"What if your legacy was, thousands of people loved God because of you?" --Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California
Yesterday's specific prayer requests on the way down were, please Lord let me find one of the 'regulars' and lead me to those who need to hear from you. This has been somewhat of a regular prayer request each week lately. The thing is, each week is different and this prayer has been answered in different ways each week. Yes, in ways I didn't expect either.
One of the 'regulars' I saw yesterday was someone I actually hadn't seen in about a year. I wrote about him at length on April 11th, 2011 (you can look it up on that date) and included a picture of him too. His name is Don. I saw him yesterday in the exact spot where I found him that day a year and a half ago. He has been in and out of the hospital since then due to his diabetes. His mental outlook is so much better now than before though. When I got out of the car he brought me a bible and asked me to point out to him some scriptures for him. I thought he was looking for something specific, but instead it turned out that he has been sharing scripture with other homeless people and using the 'Bible Bingo' method of just opening it up and picking out something at random. What's amazing about that is that Don isn't very knowledgeable about the bible. For example, one of the scriptures I wanted to show him was the first verse in Luke 15. Luke 15 is the chapter which includes the parable of the prodigal son. But Don wasn't familiar with that story so, I read the story to him and we talked about what it meant. Then I briefly told him about the other two short parables in that chapter of the lost coin and the lost sheep and then pointed out the first verse which sets up the telling of these three parables. That first verse says, "Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him." This is such a valuable verse to people who are homeless because they can identify with this group of people. I suggested that Jesus couldn't have been telling them that they were sinners (which they already knew) and going to hell (which they already suspected), but He was more likely encouraging them to live better and follow God's ways and that God loves them. You see the religious leaders in that day wouldn't even talk to these people because they considered them worthless. Yet, here is Jesus not only talking to them, but they were "gathering around to hear Him". That would indicate that Jesus was engaging them and they were actually seeking him out. He wasn't condemning them (John 8:11), he was telling them they were people of value to the Father. Another verse I pointed out to him was Romans 8:38-39. This is the verse that tells us 'nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus' (my paraphrase). How often do you think this group of people feels alienated from God and that they are somehow being 'cosmicly punished' for past sins and that's why they are where they are? Now whenever you are in Romans 8 you get a chance (and an excuse) to point out some of the other great verses in that chapter like verse one and verse 28. I told Don Romans 8 is considered the 'high water mark' of the New Testament. Anyway, we talked for 40 or 45 minutes before I left. I prayed with him twice (and he prayed for me), we had an absolutely great time together. He's actually sharing with others the things I've shared with him. Amazing! I hope I see him again soon.
There were several others, in need yesteday, that I was able to help with food and water until I came up to a man and a woman on a small street on the east side of Alameda. They turned out to be a married couple and were sitting at a make-shift table with all their possessions on the sidewalk around them. As I pulled up I asked if they needed any food. The man said yes they did and they both then came over to the car and I passed some food and water through the window to them. He said "God bless you" and I took the opportunity to tell them that I had just read that morning that "Dios, la bendiga" means "God bless you" in Spanish. After all this time I had no idea. Most all of the latino speaking people who accept food from me know the equivalent in English, yet I didn't know how to say it in Spanish until that morning. I prayed for them through the window and then asked them if they needed any socks. Caseem, (that was his name) said they did, so I pulled over to the curb and got out and opened the trunk. It was at this point that Caseem said something that kind of floored me. I've actually heard it a few times from folks living on the street, but it always points out a truth worth remembering. He said, you can tell the people who really care are the ones who actually get out of their car and talk to you, instead of just giving out food and saying "God bless you" and driving away! This truth points to the giver, but even more so to the needs of the ones receiving. They need to be acknowledged as a person of worth and not just something to be fed. Well, we talked for a while. It turned out that Caseem was from New Jersey and had come from a very religious background, including a long line of pastors. He had rebelled from that upbringing and had gotten involved in the drug culture and had spent time in prison over it. I told him I knew exactly what he was talking about because that culture had dogged me for quite awhile too in my twenties. He then told me that his wife had just had a miscarriage due to being beaten up while he was locked up. I guess it had happened quite recently while she was living on the street. They now were looking for an inexpensive place to live and he was looking for work. I told him that he might look around at the truckers coming into the warehouses around those streets. Sometimes they are looking for someone to unload their trailers and will pay 'lumpers' to unload them. I prayed again for them, especially for God to heal the hurts inside them as well as providing for their needs. It was an honor to intercede for them.
Well, after just these two encounters that I've written about (there were a half dozen other people I met), do you think God answered my prayer on the way down there? Until next time. John
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Downtown 11/18/2012
"Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are." 1 John 3:1a
This was the last weekend of my vacation from work. I was looking forward to this trip and had been praying for a deeper relationship with some of the new people I've been meeting. The old 'regulars' are around (at least that's what I'm hearing from people), but I just haven't seen too many. So it's time to take my relationship with people that I have been seeing these last few weeks to another level. I have to remember that answered prayer rarely ends up looking like what you expected. I was expecting to see people from the vacant lot adjacent to one of the barbecue alleys, but no one was in those alleys (again) and although there were still make-shift shelters on the vacant lot, I didn't see anyone 'home' there. I drove around to some of the spots where I normally find people, but found no one. It had been raining off an on this week, so some of the people may have found other places to ride out the weather.
Down on skid row I saw a large crowd of people and a lot of cars on the block just west of the police station on 6th. Something was obviously going on there so after parking I walked over and asked around to see what was up. It turned out that some church group had pulled up with a lot of supplies to give out. These supplies included food, a bag of hygiene stuff and a sleeping bag. Remember, this is the start of the winter months out here and the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it was good timing for the people living on the street.
In case you ever wondered, I rarely give out food down on skid row. Instead, I go to areas a couple of miles away from there. The various missions provide countless meals for the people who live on the street in the skid row area. Occasionally, church groups show up with food and supplies like the one above. I can't help the numbers of people that they can help. In fact, I don't look at what I do as a 'relief ministry' anyway. Instead, I go to the surrounding areas and pray with people and use the food and supplies as a means to gain access to talking (and praying) with them. Also, the surrounding areas give me more of an opportunity to be one on one with people. This enables me to get to know them by name and find out about them on a personal level. Therein, is the uniqueness of this ministry, one on one relationships. So, my prayer at the beginning of this blog was to get to know the 'new' people in a deeper way. A week or so ago, I referred to one of the guys at the vacant lot as Terrance. I wasn't sure if that was his name or not, but I thought it might be (I knew someone down there in the area where I go with that name). I asked him yesterday what his name was and it's Eugene. Eugene also has a wife and they both live on the street around the Jack in the Box area. Yesterday, Eugene found me as I was coming out of the Jack in the Box with the food I had just bought. I going to have to get to know his wife. I do have a lot of clothes for women I could give her.
My most memorable encounter yesterday was with Gary. Gary is the guy living in the alley behind the auto parts store on the other side of Washington Blvd. He was the one who gave me permission to wake him up if he was sleeping. I found out he was originally from Galveston, Texas, but has been out here for 30 years or so. When I pulled into the alley, I was met with the biggest smile you can imagine. He told me he had been watching for me every time someone pulled into the alley Sunday. I noticed he had a small barbecue grill. He told me he had found a hunk of beef in a grocery bag in some trash heap and thought he was going to eat well that night. He had rummaged around in the area looking for some wood to start a fire in the grill, but now he was thinking the meat was too old and spoiled. He showed me the meat and I confirmed that it was no good. I can only imagine if I hadn't have come by, that eventually he would have tried to cook and eat that meat when his hunger pains got worse. I asked Gary if he needed some socks and he said yes, somewhat incredulously. I got out and opened the back of the car and gave him a couple of pairs. He lifted his pant legs and showed me he didn't have any socks. By the way, there were at least three large pools of rain water in the alley right by where his shelter was. He asked if I had some pants, but I didn't have any. I did give him some shirts and a sweater. Also, I had a double thick knit cap he could wear. He had been coughing quite a bit and told me he thought he either had the flu or a cold. I told him if his bones ached, it was the flu. He said they ached. Well, he had asked me to pray for him already, which I did, but now I felt the need to pray for him again, so I lifted my hands up and asked for a special blessing on him for relief from the flu and continued provision during the week. I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and God loved him too. Then he asked me if I had a bible I could give him! I told him I didn't have a whole bible, but I did have a New Testament and then I dug around in the back of the car and found one of those "Daily Bread" devotional books and gave him that too. He felt blessed....and I did too. I told him I probably wouldn't be able to make it there next Sunday, but would probably be by the day after on Monday. (I didn't want him to be looking for me again all day on Sunday and be discouraged) Anyway, I guess that's the one who God wanted me to develop a deeper relationship with. We talked a bit about some of the other homeless people around the area. I think I'm going to ask Gary if he would ride in the car with me and show me where some of the other folks are on that side of Washington Blvd. This could get really good, don't you think? Don't you just love it when God answers prayer like this? --Until next time. John
This was the last weekend of my vacation from work. I was looking forward to this trip and had been praying for a deeper relationship with some of the new people I've been meeting. The old 'regulars' are around (at least that's what I'm hearing from people), but I just haven't seen too many. So it's time to take my relationship with people that I have been seeing these last few weeks to another level. I have to remember that answered prayer rarely ends up looking like what you expected. I was expecting to see people from the vacant lot adjacent to one of the barbecue alleys, but no one was in those alleys (again) and although there were still make-shift shelters on the vacant lot, I didn't see anyone 'home' there. I drove around to some of the spots where I normally find people, but found no one. It had been raining off an on this week, so some of the people may have found other places to ride out the weather.
Down on skid row I saw a large crowd of people and a lot of cars on the block just west of the police station on 6th. Something was obviously going on there so after parking I walked over and asked around to see what was up. It turned out that some church group had pulled up with a lot of supplies to give out. These supplies included food, a bag of hygiene stuff and a sleeping bag. Remember, this is the start of the winter months out here and the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it was good timing for the people living on the street.
In case you ever wondered, I rarely give out food down on skid row. Instead, I go to areas a couple of miles away from there. The various missions provide countless meals for the people who live on the street in the skid row area. Occasionally, church groups show up with food and supplies like the one above. I can't help the numbers of people that they can help. In fact, I don't look at what I do as a 'relief ministry' anyway. Instead, I go to the surrounding areas and pray with people and use the food and supplies as a means to gain access to talking (and praying) with them. Also, the surrounding areas give me more of an opportunity to be one on one with people. This enables me to get to know them by name and find out about them on a personal level. Therein, is the uniqueness of this ministry, one on one relationships. So, my prayer at the beginning of this blog was to get to know the 'new' people in a deeper way. A week or so ago, I referred to one of the guys at the vacant lot as Terrance. I wasn't sure if that was his name or not, but I thought it might be (I knew someone down there in the area where I go with that name). I asked him yesterday what his name was and it's Eugene. Eugene also has a wife and they both live on the street around the Jack in the Box area. Yesterday, Eugene found me as I was coming out of the Jack in the Box with the food I had just bought. I going to have to get to know his wife. I do have a lot of clothes for women I could give her.
My most memorable encounter yesterday was with Gary. Gary is the guy living in the alley behind the auto parts store on the other side of Washington Blvd. He was the one who gave me permission to wake him up if he was sleeping. I found out he was originally from Galveston, Texas, but has been out here for 30 years or so. When I pulled into the alley, I was met with the biggest smile you can imagine. He told me he had been watching for me every time someone pulled into the alley Sunday. I noticed he had a small barbecue grill. He told me he had found a hunk of beef in a grocery bag in some trash heap and thought he was going to eat well that night. He had rummaged around in the area looking for some wood to start a fire in the grill, but now he was thinking the meat was too old and spoiled. He showed me the meat and I confirmed that it was no good. I can only imagine if I hadn't have come by, that eventually he would have tried to cook and eat that meat when his hunger pains got worse. I asked Gary if he needed some socks and he said yes, somewhat incredulously. I got out and opened the back of the car and gave him a couple of pairs. He lifted his pant legs and showed me he didn't have any socks. By the way, there were at least three large pools of rain water in the alley right by where his shelter was. He asked if I had some pants, but I didn't have any. I did give him some shirts and a sweater. Also, I had a double thick knit cap he could wear. He had been coughing quite a bit and told me he thought he either had the flu or a cold. I told him if his bones ached, it was the flu. He said they ached. Well, he had asked me to pray for him already, which I did, but now I felt the need to pray for him again, so I lifted my hands up and asked for a special blessing on him for relief from the flu and continued provision during the week. I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and God loved him too. Then he asked me if I had a bible I could give him! I told him I didn't have a whole bible, but I did have a New Testament and then I dug around in the back of the car and found one of those "Daily Bread" devotional books and gave him that too. He felt blessed....and I did too. I told him I probably wouldn't be able to make it there next Sunday, but would probably be by the day after on Monday. (I didn't want him to be looking for me again all day on Sunday and be discouraged) Anyway, I guess that's the one who God wanted me to develop a deeper relationship with. We talked a bit about some of the other homeless people around the area. I think I'm going to ask Gary if he would ride in the car with me and show me where some of the other folks are on that side of Washington Blvd. This could get really good, don't you think? Don't you just love it when God answers prayer like this? --Until next time. John
Monday, November 12, 2012
Downtown 11/11/2012
"Some people pray for the things we take for granted." --a quote I ran across the other day on facebook.
This could be said about every person I met downtown last night, from the first couple, huddled under a jacket together, to the last man I met crossing Olive Street. This morning when I woke up and got out from under my warm covers at 6 am, I thought about how these folks spent their night. At least they didn't go to sleep hungry. I keep thinking how incredibly difficult it must be trying to sleep on a concrete sidewalk when it's so cold outside. This may be Southern California, but it does get cold at night this time of year and it will only get colder over the next few months.
Once again, I spent time in the 'barbecue area' looking for people I knew, but to no avail. I looked again where last week Terrance told me some of those people had migrated to on the other side of Washington Blvd. I think I told you that I found a couple of people sleeping over there last week, but since I didn't recognize them, and since it was late, I didn't want to wake them up. Well, yesterday it was still daylight and the one man I did see there was still awake (and hungry). His name was Gary and he knew me from the other location. I told him I had been by the week before, but he had been asleep. He gave me permission to wake him up next time! I was able to go down there late Sunday afternoon (I arrived about 4:15) because I took a vacation day from work on Saturday night. I was hoping to see some of my regulars, but it just didn't happen. What it means is that the new people you meet aren't quite as open and talkative as the ones you know. However, I still prayed with just about everyone since it was a Sunday and things are a little slower and casual on the weekend.
The vacant lot from last week, where I met Helen was still occupied, but Helen and her companion weren't there at the time. Instead, I met a woman named Jackie in one of the other shelters. There was someone in there with her too, but I didn't see them. The woman who was sick from last week, wasn't there either, but her stuff was still there. I left some extra food with Jackie to give to some of the others when they came back. I don't know if it will get to them, but I know it won't go uneaten. The couple, huddled up, that I mentioned in the beginnnig, was sitting across the street on the sidewalk from this lot. His name was Danny, but I couldn't hear the woman, when she said her name. Danny said they had been moving around a lot lately. I think they are recently homeless. They had almost no possesions.
After giving out some burgers to various homeless people in the immediate area, I drove over to the other side of town and down Olive St. I back-tracked up one street parallel to Olive and then came east, back towards Olive. I had two burgers left when I saw this man crossing Olive St. It was almost dark at the time. Maybe it was because he was shuffling across the street kind of slow, but I knew that look in his face and eyes. I've seen it hundreds of times by now. He had no shopping cart, just the clothes on his back. I had the window down when I called out to him and asked if he was hungry. In almost desparation, he said he was. "Como te llama?" I asked as he came over to the car. "Carlos" he replied. I gave him the last of the food, a bottle of water and prayed for him through the window. "Thank you, and God bless you senor", he said as I drove away.
I ended the trip prayer-walking on skid row. I couldn't count the number of times while walking around down there I've heard people shouting angry and vile things (not at me, but at other people). I know the lifestyle of the homeless is cause for great frustraion and the spirit of oppression is palpable down there. Part of what I pray for when I walk around down there is that the Spirit of Light would permeate the area and push away the spirit of oppression. As I continued praying this while walking, those shouting at others either stopped or walked away before I got to where they were. Don't ask me to explain it, I'm just telling you what happened.
This morning, before writing this I watched online the service at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson was speaking (I really like him). His message today (Sunday morning) was all about serving the poor, and feeding the hungry! One of the scriptures he shared was from Isaiah 58:10 which says, "If you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon." Wow. Like I said, I'm only telling you what I saw happen. --Until next time. John
PS. When I was leaving downtown last night, the thing most on my mind was, "I wish I had more to give out. Lord there were so many more people to help, but I don't have anything left to give." It was disappointing.
This could be said about every person I met downtown last night, from the first couple, huddled under a jacket together, to the last man I met crossing Olive Street. This morning when I woke up and got out from under my warm covers at 6 am, I thought about how these folks spent their night. At least they didn't go to sleep hungry. I keep thinking how incredibly difficult it must be trying to sleep on a concrete sidewalk when it's so cold outside. This may be Southern California, but it does get cold at night this time of year and it will only get colder over the next few months.
Once again, I spent time in the 'barbecue area' looking for people I knew, but to no avail. I looked again where last week Terrance told me some of those people had migrated to on the other side of Washington Blvd. I think I told you that I found a couple of people sleeping over there last week, but since I didn't recognize them, and since it was late, I didn't want to wake them up. Well, yesterday it was still daylight and the one man I did see there was still awake (and hungry). His name was Gary and he knew me from the other location. I told him I had been by the week before, but he had been asleep. He gave me permission to wake him up next time! I was able to go down there late Sunday afternoon (I arrived about 4:15) because I took a vacation day from work on Saturday night. I was hoping to see some of my regulars, but it just didn't happen. What it means is that the new people you meet aren't quite as open and talkative as the ones you know. However, I still prayed with just about everyone since it was a Sunday and things are a little slower and casual on the weekend.
The vacant lot from last week, where I met Helen was still occupied, but Helen and her companion weren't there at the time. Instead, I met a woman named Jackie in one of the other shelters. There was someone in there with her too, but I didn't see them. The woman who was sick from last week, wasn't there either, but her stuff was still there. I left some extra food with Jackie to give to some of the others when they came back. I don't know if it will get to them, but I know it won't go uneaten. The couple, huddled up, that I mentioned in the beginnnig, was sitting across the street on the sidewalk from this lot. His name was Danny, but I couldn't hear the woman, when she said her name. Danny said they had been moving around a lot lately. I think they are recently homeless. They had almost no possesions.
After giving out some burgers to various homeless people in the immediate area, I drove over to the other side of town and down Olive St. I back-tracked up one street parallel to Olive and then came east, back towards Olive. I had two burgers left when I saw this man crossing Olive St. It was almost dark at the time. Maybe it was because he was shuffling across the street kind of slow, but I knew that look in his face and eyes. I've seen it hundreds of times by now. He had no shopping cart, just the clothes on his back. I had the window down when I called out to him and asked if he was hungry. In almost desparation, he said he was. "Como te llama?" I asked as he came over to the car. "Carlos" he replied. I gave him the last of the food, a bottle of water and prayed for him through the window. "Thank you, and God bless you senor", he said as I drove away.
I ended the trip prayer-walking on skid row. I couldn't count the number of times while walking around down there I've heard people shouting angry and vile things (not at me, but at other people). I know the lifestyle of the homeless is cause for great frustraion and the spirit of oppression is palpable down there. Part of what I pray for when I walk around down there is that the Spirit of Light would permeate the area and push away the spirit of oppression. As I continued praying this while walking, those shouting at others either stopped or walked away before I got to where they were. Don't ask me to explain it, I'm just telling you what happened.
This morning, before writing this I watched online the service at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson was speaking (I really like him). His message today (Sunday morning) was all about serving the poor, and feeding the hungry! One of the scriptures he shared was from Isaiah 58:10 which says, "If you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon." Wow. Like I said, I'm only telling you what I saw happen. --Until next time. John
PS. When I was leaving downtown last night, the thing most on my mind was, "I wish I had more to give out. Lord there were so many more people to help, but I don't have anything left to give." It was disappointing.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Downtown 11/5/2012/Monday night
"....a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses before it is confirmed." --Deut. 19:15.
Due to the time change over the weekend, I couldn't get downtown until it was completely dark last night. I had been praying that God would not only lead me to those who needed help , but grant me contact with some of my "regulars" whom I haven't seen since the barbecue in September.
After picking up a bunch of burgers I drove over to the two alleys where I've held the barbecues. Both alleys are still vacant. However, I did see some make-shift homeless shelters set up in a fenced vacant lot between two buildings by one of the alleys. I decided to park the car and walk over and see if anyone I knew was living in there. When I called into the first shelter I was greeted by a woman named Helen. I hadn't met her before. It turned out she was from Arkansas, a place where my parents and grandparents had lived. I asked her who else was living in the other spots in there and she said Dave lived in one of them, but he wasn't there at that time. I told Helen, Dave was from the mid-west area too. She then told me that there was another person in her shelter so I went back to my car and got some more food and water. When I got back there another man had showed up that I did know. I think his name is Terrance, but I'm not sure. He did recognize me and said he was "sooo glad to see me and that all of our mutual friends had been worried that something had happened to me!" He told me he had just left Willie on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box and then told me where Willie and some of the others had been staying on the other side of Washington Blvd. While talking to Helen and Terrance I noticed what appeared to be a woman sleeping on some milk crates a sort distance from where we were standing. Helen said she was sick with the flu. I left some food for her and Dave. Before leaving I prayed with Helen and Terrance. Terrance reminded me that he still wanted to go to church with me sometime down in that area. What a blessing this encounter was and an answer to prayer too.
After leaving them I drove over to the area off Washington Blvd where Terrance said Willie had been staying. I had driven by the Jack in the Box, but I didn't see him there. I thought perhaps that Tara Lee might be there if Willie wasn't back yet. I did see some homeless folks sleeping in an alley directly behind Washington, but since I didn't recognize them and they were asleep, I decided not to wake them. At this point I drove back over to the Jack in the Box area to see if Willie might be there. I still didn't see him, but I did see John Mellon riding his bike into a recycler there. While waiting for him to finish his business there I saw a man sitting by the end of a truck with his shoe off. He was massaging his left foot. I finally asked him if he needed a new pair of socks. It turned out a 10-lb piece of metal had fallen on his foot and it was still hurting pretty badly. I gave him some food and water and in a little while some friends of his, a man and a woman, pulled up in a van. Later, as John Mellon was going through the clothes in the back of the car these folks came over too. Wouldn't you know, the guy with the hurt foot ended up with a new pair of socks (which he had declined earlier). The most memorable thing about this encounter was a statement John made to me as I was leaving. First he told me to save a seat for him in heaven if I got there before him or he would if he gets there before me. Keep in mind, that John, who was one of my first acquaintances when I started going downtown three and a half years ago, and didn't want me praying for him way back then. He's come a long way, huh? Then he followed that up with this stunner. He said, "God 'arranged' for us to meet tonight". "I know it couldn't be Satan-he wouldn't want us to meet- it had to be God!" Remember my prayer on my way down there? I had asked God for some contact with my regulars. Here it was, full on night time, by now it was almost 8 p.m. I had met Terrance who just "happened" to walk through a vacant lot that I had just "happened" to venture into looking to help who ever was there. Then I just "happened" to see John Mellon riding his bike into the recycler on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box. How many coincidences do we need to see God's hand in this? Before leaving I drove over to Olive St (the other side of town) and gave out the last of the burgers to a couple of men sitting on the side walk. I think they would have gone to sleep without eating if I hadn't come by (another "coincidence" related to my prayer to meet those who needed help that night). Both men were Latinos who didn't speak much English. Before leaving I prayed for them. When I finished and looked up, both men had their heads bowed. Even though they couldn't understand me they knew I was praying for them. It gets me every time that happens.
The verse in Deuteronomy that began this blog says, "a matter is established or confirmed by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses." Well I had at least three 'coincidences' as confirmation that |God listens to prayer last night. Do those count? ---Until next week. John
Due to the time change over the weekend, I couldn't get downtown until it was completely dark last night. I had been praying that God would not only lead me to those who needed help , but grant me contact with some of my "regulars" whom I haven't seen since the barbecue in September.
After picking up a bunch of burgers I drove over to the two alleys where I've held the barbecues. Both alleys are still vacant. However, I did see some make-shift homeless shelters set up in a fenced vacant lot between two buildings by one of the alleys. I decided to park the car and walk over and see if anyone I knew was living in there. When I called into the first shelter I was greeted by a woman named Helen. I hadn't met her before. It turned out she was from Arkansas, a place where my parents and grandparents had lived. I asked her who else was living in the other spots in there and she said Dave lived in one of them, but he wasn't there at that time. I told Helen, Dave was from the mid-west area too. She then told me that there was another person in her shelter so I went back to my car and got some more food and water. When I got back there another man had showed up that I did know. I think his name is Terrance, but I'm not sure. He did recognize me and said he was "sooo glad to see me and that all of our mutual friends had been worried that something had happened to me!" He told me he had just left Willie on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box and then told me where Willie and some of the others had been staying on the other side of Washington Blvd. While talking to Helen and Terrance I noticed what appeared to be a woman sleeping on some milk crates a sort distance from where we were standing. Helen said she was sick with the flu. I left some food for her and Dave. Before leaving I prayed with Helen and Terrance. Terrance reminded me that he still wanted to go to church with me sometime down in that area. What a blessing this encounter was and an answer to prayer too.
After leaving them I drove over to the area off Washington Blvd where Terrance said Willie had been staying. I had driven by the Jack in the Box, but I didn't see him there. I thought perhaps that Tara Lee might be there if Willie wasn't back yet. I did see some homeless folks sleeping in an alley directly behind Washington, but since I didn't recognize them and they were asleep, I decided not to wake them. At this point I drove back over to the Jack in the Box area to see if Willie might be there. I still didn't see him, but I did see John Mellon riding his bike into a recycler there. While waiting for him to finish his business there I saw a man sitting by the end of a truck with his shoe off. He was massaging his left foot. I finally asked him if he needed a new pair of socks. It turned out a 10-lb piece of metal had fallen on his foot and it was still hurting pretty badly. I gave him some food and water and in a little while some friends of his, a man and a woman, pulled up in a van. Later, as John Mellon was going through the clothes in the back of the car these folks came over too. Wouldn't you know, the guy with the hurt foot ended up with a new pair of socks (which he had declined earlier). The most memorable thing about this encounter was a statement John made to me as I was leaving. First he told me to save a seat for him in heaven if I got there before him or he would if he gets there before me. Keep in mind, that John, who was one of my first acquaintances when I started going downtown three and a half years ago, and didn't want me praying for him way back then. He's come a long way, huh? Then he followed that up with this stunner. He said, "God 'arranged' for us to meet tonight". "I know it couldn't be Satan-he wouldn't want us to meet- it had to be God!" Remember my prayer on my way down there? I had asked God for some contact with my regulars. Here it was, full on night time, by now it was almost 8 p.m. I had met Terrance who just "happened" to walk through a vacant lot that I had just "happened" to venture into looking to help who ever was there. Then I just "happened" to see John Mellon riding his bike into the recycler on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box. How many coincidences do we need to see God's hand in this? Before leaving I drove over to Olive St (the other side of town) and gave out the last of the burgers to a couple of men sitting on the side walk. I think they would have gone to sleep without eating if I hadn't come by (another "coincidence" related to my prayer to meet those who needed help that night). Both men were Latinos who didn't speak much English. Before leaving I prayed for them. When I finished and looked up, both men had their heads bowed. Even though they couldn't understand me they knew I was praying for them. It gets me every time that happens.
The verse in Deuteronomy that began this blog says, "a matter is established or confirmed by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses." Well I had at least three 'coincidences' as confirmation that |God listens to prayer last night. Do those count? ---Until next week. John
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