Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Downtown 1/24/2011

Every once in awhile during these trips downtown, if I'm paying attention, I'll experience a profound truth about God that makes me wonder why I didn't see it before. Today's trip was one of those times. I'll talk about this encounter a little out of order from when it occurred. I was driving on Third St. by Alameda when I saw a man lying down on the sidewalk. His name was B.B. It is a one-way street at this point and I was able to drive up to where he was on the left side and stop and talk to him from the car. The sun was out and it was around 11:30 a.m. He was lying on his back and turned to look at me as I pulled up. I asked if he needed some food and he came over the couple of steps to the car to get the bag of food. As he looked in the bag he saw the loaf of bread and commented, "I can't use that loaf of bread!" I asked him, "You can't use it?" He said something to the effect that he was homeless and needed to 'travel light'. I noticed he had a shopping cart a few feet away and said, "Is that yours?" He said it was, but that he didn't take it everywhere with him (it was empty and laying on it's side). He said sometimes he needed to get on a bus and couldn't take a lot of stuff with him. He proceeded to take the other food items out of the bag commenting that he could use them and gave the loaf of bread back to me. Now this isn't the first time someone refused my help. After all this time, I can generally recognize those that really need the help from those that don't. The people living close to the missions usually are somewhat reluctant to take the kind of help I have or flat out don't want it. B.B. was kind of on the fringe of the missions area and that is where I usually get people who are 'picky' about what I have to give them. Usually, I get somewhat irritated when this happens. I try to keep my conversation with the person respectful knowing they may have issues with the general public (people always telling them to move on, etc.) and I try not to take it personally. However, whenever I get a refusal I do feel kind of bummed out about it. Today was no exception initially. I took the loaf of bread back and said goodbye and drove on. Inside I was thinking, "Well, he could have at least accepted the help, said thanks and if he didn't need it give it to someone else around him that did need it." That is when I received the 'lesson'. I was immediately reminded of the parable of the 'Great Banquet' (Matt 22:1-10 and Luke 14:15-24) and how the invitees to the banquet came up with excuses to not attend. The parable is a picture of God's gift of eternal life through His son and how people snub their nose at the offer and come up with all kinds of excuses to not accept this great gift from Him. I thought about how this must really hurt God after all He went through sacrificing His son. Furthermore, I felt personally convicted about how I don't appreciate enough the gifts, talents and blessings He has given me and instead look at other blessings and giftings I see and would "rather have" instead of being happy with what He has given me. Wow, Lord please forgive me.
I guess one of the reasons this encounter stuck out so much is because the first three people I met with before him were hungry. Cesear, by Lincoln Park, immediately took the bag of food and started eating out of it right away. He obviously hadn't had anything to eat today, maybe even yesterday too. David, who was in front of the McDonald's at 7th and Alameda commented, "Boy, I can sure use the water. God bless you." Imagine being hungry and thirsty and standing on the sidewalk next to a McDonalds knowing you have no money to buy anything. Then there was Billy from Arkansas. I had pulled into a gas station (my car was running on gas fumes) and he was standing on the curb. He walked up and asked for some change. I told him I had some food and water which he gladly accepted. I noticed he was wearing sandals and didn't have many possesions with him. I'm guessing he was in his thirties. I ended up giving him a blanket, shoes and a couple pairs of new socks. As I was leaving he was putting the shoes and socks on. He had asked me if I was going towards Sacramento. There are trucks going into that gas station so maybe he can get a ride with one of them. After enountering B.B. I found Mike a couple streets over on Central going through trash cans. Yeah, he was happy to receive the bag of food and some water too.
I drove south towards the I-10 and saw someone I hadn't seen in about a year. I saw this person all bundled up on the sidewalk on 17th near Central and the freeway entrance. They had written a small sign on a piece of cardboard asking for food or change. I thought it was some homeless man asleep so I got out and brought a bag of food over to him. When I got close it turned out to be Mary who I first encountered on the other side of the freeway holding a homeless sign a year ago last December. I told her I hadn't seen her in a long time and asked how she was doing. She commented that she had been 'all around the area'. I asked if she needed anything and she asked if I had another blanket. She had a small one that she was using as a pillow when I drove up. As I write this it is 11:30 p.m. Monday night. I'm sure she is wrapped up in that blanket right now. My guess is she's probably still cold, although warmer than she was last night. One can only imagine her stories of survival and what she's had to go through in the last 13 months. Please pray for Mary. After leaving her I remembered I had a pair of womens gloves in the car. I drove back and gave them to her. I'm sure she's a lot better off tonight than last night.
Well, I couldn't leave without checking on Arturo from last week. He was the man sleeping in the grass by the freeway who said he didn't know God and was OK having nothing. He didn't seem too happy when we talked last week although we left on good terms. I was somewhat surprised to find him in exactly the same spot today. This time when he saw me he sat up and greeted me with a big smile and said he still had some bread left over from last week. He thanked me for stopping and helping him again this week. I said, "I told you I'd check in on you." He asked where I come from and I told him I live about 25 miles away. I was glad to see Arturo again and hope we can build a relationship. I didn't want to 'pressure' him with any long conversation today. My only desire was to show him that I was committed to his well-being and was asking nothing in return. With brief helpful encounters initially, he will probably open up more to me as time goes on. Hopefully, he will stay in the area where I can find him again. By the way, Arturo got the loaf of bread that B.B. turned down. I had an extra can of soup to put with it. Funny how God can work things out like that, isn't it? All in all, every encounter I had except B.B. was with someone who desperately needed help. It's such a privilege to be there to help these people in their time of need. I learned today in helping the homeless to always be thankful for what God has given you. --Until next week. John

Monday, January 17, 2011

Downtown 1/17/2011

Well today's trip was on the Martin Luther King holiday. It didn't occur to me before leaving this morning, but, as you know King is most remembered for two things. First, would be his leading the civil rights movement in the 60's and then for his famous, "I have a dream speech". As I was getting ready for the trip this morning, I was writing out a short note to put in with the bags of food telling the recipient of this help that they are loved by God. As I was writing these notes and thinking about the people who might receive them I started "dreaming" about heaven and what if when I get there, someone comes up to me and shows me one of these notes as coming at a pivotal time in their life. The food and water, the clothes and blankets will all pass away within a short time of each encounter. The words I use and the love I show each one of these people on behalf of Christ can make the difference in whether the encounter has lasting eternal value or not. We are simply called to be faithful and our obedience to that call can be used by God no matter how seemingly insignificant that task is. I need to remember this after my last encounter this morning. I was caught a little off-guard by it, but more on that later.
I got off the freeway at the Main St. exit off the I-5 just north of the I-10. As I was coming up to the stop sign at the end of the ramp I saw a man pushing his shopping cart into a grassy area near a wall. I figured he was looking for empty cans or plastic bottles. As I slowed down I called out to him but he didn't hear me. Then as I got to the stop sign there was a woman with her cart following him. I was able to get her attention and she stopped. Eventually, I parked (in a red zone) and gave her some food and water along with some socks and shirts. I had several pairs of womens jeans but nothing that would fit her. She then asked, "Can I have some socks for my friend?" It turned out that I hadn't recognized her "friend" was Victor. He usually sleeps under the freeway overpass at Main St just around the block.
I decided to drive around the area east of there and see if I could find some of my friends from here who have had to relocate. I never did find them, but in the process was able to help Robert near Eastern and Huntington Drive and Quiss (I thought he was saying Chris at first) who was in a wheelchair at Main and Mission Rd. across the street from Lincoln Park. I then went into downtown going under the 4th St. bridge at Mission Rd. Michael used to live there but in December moved to Portland to receive help through the VA. His friend Robert was there today. Robert is from New York. He told me Michael tried to get him to go to Portland too, but he would lose some of his current benefits if he left this area.
I ended up going over to the corner of Olive and Pico. I never quite know what is going to happen over there. I drove around a couple of blocks and thought I might find Dalton. What I ended up seeing was a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk with his shopping cart next to him. Another homeless man was going through the sleeping man's cart. He found a bag of rolls and I'm not sure what else and started walking away with them. I had pulled over to the curb maybe 20 or 25 feet away to let traffic go by me. The man walking away with the bread stopped about 10 feet on down the street and then came back and put the stuff back in the sleeping man's shopping cart! I don't know if my being there and seeing it had anything to do with his change of heart, but I ended up asking him if he needed a bag of food. Of course, his answer was "Yes." I'm glad I was able to help two men with one bag of food!
Well, this brings us to the last encounter of the day with Arturo who I found sleeping in some grass next to the I-10 freeway on-ramp at San Pedro Ave. He looked all alone with very few possessions so I was pretty sure he could use some help. I didn't anticipate the reaction I was going to get. I first asked him if he was OK and if he could use some food and water. This is pretty much a standard intro line I use with people if I've never met them before and particularly if they are sleeping when I first come up to them. He told me he could use the help and since I noticed his toes sticking out from under the short blanket he had I asked if he could use some socks. He pointed to a pair he had hanging from his shopping cart. I asked if he could use a brand new pair and he said 'OK'. I walked back to the car and got a couple of pairs along with a couple of polo shirts. He had showed me the shirt he had on under the blanket and although it was OK I thought he might like to have a couple of shirts too. I walked back over to him and he had rolled over like he was going back to sleep (he hadn't started eating anything out of the bag of food either). Perhaps, he thought I wasn't coming back, I don't really know. Anyway, when I got back to him and gave him the clothes I asked if he had been staying in the surrounding area and he said he had. I then told him that I come down here once a week and I would look for him again. He then asked me, "Why?" When I used to prayer-walk in the neighborhood around our church several years ago I was asked that question, and at that time I answered, "Because I care about people's savation." Well, I've never had any homeless people ask that question. They usually just accept the help with thanks and don't question why I'm doing it. With Arturo I said, "I like to look for people who need help and help them." He did ask if I was a Christian and then he asked, "Do you know God?" I told him, "Yes, I know God." He then, looking straight at me, said, "I don't know God." I told Arturo, that if you pray to Him, God can change your situation and that although, some of the outward circumstances may not change right away, he (Arturo) could come to have peace in his own heart. Well, I wasn't looking to "convert" Arturo in this conversation, but merely wanted to let him know, someone cares about him. He told me that sure he would like to have a car and a job, but he was OK having nothing and was at peace with himself. Recognizing that this conversation could be of eternal significance in Arturo's life I wanted to make sure that I wasn't argumentative or condemning in any way of his life. After all, if I am lucky enough to see him
again, we would have something to build upon. I asked if I could pray for him before leaving, but he refused the offer (and was somewhat adamant about it). I
realize that Arturo was asleep when I walked up. He also told me he was from Mexico and English was a second language and he was having a struggle explaining himself (although I understood him just fine). Still, I felt I had missed an opportunity in the encounter yet, even so, I left on positive terms with him. Perhaps the note in the bag of food will make a difference in his heart later. Please pray that I have more opportunities to build a friendship with Arturo. Until next week. --John

P.S. Yes, I did prayer-walk down Cloud Nine Alley. It was very quiet there today.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Downtown 1/12/2011

For several weeks now, I have gone to Lincoln Park first to see if Phillip, Nancy and Luis have returned to the area. They have left some of their belongings there, but as of yesterday they still have not returned. I can only hope they have found a better and safer place to live. I did see a couple of men who I haven't had a chance to help recently. That would be Victor and Jose. The smiles on their faces were worth the trip down there. It's always good to give enough help to these people to take the pressure off of them in their efforts to survive for even a couple of days. As I left the Lincoln Park area and headed into downtown I was able to help Mark who was standing on the street corner leading to Alameda Ave. When I asked him what his name was I kept hearing "Martin" until he finally said, "Mark, it's in the bible! (and I know there are no Martin's in the bible)" As is typical of a weekday trip, I found these men in places where I couldn't stop for very long, just long enough to have the briefest of conversations and pass some help through the car window and then move on.
As I traveled on up Alameda I got to 4th St. and turned east. There is an industrial area there that is pretty much deserted on the Sundays but during the week it's fairly busy. Yesterday, I found two men off Alameda on a street called Seaton. One of them, Robert, I have seen and helped a few times back in the fall, but the other man, Brook, must be new to the area. After giving him some food and water, I asked if he needed any socks or anything and he told me, "No, they gave me enough of that stuff." Since this street is close to the missions on 6th, I'm guessing he just spent time down there and they gave him a fresh start. However, with no relatives or friends to stay with, these folks end up still on the street. I'll have to watch for Brook some more in the future and get to know him and his story.
Well, with only one bag of food left I headed over to where my friends Willie and Tara Lee live, in an alley of Hooper St. Both of them were there and we were all happy to see each other again. The last time I saw them was back on December 12th when I barbequed for them. They got me caught up on the perils of living in this alley in the last month. They have been hassled by several different groups of people including other homeless folks. When I saw them last month there was a group of homeless people living about 50 yards down the alley and they were involved in a lot of illegal activity. Luckily, these folks moved on and Willie and Tara Lee were very happy about it. However, there are still some groups of people who are giving them a hard time to the point where they are thinking of relocating to another city. I stayed and talked with them for probably 20 or 30 minutes or so and told them I would be switching back to a day schedule at work at the end of February and we would have another barbeque when I could start coming on Sunday's again. I told them when we barbequed last month that I also tried to meet with Billy, James and Will, but only Will was there that evening. I suggested perhaps we could pick a Sunday and we could all get together (Billy, James and Will don't live too far away). I said, "You could get all your friends together and we could have a good time." Then Tara Lee said something that kind of shocked me. He said, "I could just see us all gathered around, and other people (homeless folks) coming up and asking what's going on and we'd just say, 'Oh, that's just pastor John preaching to us here in the alley'." I couldn't envision a better barbeque with my friends than that. Pray for that day to happen!!
With that, I drove on over to the Church by Cloud Nine Alley making sure I didn't park by a parking meter! Yeah, I paid the fine from the last time. My friend Gary, who lives in the parking lot next to the church had told me a few weeks back that he was planning on moving out and getting into one of the missions. When I arrived yesterday, he had moved. I was disappointed to not see him, but hopeful that he will make it off the streets for good this time. I usually have a bag of a few cans of soup in the car as 'extras' just in case I run into someone after I've given out all the other bags of food. What usually happens is I take this bag with me as I prayer-walk down this alley. Yesterday, I met a guy named Robert in that alley. He had been told by one of the businesses who's back door is in the alley to come see them that day for some work. Well, Robert ended up with the extra cans of soup. Yesterday was also his 54th birthday. I hope it turned out to be memorable. Until next week. --John