Downtown 12/28/14-Year in review

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."  Jeremiah 29:11-12

This was the last trip of 2014 and it was made at night again.  I was wanting to make a trip where I would be helping homeless folks who were alone.  I have the two spots, 25th and San Pedro St and the place a block from the Jack in the Box, where there are lots of people and if I stop there I end up giving out all the food and it kind of limits my ability to help those who are by themselves.  I love helping both, but for some reason I always gravitate towards those who are alone.  Probably because I can have deeper conversations one-on-one than with a crowd.  I had some stuff for Nicole's baby that I wanted to drop off at the spot she seems to drop by occasionally so I waited to go there at the end of the trip.

So between the first guy and the last woman I was able to help and pray with about eight people.  All of them seemed to be very needful of a meal.  One of the last guys was Derek.  He knew me and I've seen him several times around 14th and Essex.  This night he was in an alley were I had a couple of BBQ's a few years back.  He told me Keysha, a homeless woman we both know, is in a 'program' down on skid row at the Weingarden facility.  Derek was doing the best he could in this spot.  Other homeless people keep taking stuff when he leaves, so he's constantly having to start over.  He needed 'anything' warm and I was happy to be able to help him out.

There were a couple of others over on Venice by Los Angeles St on opposite corners.  One was a man named Jaime.  He was very grateful for the food and the pair of socks and he told me about his brother on the other corner.  I'm not sure if his 'brother' was actually related or just in spirit, but I went over and helped him too.  His name was Hector.  Hector was in pretty much the same situation everyone else was Sunday night....cold and hungry.

One other woman I helped was Angel, who lives in an alley off Pico between Olive and Hill St.  She called me by name as I drove up.  She was listening to the Laker game that had just started.  She needed a pair of pants and I just happened to have put a pair of women's jogging pants in the car before leaving the house.  She was pretty happy to get them.  She too complained about losing stuff when she's away from her spot.

So looking back on this last year there are three or four really memorable times for me.  As the year started I was getting an opportunity to preach the gospel in MacArthur Park until about April or so. That was probably one of the more exhilarating things I've ever done.  Impromptu preaching I had never done before.  Along with that opportunity was the praying in front of the store door where the words "I am Legion" had been painted.  By April those words were gone from the door and  coincidentally, the preaching opportunity ended also.  Then there was the BBQ in August.  The biggest BBQ I had done up to that time.  Along with my wife, daughter, sister-in-law and niece we not only served a lot of people food, but because I had help (and an extra car) we gave out lots of clothing too.  Then back in November I was able to put on the lasagna dinner on the corner of 25th and San Pedro.  I probably served more meals on that day than on any other BBQ day.  In addition to that, because Nikki helped serve a lot of the people, I was able to talk and pray with many others.  It was so cool praying with people that otherwise might not ever go to a church.

On a more personal level there were two encounters that really stood out for me.  I had prayed before a trip back in June or so about  helping someone who was really desperate emotionally.  About fifteen minutes later I was helping a man on Petaloma and 14th.  After giving out some food and water to him we got started talking somehow about his situation.  He ended up telling me he was ready to end his life.  I stayed and talked to him for quite a while that day and ended up giving him a card to the Dream Center hoping he would take the opportunity to not only get some help, but change the direction of his life.  I never saw him again.  I pray he sought help there or somewhere else.  The other person was Elva.  I met her through the people at 25th and San Pedro.  She lives in the residential area east of San Pedro Ave.  I prayed with her and found out her husband had just died a short time before.  A couple of weeks later I spent an hour or more in her home as she showed me pictures of her wedding forty years before.  She just needed someone to share her grief with and I was very privileged to be the someone chosen.  How fortunate it was that her son-in-law was there to translate for us!  It may have been the most important moment of this ministry during the whole year.  However, I realize that I see things from my perspective and there may have been many other moments that from the perspective of the person I helped it was much more valuable that I could ever know.  All in all, it was a very good year and I look forward to 2015 and the possibilities that lay ahead.  --Until next time. --John

Downtown 12/20/14

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him..."  John 3:16-17

I had been on a trip to visit family all day Saturday and stopped downtown on my way back home.  I didn't even arrive there until about 6 pm and needed to rest for a half an hour or so.  I had kind of dozed off for a little bit and I was awakened by "Jackie", a homeless guy who wanted to say "Hello" and "Merry Christmas".  I went into the Jack in the Box (I had been in my car in the parking lot) and had some coffee and a couple of tacos before meeting with any homeless friends.  When I left the burger joint at 7 pm I purchased a bunch of burgers and went down a few streets to where I had the BBQ during the summer.  There were a half dozen or so homeless folks there where Willie lives. They were all real happy to see me.  One of the cool things that happened was one of the homeless men I had given some burgers to came back up to me thanking me for the food....after he had eaten the burgers.  It kind of reminded me of the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers (and the one who returned to thank him for the healing).  During this time Nicole and Bill came by with her baby, Billy Joe. She works at the recycler on the other side of the block.  I had collected some things for her that I was going to leave with Willie, but it was great that they just happened to show up while I was there.  Most of the men who were there had been there for the BBQ back in August, so one of the things they asked me about was when I was going to do another one!  I had to tell them, "Not for a while."  I need to be off the night shift and we need daylight savings time back too.  This won't happen until after February.  Since there were so many people there the food went pretty quickly and all the coats and jackets went too.

I left there with only four burgers left so I drove around the corner and gave them to Dave and John Stokes. It ended up being a fairly quick trip once I actually got started.  However brief it was, it was still very fulfilling and several people were helped on a cold December night downtown the weekend before Christmas.  --Until next time.  John


Here's a photo of Nicole and Billy Joe

Sunday night downtown-12/14/2014

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Luke 2:8-16  
This is a favorite passage of mine and one of the reasons is because the first people who were told of Jesus' birth worked the night shift!!!



Another trip downtown made at night.  In fact, I don't think I even made it down there until about 7:30 pm.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow or at least by tomorrow night and I knew people could use some warm clothes.  So I loaded up a half dozen or so jackets and sweat shirts in the car and took off for San Pedro and 25th.  I hadn't seen these folks since the dinner last month (Nov 16th) and all the usual people were there except for Victoria and Hiram.  The jackets were gone in less than five minutes and two of the blankets I took also.  It was a good but brief stop because I had parked in front of a driveway and one of the residents came home needing to use the driveway.  There was a iron fence I was parked in front of that I didn't think anyone would be needing to get through, but someone showed up after I'd been there for five minutes, so I had to leave rather quickly.  It was good to be able to accomplish so much so quickly; food, water and warm clothing and hugs for everyone.

I then drove over to Venice Blvd by Los Angeles St and found some friends on a corner there. One of the guys is Felipe.  I was able to show him a picture of him on my phone that I took with him and Antonio and Leticia a couple of summers ago.  He was sure surprised to see it.  Although they looked like they had a lot of 'stuff'', Felipe told me that the city had come by one day while they were gone and taken everything away.  So the socks and the last blanket I had with me were greatly needed.

I had two burgers left and after checking out a couple of locations and finding nobody there I decided to drive over to the Jack in the Box and take a short break.  So while I was sitting at one of the tables and having some coffee (I was reading a book during this time) I noticed a man sitting by himself in one of the corners of the dining room.  He wasn't eating or drinking anything just sitting there minding his own business hoping to not be noticed by the staff there.  He kept looking at his hands which were kind of dirty.  When I was ready to go I walked over to him and told him if he was hungry I had a couple of burgers left in my car he could have.  He said "OK" and I motioned for him to follow me outside.  I gave him the burgers and asked what his name was.  He told me his name was Michael.  I told him I have a brother by that name.  We talked for a minute or two, I gave him a pair of socks and a bottle of water before leaving.  He then walked back over to the sidewalk by the Jack in the Box and started eating the burgers.  I just knew he was hungry.  I was glad I offered him the burgers and glad I had two left to give out.  --Until next time.  John      

Saturday night downtown 12/6/2014

"If you mistreat the poor you insult your Creator, if you are kind to them you show him respect."  Proverbs 14:31

I usually don't have Saturday nights off from work, but I did have it off this week and I was able to make the trip at night.  It rained earlier this week and the temperature is still very cool (high 50's to low 60's). Along with the low night-time temperatures most of the homeless were already bedded down for the night when I arrived at about 6:30 pm.  Some I didn't try to arouse, but others (who were probably hungry) got up quickly when I asked if they were hungry.

One group of guys on the corner of Venice Blvd near Los Angeles St were still awake, but obviously winding down.  One of the men I had helped before but I probably hadn't seen him in over a year.  His name was Felipe and I used to see him a few blocks east of there with Antonio and Lecticia.  In fact, he asked me how they were doing.  After I helped these three men I prayed with them and it was then that Felipe said something I won't soon forget.  He said, "We need prayer.  Thank you so much." It wasn't said in a patronizing way, but really heartfelt.  He probably remembered me praying with Antonio and Leticia..

I left that corner and drove on down to Trinity St where I usually see Antonio and Leticia.  I didn't see them, although they may have been there sleeping under some blankets, but I did meet two men named Oscar and Pablo.  I didn't have a lengthy conversation with them because of the language barrier, but they were very thankful for the food and water.  They also were grateful for the "calcetines" (socks) and the blanket I gave them.  Yes, I got to pray with them too.

I saw Angel again in an alley off Pico and Olive.  She didn't say anything about leaving for Utah this time, but did talk about how a lot of her stuff had been stolen.  I let her go through the clothes in the back of the car.  I think she was pretty happy to see me tonight.

The last place I stopped was where I had the BBQ back in August.  I saw Willie and also Nicole's husband.  I'm not real sure if Nicole and him are married or not and I never did get his name.  I asked how Nicole was doing and they said she stops by there every night.  I didn't ask too many questions (like where she's staying), but I told them I have some stuff I've collected for her baby.  Willie said I could leave it with them and he'll make sure she gets it.  I didn't have any of it with me tonight, but I'll bring a few things at a time over the next few trips and I'll see if it makes it to her or not.  --Until next time.  John