Monday

Hi everyone
been a while since I blogged. A week today I think
so let me fill u in

Monday

Went around visiting social justice services and programs Here in new York
Friday we did manhatten
Saturday we did Queens
and Monday we did the bronx

So my very rapper Joe driver picked me up in the morning
the first thing we did was we went to a place In the Bronx. The Bronx is now the poorest community in new York. Our first stop was the salvation armies Hiv/aids program.
The program started 20years ago which is amazing. 20 years ago the treatment and attitude towards those with aids was very different. The salvation army was the first group to start anything to help those with HIV/AIDS.
The centre is great. Is situated right in the Bronx and is a well known place within community.
From the moment you walk in the door you feel loved and accepted. They have someone to open the door and welcome people whenthey Come in. It's lovely. For those who are poor and struggling with life that simple chesture means so much. Then you see a big waiting room full of people reading eating and talking. It's like a homely lounge room. People often Come in for a coffee and just for a chat. They have someone on front desk who is compassionate and kind.
We were welcomed (Joe follows me everywhere like my security :) in and met with the head director and the assistant director in their office
they were so kind to have us - particularly because they had a report for government due next day. They proceeded to tell us the history of the program - the program started to give a voice to those who were suffering from HIV/AIDS back them there was a huge stigma attached to the disease. There is still today but not to same extent. When program first started jt was there to help families in the lead up to death or for those who would live to help them receive necessary services. These dates due to the incredible advances in drugs for aidspeople can now lead relatively normal lives with the assistance of their medication
The salvation army new York HIV/AIDS program has case workers - and anyone who has HIV or aids can come in and receive help. ThEy are encouraged to bring their families or friends - the program encourages the person with HIV to bring along their support system. They help children or adults with this disease. When a new family comes into program they receive their own case worker and the case worker works with them to help them lead a normal life. It could be helping them find good housing , a job , medical care and medicines, counseling for dealing with diagnoses or counselling if victim passes away. They are supported if they have an addiction to go to rehab or if they have a mental illess then they help them receive the right care. Anything you can think of in helping someone reach their full potential and to lead a normal life they help with. They help not only in Bronx but all over new York. They have other offices and they also go and visit at the salvation armys shelters.
It was a real pleasure to spend time with these 2 lovely incredible ladies
ask me if you'd like to learn more

After That we went to another home for young people with mental disabilities - I loved this place. Again likethe other place the place is just like a home. The salvation army has quite a few homes all over new York with approx 8 residence in each
this place specialists in young people from 21-30. They have one 36 year old. This place was amazing and I was hit with an incredible sense of love when I walked in door. I was so welcome and was shown around by the director. The head nurse and the program director. I was very welcomed :) the thing I loved about this place like other place was they have very individualized care. Each persons room is just like they want it just like teenagers room. One young girl in her mid 20s has a very motherly heart and had 6 babies she cares for ( dolls) in her pram. Her carers incoporated this in plan. When was time to eat they mght say ok let's feed the babies and then u can have your food etc.
The home doesn't try to make them what others would say is normal. They allow them to be them. Was so lovely. They get taken out to day jobs and activities. They each have a special day program just for them. So they hve a routine and like a job or volunteering each day. On weekends they go to parks or shopping or movies. They are taking out into community lots so that people will accept others with disabilities. The community has come to love them and have had their minds and understanidbh changed which is awesome.
They even get to go on special dates one on one with their carer. After a dr trip or just for no reason they will go out for lunch or shopping with one of their carers
it's An amazing place. I felt so loved and accepted while their.
I wish out government would allow us to do these sort of places :) it was a real joy to be there

Then we went to Franklin women shelter - oh my goodness it's ginourmous. It's massive. It was an old army barracks. It looks a lot like a big old convent.

It's a womens only shelter they hold 200 women from 18 - to he very elderly they have some in 80s. They use to house 1000 but now with fire and safety laws they cannot have more than 200
this centre is much simpler and more short term accomodation. It is onlyfor single women no children allowed ( there are other places for families- remember the one j mentioned the other day) the have 110 beds that are for short term which is 2 months and they have 90 beds for longer term - up to 9months. Again people have case workers and chaplain to help them get back on their feet. This place is much more simpler and encourage women to do thins for themselves. They'll help them prepare for job etc but encourage them to look for the job etc
the rooms are like dorm rooms very basic but safe and clean
they have a big gym and library and hang out area. It us a very safe shelter with everyor checked for weapons alcohol and drugs when enter Every time and visitors are not allowed inside
shelter but they can visit outside
the shelter never turns anyone away. If they have people needing a bed ( Every night they do) and they are full they take the ladies around the other shelters until they find them a bed. It's amazing. There is such a need that if youeave
your bed for 2 nights or more it is giving to someone else. There is massive need for beds in this area.
Again amazig centre. It was sooooll huge. You'll understand when I show you photos of outside. No photos of inside as photos are not allows because they have a lot of women hiding due to domestic violence.
When we finished after the day it was 5pm.
Joe showed me all his rap music and we discussed great rap singers and I yold him some Christian ones to listen to. When he dropped me off he shoke my hand and said - Leah it has been an incredible pleasure and honour to be in your presence. - how nice is that :)
had great tine

I was starting to get very sick so had very early night

Tuesday
was suppose to go to washington but to sick with flu and jetlag still hanging on so I slept till lunch time then went for wander to park and then spent some time with one of my dear friends here at the markle. She's an old lady with the most amazing life story. She was an actress in 40s50s and 60s - she looks like a real Hollywood glamour :) she worked and modelled lots and was in a movie written and directed by woody Allen. Amazing hey.
I could speak about her for ages but will tell u more on her another day

Wednesday
slept in again still sick
did some work this morning and went sight seeing around local area.
Again really relaxed day as so sick

Thursday
woke at 4am to get train to washington dc - as I'd been so sick instead of going to dc for few days I could only go for one. So I spoke to people I was going to interview on phone ( I wasn't seeig centres there just inteviewing people) so u did that on phone and decided just to have day sightseeing in Washington
well I was still sick and so tired but looking forward to interesting day.
But it wasn't the best day.
We got their and it was pouring and j mean pouring rain and was freezzziiinnnggg it is the coldest weather I had ever been in. Well because new York had been bit warmer last few days I didn't bring all my extra warm clothes. And I forgot umbrella. My main things I wanted to see were
holocaust museum. White house. War memorial. Abraham Lincoln memorial
well there were lots of other places I wanted to see and couldn't if was better weather cause things are so close to walk to.
I walked in rain to
holocaust museum - there were no shops in sight to get umbrella. The line into museum was huge and outside in rain. So I stood in freezing pouring rain for more than 1 hour and I already had flu and chest infection and I knew was bad idea but I had to see museum. I have passion for history and believe we must know and remember the holocaust so we can stop it happenih again. Although it is happening again right now in darfur Sudan. That's another issue ask me about it
eventually got into museum and wish I had someone with me to go through museum with. It wa mibdblowing and so eye opening. I majored in holcaust history in high achool but I learnt so so much. Parts of it were sooool horrofic. Like the area where it talked about all the medical testing the Nazis did on kids and people with mental and physical handicaps. Disgusting what they did. Those image will be stuck jn my mind forever. I spent hours in museum but couldve spent whole day but I was feelig physically sick with all I'd seen. The last part of museum is wonderful it's a room full of candles where u can Light one in remembrance and the whole room is full of bible study. It's amazing. The museum was amazing. Amazing. I am even more passionate about stoppig genocide that is occuring right Now in the world. I challenge u all to go on internet and type in war in Sudan -
darfur. And read all the info u can. Genocide is occuring there
right Now. Just like Rwanda.
I challenge u to do this

I then walked in rain to war
memorial. By this stage I was wet through so then got taxi to visitors centre and tried drying out in had dryer in bathroom and then added another layer underneath. I then headed off in rain again. Then I saw a little stall with tourist stuff and I mean little. I bought something and then walked away and then quickly asked do u he umbrellas
and he said yes. I jumped for joy. Literally. It was 6bucks and very flimsy and I knew it wouldn't last long but I needed it. I set off and found white house. Couldn't get as close as I'd like cause the family was in so there were security everywhere. Everywhere. It is a
truely beautiful building. And washington like new York is so pretty. The wind picked up so with windchill factor it was about minus4 or something. I then found another stall and bought extra beanie and gloves
then heldy umbrella very low to try and get rid of wind and started to head for lincolns memorial. Well because of cold and wet my hips and knees and legs were killing. My pain was incredibly painful. Eventually my knee and hips just stopped I could barely move. I started to cry I was so wet and cold and in so much pain - I started to realise I wouldn't get to se all I wanted to. I shuffled to the road and waited for taxi. Eventually one came. I asked him to take me to kincolns memorial. And dispite me just wanting to go to train station I am sooooll glad I went. It is beautiful. I saw the big long pond where Jenny ran to forest gump inmovie. And the statue of lincoln was incredible and the speech engraved in wall was awesome. It was so worth it. I spend hour or so there. Then headed to find taxi. The wind had picked up so was battling to fight my umbrella eventually i one by tying it to me :). Found taxi and he toook me to train station. I had hours 4 hours before I hopped on train as I thought I'd be sight seeing all day. All I wanted was to go home. So I asked not thinking it would happen but prayed they could get me on earlier train. Well lady said for a couple of dollars j could hop on next train. I was thinking awesome. When is it and she said you can board right now. It was hand of God. I dried on the train and managed to be back in bed before 11pm. Was so happy

Friday
my first day at salvation armies international social justice
commission

I will fill u in more on this tomorrow very late and very tired
still not very well so please pray for me.will write more tomorrow morning
Leah