Downtown 7/20/13

"If you insist on clinging to your precious self, God is compelled to keep you in the wilderness longer.  You will then experience more wilderness defeats to take you to the end of yourself." --Watchman Nee, The Secrets to Spiritual Power pg. 52

I started this trip by driving to the parking lot of the place I'm looking to have the BBQ next month.  I wanted to make sure the back parking lot was empty during this time of the day on Sunday. As expected, it was empty including the front parking lot too.  I still haven't heard back as to whether it will be available or not. I'm sure there are liability issues the owners need to consider.  I drove around that area and saw John Stokes, Jessie and another guy.  John asked for another sandwich, but I declined to give him an extra one.  I did give him some other snacks, but I had a feeling resources were going to be limited Sunday.

On Monday, when I made the special trip to inquire about the parking lot's use I saw Maurice and Elaine.  I told them I'd be back on Sunday to see them and since I was planning on seeing Antonio and Leticia I only had enough sandwiches for one other person. Something was going to have to give here.

I drove over to the 24th and San Pedro area looking for Dave or Willie (my old BBQ buddies).  Well Sunday, Dave was there with a few others who hang-out by the corner there.  Now I hadn't seen Dave in several months, but the last time I saw him was around the 14th and Pico Ave area.  Back then, he was on his bike, but talking with a woman on the sidewalk there.  When I stopped there that day I ended up staying until everything was given out because homeless people kept coming by.  Yesterday, was pretty similar. There were three or four others already there when I pulled up.  Dave gave me a good introduction to the others and it was like I had known them all for a long time.

So yesterday, probably 8 or 9 people got to go through the clothes and maybe 70% of what I had with me was given out. The top photo is (from left to right) Dave, Victoria, Colandra, Hiram and Sandra.  We were about to move Victoria from the chair to her wheelchair.  That took three of us men and a lot of effort. During the time I was there, Peter, Becky and two others on bicycles came by.  It was an enjoyable time. Hiram needed a pair of shoes, but I've never had any 14's with me.  He was a big guy, taller than me.  I told him I gave someone a ride a few years back into this area and he wore size 19's.  We talked about the possibility of doing a BBQ there in the future.  It's doubtful, because there really isn't a place for it.  There is a Winchell's across San Pedro and a small Taco stand directly across this little street.  Neither would be up to hosting a BBQ of free food in their parking lots.  Also, keeping it on a small scale would be difficult too.  I gave out the rest of the sandwiches I had to these folks in the picture and the rest of the snacks and stuff to the people coming by.  When it was time to pray, I asked everyone their name to make sure I got it right.  I had incorrectly remembered Victoria as Elizabeth.  She looked very disappointed and asked me what other name of a queen I knew.  When I said Victoria, her face lit up.  Everyone always wants to be known by their name.  I'll remember hers now.  We all gathered around and held hands while I prayed.  It was special, praying for a group of people I've never met before, yet feeling like a welcome part of their 'family'.

When I left there, I drove over to McArthur Park.  There were lots and lots of people there and I did hear a guy preaching on the corner where I have preached before, but there just wasn't any place to park.  I drove back into the downtown area and went to the Jack in the Box.  My plan was to take a short break, get something to eat (a few tacos) and a soda and then buy some burgers for Maurice and Elaine and stop by to see them before I left.  As I drove up to the Jack in the Box, there was a homeless guy going through the trash can by the door.  He went inside and directly to the bathrooms.  I bought my food and also a soda and a big burger for him.  He didn't come out of the bathroom for twenty minutes (by this time I had finished my food).  I motioned him to come over and gave him the soda and burger.  He was grateful.  He complained that his stomach was acting up, but he appeared to have no trouble eating the food.  He thanked me on the way out.  Finally, I bought some food for my friends, but as I walked out of the Jack in the Box there were two more homeless guys.  One going through that same trash can the first guy had gone through and another guy sitting on some grass directly opposite the door (twenty five feet away).  So here I am with food, two homeless guys and I have to walk on by them with food and drive away.  It was killing me.  As I drove out of the neighborhood I saw two or three more guys who needed help too.  Then when I got to where my friends live they weren't there!  So what do you think I did?  I drove back to the Jack in the Box.  One of the two guys by the door was still there so he got some food.  When I drove out of the neighborhood, I first saw one guy by himself, but then as I got closer there were two other guys.  I only had two burgers left.  I gave them both away along with the last four little bags of chips that I had.  It would have to do.  I gave all I had.  There was no miracle of food being reproduced (maybe next time).  Remember I had that feeling resources were going to be stretched from the very first guy I saw?  ---Until next time (which will be in two weeks)---John

PS.  I also drove by the parking lot I'm hoping to use for the BBQ on the way home.  It was 6:05 pm and there were three cars in the front parking lot and nobody in the back lot.  Keep praying for this door to open up for us.  Thx John

Downtown 7/13/2014

"When we pray as we ought to, our prayer will shake up hell and affect Satan.  For this reason, Satan will rise up to hinder such prayer.  All prayers that come from God touch the powers of darkness."  Watchman Nee--Secrets to Spiritual Power, pg 42

I haven't seen John Stokes in quite a long time.  He had to relocated from his spot under the I-10 at Olympic Blvd and Elwood St a while back.  I was pretty sure where he had moved to and had gone by there and called out to him a couple of times, but there was never any response from inside his make-shift shelter.  Sunday I did the same thing and once again there was no response.  As I pulled away and turned the corner about twenty yards away, there he was on the sidewalk laying on a couple of blankets in the shade of the freeway.  He said it was too hot inside his "place" at that time of the afternoon and was waiting for it to cool off.  We got caught up on his situation and why he had to relocate.  I also asked him about his Social Security problem.  He turned 66 years old in May and since May a year ago has been expecting to receive benefits from them.  But he found out this last time that since he has been receiving disability payments from them for the last twenty years or so, that he is ineligible to receive any 'retirement' benefits.  He was expecting with the increased benefits that he would be able to move back to the Atlanta area where he is from and where he has family.  That was his last hope for getting off the streets for his remaining years, now those hopes are dashed.   While we were talking a woman named Jackie came by and asked for some help and then right after her someone from a couple of years ago, Dave, came by.  Dave used to live by John at the other location a couple of summers ago and then one day he disappeared.  Nobody knew what happened to him.  We found out that he had been picked up by the police, but now he's back and I am glad to see him.

While I had the two of them together I asked if they could think of a place where we could do a BBQ in a couple of weeks.  John came up with the idea of the parking lot across from where they used to live.  The building is not in use on Sunday afternoons and it is under the freeway and therefore in the shade (a crucial consideration during the summer).  He told me to ask  the manager during the week days, so I took a trip down there today to ask him.  He seemed to be OK with it (he knows John quite well), but will have to run it by the corporate people for final approval.  Please pray for us that doors will be opened to do this.  We are looking for an August 17th date.  One last thing about this stop.  It was right at the end of my visit with them that a van with some nuns pulled up and stopped down the street.  Dave and the other homeless folks were hurriedly heading down there to get the free meal they were giving out.  While everyone else was hustling down there, John stayed for a moment longer with me and asked me to pray for him before I left....... After praying with John I turned around and drove down to where the van had stopped.  They were leaving now, but I didn't see any of them praying with anyone.  Just an observation, not a condemnation.  Giving out physical help is a great thing for those in need.  But if you have the Holy Spirit in you, why are you passing up the opportunity to give Him out too?

Now I have written about Angel who is a homeless woman living in an alley off Pico Ave and Olive St.  I hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks and then I saw her last week.  She is from Utah and will turn 58 next month.  She was extremely happy to be able to look through the pile of women's clothes I had brought.  For some 'odd' reason I had put extra women's clothes in the car this trip.  I got to take her picture this week.  See last week's blog as to why I didn't take one then.  Angel has a broken knee cap that never healed

correctly.  You can see the wheel chair in the picture.  She also is always happy to show off her dog Prince  (I think that's why she was so ready for a picture this week).  Her newest addition is a kitten named 'Little Angel".  I was able to pray for her again this week.

There were some others that I was able to help, Hugo around the corner from the alley where my little friend "Rocky" is penned up.

 I was able to pray with Hugo this time and he asked for a blanket.  Antonio and Leticia had to share the last sandwich I had.  Shortly, before helping them, I helped a man sleeping on the corner of a sidewalk down by Cloud Nine Alley.  He wasn't very responsive to me and it kind of bothered me a little, but it's happened before and so I let it go.

 It always reminds me of how people reject God's son Jesus and yet he still cares for us.  About 30 feet down this little side street from this man were two other men repairing a car.  I wasn't sure if they were just replacing a tire for fixing some brakes.  Anyway, they had seen me stopping to help the man on the corner and as I drove towards them they were watching me.  I had the windows down and asked them if they wanted some water.  I had bottles of water in ice in a plastic tub on the back seat.  The man standing on my side of the car asked the other man, "Quiere aqua?"  He said "Si'.  I gave them both some water and received a thumbs up.  I have to say it really was a joy just to give out a cup of cold water in Christ's name. --Until next time.  John

Downtown 6/22/2014

Below is a brief account of my trip.  I just haven't had much time to do a 'regular' blog on it.


The most memorable encounter of this trip was with Angel.  I have gone by her spot in the alley off Pico and Olive for a few weeks now, but she was never there.  This Sunday she was.  She popped out of her make-shift shelter with red stretch pants and a red bra on.  With all her missing teeth and the dirt all over her body it was quite a sight.  I decided to NOT take a picture.  After giving her some food and water and some socks I held her hand and prayed for her.  When I finished she asked me if I would say a special prayer for her friend "Ricky" who she said had died.  Now I'm not in the practice of praying for the dead, but I wanted to honor her request because she was obviously hurting over this lost relationship.  So I prayed for a special blessing on "Ricky" and for the Lord to comfort Angel over this lost relationship.  It was a special moment.  I went on down to McArthur Park, but I didn't see anyone preaching there and so I didn't stop.  I also wanted to try and visit a friend of mine from work who has been off on extended sick leave.  I tracked down his brother-in-law who reminded me where my friend lives (between Hoover and Vermont on 24th St.).  I went and visited this friend whom I haven't seen in 3 or 4 months and didn't really know why he was off.  We got to catch up his situation and I was privileged to pray for him when I left.

I also met Officer Anthony Pineda while stopping to feed Rocky (a pit bull that guards the back entrance to a building off Los Angeles St. and Venice Ave).  Anthony is one of the "Public Security" guys who rides around on a bicycle.  He was very pleasant, in fact, the first thing he said to me was "That guy down there (Raymond from Boston) needs some water."  I told him I'd get to him next.  I always stop, when possible, to feed Rocky.  Mr Pineda said he usually stops to check in on Rocky too.  He said he talked to the owners of the building about him a week ago and they got a little defensive about their care-taking responsibilities to the dog.  So after feeding the dog I talked to Raymond next.  He was in a wheelchair due to a bone disease.  I gave him food, water and some clothes and prayed with him.  Around the corner from Raymond I met Hugo sitting on the sidewalk.  He was hungry too.