I once volunteered for a downtown outreach to youth at risk. I recall my first night. What was I going to say to teenagers? I was told to just talk with them. So, I did. It was amazing. It wasn't long before I started feeling almost like they were my kids! And they started treating me almost like a parent. Pushing boundaries, just to find out where they were. Most call them street kids and shun them. Sad.
I was there for 6 months. Some of the best six months of my life. I never knew that teens died so easily. One got hit by a train, a few others died of overdoses. I went to more funerals in those six months than I ever had! It was so sad when one would die. We'd go visit one young man in the psych ward. Then my health got bad again and I had to stop.
The Lord showed me the place beforehand in a dream. I'm thankful He had me there for as long as I was. I highly recommend volunteering.
