an older train engine. And they were more than likely drunk, Don a bit more than Ron. But we showed them every bit of hospitality that we would show any of our friends that might come by. Rebekah and Lindsey cooked a nice breakfast-dinner, and Brackin told a short version of his life story to our friends, incorporating the Gospel as well. Then Ron and Don got to be the first to try out the room. They spent the night and Brackin took them up Interstate 26 in the morning.

I realize that there might be a danger in doing this sort of thing, but just think, we were able to share the Gospel through word and deed to two folks. We planted a seed and showed them a love they have probably never seen. And they received a Bible. In my opinion, the resulting good outweighs the potential danger.