August 22nd, 2021

Last Sunday we had a unique experience.  We were invited to help “shower the homeless.”  Now lest you think this is kind of weird, it wasn’t.  Let me explain.

There is a serious homeless problem in Riverside.  There are people who are sleeping on the corners of streets less than a block from where we live.  It’s really a sad situation.  At the office a few weeks ago, we had a voice mail message that gave us some concern.  We attempted to call the number the lady left, but there was no answer.  Fearing for the person’s safety, we called the police, and an officer came to the office to listen to the voice mail and to gather some information.  After she was finished, we asked about the causes of homelessness in Riverside.  Are they there because of emotional, mental handicap, or drug/alcohol abuse?  She told us that most of those on the streets are there because they want to be. Some have suffered trauma in life that leaves them so broken that they cannot accept the help that’s available. The officer said that Riverside has an abundance of services for emotionally challenged, mentally handicapped and drug users who want to quit, but so many do not want to take advantage of those services.

We all wonder what we can do.  A brother in one of the local stakes purchased a custom-designed trailer that had all the equipment to shower 3 people in individual showers simultaneously.  It also has a very large tank for fresh water, a hot water heater, electric generator, and a wastewater tank.  One of the shower stalls is handicap accessible with a ramp.  The trailer was pulled to a church parking lot where the Church has partnered with the Presbyterian congregation to serve hot meals each Sunday.  The shower-trailer arrives about 3 hours before the meal is served.  Currently, the Church is doing this once each month, but the hope is that it can be done more often.

We arrived at 1:45 to help setup tables, awnings, and chairs.  The other volunteers put shirts, pants, shorts, underwear, socks, shoes, and sweatshirts from DI out on the tables.  The homeless person can select some clothes, take a shower, and come out in clean clothes.  There were 2 Sr. missionary couples, and about 10 others from the stake helping. 

Those who come to use the shower are very grateful, for the most part. There was a sister from the Riverside stake, Teri, who has been helping for quite some time.  She greets each of the homeless people so warmly.  She asks them their name and then calls them by name whenever she speaks to them.  She escorts them down the tables of clothes and helps them find something they can use.  She made each person feel loved.  Her demeanor and manner were so welcoming and non-judgmental. 

There was one man who came to shower, who had a very small bike which he left leaning against the church as he talked with Teri. As he picked out clothes, he got his bike and rolled the bike with one hand while carrying clothes in the other.  When it was time for him to go into the shower, I asked him if I could watch his bike while he was in the shower, and he refused. He was assigned the handicap accessible shower and he just rolled the bike up the ramp and into the shower with him.  I suspect that was the only possession he had that was of any value and he wasn’t about to risk losing it.

It was hotter than the surface of the sun that Sunday, which may have kept some people from coming.  Normally they have 25 to 40 people come to take a shower.  When we were there, we had about 12.  Regardless, what an excellent service the Riverside members are offering.  The meals and showers were shut down during Covid and word may be slow getting out that the meals and showers are back in operation.

In January, 2021, the Church News did an article for “Latter-day Saints Showers” 

This past week, Liz and I were very busy.  Riverside is sent missionaries who are waiting for their visas to be approved, or for those missionaries waiting for the country of their original mission assignment to lift their restrictions related to Covid.  She also must plan and logistically organize travel for those who are being released at the end of their mission.  She also organizes the food for those missionaries leaving and those who are arriving from their Mission Training Experience.  Last week she received emails from Salt Lake City that about 12 others will be traveling to their original assignment. She must coordinate with SLC and the missionary to confirm they have all their documentation, such as passports, visas, proof of insurance, family proof of (financial) support, itinerary, copies of 2 months of banks statements (for some countries), notarized police report, notarized medical form, proof of vaccinations…including Covid, and have the missionary take a Covid test 72 hours before they depart.  For some countries, it’s a lot!  And if one piece of information is missing…depending on the country, the missionary could get stuck!  She also checks the itinerary to make certain it is efficient, so the missionary doesn’t have to wait for 10 hours in a remote airport in Albania.

As for the vehicles, I have about 20 cars that need oil changes, some with registrations that will expire at the end of the month, and some vehicles that have incorrect registration documents in their cars (the VIN on the registration does not match the VIN on the vehicle!  For those situations, I warn the missionaries not to get pulled over because the mission president does not have resources allotted for “bail money”.)  I found one registration for a Corolla in an Equinox!  And when you find one incorrect registration, you know there will be at least one more. We’ll, I’m working on three. 

Tomorrow, August 24^th, it all begins.  We’ll have most of the 180 missionaries come to the office for transfers.  Nearly all cars will be there, so I’m hoping to check all the registrations as they arrive.  The missionaries will drop off their old companions, find their new companions and will take off for their areas.  Those who are being released will be served a lunch, then go to the mission president’s home for interviews, and a nice dinner.

Early on Tuesday, Liz and I will meet the departing missionaries with the mission’s Tundra and large trailer to take all their luggage to the airport.  She and others will make certain all the missionaries are checked in for their flights home.  Then we race back to the office to get ready for the 30 incoming missionaries!  Setup the tables, and prepare sack lunches for the arriving missionaries, plus those who are helping with all the logistics.  Then we’ll race back to the airport by 12:30 with several vehicles and the trailer to bring them all to the office where the mission president will have a brief welcome meeting and the new missionaries will meet their trainers.  It is all very exciting! The missionaries are enthused, excited, nervous, and sometimes just have a glassy-eyed look about them.  We try to make them feel welcome and put their fears to rest.

So that will be our week.  I’ll try to take a few pictures of all the missionaries mingling tomorrow on Transfer Day!