Tonight I got a phone call from Candy Carter with Last Call 4 Grace. She told me that Walter (age 35) was in her office and needed a ride to the Greyhound bus station in Nashville. I told her I would take him.
After picking him up, Walter told me he decided he wants to make some big changes in his life. He said, “Scott Foster at the Journey Home in Murfreesboro bought me a bus ticket to New Orleans.” Walter is homeless and knows Foster well from eating his daily meals at The Journey Home.
Walter said, “I am addicted to cocaine and meth - drugs in Murfreesboro are out of control.” He then described to me how he has been in numerous crack houses over the past year and has even seen crack and meth addiction in the elderly community in the inner city. “We have gangs in Murfreesboro selling drugs nonstop,” he said with a gasp of air. It was as if he were unloading what he witnessed while struggling to make changes.
Just wait, the story gets better.
“Steve Austin got me linked with Bethel Rehab in New Orleans, he’s a good guy,” he told me. Austin operates 180 Degrees Ministries in Murfreesboro. Austin’s Christian based ministry focuses on addiction and most of all, recovery. Bethel Rehabilitation Center in Louisiana is a place for drug addicts and alcoholics to recover. Austin helped Walter get into their six month program in New Orleans where they had a current opening.
For those who don’t know, there is often a waiting list to get into rehab. If you are ready to make life changes now and you are ready to go, you have to search for a facility with an opening. In other words, that means you may have to go out of state to get help for addiction.
This short story illustrates how local non-profits in our community work together. It also illustrates that each of the persons I mentioned know how important it is to build relationships in order to make a positive change in our society.
By the way, Walter wants to be a missionary. He asked me, “Can a convicted felon get a passport?” I then looked it up on the federal government’s website. The answer was an overwhelming YES. That ride to the Greyhound bus station opened a door for him. He got out of the truck with a dream in mind and he hasn’t even made it to New Orleans yet.
As he was about to walk into the bus station I asked, “Walter, do you mind if I tell you story to others?” He smiled, “Sure, go for it.”
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt