"Don't brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth, if you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me the Lord. What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth." Jeremiah 9:23b-24
After missing last week's trip due to scheduling issues, I was looking forward to going this week. I have really been having problems walking of late, but was determined to not let this interfere. I have been challenged to use praise (of God) as a weapon in the face of obstacles, so I left home praising God and praying for victory in his harvest field. I am still looking for a break-through at McArthur Park and that is where the struggles with walking are the greatest.
When I arrived downtown I was greeted by three homeless Latino men on a small side street near Los Angeles St and 16th. Their names were Jaime, Jose and Paco. Paco seemed to be the leader of the group and the one who spoke the most English. He told me they were from Mexico and had been up here for 3 years. He told me he struggles with a drinking problem. Today they were hungry and very appreciative of the help. They were overwhelmed at the opportunity to look through the clothes in the back of the car. Paco told me I was an angel sent from God and kissed my hand. That's the fourth time that has happened and it's a humbling experience each time. When the four of us prayed he told Jose to remove his cap. It moves me each time the amount of respect these folks have for the things of God. There was another man named Jose who was standing near the corner about 20 yards away. Paco called him over and he was helped too. This Jose didn't speak any English, but I prayed with him anyway. There was one other man just around the corner on 16th St. I called out to him from the car, but he refused to look at me even though he was only a few feet away. After a few attempts to get his attention he finally pulled his shirt up to cover his face. I took the hint.
Next I drove over to Trinity St and saw Antonio, Leticia and Felipe. Alex wasn't there and they haven't seen him for a couple of weeks now. I had given Alex and his friend the phone number for a contact that deals with Spanish speaking people when I saw them the last time. I'm hoping they received help from them. I was kind of hoping they would all hang around together so I could do a mini BBQ just for them sometime. Well, we'll have to see if they return.
When I finished there I drove around the block to Wall St. Outside of Willie, Dave and a friend of theirs I hadn't met before, Joseph, there weren't very many other people there compared to the large crowd that's been there recently. Paul and Guillermo came by, but the place was surprisingly quiet. I gave out the last of the food, prayed with them and headed over to McArthur Park.
When I got over there, unbelievably there was a parking place available and since it was Sunday I didn't even have to put change in the meter, although I would gladly have paid a couple of dollars to be able to park this close. So I grabbed my bible and started walking in the park. I walked a hundred yards or so to a street light in the park that had a concrete tub around it and sat down. I rested there for a while and read my bible and kind of looked at the people laying on the grass nearby. There was a group of a dozen or so twenty-something Latino men 20 or 30 feet away and a few parents with their little ones enjoying the late afternoon sunshine in the park. Pretty much everyone kept to themselves including me. I walked a little further close to the corner of 7th and Alvarado and sat down on a concrete retaining wall. There was a group of men talking loudly nearby, but I didn't pay too much attention to them. I was reading my bible when one of those men came by and asked me if I wanted to purchase his bicycle for $15.00. I politely declined. He then asked if I had a dollar as he was in a 'difficult situation'. Now keep in mind that I had been praying for an opportunity to talk with someone down here and now all of the sudden a man walks up and says, in short, "I'm in a difficult situation." I'm thinking to myself, "Is this the opportunity God is providing me?" (Sometimes I have to be hit over the head to see things) I told the man, his name was Peter, that I really didn't have any money, but that I would pray for him. I stood up and leaned over to him and while I was putting my hand on his shoulder he said, "No, you don't have to pray for me." At this point, there was no stopping me and I just started praying for him and his "difficult situation". When I finished praying, he then wanted to start talking and asked me where I worked and stuff like that. He reached his left hand out to shake my hand and I shook it. He showed me his right hand and said it had been injured. We talked a little more before he left. It wasn't until I was driving home that I thought about the missed opportunity to have prayed for healing in his hand. What a witness that would have been to the people standing around! I think that would be the definition of a break-through! Well, I'm still just getting started in this ministry at the park. I'll keep praising God and praying for victory in His harvest field and we will see what great things God will do.--Until next time. John
Monday, September 23, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Downtown 9/8/2013
Some Pharisees asked Jesus when God's kingdom would come. He answered, "God's kingdom isn't something you can see. There is no use saying, "Look! Here it is" or "Look! There it is. God's kingdom is here with you." -Luke 17:20-21
Since I hadn't seen John Stokes is three weeks or so I decided to check-in with him and see how he was doing. For the first time in awhile he was by himself. He was very happy to see me and bounced up and came over to the car. I guess he was down to a single dollar and no food, so as he told me when I was leaving, "You're right on time, as always!" He still hasn't gotten any action on his Social Security issue and it would appear as though he's resigned to having to wait two more years (until he's 67) before he can start receiving those benefits. I'm going to try and make a few phone calls and see what I can find out. Maybe, the issue is him being able to prove how old he really is. We had a good visit and when I asked about Angelina (I had seen her with him the last couple of times) he told me she was pregnant and he hadn't seen her in a week or so. So along with her insecurity issues, she's now pregnant. The last time I saw them they were both so hungry they ate all the food I gave them while I was talking with them. I guess it's easy to understand John's comment when I left, "You're right on time, as always!"
I drove a couple of blocks away and found Maurice and a man named Clay hanging out with him. Elishia had gone on to Texas a couple of weeks ago and apparently, got into some trouble with the law. Maurice has been trying to find out what happened and get down there himself, but she mistakenly took his bus ticket with her when she left. I made some phone calls and found out where she was, so he's got a game plan now and should be leaving for Texas this week sometime. We prayed together for healing in their relationship and resolution to her situation.
Since I didn't get a chance to stop and see Antonio and Leticia last week I started driving over to where I usually see them on Trinity St. I drove down an alley off 16th and saw them slowly walking towards me in that alley. Antonio was looking through piles of trash (I'm not sure what for since he didn't have a shopping cart to collect things) and Leticia was 10 yards or so behind him. When I got to her and reached out through the car window for her hand, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I think they were both very hungry and thirsty and I had come if not 'right on time', then 'just in time'. I had a yellow soccer jersey in the back of the car that I made sure Antonio received. He held it up to check the size against his body and it put a smile on his face. I asked if Alex was around and Antonio said he was, but I didn't see him when I got on down to Trinity St. They both got food, water and some clothes, we prayed and I left them better off than when I found them. How blessed it is to give to these people.
OK, so I'm only around the block from the big group on Wall St, so I headed over there and received another warm welcome from all the folks there. There's one guy there who lives in an old RV and has shoulder length gray hair with a leather cowboy hat. He always tells me how glad he is to see me and how happy it makes him feel when I pray with him. Another man, Dave, has been bugging me for about a month for a pair of pants size 40. The closest I had was pair of jeans size 38 that I had put aside to give to him. He put the jeans on with a white T-shirt I had and said everything fit. I teased Willie about the way he looked with a blanket wrapped around him in the summer-time heat. Now at this point a couple of young men came over to the car. They have been around here for awhile and the most tactful way to describe them is that they act like orphan children. I was introduced to this concept by some missionaries who rescue orphan kids living on the streets and at trash dumps. These kids have to 'watch out for themselves' and take whatever they can get however they can get it. After they've been taken in, it usually takes awhile before they realize they don't have to live that way, that they are now somebody's kids and they will be taken care of. Sometimes it takes a few days, for others a couple of weeks and for others even longer before they realize they don't have to fight for their own survival. This is the difference between the orphan mentality and the adopted child mentality. It also applies to our understanding of our place in Christ. Are we orphans (doing things in our own strength) or 'heirs to the throne with Christ' (allowing Him in His power to work through us). It makes a big difference in your attitude and your prayer life. Anyway, I had been given three pairs of size 12 shoes recently and had them in the car. One pair was brand new and was in a separate bag and the other two were used and in another bag. Well, one of these men asked if I had any 11 1/2's. I said I didn't, but the closest I had was some size 12's. He showed me his worn-out shoes that had some holes in the toes, like they weren't quite big enough. So I got out the two pairs in the one bag and let him pick one. The other man that was with him grabbed the other pair even though he didn't wear shoes anywhere close to that size. Now another man had come up and he needed size twelves also (his feet were definitely that size), but the one man had taken the other pair. So the one man who really needed that size backed off and said, "OK, even though you don't wear that size, go ahead and take them." I kind of signaled to him that I had him covered and gave him the pair of new shoes in the other bag. I didn't take them out, but just put them in his shopping cart. It was at this point that he told me what happened to him after I prayed with him last week. He had come by after I had given out all the food, but I did have some water left and I gave him a couple of bottles and prayed for him. He told me that he, "felt something happen" when I prayed for him and that the next two people he saw that evening bought him some food. He said, "I just wanted you to know what happened, because I felt something when you prayed for me." Well, that was pretty cool and I thanked him for sharing that with me. Then I showed him what was in the bag in his shopping cart. I told him later, "You see, if you're patient, things will work out better than you imagined." When I prayed for the 'big group' I explained to them that I 'try and bring the Kingdom of Heaven with me when I come down there. That when they see me I want the 'peace that surpasses all understanding' to come upon them and I want them to feel the release of tension and that a pleasant and happy atmosphere exists while I'm there if only for a short time. However, if they continue to live in this kingdom with the mind of Christ the next day, when I'm not around, and the problems and pressures of this world are biting at their heels, then they can walk in this presence (kingdom) everyday." I should add that I didn't say this until Dave (who had received his pants, shirts, food and water) said, "OK, John, hit me!" That was the signal for me to start preaching and praying for them. What an honor to be asked to speak to this group.
Well, I left there and went down to McArthur Park. I got there later than usual and I absolutely couldn't find a place to park. There seemed to be some festival going on in the park. I found out later it was Mexican Independence Day (I thought that was May 5th), but apparently they celebrate Sept 8th too. I drove around the park area for 15 -20 minutes looking for a parking place but had no luck. So, I'll try again next time. I knew there would be obstacles to this phase of ministry and that's fine, I expected it. I'm not sure who said it (I think it was Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, CA), but I ran across something I had written down that said, "It's foolish to think you're going to coast into your destiny." How true. Until next time. --John
Since I hadn't seen John Stokes is three weeks or so I decided to check-in with him and see how he was doing. For the first time in awhile he was by himself. He was very happy to see me and bounced up and came over to the car. I guess he was down to a single dollar and no food, so as he told me when I was leaving, "You're right on time, as always!" He still hasn't gotten any action on his Social Security issue and it would appear as though he's resigned to having to wait two more years (until he's 67) before he can start receiving those benefits. I'm going to try and make a few phone calls and see what I can find out. Maybe, the issue is him being able to prove how old he really is. We had a good visit and when I asked about Angelina (I had seen her with him the last couple of times) he told me she was pregnant and he hadn't seen her in a week or so. So along with her insecurity issues, she's now pregnant. The last time I saw them they were both so hungry they ate all the food I gave them while I was talking with them. I guess it's easy to understand John's comment when I left, "You're right on time, as always!"
I drove a couple of blocks away and found Maurice and a man named Clay hanging out with him. Elishia had gone on to Texas a couple of weeks ago and apparently, got into some trouble with the law. Maurice has been trying to find out what happened and get down there himself, but she mistakenly took his bus ticket with her when she left. I made some phone calls and found out where she was, so he's got a game plan now and should be leaving for Texas this week sometime. We prayed together for healing in their relationship and resolution to her situation.
Since I didn't get a chance to stop and see Antonio and Leticia last week I started driving over to where I usually see them on Trinity St. I drove down an alley off 16th and saw them slowly walking towards me in that alley. Antonio was looking through piles of trash (I'm not sure what for since he didn't have a shopping cart to collect things) and Leticia was 10 yards or so behind him. When I got to her and reached out through the car window for her hand, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I think they were both very hungry and thirsty and I had come if not 'right on time', then 'just in time'. I had a yellow soccer jersey in the back of the car that I made sure Antonio received. He held it up to check the size against his body and it put a smile on his face. I asked if Alex was around and Antonio said he was, but I didn't see him when I got on down to Trinity St. They both got food, water and some clothes, we prayed and I left them better off than when I found them. How blessed it is to give to these people.
OK, so I'm only around the block from the big group on Wall St, so I headed over there and received another warm welcome from all the folks there. There's one guy there who lives in an old RV and has shoulder length gray hair with a leather cowboy hat. He always tells me how glad he is to see me and how happy it makes him feel when I pray with him. Another man, Dave, has been bugging me for about a month for a pair of pants size 40. The closest I had was pair of jeans size 38 that I had put aside to give to him. He put the jeans on with a white T-shirt I had and said everything fit. I teased Willie about the way he looked with a blanket wrapped around him in the summer-time heat. Now at this point a couple of young men came over to the car. They have been around here for awhile and the most tactful way to describe them is that they act like orphan children. I was introduced to this concept by some missionaries who rescue orphan kids living on the streets and at trash dumps. These kids have to 'watch out for themselves' and take whatever they can get however they can get it. After they've been taken in, it usually takes awhile before they realize they don't have to live that way, that they are now somebody's kids and they will be taken care of. Sometimes it takes a few days, for others a couple of weeks and for others even longer before they realize they don't have to fight for their own survival. This is the difference between the orphan mentality and the adopted child mentality. It also applies to our understanding of our place in Christ. Are we orphans (doing things in our own strength) or 'heirs to the throne with Christ' (allowing Him in His power to work through us). It makes a big difference in your attitude and your prayer life. Anyway, I had been given three pairs of size 12 shoes recently and had them in the car. One pair was brand new and was in a separate bag and the other two were used and in another bag. Well, one of these men asked if I had any 11 1/2's. I said I didn't, but the closest I had was some size 12's. He showed me his worn-out shoes that had some holes in the toes, like they weren't quite big enough. So I got out the two pairs in the one bag and let him pick one. The other man that was with him grabbed the other pair even though he didn't wear shoes anywhere close to that size. Now another man had come up and he needed size twelves also (his feet were definitely that size), but the one man had taken the other pair. So the one man who really needed that size backed off and said, "OK, even though you don't wear that size, go ahead and take them." I kind of signaled to him that I had him covered and gave him the pair of new shoes in the other bag. I didn't take them out, but just put them in his shopping cart. It was at this point that he told me what happened to him after I prayed with him last week. He had come by after I had given out all the food, but I did have some water left and I gave him a couple of bottles and prayed for him. He told me that he, "felt something happen" when I prayed for him and that the next two people he saw that evening bought him some food. He said, "I just wanted you to know what happened, because I felt something when you prayed for me." Well, that was pretty cool and I thanked him for sharing that with me. Then I showed him what was in the bag in his shopping cart. I told him later, "You see, if you're patient, things will work out better than you imagined." When I prayed for the 'big group' I explained to them that I 'try and bring the Kingdom of Heaven with me when I come down there. That when they see me I want the 'peace that surpasses all understanding' to come upon them and I want them to feel the release of tension and that a pleasant and happy atmosphere exists while I'm there if only for a short time. However, if they continue to live in this kingdom with the mind of Christ the next day, when I'm not around, and the problems and pressures of this world are biting at their heels, then they can walk in this presence (kingdom) everyday." I should add that I didn't say this until Dave (who had received his pants, shirts, food and water) said, "OK, John, hit me!" That was the signal for me to start preaching and praying for them. What an honor to be asked to speak to this group.
Well, I left there and went down to McArthur Park. I got there later than usual and I absolutely couldn't find a place to park. There seemed to be some festival going on in the park. I found out later it was Mexican Independence Day (I thought that was May 5th), but apparently they celebrate Sept 8th too. I drove around the park area for 15 -20 minutes looking for a parking place but had no luck. So, I'll try again next time. I knew there would be obstacles to this phase of ministry and that's fine, I expected it. I'm not sure who said it (I think it was Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, CA), but I ran across something I had written down that said, "It's foolish to think you're going to coast into your destiny." How true. Until next time. --John
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Labor Day downtown-9/2/2013
"An ancient sage sent his son to a Bible teacher. When the boy returned, his father asked him, 'What did you learn?' The son told him, 'All the subject matter'.
'This is nothing,' the father replied. 'Go and learn more'.
The son returned one year later. This time he boasted of having learned other disciplines. The father still wasn't satisfied and sent him back to the school another time. This time when the son returned his face shone. The father embraced him. 'You knew theology before. Now you know God'."
--Richard Wurmbrand from his book Alone with God. Written from solitary confinement in a Romanian prison in the 1950's.
May your face shine today with a love that draws others to our Saviour.
It has been another hot week in Southern California with reports saying another hot week ahead of us before any cooling trend will occur. Monday, being the Labor Day holiday, gave me an extra day to make a trip with it feeling like a Sunday evening (low traffic volumes and a slower pace than a weekday). My first encounter was with a man named Dee in an alley off 14th St. It was right about 4 pm and he was pretty happy to receive the help and prayer. I remember commenting to him that I often would go down there in the mornings, but I think it's better for folks if I go in the late afternoon/evening because then they don't go to sleep hungry. He nodded in agreement, however, a case could be made that alleviating hunger whenever its occurring is better period!
After driving down a couple of other alleys and finding no one I drove over to a small alley under the I-10 freeway off San Pedro and 16th St. It's the path I usually take to get to Trinity St where Antonio, Leticia and Alex live. As I pulled into this alley I saw one of the Willies that I know. In fact, when I met this Willie the first time it was right there a couple of years ago. His name is Willie Brown Jr. He is one of the folks living under the freeway on Wall St. He had his shopping cart with him containing a couple of empty 5 gallon water bottles that he was seeking to fill up. He was so happy to see me. He told me that everyone at the 'camp' under the freeway where he stays is angry and yelling at each other and he just had to get away for awhile. I told him its probably because of the heat that's got everyone all stressed out. He told me everyone over there has been asking about me, wondering if I was going to be coming by. They probably were expecting me on Sunday and when I didn't show up were wondering what happened. I gave him some ice cold water and asked if he needed any clothes. He thanked me and said whatever I had to give him he would take. He apologized for smelling so bad and for having beer on his breath. I told him I didn't mind or care how he smelled, I was there to help. For the next fifteen minutes or so we had the most heart to heart conversation I had had with anyone in a while. Sometimes you meet up with someone who is so discouraged that they are ready and willing to just spill their heart out to you. Of course, it helps if they know you and feel at ease talking to you, that you're not going to judge them and tell them what to do, but are willing to first, just listen to their heart. Willie said he wondered why God allowed him to exist in this cesspool of a life that he lived. He pointed around to the dirt and debris all around us at that time. He said "Sometimes I'd rather be that dirt than be me!" He was disgusted with his life and the direction of it and sometimes just wanted it to be over. It was at this point that I needed to gently remind Willie of something we all know, but forget at times like this. It's that there are people with lots of money and yet, they too are miserable. It turned out it was something he was well aware of because he had seen it first hand. He told me he had been around wealthy people in the entertainment industry and had seen their lives up close. He agreed that money didn't guarantee happiness. I reminded him that Jesus came that we would have an 'abundant' life and that the kind of abundance that Jesus talked about was far different and more real than the abundance that the world seeks after. He then said to me that some of the stories in the bible just seemed impossible to him. I said, "Remember, with God all things are possible. He's God that's why it's possible ." Every once in a while Willie would punctuate his unhappiness with profanity and then say he was sorry for using that language or once again apologize for the way he smelled. I told him that didn't matter to me at all and, in fact, I was totally cool with him talking and being just like he is. I told him about Jesus being with some "outcasts" in Luke 15. I said, "Do you remember the story of the prodigal son?" He admitted to me that he really didn't know the bible very well, so I briefly told him the story, that a man had two sons and the younger one wanted to receive his inheritance right then, before the father died and go off and live somewhere else. Shockingly, the father agreed and gave the son his money and he left. Like most all young people who receive too much money too fast he blew it all and ended up destitute. The son then decided the servants in his father's house were better off than he was so he thought he'd go back and ask his father if he could live with him as a servant since he didn't deserve to be treated like a son anymore. I told Willie, that the father was overjoyed with the son's return and not only welcomed him back, but threw a party to boot." Well, I told this story to Willie simply so I could show him the first verse in that chapter that tells us the reason Jesus told the story to begin with. And that was that Jesus had been talking to group of "outcasts", just like Willie had been feeling, then the 'religious leaders' got after Jesus for even talking to these people. I said, "Look, Jesus would 'touch' lepers (this was strictly forbidden in that day), talk with prostitutes and other outcasts. The religious people would never talk to these people, but Jesus looked at them "as people of worth" and he wouldn't let others stop him from meeting and talking with them. I told Willie, "I love coming down here and hanging with you guys and doing what I can to help out. I just try and bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to you guys even if its just for a little while." He told me what everyone where he lives thinks about me, "We love you. You are Jesus." Well, I was kinda floored by that statement and realized I must be starting to reflect Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Well, we talked for a little while longer until it was time for me to go, when I said, "Well, you know what happens now don't you? I've got to pray for you before I go." So standing directly in front of Willie with both of my hands on his shoulders I started to pray for him. He again, apologized for smelling the way he did and I again told him not to worry. I prayed for Willie to feel God's presence in his life and look for the "real" abundance that he possesses. Willie is a great guy, enjoyable to be with and always appreciative when I've seen him. I'll continue to pray for his situation. Unfortunately, I didn't think of it until I was coming home that he seems like a good candidate for the Dream Center's training program. What I found out when I visited them two weeks ago was that they have a one year training program that totally immerses you in bible study and a Christian culture and then works with you at the end of that time to find a place in society to live and work. It is just the thing for someone who is fed-up with their lifestyle and ready to commit to this kind of a program. Next week, I'll start talking to Willie about it. I think he's ready.
I drove over to Wall St where the rest of his group lives. It was quite a homecoming. There are two groups of people living on both sides of that street. The other Willie that I've known for 4 years and Dave and EJ were on one side and the group where Willie Brown lives are down the street a little ways. I parked in front of where Willie and Dave were then I walked back to the other group specifically to tell the two women living there that I had some women's clothes with me if they wanted to look through them. It wasn't too long before I had quite a group around the car and I was giving out food, cold bottles of water and clothes to everyone. They were all very happy and I got to talk individually with most everyone. Then when the opportunity was just right I said, "Let me pray for you guys before you go." Everyone gathered around and we put our arms around each other (there must have been about 10 or 12 people) and I prayed with them. It was a Divine moment and totally cool. I stayed there about thirty minutes talking and enjoying the company of these folks. It's interesting how my life's experiences come into play in a group like this. So many of these people are transplants from the mid-west and are surprised to hear that I have spent so much time there. Another amazing thing is how people respond to little snippets of scripture. One of the women who came over was Sandra. For some reason, she mentioned the words in scripture where it says, "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." She had been assaulted a while back and that morning someone had taken her shopping cart with all her stuff in it. I said, "Oh, you're quoting Psalm 23. You know I quoted something from that Psalm a few months ago myself," and explained what had happened. She responded with a lot of interest in what had happened to me at the time. It proves the point that Jesus made in Matthew 10:19 when it says, "When they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say." It has been an amazing journey that has brought me to the streets of Los Angeles with words that speak life to these people. I cherish every moment.
As I left this group I asked for their prayers for the next group I'm beginning to work with. That group is the folks down at 7th and Alvarado St. This is a new area for me to prayer-walk through and begin to build relationships. Luckily, since it was a holiday, I was able to find a place to park a couple of blocks away for the hour that I spent at McArthur Park. This time I took my Bible with me and it had the desired affect. Two couples spotted me with it and I was able to speak with them. I prayed with another woman too. It is a small step, but it will lead to where God wants me to go. It's kind of exciting to NOT have a clue of what to expect, but know that something will happen and to be ready. --Until next time. John
'This is nothing,' the father replied. 'Go and learn more'.
The son returned one year later. This time he boasted of having learned other disciplines. The father still wasn't satisfied and sent him back to the school another time. This time when the son returned his face shone. The father embraced him. 'You knew theology before. Now you know God'."
--Richard Wurmbrand from his book Alone with God. Written from solitary confinement in a Romanian prison in the 1950's.
May your face shine today with a love that draws others to our Saviour.
It has been another hot week in Southern California with reports saying another hot week ahead of us before any cooling trend will occur. Monday, being the Labor Day holiday, gave me an extra day to make a trip with it feeling like a Sunday evening (low traffic volumes and a slower pace than a weekday). My first encounter was with a man named Dee in an alley off 14th St. It was right about 4 pm and he was pretty happy to receive the help and prayer. I remember commenting to him that I often would go down there in the mornings, but I think it's better for folks if I go in the late afternoon/evening because then they don't go to sleep hungry. He nodded in agreement, however, a case could be made that alleviating hunger whenever its occurring is better period!
After driving down a couple of other alleys and finding no one I drove over to a small alley under the I-10 freeway off San Pedro and 16th St. It's the path I usually take to get to Trinity St where Antonio, Leticia and Alex live. As I pulled into this alley I saw one of the Willies that I know. In fact, when I met this Willie the first time it was right there a couple of years ago. His name is Willie Brown Jr. He is one of the folks living under the freeway on Wall St. He had his shopping cart with him containing a couple of empty 5 gallon water bottles that he was seeking to fill up. He was so happy to see me. He told me that everyone at the 'camp' under the freeway where he stays is angry and yelling at each other and he just had to get away for awhile. I told him its probably because of the heat that's got everyone all stressed out. He told me everyone over there has been asking about me, wondering if I was going to be coming by. They probably were expecting me on Sunday and when I didn't show up were wondering what happened. I gave him some ice cold water and asked if he needed any clothes. He thanked me and said whatever I had to give him he would take. He apologized for smelling so bad and for having beer on his breath. I told him I didn't mind or care how he smelled, I was there to help. For the next fifteen minutes or so we had the most heart to heart conversation I had had with anyone in a while. Sometimes you meet up with someone who is so discouraged that they are ready and willing to just spill their heart out to you. Of course, it helps if they know you and feel at ease talking to you, that you're not going to judge them and tell them what to do, but are willing to first, just listen to their heart. Willie said he wondered why God allowed him to exist in this cesspool of a life that he lived. He pointed around to the dirt and debris all around us at that time. He said "Sometimes I'd rather be that dirt than be me!" He was disgusted with his life and the direction of it and sometimes just wanted it to be over. It was at this point that I needed to gently remind Willie of something we all know, but forget at times like this. It's that there are people with lots of money and yet, they too are miserable. It turned out it was something he was well aware of because he had seen it first hand. He told me he had been around wealthy people in the entertainment industry and had seen their lives up close. He agreed that money didn't guarantee happiness. I reminded him that Jesus came that we would have an 'abundant' life and that the kind of abundance that Jesus talked about was far different and more real than the abundance that the world seeks after. He then said to me that some of the stories in the bible just seemed impossible to him. I said, "Remember, with God all things are possible. He's God that's why it's possible ." Every once in a while Willie would punctuate his unhappiness with profanity and then say he was sorry for using that language or once again apologize for the way he smelled. I told him that didn't matter to me at all and, in fact, I was totally cool with him talking and being just like he is. I told him about Jesus being with some "outcasts" in Luke 15. I said, "Do you remember the story of the prodigal son?" He admitted to me that he really didn't know the bible very well, so I briefly told him the story, that a man had two sons and the younger one wanted to receive his inheritance right then, before the father died and go off and live somewhere else. Shockingly, the father agreed and gave the son his money and he left. Like most all young people who receive too much money too fast he blew it all and ended up destitute. The son then decided the servants in his father's house were better off than he was so he thought he'd go back and ask his father if he could live with him as a servant since he didn't deserve to be treated like a son anymore. I told Willie, that the father was overjoyed with the son's return and not only welcomed him back, but threw a party to boot." Well, I told this story to Willie simply so I could show him the first verse in that chapter that tells us the reason Jesus told the story to begin with. And that was that Jesus had been talking to group of "outcasts", just like Willie had been feeling, then the 'religious leaders' got after Jesus for even talking to these people. I said, "Look, Jesus would 'touch' lepers (this was strictly forbidden in that day), talk with prostitutes and other outcasts. The religious people would never talk to these people, but Jesus looked at them "as people of worth" and he wouldn't let others stop him from meeting and talking with them. I told Willie, "I love coming down here and hanging with you guys and doing what I can to help out. I just try and bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to you guys even if its just for a little while." He told me what everyone where he lives thinks about me, "We love you. You are Jesus." Well, I was kinda floored by that statement and realized I must be starting to reflect Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Well, we talked for a little while longer until it was time for me to go, when I said, "Well, you know what happens now don't you? I've got to pray for you before I go." So standing directly in front of Willie with both of my hands on his shoulders I started to pray for him. He again, apologized for smelling the way he did and I again told him not to worry. I prayed for Willie to feel God's presence in his life and look for the "real" abundance that he possesses. Willie is a great guy, enjoyable to be with and always appreciative when I've seen him. I'll continue to pray for his situation. Unfortunately, I didn't think of it until I was coming home that he seems like a good candidate for the Dream Center's training program. What I found out when I visited them two weeks ago was that they have a one year training program that totally immerses you in bible study and a Christian culture and then works with you at the end of that time to find a place in society to live and work. It is just the thing for someone who is fed-up with their lifestyle and ready to commit to this kind of a program. Next week, I'll start talking to Willie about it. I think he's ready.
I drove over to Wall St where the rest of his group lives. It was quite a homecoming. There are two groups of people living on both sides of that street. The other Willie that I've known for 4 years and Dave and EJ were on one side and the group where Willie Brown lives are down the street a little ways. I parked in front of where Willie and Dave were then I walked back to the other group specifically to tell the two women living there that I had some women's clothes with me if they wanted to look through them. It wasn't too long before I had quite a group around the car and I was giving out food, cold bottles of water and clothes to everyone. They were all very happy and I got to talk individually with most everyone. Then when the opportunity was just right I said, "Let me pray for you guys before you go." Everyone gathered around and we put our arms around each other (there must have been about 10 or 12 people) and I prayed with them. It was a Divine moment and totally cool. I stayed there about thirty minutes talking and enjoying the company of these folks. It's interesting how my life's experiences come into play in a group like this. So many of these people are transplants from the mid-west and are surprised to hear that I have spent so much time there. Another amazing thing is how people respond to little snippets of scripture. One of the women who came over was Sandra. For some reason, she mentioned the words in scripture where it says, "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." She had been assaulted a while back and that morning someone had taken her shopping cart with all her stuff in it. I said, "Oh, you're quoting Psalm 23. You know I quoted something from that Psalm a few months ago myself," and explained what had happened. She responded with a lot of interest in what had happened to me at the time. It proves the point that Jesus made in Matthew 10:19 when it says, "When they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say." It has been an amazing journey that has brought me to the streets of Los Angeles with words that speak life to these people. I cherish every moment.
As I left this group I asked for their prayers for the next group I'm beginning to work with. That group is the folks down at 7th and Alvarado St. This is a new area for me to prayer-walk through and begin to build relationships. Luckily, since it was a holiday, I was able to find a place to park a couple of blocks away for the hour that I spent at McArthur Park. This time I took my Bible with me and it had the desired affect. Two couples spotted me with it and I was able to speak with them. I prayed with another woman too. It is a small step, but it will lead to where God wants me to go. It's kind of exciting to NOT have a clue of what to expect, but know that something will happen and to be ready. --Until next time. John
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