Quack like a duck.
I’ve been going out on the streets, earning my living for over 6 months now (I should probably rephrase that in case it gives the wrong impression, but what the heck it may encourage you to keep reading). During that time I’ve learnt an awful lot about the streets of Manchester. My husband and sons used to watch a TV series called Neverwhere. The series was set in "London Below", a magical realm coexisting with the more familiar London, referred to as "London Above". It’s not that far from the truth, there is a whole life out there that we never see (or choose not to see).
There are many, many people living on the streets of Manchester, a transient civilisation that is almost nomadic. If the police see them begging they move them on, repeat offenders receive ASBOs. Harsh on the surface but the reality is that they can be very intimidating sat at the side of the cash machine whilst you withdraw your cash. They prey particularly on the young students in Fallowfield who give them money out of pity not realising that they just exacerbate the situation. But what does moving them on do? Nothing, they just go elsewhere eventually returning to where they started just like the nomadic Tuareg that inhabit the Saharan regions of North Africa. Tuareg is an Arabic term meaning abandoned by God but I dispute this;
Luke 153 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
I am informed that Manchester City Council will not licence shelters for the homeless. Again this may seem harsh, but again the reality is that the shelters house a mixture of drug addicts, alcoholics, those with mental health issues, and occasionally those who are just down on their luck. An unknown quantity that is a hot bed of volatile, festering violence waiting to erupt. So far I have yet to come across a homeless person or beggar that does not have an underlying issue such as alcoholism or other form of addiction.
We spoke to Jean last week. He is a Lithuanian Russian who has been one of our regulars since I first started earlier this year. He is always with his friend and countryman, Yan, but this time he was alone. Jean proceeded to tell us that Yan needed surgery (we are not sure why as Jean uses a mix of broken English and mime) but the surgeon was unwilling to proceed whilst Yan was drinking so heavily. Yan decided to go cold turkey. Whilst sleeping (under the arches in Castlefield) he began fitting, An ambulance was called and he was admitted to hospital having convulsions. As a result he is now in rehab in Rochdale and will have his surgery soon. For once we know what has happened to one of our missing regulars and I pray earnestly and wholeheartedly that this time he wins his battle with alcoholism and turns his life around.
On a lighter note we are still spending loads of time with the students. Still young, still enjoying life, still naïve and still drunk. We are not killjoys, we love chatting to them and I’ve had more hugs from young men in the last 6 months than I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve even been propositioned by a good looking guy in his twenties. As an upstanding Christian and faithful wife, of course, I refused but at my age it’s great to be asked.
The students are sitting ducks for the seedier side of life. The drug dealers make a beeline for them and the sexual predators are surveying the crowds for the drunken girl that has become separated from her friends. Yes we really do witness all this! I don’t have a daughter but have always told my sons to stick with their friends as there’s safety in numbers.
We recently came across a girl that had just fallen, hitting her head on a bollard and hurting her back. Her friend stated that initially she had passed out. A passer-by was calling an ambulance but he handed the phone to me so that I could explain where we were. We were told that an ambulance was on its way and to call back if the girl’s condition changed.
Initially, the girl was talking to me, her name was Hannah, her friend's name was Amy and her boyfriend was called Ben. It was apparent that Hannah had been drinking. Ben believed that Hannah was unhurt and that she was attention seeking. Hannah was clearly upset by this and was crying. Hannah then became quiet and unresponsive to voice and pain although she was still breathing and had a pulse. At this point, Amy her friend stated she was a nurse and that everything was OK as she still had a pulse. I called emergency services again and this time the operator advised me to move Hannah to a different position, I questioned this as Hannah had previously complained of back pain and was more or less in the recovery position. The operator checked and confirmed that I was correct and that she shouldn't be moved. He then stayed on the line until the ambulance arrived. Hannah did regain consciousness after about 15 minutes just as the ambulance arrived.
Once we had handed her to the paramedics we broke away and prayed for her.
So what did I learn:
The symptoms associated with a head injury can be similar to those of someone who has drunk too much, alcohol may be the issue but it’s not our call
Ben may have been right, Hannah may have been attention seeking but we can only deal with the obvious, again it’s not our call
If someone with a head injury becomes unresponsive it is not OK, it can be very serious and you need to make sure that emergency services are informed of this new development.
If an expert gives you instructions that appear to be wrong question them, you may be correct
Finally you have to leave it behind. I have a habit of worrying about people after the event but the likelihood of us ever finding out how she is, is very small. As Christians we hand these situations to God in prayer and trust in Him.
Has all this left me with a feeling of hopelessness? Absolutely not. I have a faith and a belief that there’s something better than this;
Isaiah 40:30-31New International Version (NIV)
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
In one of my earlier blogs I mentioned a colleague named Peter. I was sharing some of my experiences with him and I said that if the least we can do is pray then we are doing a mighty thing. His response “you’re beginning to quack like a duck.” He made my day.
Street Pastors are not evangelists. We take the church out onto the street and show the love of Jesus by random acts of kindness. This is a problem for some Christians. But by nature people are curious and ask what motivates us. I have to say that I have never had as many opportunities to share my faith as I have had in the last 6 months.