I arrived in Damascus to do a prayer walk around town. By 9 pm we were free for the night. I had put my tent up at One Way Ministries, where I had been given permission to camp by the Trail Days Ministry leader.
At 1:30 am, I had a visit from the town police. The officer said it was illegal for me to tent on the church property and he could arrest me for trespassing because I was on the property when there were not any church activities happening.
He asked me if I had somewhere else to go and I told him no, I’d been given permission by the leader to tent where I was. He told me I had to leave.
I packed my things and went to the next town over, Abingdon, VA. I went to a motel I have taken groups to, in years past. He said it would be more than $100 for the night, even though it was 2:00 am and the night was ending soon.
I decided to sleep in my car in the Walmart parking lot. Walmart, because it is open 24 hours and well lit.
I have napped in my car before while taking long drives but getting my sleeping bag out and curling up in the backseat, there was something different this time.
Maybe it was because of being told to leave the church property by the police.
I felt just as homeless as I was.
The first hour there were noises and feelings of fear, I’m not accustom to. I prayed for peace, for a sound mind, a concurring spirit because God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
As I prayed, I felt His peace surround me in my car. All fear was driven out and I was granted rest.
I thought of all the people that sleep in their cars nightly, families that live in their cars. They have lost the homes they once had.
I thought of the fears they face each night:
– Being robbed
– Sexual abuse
– Jailed for vagrancy
– Not being able to provide for those they love
– Death due to the heat or cold
– Losing their car
My night in my car made me want to have my eyes wide open to those around me. I’ve heard people’s stories of sleeping in their cars with their children for months and not telling those closest to them that they were doing this and could use help.
I want to pray for those who are homeless. Continue to share what I have. And be mindful of people living in many different ways, trying to survive.
