Enhancing Opportunities for (Ezekiel Lutheran Church) Youth: Income from the meal service Ezekiel provides our club partially funds youth service at Ezekiel. Vicki Olson provided the following description of recent service by youth that we heard about at our August 4 meeting: "Fifteen members of the Ezekiel High School Youth Group drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the beginning of July to participate in a service learning program called SparkWell, an organization that connects people who need help with people who want to serve." Click READ MORE for a summary of what we heard from 4 of the students.
The Dwelling is a unique church serving the Winston-Salem unhoused population. Sparks is an organization that, among its activities, employs unhoused people as ‘counselors’ to guide youth service during the project time. A total of 15 young people from Ezekiel went to WS for the program.
We heard that this was the second time Ezekiel youth went to WS with SpraksDwell. Cora noted that she had to ask questions, including what someone’s name was. She learned that speaking a name makes an immediate connection. The youth learned about limitations people face. For example, the bus station is a gathering place because it has public restrooms. The counselors taught that there are many barriers to being comfortable when living on the street. Cora got a sense of the community feeling among the unhoused.
Clodagh thought she’d be more focused on the work done to be done during the days in WS. But for her much of the meaningful time was spent in the evening. Music made a big difference in people’s comfort in the group. Time for reflection and worship was important. Work and reflection became equally important.
Third speaker reflected on how judgment of others is common. She learned that everyone has stories that she could learn about and grow from. She went to a long-term care home where communication with some of the residents was difficult because of their inability to respond. Just being there and seeing the people where they are and what their stories are had a lot of impact.
Last speaker was the one first-timer who went to WS on the SparksDwell program. Her group simulated someone getting out of jail and using the limited time to re-establish life out on the streets. She also talked about interacting with a group of non-verbal residents in a facility. She saw and experienced lives that are much different from hers.