Concerning Theodore Geisel

Today was good. We did our service project with Gospel Rescue Ministries (www.grm.org). It was incredible. I got to tutor two African American gentlemen in reading. One read "One Fish Two Fish Read Fish Blue Fish" all the way through, and I helped build confidence in the other. It was an incredible experience. Upon returning home, I went to RiteAid with two friends, got crap, and returned. I then had a long discussion with one of the friends, as well as anyone who came in, on Christianity and politics, free will, personalities, first impressions, etc. It was great.

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Like I said, the experience at Gospel Rescue Ministries was incredible. I love to teach and help people learn. I was able to share that passion today. Gospel Rescue Ministries helps former drug and alcohol addicts to get back on their feet, healthy both physically and spiritually, and then prepare them for a job with education. Many apply to the program to complete their GEDs. I highly recommend you look at their website. They are doing incredible things in DC.

Today, I helped one man read, whose name is, oh, let's say, Gerald. From what I heard, Gerald was incarcerated at some point, and during which, he taught himself to read. He had gray hairs in his beard, but did not look too old. Together, we read through Dr. Seuss' masterpiece "One Fish Two Fish..." Gerald put so much energy into reading, and he was determined to learn how. He has two twins, one of which has a daughter. He's a grandfather and he cannot read. He looks forward to seeing his kids and granddaughter soon.

The other man, we'll call him Sulley, did not really have a bad history. He just joined because of the religious part of the program, as well as learn to get a job. He too was not a good reader, but he came a long way in his 9 month program. We barely read together, we just talked. He was so open with me about everything. He was disappointed in the program and in life. He felt like he was just doing busy work and not learning how to get a job, which is what he desired greatly. He had a book he had to read, "Who Moved My Cheese," which dealt with people experiencing changes. He was to meet with a supervisor and talk about the book. He had his son and his niece help him through it, and it seemed like he mastered the content of the book. He knew the characters, and even identified with them. He admitted to me that he was very angry and sad about not being able to read, and how he wallowed in self-pity over it. We barely read, I just let him talk. He had so much to say, we both encouraged each other, and we both learned a lot that day.

This was a truly maginificent experience. They were all so grateful for the help. I have never been so open with people I did not know. But I was open because I was there to help them. I was there to help them read, but more importantly, I was there to support them, build their confidence, and just be a friend to them. God is working wonders in that ministry and in the lives of those who work there and who come for its services. I truly love Gerald and Sulley, even just after one day. I love them because they are wonderfully created by God. They have gone through tough stuff, and my compassion for those people is overwhelming. I love to help people learn, teach them, and disciple them into a life of serving God. Today was a most holy day. I cannot wait to go back next Tuesday.

In fact, when I return to Minneapolis, I want to volunteer, or even work, at a place like this. God is working in amazing ways through the Gospel Rescue Ministry, as well as DC, and I want to do his work here in Mpls as well.

Tomorrow we're going to the Holocaust Museum. That's all to be said until tomorrow.