We left the Church of the Nativity, after breakfasting at our respective host families homes, as early as possible so that there would be time for the bikers to ride into Church of the Ascension in Hamden. Well, as things sometimes happen, we never had an opportunity to get on our bikes and rode in the support vehicles all the way to Hamden.
As it was, we arrived at the church as the 9:00 mass was just ending and parishioners were filing into the coffee and donut time after mass.
John Ryan quickly got the presentation set up but we could not get the remote slide changer to work (batteries). So we presented the old fashion way using our fingers to do the pointing.
We were pleasantly surprised by the number of folks who attended our presentation. This would be a reoccurring trend for the week.
We had revised our presentation so that we could complete it within the timeframe allowed between their 9:00 and 11:00 masses. We actually did what we had to do in 42 minutes!! Everyone who spoke did so in a focused manner and right on point. One of our better presentations if you ask me.
Afterwards we had some good dialogue with some of the participants who stayed for the presentation and they shared some interesting comments. This one couple shared how some of their friends are so oblivious to the poverty situation. One person they told us about was a lawyer friend who could not believe that people in poverty weren’t there through no fault but their own, that there wasn’t any systemic problem. Complete blinders. It’s just that there are people out there who do not want to “see” or choose not to “see”. We were grateful for this sharing and many provided positive feedback to our presentation.
It just seemed more people were being responsive to what we had to say than in other years.
We left the Church of the Ascension fully charged yet knowing there would be some challenging hills ahead.
First thing we hit was Hill Street. What does that tell you? Any street or road or lane or avenue with the word “hill” in it tells you it ain’t flat.
Granted that sometimes it could be a down hill which we all thoroughly enjoy.
Well it seemed there were more up hill hills than down and they were a bit hard to climb. I got off my bike again even if it was for a short bit. Seemed like a couple of hills were real killers. Names like Gaylord Mountain Road, Towantic Hill Road, Jacks Hill Road.
When we approached Southbury we had an opportunity to again bike on Poverty Road. We decided not to do so. Once you have been on Poverty Road you really do not want to do it again!
We picked up Tom in Southbury and continued the ride to St. Francis Xavier. Time was running short and it was doubtful we would make it on our bikes. So sooner than later we were asked to get in the cars.
We drove into New Milford and St. Xavier’s. Around the back of the church Deb Zahn welcomed us and led us over to her house where we would all shower and get ready for mass.
It was an adventure driving up those hills to Deb’s house. We were supposed to go up them same hills the next morning. None of us knew that as we drove over to Deb’s house.
Her house was beautiful with several showers and a nice pool where several of us took advantage of a quick dip.
Since we had already gone to mass earlier we decided we would venture back to the church in time to set up and partake in the potluck.
After a bit of relaxing, we headed over and arrived as mass ended and had a wonderful meal. Many of us sat with the parishioners and shared stories. At our table, Denise shared her story openly. She had been homeless and had to visit food pantries and the shelter. Se had some physical problems and needed hip replacement surgery and had to rely on her family for support but she was really too proud to ask for help. That is why she would up in the shelter and having to go to the food pantry. So she knew what it meant to be in poverty. But here she was after pulling herself up and out and wanting to give something back. She still had difficulties in her life but wanted to hear what we had to say. She took my card and said she would reach out to the Episcopal church in the area to try and set up a visit. She was quite a lady. I think most people at our table very shocked as she revealed her story so openly.
We presented this night to an audience that included many teenagers. The reaction and interaction was quite good. After we were done a young lady approached me with some difficulty speaking. I had thought that she was choked up after my Jesus story but it was more than that. She asked if we had ever presented in Bristol. I indicated we had. She began to cry and wail a bit and said that she thinks she saw a photo of her mom among the images we used in our presentation of those who can be in poverty, you and me. We replayed that portion of the slide presentation and she pointed out the photo. She cried even harder. This was her birth mom who she had not seen from what I understand for a long time. This young lady had been adopted by a family in New Milford after being in four other homes. So, the picture of her mom was overwhelming to her. They asked if I could send the photo. I said I would dig it out and do so. The young lady gave me her email address.
We then gathered to get our host family assignments. This year would be the year of the host families.
We then all left to be reunited in the morning at the church for breakfast and departure to Collinsville and Wethersfield.
The Lord blessed us again with good weather and safe riding and meeting good people.
Lou
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