Downtown 9/29/2019

"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him.  They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, 'Jesus, Master, have pity on us!'  When he saw them, he said, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.'  And as they went, they were cleansed.  One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself as Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?  Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.' "  Luke 17:11-19

This was the first trip of fall and the weather was right on time.  Much cooler temperatures and there was even a little rain/drizzle the day before.  Gregory told me that after the bit of rain on Saturday the air smelled so much better than it normally does.  Usually the smell of urine permeates the streets where these folks live.  So I got off the I-10 freeway at Mateo St to begin this trip.  I was about to turn left onto Mateo and take it to Olympic, but I saw a homeless guy sitting by himself on the side-walk a little ways north, so I turned right and drove up the street to get to him.  It was about 6:00 pm. As I pulled up to where he was I could see he was trying to shoot-up some drugs (welcome to Los Angeles).  He was having some trouble finding a vein and didn't look up when I asked him if he was hungry.  Another homeless guy had just walked by so I pulled on down the 30 feet or so to get to him and gave him some food.  He asked for another sandwich and pointed to a van back up the street the other way.  He said his girlfriend was in the van and could he have a sandwich for her too.  After taking care of him I backed-up the car to get to the other guy again.  He was still trying to find a vein and had put the needle down on the ground.  I ended up throwing a sandwich to him and a bottle of water too (he wasn't getting up anytime soon).  Then I told him the story of a guy I had met a few years ago.  When I met this other guy I noticed he had a big chunk of skin surgically removed from his forearm.  He told me that he too had set a hypodermic needle down (while attempting to shoot-up drugs) on the ground and it had picked up some kind of germ that landed him in the hospital (unconscious).  When he came-to they had removed this patch of skin, probably 2" x 4"in on his forearm and it had left his forearm deformed because he could no longer bend his hand straight.  With no health insurance there's no physical therapy at the county hospital.  So I told this guy yesterday about it.  Remember me saying about the smell of urine permeating these streets?  Of course, human urine isn't the only thing left on the streets that make the area smell bad.

Remember the woman from last week who didn't want food, but wanted beer?  I got her to take a bottle of water last week instead.  This week I drove over to where she was specifically to see her.  Once again, she didn't want food, wouldn't take any water this time and said she only wanted money. That's what she usually says, she only wants money.  I always tell her (and others) I'm not here to give out money.  I took her picture which she wasn't too happy about and told her I'd see her next time.  As I drove away, I thought about it and decided that giving her a couple of dollars might be worth pursuing this relationship.  So I drove around the block and pulled up next to where she was and handed her $2.  She had to get up and come over to get it.  I really didn't say anything to her and drove down the street to an intersection where I could turn around.  When I came back 30 seconds later she was gone and I saw she had walked over to Olive and was headed north.  Next time I see her I'll ask her what she bought with it since she didn't want any food.  If she comes back with "I bought a beer." I don't know what I'll say!  Here's her picture:

So I helped a few other folks, one guy was sitting on the sidewalk by a Yoshinoya fast food place.  He had a bunch of junk spread out all around him.  I ended up giving him two sandwiches and said, "Take some water from the ice chest in the back seat."  He ended up grabbing four bottles!!   I wasn't expecting that.  It wasn't hot so maybe he just wanted to stock-up for later.  I had another guy who after I gave him one sandwich demanded two more!  This time I wasn't too happy.  It took me a while to get over it, but I decided that since I had made extra sandwiches I'd be OK.

So finally I made it over to the burned-out church where Maria and Keisha live.  Maria wasn't there, but Keisha was.  You may remember last week Maria was there, but Keisha wasn't.  I ended up leaving a sandwich and bottle of water on Keisha's bed when I left last week.  Yesterday, I asked her if she got the "package" I left for her.  She asked what it was and when I told her she told me, "No, the cats got it."  While I was with her yesterday, two cats came around, both of them young ones, but not kittens anymore. We talked for quite a while and she admitted that something was bothering her, but she wouldn't tell me what it was.  Maybe another time.

So oddly enough, this trip was kind of filled with troubled people.  Usually, you can attribute it to hot temperatures or wet/cold weather, maybe they're hungry, but usually it's something physical.  Yesterday, people seemed to just have attitude problems.  About the only one who seemed fairly happy was Gregory.  I don't expect everyone to be happy when I see them.  After all, how happy can you be when you're living on a sidewalk or alley?  But usually the folks are happy to see me and respond well to the happiness and hope I bring them.  Yesterday wasn't the norm.  It reminded me of the story of the one leper returning to Jesus to thank Him.  I took it as a clear lesson to me....to be more thankful of what I do have and what I do receive from God.  It's time for me to be thankful for even the small blessings I receive.  Until next time.  --John 

Downtown 9/22/2019

"Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'  Then Jesus told them this parable..."  Luke 15:1-3a

So at the end of yesterday's trip I stopped at the Jack in the Box off the I-10 at Alameda.  This used to be the center of the homeless universe for me back when I first started going downtown.  There used to be a recycling place next door.  Recently, they built a Starbucks there.  It was now about 7:30-8:00 pm, dark and a line of cars in the drive-thru at Starbucks.  A homeless man was offering to clean windows for the people in line (he hit me up too even though I was on the other side of the fence). When I got inside the Jack in the Box I ordered and went to use the bathroom.  Just then another homeless man stepped right in front of me blocking my way and asking if I'd buy him some food.  I asked him if I could at least get to the bathroom (I'd been holding it for quite a while by this point).  He moved aside letting me go.  He was about 30 years old, wearing black shorts and shoes and some kind of a shear net halter top.  It was a strange look.  His eyes were quite piercing and I could tell he was going to be waiting for me when I came out of the bathroom.  I guess that tells you how hungry he was and what people are willing to do when they're that hungry.  Now he didn't know me and I had never seen him before.  While in the bathroom I got some cash to give him and when I walked passed him I gave it to him and told him not to tell anyone.  I went and sat down and waited for my order.  He ordered something and left right away.  This experience with the two homeless men reminded me of how it used to be there at the Jack in the Box.  I guess not much has changed really in ten years.  Due to the way this guy was dressed and looked reminded me of the verses above which set the stage for Jesus telling the 3 parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son.  Yes, God values these men's souls too as well as the other dozen homeless folks I'd seen and helped in the last hour and a half.  Most all of them were loners in need of hope.  I gave them food and water and a big smile and hopefully enough hope to make it through another night.

I had a break-through of sorts with a woman on a small street off Olive around 12th (just south of Pico).  I've seen her on this street usually standing/leaning up against a building on one side of the street or the other for several months now.  I've asked before if she was hungry, but I kept getting no for an answer, instead she said she wanted money.  By the way she is dressed I wasn't sure she understood English.  She wears middle-eastern attire (but not black--more of a green color) with a scarf that looks almost like a turban on her head.  Last week I asked again if she was hungry.  I'm thinking that with persistence I may get through to her eventually.  Last week I was shut down again.  This week I asked if she was hungry and she again said no.  I asked if she was thirsty.  I even held up a bottle of water so she could see it.  She said no, but said she wanted a beer.  I told her I didn't have any beer that I only had water.  To my surprise, she said OK and got up and came over to the car got the water then immediately turned and went back to the curb and sat down.  Well, that was OK with me.  Perhaps she's very distrusting of people/men and she keeps her distance.  I don't see that she has any possessions beyond what she's wearing..... not even a purse.  And at this point no name either.  I'll keep trying. 

A couple of weeks ago I helped a woman on Peluma St a couple of blocks away from the burned-out church.  Last week I was able to talk with her.  Her name is Keisha and she's been homeless off an on for a few years now.  She struggles with some substance issues, but she is trying to stay clean and she keeps her make-shift home very clean and tidy.  I had hoped to get to talk to her yesterday, but she wasn't there.  I left some food and water inside.  I hope it was still there when she got back. 

Well, there was some good news yesterday with Gregory.  He has found some part-time work in a warehouse type place.  When I pulled up he told me he had been praying I'd come by.  I didn't see him there last week.  He asked if I had any T-shirts so I let him look through the trunk for clothes.  He found a couple of things he could use.  He told me he hoped to earn enough money to rent a locker down near skid row so he could store some things in it.  He's trying very hard and I'm proud of him.
Well, until next time. --John

     

Downtown Labor Day Monday, 9/2/2019

The Parable of the the Talents in the book of Matt:25:14-30.  This parable is about a man who went on a journey and entrusted his wealth to his servants: "To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability."  When the Master returned the two servants with 5 and 2 bags of gold both doubled the Master's investment in them, but the one given one bag did nothing with it and received just condemnation and punishment for it.

A few days ago, I was listening to a man on the radio preaching on this passage.  I've heard and read studies on this parable many many times.  This time was different.  I felt the Lord pointing out to me how I was like the unfaithful servant who buried his gold (talent).  Ouch!  Why hadn't I seen this sooner?  Am I going downtown less?  No, but I've been blogging about it less and less as the years have gone by.  The reality is I don't get very many hits on this blog and very few comments.  The last blog which was a highlight reel for the ten years I've been going only got 10 hits.  The one before that, 10 hits too.  It takes almost as much time to write one of these blogs as it does to actually go downtown.  I came to the conclusion that "What's the point if no one reads them."  Then I look at the places in the world that look at the blog.  Yes the largest audience is in America with over 9,600 hits, but France (yeah France) has almost 4,000 hits and China with almost 1100 and even Russian with over 750 hits.  Go figure, because I can't figure out why anyone in another country might be looking at this.  And no, they never leave comments.  You have to be logged into Google to leave a comment.  So I'm forced to come to the conclusion that however and wherever people are reading this, God is using it for His glory.  When I'm consistent in writing these, those countries are watching.  Yes, it is totally amazing to me too.  So from now on, I'm going to try to be more consistent.  I still will probably wait until I've done two or three trips to have enough 'material' to write anything important.

The last blog was from four months ago in May.  I've really only missed a handful of Sunday's like last weekend when my daughter came home for a couple of days and next weekend when I will try and visit my son.  I will be switching back to working nights in two more weekends, so that will have a big impact on getting down there.  But here are some of the highlights from the last four months.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted on face book a  very brief encounter with a man who told me he hadn't had any water in two days.  His name is Gregory and he's been living down in this same area for about twenty years.  I saw him again yesterday and he was really happy to see me especially since he didn't expect so see me there on a Monday and I had told him I wouldn't be coming for a couple of weeks.  I had forgotten ( a couple weeks ago) that Monday was a holiday and there wouldn't be much traffic.  Sunday I knew I'd be pretty worn out from the extra long work week and I planned to not go down, but then if Monday's a holiday, we're back on.  He told me that there used to be a guy like me who came down with sandwiches and water and fruit up until about 10 years ago.  Interestingly, that's when I started coming.  Coincidence?  Here's Gregory's photo.  This week he told me he hadn't eaten in a couple of days and didn't know what he was going to do......Yeah, he was happy I came down on a Monday.

 

Now every once in a while I'll get an idea in my head about doing something completely different and I get blindsided by something I didn't see coming.  I've talked before about the two homeless women who I try to see each week (Maria and Carmen).  Carmen is the one in the wheelchair and the local girl, Maria is the one from Mexico who speaks almost no English and lives in a van parked in a residential neighborhood.  I thought it might be a good idea to invite both of them to eat together at a restaurant there locally (fast food place), so the week before I asked Maria and she was agreeable, but I couldn't find Carmen.  I saw her tent, but didn't see her.  I thought, 'no problem', I see her next week and I'm sure she'll want to join us.  It was crucial that Carmen goes with us so she can translate for us.
Well, when the time arrived I still couldn't find Carmen.  So Maria and I went to a Burger King there off 25th and San Pedro anyway.  There was a large man yelling by the doorway when we walked in, I had to google/translate the word angry on my phone for Maria, but we got inside safely.  As soon as we're inside Maria turns to me and says, "You, order 2...one for you one for me. " and walked to a booth and sat down.  One of the reasons for taking her there was I thought she would thoroughly enjoy being able to order whatever she wanted off the menu.  What I didn't even think about was that the menu is in English and she couldn't read it!  I was devastated for her.  Well, we spent about an hour together "talking".  We used my phone to translate English to Spanish. It is a long process to "talk" this way.  I began to suspect that Maria may not read Spanish all that well either, but we managed and she at least got to spend an hour in an air conditioned place and use the bathroom.  As of yesterday, I still haven't seen Carmen.  I heard she got "picked-up", but by whom I do not know.  I don't know if it was the police or emergency services.  Her tent and wheel chair are gone and no one has seen her.  I'm quite concerned about her. 

                                                      Maria enjoying the air conditioning

                         Me...happy to see Maria enjoying herself.  It was a very hot day out side.

So about two months ago, when I was actually looking for Carmen again (she wasn't where her tent was again), there were two men on the sidewalk near where she stays.  I asked them where she was and they didn't know, but they asked if I had some food that day.  I told them, "Of course" and they came over to the car.  I gave them sandwiches and water and they asked if I had some socks.  I told them I did, but they were used socks and I'd have to sort through them to find a couple of pairs.  While sorting through the bags I finally found a couple of stretched-out saggy socks. When I handed them to one of the guys I said, "Here are some Pete Maravich socks"  They knew exactly who I was referring to as both of them, though younger than me were old enough to remember Pete.  One of the guys said he was 60 years old.  Pete Maravich played professional basketball from 1970-80, but is best known for his college career when he scored 44 pts a game for LSU.  He somehow always seemed to wear saggy, droopy socks and eventually when he was inducted into the college basketball hall of fame a pair of those socks went on display there too.  Well, that comment led to a fifteen or twenty minute conversation about all our favorite players from the 80's (Magic, Bird, Reggie Miller etc).  It was just a regular conversation between 3 guys just talkin' basketball.  Well, when it was time for me to leave I prayed for them and then just before driving away I said, "Remember, I love ya."  One of the guys stunned me when he said, "You don't have to say it, you show it."  Perhaps the greatest complement I've ever received downtown.

OK, one final story from yesterday before I close.  I have continued to pray for a burned-out church on the corner of 27th and Peloma for about 3-4 years now.  I have prayer-walked the neighborhood, but that is becoming more difficult for me to do, yet always drive by there sometime during every trip I make and pray by that church asking God for that church's resurrection in the neighborhood and God's presence to go forth in the neighborhood.  So far, nothing has changed.  I've been praying mostly for that church's pastor and his wife and it's impact on the neighborhood.  Well, yesterday I decided it was time to turn up the pressure.  I asked God if I was wasting my time praying for this church.  "Lord, what do you want me to do?  I offer myself to you to reach this neighborhood."  I drove around the block and parked in front of Maria's van.  I got out and knocked on the door, but she wasn't there (or didn't answer).   I finally left but turned the car around and drove south on Peloma because one time I saw Maria sitting on a corner a couple of blocks away.  Well, I didn't see her there either, but as I drove by I did see a homeless woman sitting in her little make-shift home washing her hair.  I had never seen anyone living on the sidewalk there before. I had two sandwiches left.  I drove around the block to come by her again and when I did there was another man there talking to her.  I had may window down and asked if they were hungry as I had these two sandwiches left.  They both said yes and I gave them up along with some of the chilled bottled water I had left.  They thanked me and as I drove away there was another man sitting in a parked car a couple of cars down who gave me a thumbs up as I drove away.  Moments later, I'm remembering my prayer about "reaching the neighborhood" and how I said,  "Lord, I'm available."  That prayer was only about 20 minutes prior.  Sometimes, the Lord moves quickly.  I'm in the neighborhood and I'm definitely going back there on my next trip. --Until next time.  John

This guy was sleeping on the sidewalk at about Pico and Olive.  These are the people I love helping.