A New Hope

  • Nate Strictland
  • Jan 26, 2008
  • Series: Gospel Stories
    A New Hope

    I came to San Diego because my life fell apart.  My family who live in Arkansas & Georgia couldn't deal with my illness.  I was serving the military as a scout working with Special Ops on the Iraq/Syrian border when I was injured in a surprise attack.  I was shot and blown up, by an I.E.D. containing a combination of Saran Gas & Agent Orange which gave me both Parkinson & Cancer.  After I got out of the hospital I did odd jobs, in 2002 I became ill enough where my health started to decline.  Since 2003 I haven't been able to work.  My family fell apart, every time I got sick it would affect my moms health, and my daughter and her mother's emotional and mental stability would be rocked.  So I decided to leave.  I didn't know where I was going, all I can say is that God brought me here.  When I first got here I was staying in hotels, not knowing what I would do.  Someone stole I.D.'s so I could no longer rent any rooms.  

        I went to all of the services from St. Vincent's to Catholic charities, and everything in between.  None of these programs where able to help me the way I needed help, because my particular needs didn't fit their schedule.  If I had an appointment with a VA doctor at 5, it meant I couldn't get back in time for their early curfew which meant they'd kick you out. Get in trouble enough times and you're banned for 6 months, so why put all my chips in a basket that can't help me anyways.  I tried other charities that wanted me to go to their rigid schedules and services before they'd even help you.  If you don't get there in time for service you don't eat, there's no room for any leeway.  I'm the kind of person who said if I have to listen to you preach first I'd rather go get it in the woods myself.   At this point I just asked for a blanket.

         I became highly depressed and prayed every night not to wake up the next day.  I was in a lot of pain, dizzy and nauseous, and all I could do is beg God to take me.   That's when I met Heather.  She brought me food and clothes that she got from people in Kaleo and gave them to me with no expectation, no "you're going to my church", no "You're going to listen to my prayers," and she let me know that people cared and were praying.   Honestly I thought she was weird, it's not normal for people to care about the homeless.  A lot of people say they love the homeless, they want to help the homeless but they are so artificial.  They just give you $5 and want you to get out real quick, they don't want to talk to you, they don't want to hear your story.  They think "you're just a drug addict, you're just an alcoholic," or they think "you're just mentally ill."  Most people are that way because the streets made em' that way.  Most of us can become schizophrenic real quick being out there.    When I met Drew he was just as nuts and told me the rest of the church was filled with people just like him.  They were willing to bring me to their home, let me get cleaned up, and bring me to church, but never pushed it.  I wanted to go to church honestly just to see if they were an anomaly.  I thought honestly this place has got to be a cult, they gotta be making jam and brainwashing ya.  When I came to church everyone was just as open and caring to me as they were.  People actually wanted to know me, not what I can do, or what function I could play, but just wanted to know me.  Many people like Tomas and Suzanne invited me into their homes, had me over for dinner.  That was amazing to me, it was love without expectation.  

       Much to my surprise people invited me to their homes, and into community, then I met Eugene who invited me to a missional community.  I had a great fear of this.  I was afraid of being rejected, not fitting in, viewed as the "sick guy," or looked at as a stranger.  One thing I've learned is that God usually works through me in ways I don't like, or that make me uncomfortable, (like speaking right now).  When I got there I was nervous, I didn't know anyone, but as it went on I found it was really beautiful.  All we did was we talked about the gospel, we got to know each other and really tried to become friends.

    Even now I'd like to tell you now that I feel completely accepted but I don't, but I realized that it was MY problem, not because of a lack of anyone in this church.  Which is why missional community is so important, to show that as Christians we are all struggling, we need each other. 

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