13 J(avmfcr 2008
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SUontreat Coffee’s Student ^oke
Physically Poor, Spiritually Rich
Kameron Werder
We have all encountered
the mysterious homeless
person on the side of the road,
and often times we think to
ourselves, “How can I avoid
this person at all costs?” While
we should be asking ourselves,
“What is their story? How do
they get by from day to day?
Will there ever be redemp
tion?”
A few of my classmates and
I were fortunate enough to
participate in a poverty simu
lation last month at the Wade
Center in West Virginia. We
faced some of the hardships a
homeless person deals with on
a daily basis, such as sleep
ing outside, being unsure of
our next meal, and feeling
worthless. We were given
dirty looks, slept on the cold
hard ground, and rummaged
through dumpsters in search
of useful items.
Due to the cold weather,
we had to bundle up and stay
together for warmth. By the
end of the trip, we were not
only close in a physical sense,
but mentally and spirimally
as well. It was incredible how
much we relied on each other
because we did not have our
so called “essentials.” I believe
that this was the way God
intended it to be. Galatians
5:22-23 says, “But the fhtit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, good
wealthiest people compared to
the rest of the world? Did you
ness, faithfulness, gendeness,
and self-control; gainst such
things there is no law.” I at
test that we all experienced
these emotions through the
community we gained in only
a forty-two hour period by
being forced to live together;
that is definitely something we
lack today in the real world.
Not only did we live as
“the least of these,” we were
also educated on facts that
are hard to swallow. Are you
aware that as college students,
we are considered some of the
know that 98% of the worlds
population do not own a car?
These are only two of the
several mind-blowing statistics
that reveal how spoiled the
USA has become.
This experience not only
opened up new perspectives
for me, but also brought me
closer to the Lord. Although
I was missing the material
things, I realized how litde I
acmally needed. That week
end, I put my faith in my
Lord Jesus Christ and the
outcome was unimaginably
good. Matthew 6:33 says,
“But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to
you as well.” Because of that
weekend this verse has gained
an entirely new meaning.
I challenge you to attend
the Poverty Simulation at the
Wade Center in the spring. It
will not only inform you of
some of the major problems
this world is facing presendy,
but will also educate you on
how you can make an impaa
in the fiimre. I believe that the
leading limiting factor in our
society today is a lack of ambi
tion, not money or food, but
an absence of willingness to
take a chance.
Wealth and honor comefrom you; you are the ruler of all
thin^. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and
^ve strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorwus name."
1 Chronicles 29:12-13
National Novel Writing Month
Chelsea Bober
Novel-writing is one of
the most commonly un
fulfilled dreams. Millions
of people through the
centuries have declared
the desire to one day
pen “the great American
novel,” “the great Brit
ish novel,” or “the great
Zimbabwean novel.” But
too often, none of these
novels are ever written.
November is National
Novel Writing Month,
and thousands of modern
aspiring novelists join
together to support each
other in an attempt to
each write 50,000 words.
Together with Mon
treat alumni Laura Cook,
Stephanie Cook (nee
Hosack) and several cur
rent Montreat students,
I have embarked on this
momentous journey of
becoming a true “novel
ist.” According to guide
lines set in the mid-20th
century, 50,000 words is
because it requires an av
erage of 1,667 words per
day, which is about 4-1/2
pages double spaced.
I have been a writer for
over half of my life, and
only once written to the
end of a novel (all you
writers out there know
too well that “writing
to the end” of a novel
is vastly different from
“finishing” a novel). So,
the base length for a novel encouraged by the aus-
(albeit a short novel). tere Laura, I joined the
Reaching that goal in 30 NaNoWriMo movement
days can be daunting. gee NaNoWriMo pg. 4