it started with a joke, 3 actually. the first one, a trademark of my jokes. i co-founded it with an old friend of mine, Michael. I was 10 at the time, he was in his early 20's. only 7 people (8 now- and more after reading this) know that i know about this. fewer remember this incident, for some reason it was never spoken of again. i can't think of why, i wish i had more details. it would definitely put my mind at ease.
The Joke goes "What do you call a dog with no legs?" A:"whatever you call it it won't come to you" or something along those lines. not very funny, more of an 'oh is that it' type of joke, but at the time it was the funniest thing i had ever heard. the second joke pretty rude so i wont say it and i can't believe i remember it..
the third, i've been trying to remember for the last couple of years. one day, when i remember it i'll be sure to blog it.
between '99 and '01 i was attending an american church that was beginning to establish itself in australia, Melbourne I believe was the 4th (in australia). Victory Outreach, founded by Pastor David Wilkerson, you might have heard of him through the story of Nicky Cruz, who've written books and made movies such as "The Cross and the Switchblade', 'Run baby run" 'Treasures out of darkness'.
In Melbourne, from the states, Pastor Ed was in charge. second to him was a fellow i only knew as 'Beto' and few other who extended their help from time to time.
Pastor Ed and I were the best of friends, i recall at one point he called me his "right hand man', an honor to me. we used to go out hiking, rent out movies, go to highpoint (where i originally met him), i used to go over to his house for sleep overs and he'd regularly come over for dinner and stuff sometimes just for the sake of hanging out. it was the time of my life. i remember he had this guitar which was kinda out of tune. but he'd play it anyways, and from memory- he was pretty good at it, for a beginner, i used to tease him about it haha, there was this noise he'd make with the strings as he switched chords i used to think it sounded awful, now that i play, i think it sounds really cool. i remember he also had this massive hotwheels and matchbox collection, it was his hobby, and he'd give me one or 2 every now and then, which was pretty cool. something i never noticed tho, he always gave me his favourites. i remember the house he was living at, "the home" , belonged to a guy who had killed his wife and then committed suicide in the corridor, apparently blew his brains, i remember there used to be tiny specks of blood on the ceiling and some of the walls. and theres just so many more countless stories and times we spent together that were so meaningful to me. in all this time we spent together i dont recall him ever teaching me anything, however, he did everything in a way that i was able to observe, follow his lead, i admired him and i learned. i can honestly he played a big influence on who i am today, service and commitment wise.
VO's ministry was aimed at those who didnt have much hope of life if any. those that lived on the streets, drug addicts, womanizers, cripples people, people who really didnt know where their next meal was coming from. because i stayed over heaps and i was almost always there- i was privileged with the opportunity to meet all kinds of people, different people. some had different personalities on different days, but always made an effort to be 'normal' keep things g-rated when i was around. and im thankful that they did. i dont know if Pastor Ed briefed them about me before i got there or whatever but, despite the types of people i felt safe. always.
and from everyone that i met i learned something, something that i think about most days. Beto taught me about family values, respect towards my parents, honouring my parents, behaviour and conduct. Mike (different to the one mentioned earlier- this mike had blue eyes and had a bad memory) he taught me that there's humour in everything. he taught me that 'laughter is the best medicine' when i first met these people i was a bit forgetful of their names, but i always remembered mike, so i'd go to him and what everyones names were again- one time he commented and wondered if maybe i was on drugs coz i was the one with the bad memory, funnily enough that never got old. Nigel he was 2 faced (im not being judgemental- this is me discerning) when i was around he'd be all cool and stuff, keep to himself, but i remember, he was always watching me. and he was a thief. he stole things from me, my sis, and my brother in law.when we went to confront him about it, her fled, never heard from again. i thought i saw him not too long ago, made eye contact and he went a different direction before i could say anything. who knows, maybe it wasnt him.
Speedy the chicano who had been shot in a drive by, couldnt move his left arm, used to love seeing me, we talk for ages and was always kind and always prayed for me, he taught me to be thoughtful, he taught be to pray, and i learned from him that a having a disability doesnt doesnt make someone useless, he moved forward everyday, he praised God everyday., he smiled everyday like it was the last day on earth. there was a really tall bloke named David, who i dnt really remember much else about, Jim- he loved bike riding, enjoyed hot dogs and was always always in a great mood.and a vietnamese guy name Viet, who loved martial arts, loved God, and used to pick play fights with me. he taught me how to defend myself.
finally, the best friend i had- Michael.a heroin addict, insomniac. he literally never slept. i knew him for 3 months, for the first 2 and a half his eyes were constantly irritated, and bloodshot red.Michael was always happier when i was around he enjoyed hanging out with me and i remember that there we these times where he'd be really annoyed, wouldn't speak to anyone- but he'd make an effort calm himself and talk to me. he would tell me jokes and stories and was always interested in what i had to say, always asked me questions and stuff, there was never a dull moment.
from what i was told, and also what i choose to believe, after 3 odd months in rehab ("the home" was rehab - for men, the women's was in sydney) he got better. he got saved. he was clean and he was to start serving God.first thing he did was go and speak to his former drug dealer (from here you can believe what you want) i believe he went to tell him about how he got better, i believe he went to tell this guy about Jesus. i think he genuinely wanted this drug dealer guy to experienced Christ.
following morning Michael turned up dead, overdosed. that hurt me deep.
I learned from Michael make an effort, when you feel your worst, strive to be normal and then force yourself to do better than that, and don't do it for yourself.
i had a dream once when i was about 5, and i always remember it, and i always will- i was in a scout hall, with some guy, and a another friend who was roughly my age and it was us three and we were having a chat.
5-6 years later that happened, same friend, same guy, same place, same conversation. Michael was that other guy. and the friend was Marcos.
there were more people i met during this period of time, these were the ones that mattered to me. and wherever they are now, they matter still. always in my prayers.
i heard a few years ago that Pastor Ed found himself a lovely woman, got married and had a daughter.and Jim, speedy and beto r back in the states. i wish i still had contact, i wish i knew more.
David E.C.
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