Zine 01 – Speak Up Magazine

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02 $1.00

Traverse City’s
Street Magazine

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What is it?

Speak Up Traverse City is a new
beginning. It combines the value of work
with the power of communication. It
gives our most vulnerable citizens a voice,
a job, and a place in our community.
These are powerful tools that some of us
take for granted, but others of us have
never experienced. To give tools such as
these to our most isolated citizens is an
opportunity for hope, dignity and change.
Get Involed!
TC Speak Up Advisory Committee
You can get involved in Speak William Shaw
up in a variety of ways. We have a Mike Nolan
vendor management program, writing Glen Petersen
workshops, design and printing needs. Corban Shaw
Speak Up TC is run by volunteers. Jeff Joubran
Deborah Shaw
Chelsea Bay DennisGlorified Panhandling? Melissa Sprenkle
Benjamin Shaw
Try it, it’s work. Speak Up TC is sold as Aaron Dennis
an income opportunity for homeless and Mark Wilson
vulnerably housed people. They become Ryan Hannon
micro-business owners who buy copies of Whitney Larsen
Speak Up for a low price and then distribute
them for a suggested donation. They learn Contact Us
to manage and reinvest their resources. William Shaw
They learn advanced job skills such as Speak Up Board of Directors
communication, work ethic, patience, billshaw@speakupmag.org
attitude and respect. Speak Up provides a
job reference for future employers. speakupmag.org/TC

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Happenings at Speak Up

Speak Up is distributed exclusively by
people who have lived on the streets or
who are still battling homelessness. Since
launching in Charlotte, NC, in 2011, we’ve
seen dozens of people find meaningful
success and seen many lives significantly
changed. “You need to dress more like a bum.
The cool thing is, they changed their When you look nice, no one will buy
own lives. We didn’t do it for them. Speak the magazine from you,” said one Speak
Up is just an opportunity—people can Up vendor to another earlier this year.
choose to use it or not. The speaker was talking to one young
— man who insists on dressing as snappy
as possible—even while homeless, he’d
In one instance, a sweet lady, “Lisa”, show up wearing a tie and often in a suit
came to Speak Up, desperate for help. She coat. He claimed that because of his well
lived with her husband in a broken down kept appearance, no one believed he was
van, but he had just violated probation homeless and doubted his sincerity when
and was hauled back to jail. he was selling magzines.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “He “Don’t dress down to meet people’s
always came up with the food…I used to negative expectations,” someone said, “this
have my CDL license for driving heavy is your chance to change their perspective
trucks but that has expired.” on homelessness!”
She decided to become a Speak Up —
vendor, buying magazines for a low price
and reselling them for a generous profit. Someone brought in a coloring sheet
After a few days, she disappeared. that showed a bearded guy with a raggedy
I wondered for a long time what cap and torn jeans and an oversized coat.
happened to Lisa. “It’s too bad Lisa didn’t It was headlined: “Homeless or Hipster?”
work out,” I’d think to myself. —
A year and a half later, a beautiful white
semi truck pulled up in front our office. What does a homeless person look
Out climbed Lisa and her husband. She like? One of our friends and contributors,
was talking on a cellphone and holding a homeless himself for over two decades,
CB radio in the other hand. painted a picture of eight faces, each
“Hey,” she said. “We are living in possibly depicting a homeless person, to
another state now but we are passing remind us that everyone is different.
through and I wanted to tell you: with —
the money I earned that weekend selling
Speak Up magazines, I was able to renew I hope you enjoy the essays and creative
my CDL license.” writing in this issue. Each piece was
“Now I drive trucks for a living. This is written by someone who knows firsthand
my job. We’ve got a house. what it is like to live on the streets.
Thank you.”
— –Matt Shaw
Executive Director

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THE SATCHEL OF STONE

Every seven years you change your skin
And every morning you rise again
But it’s short, life, and you must try.

Heavy burden, a satchel of stone
I’ll grow old before I find home
At this rate I’m alone

On the street I hone lyrics
Carry rocks and throw sticks
Try to remember what love is
Take naps and play with kids

It’s nothing grand
The coffee is bland
My mind is a coffin of sand
Eyelids develop a mind of their own
And they decide a satchel of stone

Bells hung on every tree
The birds sing me crazy
Not knowing when to eat,
The satchel of stone has blinded me.

— Tyler
Traverse City, MI

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WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED ON THE STREETS

On the Road with Mark 06
A Dirty Junkie 07
Where Will You Sleep Tonight? 08
Storytelling Roundtable 09
One Year From Now… 10
Thank You, TC 11
All I Wanted Was A Shower 12
Concrete Dreams 13
Happy Hearts 14
The Drive 15
One Man’s Journey 16-17
Being Homeless 18-19
I Choose To Live 20- 21
Life Advice from Joshua (FREE) 22

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I got up and went after the blanket thief.
After a brief confrontation and one swift
kick to his knee, he relented and gave up her
blanket. I went back to my cardboard and
gave the woman her gray rag wool FEMAON THE ROAD disaster blanket. She was appreciative and
thought it was safer to sleep near me, so she
dragged her cardboard next to mine and
went back to sleep.
Later that night, she told me her name waswith Mark Lavita. She was a gaunt black woman in her
Alongside of a hospital parking garage, fifties with salt and pepper hair. A woman
next to a bus stop, a group of some of Miami’s came up to us and offered some very expired
most hardcore homeless sleep every night, Christmas cake. We accepted it and split it
just three blocks down the street from one between us. Lavita ate it greedily and with
of largest homeless shelters in the country. relish, even though the buttercream frosting
Two blocks down the street, The Sisters was slightly spoiled.
of Charity feed the homeless every day; Roughly two weeks later, Lavita was
except Thursdays. The food is nourishing if brutally murdered on the sidewalk near the
nothing else. Sisters’ mission. Allegedly beaten to death
One night, as I lay on my three layers of by a man who propositioned her for sex.
cardboard, a woman lay under the bus stop.
A man came up to her and stole her blanket. — Mark Gansert
Miami, FL

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Most of my life I was a
DIRTY JUNKIE
I know what it’s like to be so hungry Before I knew it, I had been there a year,
it hurts. I spent a lot of years living on the hadn’t drunk, was getting my driver’s license
streets. In the end I was crippled by my back after seventeen years without it. Now,
drinking and drug use. I checked into the in spite of being a felon several times over,
shelter in Ann Arbor, again. The only reason I am gainfully employed, I own my own
they let me in was because I couldn’t walk, house, I am getting custody of my youngest
but they were tired of watching me come son. To most people I look “normal,” even
and go. Nobody was willing to waste their though most of my life I was a dirty junkie
time helping me, so I finally started helping that they would cross the street to avoid.
myself. I pushed myself as hard as I could I’ve been sober four years now and can
trying to walk. After a few months I could only guess how much better it will get.
get around again.
I started drinking, then my wife died —Sean Laura
of an overdose. That lit a fire under me. A Traverse City, MI
friend of mine said I could stay with him for
a month but I couldn’t drink and had to go
to A.A.

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WHERE WILL YOU
SLEEP TONIGHT?

Jerry died recently. He was a homeless
person living in the Civic Center. He had no
family and his last wish was to have a family,
but he did have one in those who knew
him. Outgoing, friendly, with a smile for
everyone he met. He will be missed.
He faced the big question every night:
Where will you sleep? Will it be under
one of the bridges, on a park bench in the
open, or on the couch of a friend? During
the winter there is safe harbor, but in the
summer we have to sleep where we can,
being on guard at all times. The homeless
are a target, thought of as invisible. They
are non-persons that no one will care about
or miss. They have to not only worry about
other homeless, but also teenagers having
some fun by destroying everything that a
homeless person owns.
One day we stopped to see how Jerry was
doing, only to find that someone had taken
everything he had, leaving him with just the
clothes on his back. It was the beginning of
summer but the nights were still cold. As
we had sleeping bags we were not using, we
gave them to Jerry. It was no big deal to us,
as we had no use for them, but to Jerry it
was as if we had given him the keys to the
city. We never know how much one act of
kindness can mean to someone until we see
the look upon their face.

— Randy Parcher
Traverse City, MI

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My grandmother asked my mother
to hurry and get the clothes from the
clothesline because there was going to be a
storm. As my mother, who was 18 at the time
and in her last year of school, went to get the
clothes off the line, it started to rain, and
thunder roared through the sky. Suddenly, I have a good life-long friend who owns
as she reached to grab an article of clothing a business in Wilson, NC. He has been the
off the line, she was struck by lighting. My best friend/big brother/role model that I
grandparents rushed her to the hospital to never had when I was growing up.
make sure she was all right. The doctor came I met Van when I was 18 and in jail on
out to give my grandparents the results. The Christmas Eve. He was a bail-bondsman,
doctor said, “She’s ok, and the baby’s ok too.” and he would come in and out of the jail all
And that was how my mother found out she day. I would ask him for reading materials,
was pregnant with me! and he would give them to me. I think he
— Michal saw potential in me because he noticed
Charlotte, NC how fast I was reading the newspapers and
magazines. On the night of Christmas Eve,
I was in the hospital recovering from a the jailers opened my door and told me
gunshot wound. I was in more pain than to get dressed because I was leaving. I had
you can imagine. I was crying, asking God no idea how this was happening, because I
why he did this to me. They kept giving didn’t have any family or friends that would
me different drugs. None of them worked. help me.
The pain was unbearable. My boyfriend, When I came out of the jail, Van was
who is all but religious, picked up the Bible waiting for me, and I got in his car and he
off the night table, opened it up and began talked to me. He asked me where my home
to read it. Almost immediately, as he went was, and I told him I didn’t have one. He
back through the words, a warm feeling took me to his house and has been my best
came over my body that seemed to numb friend for the last 11 years.
the pain. I stopped crying and it gave me a He has saved me and helped me through
very calm and serene feeling… You might so many situations, and not just financially.
be thinking the drugs kicked in. That’s what He introduced me to his family and friends,
he thought too. He stopped reading and the and they all accept me like I am family.
pain came back as it had never left. I told Without Van, I would probably be dead or
him to continue to read. in prison right now.
— Tawanna — Michael Jones
Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC

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ONE YEAR FROM NOW…

One year from now, I plan to have a job, and
have my daughter Samantha in Pre-K and
on the right track! I’m tired of living day by
day. I need some consistency in my life.
— Tabitha

One year from now, I’ll have all of my burnt
bridges with family and friends rebuilt. One
year from now, I’ll have visited every single
state in the United States. One year from
now, I’ll be in a serious relationship with the
girlfriend I haven’t met yet. One year from
now, I’ll have become a stronger person
mentally and physically. One year from now,
I know I’ll be in a better place.
— Troy

One year from now, I will be in a house, and
have a car, and run my business, and stay
with Speak-Up magazine to help others too.
— Tweety

One year from now, my goal is to complete
a degree or certificate program. It’s to ensure
appropriate medical personnel are hired
and not hire individuals who merely seek
to take advantage of the vulnerable, i.e.
the homeless or mentally ill. In line with
this goal, I am attempting to complete my
paralegal degree among other things. I even
dream of perhaps owning a business.
— Lynn

One year from now, I want to become a
productive member of society, with my life Cornejoin its proper perspective as a mother and E.
grandmother. I want a driver’s license, my Sarahown car and my own business.
— Kimberly Illustrations:

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THANK
YOU, TC
My name is Frankie. You have to know that
for those who find themselves living on the
street, it is so, so difficult just to eat and stay
dry and warm. This can be a daily hardship.
I have traveled from Michigan to Florida,
been in homeless camps from Stewart to
Key West, and I will tell you this: Traverse
City, you have a huge heart for all the street
people! This is rare, for in many places I have
been, the homeless are invisible to most sweetheart after 33 years of marriage. She
people. just had enough. There is much I must work
Not here in T. C. Nope. Much love is through in my family. I have three beautiful
given through all the churches who feed, daughters and three great sons, 12 natural
house, and just minister God’s love. We out grandchildren and three step-grandsons!
here say, “Thank you, Traverse City.” Every All but one daughter will have nothing to
man deserves dignity, and this paper will do with me, and this is pain way deeper
give some who are willing to put in the time than the physical pain. Yet, I know that in
some of their dignity back! The homeless are my recovery, I must trust in the Lord to heal
not invisible. where only He can, so I am plugged into life
I am a former 33-year morphine addict, and each new day I desire the very marrow
from three back surgeries and over 30 of that day. Yep, to live it fully no matter my
hospitalizations. Before I was 30, I was an situation, for I am learning to live one day
addict. I am 61 today, and I am out of that at a time. My life some day will show my
morphine fog! children I am a free man, no more bound by
Yep, I am alive. anything but God’s love for me.
I do so love my life now, but my 30
plus years of addiction have caused much — Frankie
pain to my children. I lost my high school Traverse City, MI

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little better now, but they are not as they
were before. There is no magical cure for
the neglect I’ve felt. There is no single
apology that can bridge the gap. It will takeALL I
a lifetime’s worth of attention from everyone
to make even a single apology meaningful.
I never wanted to be mistreated. I wanted
a fun life, a life of happiness and constantWANTED WAS
good surprises. The life I had wanted was
stolen from me. It needs to be returned.
While others lived the lives I wanted for
myself, I could hardly even shower. I couldA SHOWER
hardly sleep at night for fear that I would
As I was neglected, allowed to sleep alone be beaten, robbed and raped. I read one
in public, allowed to collect dirt and allowed morning about the crucified homeless man
to become convinced that I was uncared they found in Rocky River Park, so that
for, my largest concern was cleanliness. I night in the bandshell at Freedom Park,
have oily skin. Sometimes I feel the need I was happy that it was the police were
to shower multiple times a day and I still waking me up to check my I.D. for my safety
might not feel clean. “On the street” it was as opposed to a murderer or a rapist. Once
rare that I could shower more than once in on a bench at Independence Park, I was
a week, much less multiple times a day as I awoken at 3:30 in the morning by a man
probably needed. My wonderful counselor caressing my thigh as though I had invited
at the Urban Ministry Center, Megan him simply by being there. I had never
Coffey, always liked to tell me that her father been so stupefyingly appalled and repulsed
in Texas would say to her gruffly, “Missy, by my entire community than I was at that
don’t even talk to me until I’ve had a shower, moment. He thought it was funny. He was
a shave and a cup of coffee.” When you actually surprised that I was upset. I was not
are on the street, it’s difficult to tell people laughing. I rode my bike to the garden at the
that they cannot talk to you until you’ve church on Hawthorne and cried afterwards
showered and you don’t know when that for probably about twenty minutes.
will be, because you do not have a shower All I wanted was a shower. All I wanted
of your own or easy access to a one. It’s hard was an explanation. All I wanted was my
to tell others the truth. It’s hard to say, “I am life back. All I wanted was to sleep without
scared. I am alone. My teeth hurt. I feel dirty. some strange man rubbing my thigh. All I
I feel unloved. I feel neglected. I am afraid.” wanted was to be able to show up at church
When you try to say it, you feel like people without a complaint. What I wanted was for
use that as an excuse to further your neglect. everyone to feel the same joy for me that I
I know this because that’s my experience. felt for them all. I did not think and I still do
I tried to let people know. I tried to open not think that that is too much to ask.
myself to being available to be rebuilt. I tried
to allow society to do for me what I could — Matt Hoffman
not do for myself. Try as I did, I encountered Charlotte, NC
frustration after frustration. Things are a

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CONCRETE DREAMS

I’m transitioning from house to hobo.
I’ve already signed my lease.

I will be sleeping in that bush next to your car,
and your car starting will be my alarm clock.

I will be invisible but stand out.

I will live a lavish lifestyle,
created and renewed every day.

I will be the stranger you want to forget.

I will be the landmark for adventure.

I’m in the midst of all that is to come,
waiting to transition and transcend onto the next phase,
cautious of every step I take.

If I could only focus for this very second.
I’d know we’re all in the midst of dreaming and creating
our own very existence into reality.

— James Crider
Charlotte, NC

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HAPPY HEARTS

Being homeless is a crazy experience… My life felt as if it was not important, and
I started off alone on the cold streets I was all alone…
struggling to find love. Many people took I cried many nights, but I soon met my
advantage of me—took my kindness for significant other. His name is Charlie. He
weakness. I got used and abused, mentally took away most of my worries, and he
and emotionally, many times; I was so makes sure I am always safe and warm
hungry at times, and all I had was water and never hungry. For once in my life, I
to drink from restaurant restrooms. I had feel completely safe and loved even though
to steal food any chance I got. I lost a lot I am still homeless and going through the
of weight, and my family turned on me struggles of everyday life. My heart is happy,
and would not help me out. I felt that I was anyone can touch a heart. One word can
totally lost and alone. The only person I change a person’s day. I learned that through
had in my life was my grandmother, who my life.
unfortunately passed away on August 20,
2012. — Whitney
I slept under bridges, and in abandoned Charlotte, NC
houses and trailers. I was very lucky to be (with Charles)
warm most nights, especially when it rained.
Those were the worst times.

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The Drive
We are all the same in that we are all
different.
I was going to a show one day with a
friend, Jim. Jim said that Bill was interested
in going as well. The more the merrier,
right? I asked Jim what Bill knew about me.
“Not much,” he said. Not that I had once
been homeless.
The day came for our outing. Jim and
I had some coffee and made small talk
waiting for Bill. He showed up, and we were
introduced. He seemed like a nice guy. The
three of us headed out and Bill offered to
drive. I sat in the front seat. Not long into
our expedition, the subject drifted towards
the “Street People.” Now Jim knew I had
been homeless, living in my car tagged the
“Hotel Taurus,” but poor Bill knew nothing
about the can of worms he had just opened.
Bill said how everywhere you look you
saw them—always dirty, needing a bath,
usually drunk, never working.
“Yeah,” I agreed, “often they don’t look
like someone you want to take home.” I felt
like I was throwing myself under the bus.
“But ya know,” I said, “I’ve seen some that
are clean, smart, educated, even Christians.
Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, employed,
as well as unemployed. Shoot, you never
know when you might find yourself sitting
right next to one.”
He looked over at me and changed the
subject.
We are all the same in that we are all
different.
— NTA
Traverse City, MI

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been homeless off and on (but mostly on)
ever since. Currently, I live in a camp in the
south Fort Worth area.
Why am I homeless?
For those of you who are curious, I’ve
been homeless off and on for about 10 years,
but mostly on. In fact, over the past decadeONE MAN’S I’ve been homeless for around eight years.
There is no simple reason as to why
I remain homeless. I’ve been asked that
question by several people over the years.
In the past, my addictions and pride kept
me homeless but now it’s a different set ofJOURNEY circumstances.
I grew up in a farming community in There is no one thing to explain my
central Minnesota. I later spent 20 years situation unless you are a Christian and
living in the Washington DC/ northern then the only reason is that He is keeping
Virginia area then another 15 or so in me homeless for a reason. Maybe He is not
the north Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, done teaching me something or He has
Illinois. In the fall of 2002 I arrived in Fort something that I must do for Him.
Worth, Texas, as a homeless person and I’ve I cannot say.

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The other day my brother asked that and do things like laundry, maintenance
question and the only reasonable thing that and repairs.
came to mind was that God does have a plan This time of year (Autumn) I have to
for me and it includes homelessness. gather material to convert my tent from a
Some people might say that using Him as summer shelter to something a warmer and
an excuse is a cop out. It’s not really but if more weatherproof for the winter months.
you want to know all the other little details Here’s something else that everyone
then let’s try these excuses on for size. knows but fails to understand when it comes
I have signed up for subsidised public to time. I walk everywhere. The places I go
housing but the problem is it takes a very are not five minutes away by car but one
long time before you are accepted. I know hour on foot – there is nothing much that is
some people who’ve been on the waiting list less than 45 minutes away from my camp by
for more than one year and a half. foot.
Then, if I am to pay my own way – which So there you have it. Being homeless – at
for me is the preferred way to go – I need to least my type of homelessness – is a full time
find work. That sounds easier than it really deal and I also volunteer for work two days
is. I do look for work. I am listed and get a week in order to stay busy and to network
postings from several job search sites on the with other people.
internet as well as from the Texas Workforce So why is it that I remain homeless? I
Commission. I am also listed with several cannot say for sure. I like the Christian
temporary agencies but there are problems answer but truthfully all of the above reasons
too. are part of the equation. There are probably
For example, there is my lack of a recent several other reasons I could list but they
job history and my criminal record. There is don’t spring to mind.
also the issue of my age. I was told by a friend But before I end, let me say this to those
at church – who works within a human who think my homelessness is because I sit
resources department – that age remains a around and do nothing. You are mistaken.
problem even though firms cannot legally There are many homeless people who do
discriminate against someone because of just sit around but I am not one of them. I
how old they are. I know there are many am actively trying to improve my situation
more people applying for the same job as me and to suggest otherwise is insulting. I can
but they are often less qualified and much forgive someone who believes otherwise or
younger. thinks I could do more, but until that person
What I am physically capable of doing? truly understands what it takes to pick
While I am healthy, I don’t have the body yourself up after sinking this low, I won’t
of a 20 year old. And transport is an issue. waste my time on them.
Public transportation is my only option and I don’t like being homeless. I am no longer
buses don’t go everywhere. There is also a too proud or too ashamed to talk about it. I
lack of available jobs of the sort that I can do. am actively trying to change things. It does
Another problem with being homeless is take time though. I’ve travelled a long way
that you spend most of your time just trying to get to where I am now and I still have a
to survive. I go to at least one food bank each long way to go. Send me an email if you have
week which takes at least one whole day. I any ideas that may help me but if not I hope
also collect aluminum cans along highways this post helps you understand my personal
for extra cash and that takes at least another reasons for being homeless. Please keep
day, sometimes even two. in mind that this is the best answer to the
I make trips to the store on foot because question ‘why are you still homeless?’.
I don’t want to waste money on a bus fare. I As for other homeless people, you’ll have
need to go to stores for things that I don’t get to ask them.
from food banks: fuel for my stove and other
necessities. — Garth Kirkpatrick
A camp is my home so I spend a couple Fort Worth, Texas
of days taking care of it. I have to clean up

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BEING HOMELESS

Being Tortured,
institutionalized
Then jailed to all three, at the same time, invisibly;
In what appeared to be fresh air
I was grateful to be,
Waiting on mines,
Spitting out rhymes,
Naturally for me,
Ahead of the times in my mind,
All writing, they called it blind,
Yet it’s how I always appeared to see,
Chose To be a “He”,
All for a protection of thee,
Knowing end body was always “Carina,” the she, me,
As well as “In the beginning,”
Making a partner to be greater
So that I may be free.

— Nicole
Charlotte, NC

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I CHOOSE TO LIVE
I was born and raised in Traverse City. years. We had spent the morning in a coffee
Enjoying the God-given beauty of Northern shop, making small talk. He seemed good,
Michigan has been a great blessing to me. but he took his own life that evening.
Having traveled to many states, I have Jerry, a friend for thirty years, died
always returned “home.” suddenly of a heart attack.
Since 2002, thirteen years ago, I have To further convince me that God wasn’t
been homeless on and off—mostly on— a just God or a loving God, He called my
couch-surfing, occasionally bartering room mother to Him days before Christmas. We
and board in exchange for labor around the had her viewing on Christmas Eve and
house and grounds, staying with friends for Christmas Day. On a cold snowy day—
a night or two. These breaks helped relieve December 26, 2001—our family laid Mom
me from the rigors of the streets. to rest next to Dad. They lay together in
Never had I imagined that I would be Memorial Gardens, “A Friend for Life.”
“homeless,” as in no home, but there I was. I retreated, withdrew from life.
The last thing on my agenda was not Preferring isolation and angry as hell,
“making my own way.” I always worked—in it wasn’t long before my drug of choice,
construction, oil and gas surveying, as a pro- alcohol, came back in my life. It had been
pocket billiard player. six years.
I fell in love when I was 40 years old. She Guilt and shame—toxic shame—
was the “one.” I quit drinking, an unfortunate engulfed me, and soon I lost my home, my
malady and part of the trade. truck, work tools and equipment, sporting
For a number of years, life was good. goods and antiques. Everything.
Work was good, home was good. Plans were Broke from not going to work, by May of
made, land was purchased, a home was to be 2002, I was on the streets.
built, children! I denounced God. I felt fervent and
Then over a span of two months, from constant shame. I drank to get through
late October to December in 2001, my world the nights and days. Guilt, shame, constant
was torpedoed. Over that two months I lost thoughts of lost loved ones, depression—
my wife, Julie, to an unexpected illness. My these were my companions while sleeping
favorite uncle, Gordon, was taken from us. at any one of my “hidey-holes,” street
Ben followed. He was a friend for twenty vernacular meaning “a safe place.”

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In the winter months, safety is provided by my phone and dialed 911.
a coalition of the Goodwill Street Outreach, “Please come and get me. A patrolman.
local churches and their members and Take me to the hospital ….please. I want to
volunteers. This coalition forms the Safe live today.”
Harbor Program. For six years, I availed of I spent two rough weeks in Munson
their services including food, shelter and Hospital. One of my friends that day in the
clothing. bathroom is no longer with us. Jerry was his
On March 29 of this year, while standing name.
in the Civic Center bathroom with two I chose to live.
friends, with one passed out and the other I mention God in this article, and I am a
soon to be, I felt an urgent will to live. I grateful believer in His will for me.
remember talking to my bottle, asking it if
this was the drink to kill me? It chilled me — Brad Huston
then. It chills me now. Traverse City, MI
I remember looking at my two friends,
then looking out the door and the window.
It was cold and wet. I looked back at my
friends, the door, the weather. I picked up

Page 22

JOSHUA’S
LIFE ADVICE
1. When you are broke and homeless, ask the people for
money or get a job.

2. When you need or want help, ask people or help yourself.

3. Keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer.

4. When you have lost ones who you love, pray for them or
visit their graves for respect and talk to your lost loved
ones.

5. If you can’t pray, then ask them to pray for you.

6. If you’re scared, ask God for courage and a shield.

7. When you are sad or depressed, then ask God for faith
and joy.

8. Peace be stil, peace was stil, and peace may be stil.

9. Go to church and talk to God for anything and everything
from him.

— Joshua

Page 23

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Sundays 10 a.m. Ben Shaw, Woodworker
watershedtc.org shawworksonline.com

JACK LANE
TEAM
Sundays 9:30 and 11 a.m. 231-995-0000
bayviewchurch.net jacklaneteam.com

Generous Anonymous Donor Generous Anonymous Donor

Sundays 10 a.m.
clgonline.org