When Blind Eyes Cry

I am at Epworth By the Sea, a Methodist retreat center in St. Simons Island. It is as beautiful as it is retro. Large Spanish oaks fill this marsh side property where there are buildings filled with large portraits of Methodists who have made contributions to keep this place going. It is like going back to my Baptist upbringing. Most of the people who are here this time of year are elderly so we stand out. In the summer time it is full of teens, says Keller Deal, whose parents would pull up to the front gates and drop her off for two weeks every summer.

The leadership of Union Mission is here. Sometimes you have to step away from the work so that you can take stock of it. That is what we are doing here. Reviewing what happened or didn't happen last year. Set criteria for the coming year. Spend time recharging one another's batteries.

Letitia Robinson presented on what happened in Union Mission's housing services last year. The Magdalene Project relocated because the roof fell in but the Dutchtown development, a 48 unit apartment complex for people with disabilities.

Last year 407 people ended their homelessness in 2009. That is no small feat and it is really why Union Mission exists.

After reporting the numbers, she told a story. She was locking up the office at Dutchtown recently so that she could go to get some lunch. Just as she was turning the key, she felt a stick poke her foot and turned to see a 30-something white woman with dark hair trying to get inside.

Sighing, because she knew that she couldn't turn a blind woman away, Letitia opened the door and invited her in. Her name was Tonya and she would stay in a car when friends would not let her stay on their sofas. It is a difficult way for anyone to try to survice much less someone who is blind.

Dutch Town has just opened and only 12 of the units are occupied. Letitita immediatley knew that Tonya would make an appropriate tennet. So after completing the forms that we require, Letitia said, "Let me show you something."

She led her to one of the ADA units that had been built for people just like Tonya. She felt her way through the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room and the bed room.

Tonya started crying.

As Letitia told this story, she filled with pride as we had anticipated that people like Tonya would need the kind of housing that Dutch Town offers.

So has she completed her presentation, we all burst into applause. It is a wonderful way to begin reviewing what happened last year.