Cover Story

Impacting Lives

Ralpiel: "The Mission is helping me to find who I am."

You might say Ralpiel is homeless by choice. The twenty-year-old, affectionately called "Scooby," decided that no home was better than home.

"I always wanted to leave South Carolina. Always. A lot of bad things happened to me that shouldn't have happened to me, and I've been trying to get away from a lot of people that were bringing me down." One of those bad things was being assaulted at gun point when he was 16, but beyond any particular incident, Ralpiel lacked a sense of belonging, a sense of personal value, a sense of direction.

His large dark eyes and deep dimples convey a shyness that prevents him from telling all in an interview, but his poetry reveals a little more: I stare at the mirror, look at my reflection, trying to figure out what I see . . .What are these words and emotions trying to prove to me?

The oldest of four kids, Ralpiel had to grow up quickly. "My momma was working three jobs, and I had to take care of the other three kids and be like their daddy. My sister and I would wash the clothes and the dishes, make sure our younger brother and sister was fed, sign their papers, make sure their school clothes was ready, that they ate and went to bed on time. By the time my momma got off work, they were in bed." Ralpiel's stepfather lived at the house but was unavailable, usually high or drunk.

"I would keep everything inside, not let anybody know what was going on, especially my momma. She was tired and aggravated and frustrated, so I just kept it to myself. I would go in my room, and close the door and just look at a wall." I have to close my eyes because I can see my soul crying with a fiery heart. I stare at the back of my eyelids for hours because people won't even look into my eyes.

Ralpiel left home with two other friends and headed to Florida. They thought they would find jobs but didn't, and the cost of living quickly shrank their meager savings. At a loss for what to do next, they headed for Seattle, stopping in Spokane at the Union Gospel Mission. At first, Ralpiel didn't want to stay because he didn't like the Mission's boot camp requirement. (Guests between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to participate in physical exercise activities Monday through Friday.) The plan was to get a job, save some money, and head back to Florida.

While he was waiting to leave, however, the place grew on him. Almost without realizing it, he became part of the community. He tolerated the biking and workouts that boot camp required but eagerly welcomed news about the start of a culinary training program. "Ever since I was old enough to be in the kitchen with my momma, I've wanted to cook." Now, Ralpiel works in the Mission kitchen five days a week from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. He is receiving basic instruction on sanitation and food preparation and serves lunch each day. He plans to go to cooking school after he finishes the Mission's one-year training course.

"The Mission is doing a really good thing in my life right now. I could be on the streets doing any and every thing, but the Mission has me busy in a kitchen, cooking and serving. The Mission is helping me find who I am."

The words and songs to my story are always changing, no matter who reads or sings it. . . Big or small, these verses that I write can capture many eyes and hearts, but will they care?

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