Reflections on Trey
I felt that one of Trey’s biggest desires was recognition. I vividly remember at one point in the conversation…
Reflections on Suzanne
Through my conversation with Suzanne and other homeless individuals, I learned so much about homelessness. I realized that my…
Reflections on John
John truly showed me how everyone on this Earth is alike. We all want our simple emotional needs to…
Reflections on Jeff
There are many reasons why I chose to write about Jeff, but the main one is that I felt…
New Staff Writer: Naran Shettigar!
Meet Naran Shettigar, our newest staff writer! “Hi! My name is Naran Shettigar and I’m an incoming junior at…
Reflections on ‘Pete’
This opportunity to talk to ‘Pete’ came as I was serving at Church Under the Bridge. That Sunday was…
Reflections on Daisy
Other than her bold, outstanding joy, something else about Daisy’s story stood out to me. Daisy strongly believes that…
Reflections on Wanda
This is one of my harder reflections because, wow, I am speechless. Wanda’s deep insight and wisdom continue to…
Reflections on David
Going into this conversation, I guess I didn’t really know just how much was on David’s mind. When I…
Reflections on Mike
Mike was very open, friendly, and had enough spirit to joke around (see first paragraph, hah). Despite going through…
New Staff Writer: Jolene Chao!
Meet Jolene Chao, our newest staff writer! “FUN FACTS!!!! – I someday aspire to own a pet squirrel. –…
Reflections on Chris
When I approached Chris, I was very uncertain. Uncertain if he’d be willing to talk to me. Uncertain of…
Reflections on Will
In September 2016, I stepped into the bustling cafe of the Mission: Possible! Community Center for the first time.…
Reflections on Joe (UPDATE)
Today was my first trip to the Austin location of Church Under the Bridge. The second I set foot…
New Staff Writer: Sidney Kaliher!
Meet our newest staff writer, Sidney Kaliher! “My name is Sidney Kaliher, and I’m a junior at St.…
New Staff Writer: Nick Wong!
Meet Nicholas Wong, our first new staff writer! “Hi! My name is Nick Wong, and I’m a freshman…
Reflections on Ramone
When previously doing homeless ministry, I’ve had a focus on gospel-sharing rather than learning each person’s full story. Meeting…
Reflections on Phillip
Okay. It was so, so incredibly cool and uplifting to meet someone who has not only lived through (and…
Reflections on JP
To be fair, I noticed his stump before I noticed Jean-Pierre. I was wandering the community center, armed with…
Reflections on Charles
I met and greeted Charles several times over the months, both at Mission Possible and at Church Under the…
The Death of Nawin
Last Saturday, May 20, a man was “discovered unresponsive around 4:30 p.m. at the Texaco gas station” in San…
Choosing Power
On homelessness and power—drawing from/reflecting on my work on ASH. *** It’s August 2016 and we’re arguing…
Moving Past Pity
Does the word ‘homeless’ ever, involuntarily, set off images of lanky druggies, filling you driver’s seat window? or of…
Reflections on ‘Sarah’
When I walked by a row of cars at CUB, ‘Sarah’ called out a greeting to me in Korean.…
Reflections on ‘Dylan’
I’m standing in the back during the worship segment of Church Under the Bridge and start a conversation with…
Reflections on ‘Manuel’
‘Manuel’ biked up to where I was standing, watching the line of people inching past the hygiene station. We talked…
Reflections on ‘Grant’
I was at the Community Center helping out—I twisted a damp, tattered rag until a few milky drops sputtered…
Reflections on ‘Anthony’
I actually visited Church Under the Bridge that day with my small group from church. Meaning: my first time…
Interview: Mitchell Gibbs, ARCH Executive Director
I recently had the opportunity to interview Mr. Mitchell Gibbs, Executive Director at the Austin Resource Center for…
Reflections on ‘Philip’
He strides up to the counter full-force: a lanky, honey-skinned man radiating pure joy. “May I get some of…
Reflections on ‘Ken’
He approaches me. I’m at Church Under the Bridge again, watching the service. The tinny music thunders around the…
Reflections on ‘Mitchell’
During the service at Church Under the Bridge, I stand in the back with a friendly black man, kind of…
Reflections on Ramero
At MP, he handed me this note the Wednesday after our conversation. Isabella (Bella) — Hi… 🙂 Hoping that…
Weather We Like It or Not…
When I was at Mission Possible on Monday, my friend Will introduced me to his friend Larry—a stocky man dressed…
Reflections on ‘Deborah’
I met ‘Deborah‘ at The Great Thanksgiving Banquet. Her story reminds me again of the role of family in…
Reflections on Joe
I meet Joe at The Great Thanksgiving Banquet. He’s sitting on the curb behind a metal lamppost, hunched over his knees. There’s…
A Heartening Thing Happened on the Way to Ballet
Today, I was driving to Ballet Austin for my regular ballet class. I was on Lake Austin Blvd, headed…
Reflections on Alex
I arrive at Church Under the Bridge, park in one of the slanted spaces along the side of the…
Reflections on Michael
At Mission Possible, I was talking to a shocked-skinny man, Isaiah, and followed him back to the red booth he…
Reflections on ‘Rick’
I was at Church Under the Bridge again, and I noticed Nawin and went to go talk with him. ‘Rick’ fairly…
The Great Thanksgiving Banquet
Today was The Great Thanksgiving Banquet, a truly great event if just by sheer scale. Mission Possible’s Street Ministry…
Reflections on Nawin
Nawin actually approached me during my conversation with Loco on the curb. I noticed him standing there, looking at me,…
Reflections on ‘Loco’
Loco (it’s his true street name) actually approached me—while I was leaning against a broad concrete pillar, listening to the…
Reflections on ‘Al’
I’d found Al folded into the countertop, clothes thick and snug. I guessed he was asleep, until the loudspeakers belched…
Mission: Possible!
Today was my first visit to the Community Center of Mission: Possible! Austin. Quick thoughts! 1. When…