I found these crosses back before I became homeless this last time. I saw that there was a handful of people that were selling them on the Internet. I had never seen one before. I liked the idea. I found that people were selling them for about 10.00 to 12.00 each. When I became homeless again about a month ago these crosses were the first and only thing I could think about. They were also the only thing I have thought about since. I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but this is where I am now.
First, I knew I needed something more. Something that was gonna make me some money on top of my day labor work. Something I could do in my down time. Something with a big profit margin. Something that people would like and care about. The money is important - I can't say it isn't (and I'll tell you my thought about the money in a sec). See, I figured that if I made $40.00 a day doing day labor and I could sell about 4 or 5 crosses a day, I would be making just enough money to climb out of homelessness. It makes sense I think. If I could sell them. Basically, what I'd be doing is adding onto what I make now. Hopefully I can get to the point where I can bring in about $400.00 to $500.00 a week.
So, I set out! The first thing I knew was that I was NOT going to be buying them from anyone! I had to make them myself from scratch. Here lies a huge problem. I found this to be a very hard tack. I needed supplies. Supplies that were not easy to find here in Tampa. The nails where impossible. The wire took a lot of looking around for. Because I couldn't find the nails I had to order them online, which became a problem in its own as I don't have an address. A friend allowed me to use her address for this one purpose. Then the nails got lost in the mail. Finally I found a "feed store" that ordered me the nails, but it turns out they were the wrong kind of nails. Nevertheless, I moved on! Now what I have is this:
- A small amount of wire in my tent that will work for now
- A box of wire sitting on someone's desk waiting for me to give them a P.O.Box address (Lord knows when that will be)
- A bag of supplies, at my tent, that includes: a pair of pliers (that are the wrong kind), a pair of grip pliers, a can of clear gloss spray, measuring tap, and a black Sharpe
-two boxes of nails that are the wrong kind
With what I had now I was able to make my first cross. However, It was very bad. No one would buy it, not even for a dollar. I would defiantly not try to sell it. It was very bad - mostly because I had the wrong nails.
But the plan must move on. I have decided that what I need to do is invest in a grinding wheel. Now that comes with a whole other set of problems. Like, where to plug it in, how to keep it stationary, and of course finding the $40 to get it (that's gonna cost me a day doing labor work but I'll do it)! I think a grinding wheel will fix the problems. I can grind down my pliers to better bend my crosses and the bunch of bad nails I have.
Now, I have some ideas about how to get rid of the crosses. I can't very well stand on the corner and sell them - I'll share with you later about that. So far I've been on this project for almost a month and have hardly started. But once again, I'm acting on pure faith here. I have come to believe that this is what I'm being called to be doing. Also, I need this to work. I need it to help me reach my goal.
I've spent three nights now in the tent. I don't like camping the way I am. I like the sleep and the fact that I can now rest when I need to. Its also warm. I don't like that I have to work so hard to get to my tent. I don't like running through brush all night. Doing that also makes me sweat a lot and tears up my legs. Clearly, there are pros and cons to urban tenting I'm finding.
I missed two days of work this week. Day labor ofter slow down on rainy days. I hold out as long as I can in hopes of getting lucky. But today I'm down to about $30 and I need the money bad. I need it to eat and I need it to continue my plan and make sure it keeps moving forward.
Today my body is pretty clean. I did have a few days there where I felt slimy. Mostly dur to the running around in the woods. But right now I feel clean.
Today a friend of mine told me about a church that donated showers to the homeless. In fact, its the same church I had in mind for a portion of my plan (I'll tell you about that also in time).
Today, right now, I'm about a month in and I don't feel so bad. I got a little money and my body is clean (for the most part).
A month in I did this:
No home or place to sleep to warm to having a tent and sleeping bag in the woods
No money but now a few bucks
I went from a simple thought to a plan in motion
Lugging my bag everywhere to having a stash spot (tent).
All and all, I'm making progress..... its just really slow progress!
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