Culture Shock
Disclaimer: I'm not going to write this post within the constraints of political correctness so I hope everyone is ok with that.
Today, a couple guys from church, my father in law, Sam, and I helped one of the many families that are living in one of the shelters in San Antonio for Hurricane Katrina victims. San Antonio originally received about 5,000 refugees. Shelters were set up at Windsor Park Mall, an old Levi manufacturing plant, and the former Kelley AFB. The number of refugees quickly dwindled to around 1200 as some of them moved on to other areas of the country and were absorbed by family and friends. Our numbers of refugees were then again lifted when some more people came from Houston. I think right now we are hovering around the 5,000 mark again.
The family we helped today consists of the dad, Frank Monroe, the mom, Shaun, and 8 kids, ranging in age from 15 months to 14 years old. Two of the 8 kids are actually not their biological kids, but they are related somehow (I think nieces or cousins or something). They have one son who is missing. Last they knew, he was still with Shaun's mom somewhere in Louisiana. Frank managed to find a rental house on the East side of town that they are moving into. Of course, they have nothing to pack up and take with them from the shelter so they are basically moving into an empty house. A local homebuilder was willing to donate some furniture so we went to his warehouse to load up 3 pickups and a trailer full of used mixed and matched furniture. We dropped that off at the house and then headed to Wal-Mart and the Sealy Bed Store.
Let me just say it's a little overwhelming to walk into a Wal-Mart and know that this family of 10 (and hopefully soon to be 11) has absolutely nothing. I remember after Dixie and I got married and moved to Searcy, that first trip to Wal-Mart was pretty expensive. You have to get everything. Look around your house. You have to get everything. We didn't get everything. We got some basic necessities to get them set up. We did splurge on a TV and PS2. The family is moving in on Monday and these kids will have absolutely nothing to do but stare at each other all day long....it gets very boring (they need some Snarfblats to make fine music).
While Sam and I were taking the Monroes through Wal-Mart, Paul went to the bed store and loaded up on mattresses and bed rails. We brought all that stuff back to the house and unloaded it as quick as we could. It was getting late in the afternoon, and we didn't really want to advertise to the neighbors all the stuff we were putting into this house. They won't move in until Monday so it will still be vacant for a day or so, and we'd hate for it to get broken into before they can even move in.
The house itself is a four bedroom 2 bath house in a 4-plex building. It's brand new construction so that is nice. To my skewed perspective, though, that was all that was nice about it. There will be 10 people living in this house. I'd say it is about 800 square feet. There are 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a washer and dryer closet, an eat in kitchen, and stairs. There's not really any living room. When I first walked in, I immediately thought, "10 people can't live here...it's impossible". But they will. And to be honest, they are thrilled to be going there. They are sick of being in the shelter and eager to be able to take a shower in their own house. But more than that, Paul asked Frank how this house compared to their home in New Orleans. To our amazement, Frank said, "This is bigger." I couldn't quite process it. He continued, "Up until a couple years ago, we lived in a one bedroom house." I was nearly ashamed of myself because I just couldn't grasp it. They had 1 small car. Their family never goes anywhere altogether. It isn't feasible. Besides, where would they go?
My family is very different from the Monroes. We are white and they are black. We are rich and they live in poverty. We are educated and they are not. Their value system is different. They speak differently. They act differently. They relate to each other within their family differently. Their sense of community is different. Their expectations of life are different.
One thing we share, though, is our Creator's love. He loves them just as much as he loves me. I don't know if they consider themselves Christians or not. But that doesn't change the love God has for them. They can be equal heirs in the kingdom. Christ's blood equally mitigates their sins and mine. I think sometimes I forget that.
And so I think, while they are still literally living in shock, they are somewhat grateful tonight. And I'm left somewhat appalled at myself. Appalled because of my own ignorance of how people live, right here in America. Do you see the root word of “ignorance”? Ignore. I turn a blind eye to poverty. I mean scroll down a ways and you can see me complain about money. It’s ridiculous. Frank and Shaun didn’t experience culture shock today. I did.
E
Today, a couple guys from church, my father in law, Sam, and I helped one of the many families that are living in one of the shelters in San Antonio for Hurricane Katrina victims. San Antonio originally received about 5,000 refugees. Shelters were set up at Windsor Park Mall, an old Levi manufacturing plant, and the former Kelley AFB. The number of refugees quickly dwindled to around 1200 as some of them moved on to other areas of the country and were absorbed by family and friends. Our numbers of refugees were then again lifted when some more people came from Houston. I think right now we are hovering around the 5,000 mark again.
The family we helped today consists of the dad, Frank Monroe, the mom, Shaun, and 8 kids, ranging in age from 15 months to 14 years old. Two of the 8 kids are actually not their biological kids, but they are related somehow (I think nieces or cousins or something). They have one son who is missing. Last they knew, he was still with Shaun's mom somewhere in Louisiana. Frank managed to find a rental house on the East side of town that they are moving into. Of course, they have nothing to pack up and take with them from the shelter so they are basically moving into an empty house. A local homebuilder was willing to donate some furniture so we went to his warehouse to load up 3 pickups and a trailer full of used mixed and matched furniture. We dropped that off at the house and then headed to Wal-Mart and the Sealy Bed Store.
Let me just say it's a little overwhelming to walk into a Wal-Mart and know that this family of 10 (and hopefully soon to be 11) has absolutely nothing. I remember after Dixie and I got married and moved to Searcy, that first trip to Wal-Mart was pretty expensive. You have to get everything. Look around your house. You have to get everything. We didn't get everything. We got some basic necessities to get them set up. We did splurge on a TV and PS2. The family is moving in on Monday and these kids will have absolutely nothing to do but stare at each other all day long....it gets very boring (they need some Snarfblats to make fine music).
While Sam and I were taking the Monroes through Wal-Mart, Paul went to the bed store and loaded up on mattresses and bed rails. We brought all that stuff back to the house and unloaded it as quick as we could. It was getting late in the afternoon, and we didn't really want to advertise to the neighbors all the stuff we were putting into this house. They won't move in until Monday so it will still be vacant for a day or so, and we'd hate for it to get broken into before they can even move in.
The house itself is a four bedroom 2 bath house in a 4-plex building. It's brand new construction so that is nice. To my skewed perspective, though, that was all that was nice about it. There will be 10 people living in this house. I'd say it is about 800 square feet. There are 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a washer and dryer closet, an eat in kitchen, and stairs. There's not really any living room. When I first walked in, I immediately thought, "10 people can't live here...it's impossible". But they will. And to be honest, they are thrilled to be going there. They are sick of being in the shelter and eager to be able to take a shower in their own house. But more than that, Paul asked Frank how this house compared to their home in New Orleans. To our amazement, Frank said, "This is bigger." I couldn't quite process it. He continued, "Up until a couple years ago, we lived in a one bedroom house." I was nearly ashamed of myself because I just couldn't grasp it. They had 1 small car. Their family never goes anywhere altogether. It isn't feasible. Besides, where would they go?
My family is very different from the Monroes. We are white and they are black. We are rich and they live in poverty. We are educated and they are not. Their value system is different. They speak differently. They act differently. They relate to each other within their family differently. Their sense of community is different. Their expectations of life are different.
One thing we share, though, is our Creator's love. He loves them just as much as he loves me. I don't know if they consider themselves Christians or not. But that doesn't change the love God has for them. They can be equal heirs in the kingdom. Christ's blood equally mitigates their sins and mine. I think sometimes I forget that.
And so I think, while they are still literally living in shock, they are somewhat grateful tonight. And I'm left somewhat appalled at myself. Appalled because of my own ignorance of how people live, right here in America. Do you see the root word of “ignorance”? Ignore. I turn a blind eye to poverty. I mean scroll down a ways and you can see me complain about money. It’s ridiculous. Frank and Shaun didn’t experience culture shock today. I did.
E
posted by Eric Livingston at
9/17/2005
1 Comments:
I'm with ya. I had the wonderful experience of holding 2 of those precious children Sunday at church. The 3 year old was coughing so bad and so deep. I could tell she just didn't feel good. Probably our area and all the different allergies, the shelter, etc. They loved being held, and I loved holding them. Thanks for helping them move and for posting your experience.
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