When I first arrived at Friendship Park nine years ago, Alise growled and yelled at strangers when they came through the gate. She sat with her friends near the front of the park. It was a rough bunch of scary looking characters, lots of prison tattoos, obviously folks who camped out, who trusted very few outside their circle and kept their guard up. Alise, a white woman in her thirties at that time, had crazy blond dreadlocks that only added to her off-putting persona.

It was the day Alise screamed at me as I walked past, "You're one crazy f---ing pastor!" that I realized I was "in." Stunned, caught completely off-guard, I stopped in my tracks. Then it hit me. Coming from Alise, this was a huge compliment! I slowly turned around and headed towards her and gave her a big hug.

Slowly, through the Side-By-Side candle ministry and cautious visits, I was accepted by this closed group. Alise began calling me "The SMUD Lady" (for Sacramento Municipal Utility District), because the candles Side-by-Side gives away are her form of "electricity" in her tent on the river.

When I first met her, Alise rejected attention and refused to have her photo taken. Today she has agreed to let me share her story here. I am deeply grateful and humbled to do so.

41 years old now, Alise grew up in and around Sacramento and Davis. She describes the adoptive mother who raised her as "crazy." She realizes now that her mother probably was mentally ill. Her parents split when Alise was quite small and she rarely saw her father, a sociology professor. She describes him as pretty messed up. When Alise was 19 years old, her father took his own life. She says both her parents were "twisted." Life at home was hard, so Alise left the insanity at age 15 and has been homeless off and on since then. She never finished high school because she just couldn't stay on task. She admits she may have some type of hyperactivity because her thoughts are still very flighty. She's never been assessed.

Alise has six children, five of whom she knows. Her 15-year-old twins live in Sacramento with their father, and volunteered this summer at Loaves & Fishes. Alise camps on the banks of the Sacramento River in a secluded forest with her dog, Chopper. Chopper is her protection and companion. I know better than to get near Chopper unless Alise has a firm grip on his collar. It's rough out on the river. Last night, Alise heard a terrible thud from something falling off the highway bridge near her. She grabbed Chopper as he went to investigate, when she realized it was a woman's body. "It freaked me out," she said, "I'll never forget that sound."

Currently Alise works part time for Loaves & Fishes stamping lunch tickets as the ticket numbers are called. She's worked for Loaves from time to time for four years. Though she doesn't make a lot of money, Alise says, "At least I'm not sitting on the street corner selling dope anymore." She admits that drugs were a part of her life and showed me the needle marks on her arm to prove it. I also noticed the scars from the past where she's intentionally cut herself, and the colorful tattoos down her forearm that disguise what is there. She's backed way off the drugs in recent years. I asked her what changed and she said she doesn't have the strength to continue the lifestyle. It's a lot of work to live that way. She's mellowed a lot over the years. She says she still yells at people, but has to watch it since now she works at Loaves.

Alise has a golden heart that shines even more than her golden hair. When a friend dies, Alise carries the large spray of flowers from the Friendship Park memorial service out to the river, where friends hold their own private celebration. Many of her friends and campmates have died over the years. The last one was a suicide and Alise brought a large cross woven from vines and branches to the Friendship Park service and placed it in the memorial wall fountain pool. She rarely attends and never speaks at the services because it is just too difficult.

I asked Alise what she would say to people about homelessness. "People think we're scum. Get over it. We are all just the same," she said. "Whenever you are judging a book by its cover, open it up and read it – at least the first two chapters."

Recently Alise was a bridesmaid in a wedding I officiated at Loaves & Fishes for another formerly homeless worker and his fiancée. Alise, who never wears dresses or fixes herself up, found a dress for the occasion but could not find appropriate shoes. So she made the other women in the wedding, including me, agree to go barefoot with her, but I forgot. "Hey, you have shoes on," barked Alise. I immediately took off my high-heeled boots (it was winter) and stood in my stocking feet on the concrete floor as I officiated the ceremony. If you say you are going to do something, you do it. We stood in solidarity together, a shoeless bridal party.

Today Alise doesn't snarl or call me a crazy f---ing pastor when we see each other in Friendship Park or in a crowded dining room at the church community breakfast. Over the noise and confusion she calls out, "I love you!" And I respond, "I love you too, Alise!"

Easter Week In Istanbul

By: Yvonne Turner on 4/17/2010

Topics: Blog Post

Spending Easter week in Istanbul with my sister was an experience beyond our expectations. In spite of having visited several middle-eastern cities over the past two years, I was taken by surprise at how different Istanbul is.

It is a unique city straddling the Bosphorous Strait. An amazing mixture of east and west, where you can find European style cafes lining the streets as well as an exotic spice bazaar and splendid mosques. In spite of the grandest mosques I have ever seen, e.g the Blue Mosque, it does not feel like a typical Muslim city. Many people are dressed in a western style and you can feel a sense of openness to the world. The city was founded in the 7th century BC and was an important capital of the Byzantine Empire and later of the Ottoman Empire. One can find ancient restored mosaics, Greek columns, and roman aqueducts. Constantinople was the richest city in Christendom for almost a thousand years and its unique location between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea contributed to its colorful history. The Hagia Sophia church is one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world and is more than 1400 years old. One is humbled by its enormous size and feeling of grandeur.

Although most everyone would say that tulips originated in The Netherlands, this small bulb was cultivated in Turkey and main avenues are lined with brilliantly blooming tulips at this time of the year. The many parks are filled with families on Sundays and the views over the water are ever-changing. In the early morning one could see hundreds of tankers waiting in line in the Sea of Marmara to enter the Bosphorous to proceed to the Black Sea and the oil refineries.

Istanbul is a city that has gone through many transformations and now clearly prides itself on its modernity while treasuring the richness of its past. The smells, colors, and sounds challenge your senses and my sister and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this jewel of the Middle East.

Hoping your Easter was one of new beginnings,

Warmest greetings,

yvonne

Easter Season in Palestine Recalls Joy, Suffering of Jesus' Last Week

By: Yvonne Turner on 4/1/2010

Topics: Blog Post

The approaching Easter celebration and the services leading up to it have created an atmosphere of reflection and anticipation here.

On Palm Sunday children brought beautiful handheld arrangements made of woven palms and bright flowers to church, where they were blessed. Today the Archbishop of the Syrian Church came to Bethlehem where he performed a service which included the washing of feet of twelve men from the congregation. The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church from Jerusalem will arrive on Saturday to bring the "light" to the church in Beit Jala. The light will be spread to many candles and lanterns the congregants will bring, to symbolize the spreading of the "light" Jesus brought. It is a very moving and joyful celebration.

As I witness these many religious traditions I am also aware of the suffering of the local Christians. It takes faith and courage to put aside the anguish and humiliation the occupation causes, and attend to one's spiritual life. Jesus' last week was one of joy as well as agony and Christians here can surely identify with both of these sentiments. I often ask myself what I can do to help, and have come to realize again and again that the least I can do is support the Palestinians and let them know that they are not alone in their struggle for peace and justice.

Please pray that Peace will prevail.

Happy Easter,

Yvonne

Mothers' Day in Palestine

By: Yvonne Turner on 3/22/2010

Topics: Blog Post

Today is Mothers' Day in Palestine and fortunately I was invited to teacher Hanah's home for a fabulous lunch. Three kinds of barbecued meat were accompanied by tabouleh salad, filled pasties, a fresh salad, another kind of flat dough topped with a meat mixture, and various vegetables. It was a traditional Palestinian meal. For dessert we had a Black Forest cake, which just made a perfect ending to this afternoon. It was a privilege to spend the afternoon with this family. There were several grandchildren and another baby on the way. Palestinian families in general are very close, and thank God they have each other for support.

The situation here has not improved; in fact, I believe it has worsened. The checkpoints are more restricted and the settlements are growing. It takes longer for Palestinians to get anywhere because they are not allowed to use the Israeli roads. Consequently a trip to Jericho, which could be a drive of less than an hour, now becomes a two-hour journey over a treacherous road.

Bethlehem Bible College recently organized a challenging conference, called "Christ at the Checkpoint." The speakers I heard were excellent and the main focus was to stay the course and to resist the occupation, but in a nonviolent way. It is time for serious peace talks and as American Christians we need to support the peace process. A just peace is desperately needed and the Palestinians have suffered enough. We need to stand up and be heard.

Life is quiet here and it was a joy to attend the service today at the Christmas Lutheran Church. I am getting to know some of the local people in the church and feel welcomed. I plan to make this my home church while I am here.

During this Lent season I wish all of you new beginnings, and hope that this time of Lent is meaningful for you.

Peace be with you,

Yvonne

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