Downtown 12/8/2019

"Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples.  And He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side of the lake'.  And they launched out.  But as they sailed He fell asleep.  And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in jeopardy.  And they came to Him and awoke Him saying, ' Master, Master, we are perishing.'  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.  And they ceased, and there was a calm.  But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?'  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be?  For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.' "  Luke 8:22-25

Well, it's been a few weeks since I've written, but I've made trips every week.  Recently, I've begun getting off the freeway at Sante Fe Ave instead of Alameda or Central.  There are a lot of homeless folks living on the streets around the LA Times building (more on their building later).  A few weeks back when I got off the freeway there a man was sitting on the sidewalk using a needle (you may remember that-I wrote about it).  So I've been starting there of late and one trip, in particular, I ended up helping 4 homeless men and even jump-started another man's car.  The odd thing is I was looking for a couple living in a van on that street, Mateo, (they weren't there) and ended up helping all these others.  About three weeks ago on another street near there I found three other men, each by himself, on a street off Alameda (either Hunter or 8th).  It was nearly dark and they must have been hungry and were wondering if they were going to eat anything that day.  One of the men was walking with his back turned to me as I pulled up.  After I gave him some food he asked me if I was an angel.  He said, "I was thinking about how hungry I was and then bam.... you showed up out of nowhere."  Don't worry, I assured him I am no angel.  

On the way downtown

                                                             
During that same trip I happened to see Debbie walking down 10th St just off San Pedro.  This is where she and her boyfriend, Chris, used to live until he died about 6-7 weeks ago.  She doesn't stay there anymore, but goes there just for the memories every once in a while.  I ended up giving her a ride down to where she stays now on 55th just off Broadway.  When I think of Chris' passing, I think how he won't have to endure another winter living on the street with his kidney and liver problems and dealing with life from a wheel chair at that.

So a couple of weeks back I was looking for homeless folks around the LA Times building again and noticed a temporary fence installed around one side of the building about 4 feet around their permanent fence.  This is to keep homeless people from living on the sidewalk.  So instead they live on the other side of the street where there is no fence in the middle of the sidewalk.  On the other side of the building they have signs posted prohibiting sleeping on the sidewalk.  In effect, they have made people who are poor and homeless with no place to go unwanted on the streets and sidewalks around their building.  

No sleeping on this street

                            You have to look carefully, but you can see the fence around the fence


Thanksgiving day trip

So I made a trip on the morning of Thanksgiving.  A year ago it rained the night before. That morning, although the rain had stopped, it was still all wet outside.  This year, it rained the night before and that day.  It rained on the way down, but during the time I was there the rain had stopped for the most part but started up again on the way home.  I usually make some pasta so the folks have a hot meal that day, but I knew with the rain and cold weather the pasta would not stay hot or even warm for long, so I decided to buy some hot food on the way down there and keep it in a box I could keep warn plugged in to the cigarette lighter.  That worked out OK.  In fact, I bought ten breakfast burritos to start with and then some burgers at the end of the trip.  In the first part of the trip I saw Gregory.  I almost didn't recognize him.  He was dragging wet cardboard into a pile under an awning about twenty feet high.  That awning was too high and too short to really keep the rain off you if you were sitting on the street.  But he was trying to build something while the rain had stopped to keep the rain from coming down on him.  Everything he had was wet.  I asked him if he could use a tarp as I had one in my car.  He said he could use anything.  When I got out of the car I realized he was cold, shivering and absolutely miserable.  He didn't have a jacket, but only a long sleeve sweatshirt on and it was wet.  I realized how desperate he was, so I gave him my jacket.  My jacket was warm and had a hood on it too.  So between the hot breakfast burrito, the tarp and the jacket I felt he had some hope of getting through the next couple of days where they were projecting more rain.  Now remember it was Thanksgiving Day and usually you will depart from someone and say "Happy Thanksgiving".  I just felt like saying something like that to him at that time was utterly ridiculous, so I simply told him I'd see him again soon.  It was just devastating to me to be leaving him like that knowing what he would be facing the next few days.  But here I was driving away to look for more folks needing help.

                                                                   Gregory

After I ran out of burritos I drove through a Burger King and got six big hamburgers.  I was quite surprised at the long line at the drive-thru on a Thanksgiving day.  When I got to the window and paid for my order I looked to the right side of the car and saw a half dozen or so folks sitting on the ground with their backs against the windows/walls of the stores next to the Burger King.  They were all bundled up with whatever they had.  I don't think I'll ever forget that sight of despair.  Now usually these people would not be allowed to stay there, but the store owners realized the situation called for these folks to find some kind of shelter from the rain.  I drove around the block and entered that small crowded parking lot and was able to stop and position my car where I could see a couple of them.  I motioned for the one or two that I saw to come over to me.  Then they motioned for others to come over, one of which was Becky (I've known her a long time).  I ended up giving out most all of the burgers that I had just purchased.  Can you imagine being homeless, hungry and cold and the only place you could find to sit and be dry would be next to a burger joint where all you could smell were burgers, but you didn't have any money to buy one?  I think that''s the definition of quiet desperation.

Tonight's trip

Ok, just a quick word about tonight's trip.  One of the things about a homeless ministry this time of the year is that just about everyone you meet is in dire need of help.  One of the first streets I drove down tonight was the street by the Times building where the temporary fence is.  All the homeless folks are living on the other side of the street.  I stopped for the first woman I saw there and before I pulled away three other people hustled over to where I was.  At a point of grace, people are attracted.  Before the trip was over, I did see Gregory tonight.  He still had the jacket on I gave him on Thanksgiving, in fact, I think he said he hadn't taken it off since I gave it to him.  He even had the hood on and it wasn't raining (it was just down right cold).  He went through the clothes in the trunk of the car and got a couple of pairs of pants.  He even asked me if I had any Christmas lights that he could put up on his cardboard 'house'.  (He was joking)  I was glad to see he still had a sense of humor in all this turmoil.  I prayed with him and Red, who was staying right near him on that street tonight, asking for God's provision, blessing and presence in their lives during this time.  It was a lot easier leaving them tonight than it was on Thanksgiving.  I told them both I expected to be back next Sunday.  

I began this blog with the story of Jesus calming the wind and seas during a storm.  Often times we wonder where God is during the difficult times of our lives.  We want immediate relief from our problems, yet God knows what is best for us and sometimes the 'weathering' through the storm is useful in the future for building our faith and trust in Him.  In this case, with these homeless folks we wonder what benefit there is to them suffering.  Yet allowing me to see this and in turn sharing this experience with you may lead us to be committed to doing more to end human suffering wherever we may see it or experience it.  Yes, "the waves and wind still know His name and through it all...it is well with my soul".  Yes indeed.  --Until next time.  John   














   

Downtown 11/10/2019

"Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean.  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing, be cleansed.'  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed."  Mark 1:40-42

Sometimes an encounter happens that appears to be somewhat "normal", but upon reflection it takes on a new and deeper meaning.  Last night's last encounter was just such a time.  I had four sandwiches left.  It was about 5:30 -6:00 pm and I was dying for a cup of coffee.  I decided to drive through the Jack in the Box on Alameda.  Sometimes there are homeless people milling around there and sure enough, there were two folks who had positioned themselves at the end of the drive-thru lane.  I ended up giving them two of the four sandwiches left and then pulled into a parking spot and drank the coffee.  When I was ready to leave (it was completely dark out by now) I noticed a man walking up to the car.  I rolled the window down and he asked if I had anything to eat (I think).  I don't remember his exact words, I know he didn't ask for money.  I said, "Well, as a matter of fact I have a sandwich here and handed it to him through the window.  I reached in the ice chest in the back seat and gave him a bottle of water.  He was quite thankful, humble and appreciative.  He then asked if I had anything else to give him.  No, he wasn't specific and once again didn't ask for money.  I had the one other sandwich left which I gave him.  He thanked me again profusely and said, "God bless you." before turning and walking away.  I was kind of caught off-guard by the whole exchange and suddenly realized I was totally out of food now and clear to head home.  I started thinking as I watched this man walking away into the darkness that I didn't ask for his name or where he was from, yet I was so struck by his total surrender to his situation and how he was completely at the mercy of a stranger.  I don't know how many others he may have asked for help from, in fact, I am so disappointed that I didn't engage him at all.  I just can't shake the hopelessness and despair I saw in his eyes.  I hope and pray I see him again, but it's probably doubtful.  I wish I had done more.

Earlier on this trip I was on 10th and San Pedro.  I saw Gregory.  Last week he was hobbling pretty badly.  This week he was much better, but he was unable to perform the part-time work he'd been doing because of the leg injury.  We were talking about birthdays and he told me he will be 55 next June.  You may remember him telling me that he had lived on and around that street for over twenty years.  I don't know where he lived before then, but it appears he's spent most of his adult life on the street.  As I was leaving that street I saw a woman, Debbie, who I hadn't seen in several months.  She was hooked-up with a man in a wheel-chair named Chris.  Chris had been in and out of the hospital for the last year due to liver and kidney failure.  A couple of months ago he was picked up again by ambulance and taken to the county hospital .  I was told not to expect to see him again and found out later he had died.  So now I'm seeing his girlfriend there for the first time since then.  She was happy to see me, but being on that street brings back a lot of memories for her.  We talked for quite a while just a few feet from where six or eight months ago I "married them".  After all I am "Pastor John" to them.  Not being ordained by anyone, I asked God to "bless their union".  I'm sure they both knew what was ahead and wanted to make their relationship as legitimate as possible.  I ended up giving her a ride down to 55th and Broadway where she's staying with someone in an apartment.

           Chris (in the wheelchair), Debbie and a friend a little over a year ago in September/18



So in the last five weeks I've made four trips downtown.  This is the first time I've written about a trip in six weeks.  So about three or four weeks ago I saw Carmen for the first time in about three months.  The next week after I saw her she was gone again and I didn't see her yesterday either.  I asked someone in the neighborhood the first week I didn't see her and they told me they heard she had been picked-up by an ambulance that morning.  Remember she was having liver and kidney problems too. 

Here is a picture I took of her the last time I saw her about 3-4 weeks ago.  She looked so good that day.  I was hopeful she was on the mend.

So since the time change last weekend, it has made these trips very difficult.  I am currently working nights so I don't get off work until 7 am on Sunday morning and have to sleep when I get home. So I'm making these trips on 4 or 5 hours sleep after a full week's work.  It's hard on this old guy's body right now, but I'll be switching to days after the first of the year, so six more weeks of this schedule. I turn 65 this week....I'll make it somehow.  --Until next time.  John   

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.
     

After 10 years of Downtown-Mother's Day, 2019

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10



So Sunday's trip, though somewhat uneventful, was quite a milestone for me.  It was the first Monday in May back in 2009 when I made the very first trip.  I was pretty clueless as to what I was going to do, but I felt called and I was going.  I figured that when I got to where I was going I'd know what to do.  Well sort of....  I just felt called to go to the least likely group of people I knew of and be a part of God working in their lives.  Little did I know or think about what God would be doing in my life too.  Somehow I totally underestimated that part of this adventure.  And what an adventure these past ten years have been.

Early on someone encouraged me to write about these trips.  So I obliged and began writing sort of a running diary of each trip.  They were pretty bland and bare (translate that--lame).  I made sure to try and get people's names and where they were from, but mostly the accounts went something like this, "I saw Fred from Louisiana on 5th St and Joe from Texas on 10th St."  Soon I started seeing some people repeatedly and got to know them.  Some would be living in an alley with  2-4 people and that got to be kind of cool to see them more often.  Eventually, that led to doing BBQs during the summer for these groups.  I loved it and so did they.  People started donating clothing as word got around about what I was doing.  That part has always been amazing.  Answers to prayer started happening that were truly unbelievable.  Early on I felt the need to provide blankets for people as winter was approaching.  I prayed about it one morning because I didn't know what to do and these people needed help.  A childhood friend, whom I hadn't seen in years, had been trying to get a hold of me because he had a gift for me.  He didn't tell me what it was, but he said I had to come and get it.  Needless to say, two and a half hours after I prayed for blankets I had twelve new ones in the back seat of my car.  I was stunned and overjoyed.  I would have to say answered prayer has been the most amazing thing that just continues to astonish and impact this ministry week after week.  And it's not just the answer to prayers for provision that surprise me either. The impact that prayer has on the homeless people themselves is sometimes surprising too.  I have had people months and years later tell me, "Oh, I remember you.  You gave me some burgers and prayed for me."  One guy told me he remembered me from a year and half earlier!  I didn't remember him.  I always feel like just giving someone food and water is good, but praying with them adds an eternal value to the encounter that lasts long after the food and/or clothing I give them are gone.  I imagine this person at night, when they are lonely and perhaps hungry and cold; they will think back to that 'crazy old white dude from the suburbs' that prayed for me right here."  Maybe it will lead to that ultimate question in their heart, "God, if you're there, will you help me?"

Often times an image of something I saw will stick in my mind or be a burden on my heart and will cause me to eventually pray about it when it won't go away, "Lord, what do you want me to do with this?"  Once this happened when a guy I saw had passed out by a curb and had thrown-up into the gutter.  There were too many cars parked to get close to him and a while later when I drove by he was gone. I just couldn't shake the image though in my mind.  That's when it was revealed to me the Father's heart for even people like that.  Every human has intrinsic worth to the Father.  I am not the one to judge who "deserves" help and who doesn't.  We start by helping the one in front of us.  Another time I witnessed a street fight with about twenty guys fighting in the street at 7th and Alvarado.  The image haunted me for a week.  I just couldn't shake it and I still remember it vividly.  A week later in church during a beautiful song sung by a young woman I finally pleaded with God, "What do you want me to do?"  The answer came quickly at that point, "Go back to 7th and Alvarado."  No additional instructions, just go!  So I went.  Now I have to say, "Old white dudes" from the suburbs kind of stick out there to say the least.  English isn't even the primary language there either.  I would later learn that in the 80's immigrants from Central America landed in this area.  The park, McArthur Park, was the border to three different street gangs there.  That's who was fighting in the street the week before.  What was I supposed to do here?  Well, I started prayer-walking in the park with a fairly large hard-bound bible.  I felt kind of invisible because no one wanted to talk to me.  There were some homeless people living in the park too.  I started praying-walking in front of stores in the surrounding area too. One store I noticed had obvious occult references (names and symbols) written on the door.  It took five months of prayer walking when one night something unbelievable happened.  I had noticed a group of Pentecostals preaching in Spanish with microphones every week by the corner of 7th and Alvarado.  There was actually a church that met on the other end of the park every week at 4 pm.  But on this weekend I saw a man reading from a big black book near the corner by where the Pentecostals were preaching.  Some other unexpected stuff had happened just before I saw this guy, but I walked up to him and asked if the book he was reading was better than the book I had (my blue Bible).  He said it was better.  He then showed me it was a Hebrew and Greek transliteration of the Bible.  I had to agree he was probably right about that.  We talked for a while and I asked about the group of people preaching there by the corner.  He told me they were Pentecostals and asked if I wanted to preach too. It was totally unexpected, but I said "OK" and a few minutes later this group of folks turned and handed me the microphone!  That began a 5 or 6 month period of preaching in the park (in English) and praying behind these others preaching in Spanish.  I think those months were probably the most alive I've ever felt.  I never saw that man with the big black book again after that one night.  There were some other really strange things that happened connected with this time in the ministry that you probably wouldn't believe if I told you, you'll have to trust me on this one.

 Another part that has really stood out for me are biblical principles and stories re-enacted right before my eyes.  Since I'm passionate about reading the bible, when something happens that is 'just like' a story I've read it becomes so much more real.  Early on in my first few months of going I met a man living in an alley just off Alameda.  He was dirty looking and had a bike with a 'mountain of stuff'' that he would carry with him.  But at night he would park it right there in this alley.  The buildings surrounding him were owned by one man.  One day the owner had driven down the alley on Easter with his wife in their Cadillac Escalade and given the homeless man a chewing out for being in 'his'
alley.  Now the homeless man is one of the few people (I could count on one hand) who have not wanted me to pray for them.  So instead of praying with him I told him the story Jesus told of a poor beggar named Lazarus living outside the compound of a rich man.  When both mdn died Lazarus (the poor beggar) went to where Abraham was and the rich man ended up in hell.  The story being a powerful reminder that not only will we pay for our sins, but that we are to be loving and caring for those in need.  The sin in this case was being uncaring of the neighbor's (poor man's) needs.

During the ten years of this ministry I've been thanked by grateful people in many different ways. Sometimes even rejected, yes it does happen sometimes, but it's rare.  Usually though, people will say "God bless you and thank you so much."  I've had people kiss my hand they were so grateful and I've had people say "Whoo Hoo" they were so happy for their good fortune in running into me.  Some people are so hungry that they immediately begin eating the food I've given them.  I always feel so blessed and happy to reach people when their situation is that critical or to give someone a jacket or pair of socks when there's a cold night ahead. A few times I've had the privilege of giving a blanket or two to a tearful husband and wife, fresh on the street after being forced to move out of their apartment.  Experiences like this change you.  You know there are others doing what you do, but they aren't there right now and what would these folks do if you hadn't shown up when you did?  You learn the lesson of Romans 1:21 through people's responses when the Apostle Paul, in indicting the whole human race of its sinfulness says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him...."  Yes it's great to give someone a "Whoo Hoo" day, yet there is a difference between being happy for the blessing of the good fortune of receiving something needed and being thankful to the person who brought it.  We teach our kids when they are young to say "thank you" to a person who has given them something or done them a favor.  It's always said to someone.  This is what the Father desires, to thank Him.  Now I'm not looking for praise, I am the sent one. Praise the one who sent me.  James 1:17  says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father".  It is to Him our thanks and praises are to go.  One brief story of an encounter I had with a man several years ago.  He spoke no English and I speak limited Spanish.  At that time I was giving out bags with a loaf of bread, cookies, a can of Chunky soup and a gallon of water.  I showed him what was in the bag and how to open the soup can.  He opened it and took a couple of spoonfuls and then offered me some.  I couldn't believe it.  In his abject poverty he was willing to share the food.  It was a very humbling experience.

Well, one last thing to cover before I close.  One day I pulled up to one of my 'regulars' at the time and before I even talked to him I could tell he was drunk.  Instantly, my mind was flooded with a series of thoughts.  Does this man even deserve help today in his condition?  Does God really forgive sin....repeated sin?  What about my sin issues and my own repeated sin issues?  Does God really forgive me too?  Seeing your own flaws as being just as manifest to God as we see other's flaws is one of the 'benefits' of being in this ministry.  Your theology is tested.  Does God really forgive us "seven times seventy"?  What if in your weakness you purposefully sin just because you rebelliously want to?  Well, you soon realize the 'sanctification' process is a lifelong deal.  You also realize quickly that despite outward appearances you are no better than the person your serving.  You just have greater resources.  I do believe God's favor generally rests on those who are obedient, yet there may be a testing in your life with a purpose beyond the temporary circumstances.  Remain faithful, abstain from sin and learn the value of perseverance.

Since it's now Mother's Day, I'll leave you with one humorous story from a Mother's Day several years ago.  For a brief time one spring/summer I went downtown in the morning.  The morning of Mother's Day I was reminding people what day it was and would ask them what their mother's name was.  One guy, named Robert, was quite elderly.  When I asked him his mother's name he said, "Why?  She's been dead for years."  Well......his mother's name was Mary.  Until next time.

PS.  Nine years ago, May 4th, 2010, I wrote a blog after going downtown for one year.  It tells about how this ministry started.  You can access that blog by clicking on the year 2010 then May and then "After one year of going downtown."  That blog concluded with the question of how long will I do this.  My response at the time was, "As long as I'm able."  That still holds true.  It is becoming more of a physical challenge, but I still love doing this.  Please pray for the folks I serve.  Thanks John     



















       

2/24/2019-Oscar Sunday downtown

"God blesses those people who depend only on him.  They belong to the kingdom of heaven!  
  God blesses those people who grieve.  They will find comfort!  
  God blesses those people who are humble.  The earth will belong to them!    
  God blesses those people who are merciful.  They will be treated with mercy!  
  God blesses those people whose hearts are pure.  They will see Him!  
  God blesses those people who make peace.  They will be called his children!  
  God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right.  They belong to the kingdom of heaven."       --Matthew 5:3-10  From the sermon on the mount discourse.

On my last blog I showed some pictures of two women I have been helping the last several times I've gone downtown.  I saw both of them last week and again this week.  Last week the weather in Southern California was very much below normal for here.  Maria, who had been in her van when I pulled up, put her hands around my hand so I could feel how cold she was, and they were ice cold.  We talked for a while and I gave her a couple of pairs of socks along with some food.  Although we struggle with the language barrier, we enjoy talking together.  When I started to drive away and she was getting back into her van I could hear her gently crying.  It was tough to leave.

I drove over to San Pedro St and helped a couple of other folks and then found Carmen on the corner of 24th.  She was in her tent already, but I noticed her wheelchair next to the tent so I called out her name.  She got up and hobbled over to the car.  Guess what the first thing she said was?  "It is so cold!"  I gave her a couple of sandwiches and she asked for a third sandwich for someone else.  She told me a man named Mario comes over in the mornings and helps push her around in her wheelchair.  She told me that Mario digs in the trash for food ("Well, we all dig in the trash sometimes." she said) and she wanted to be able to give him something special the next morning. I gave her a couple of pairs of socks too.  She was so thankful to receive them.  Because it was so cold she asked me to pray that she would find a place to stay.  As she walked back to her tent I could hear her gently crying too.  It was tough to leave once again.

So that week when I got down to the last two sandwiches, I was driving down Olympic between Central and Alameda and low and behold there was Alan pulling his two shopping carts with great difficulty.  I called out to him as it was just beginning to sprinkle a little bit.  He quickly came over to get the food.  So in one trip I saw all three of them, that never happens.

So this last Sunday I saw both ladies again.  Across from where Maria stays (this is a residential area) there was a birthday party going on.  The music was very loud and Maria wasn't too happy about it. She said it will go on far into the night with lots of drinking.  Carmen was already in her tent again and struggled to get over to the car.  She said she may not be there next week because she is hoping to see a spinal cord specialist sometime this week.  I certainly pray they can help her.  Her future is going to be pretty bleak if she stays on the street with her handicap.

So the last people I saw this last Sunday were on 10th Pl and 9th St just off San Pedro St. Last week Red was on 10th Pl, but this week he wasn't.  There was another man on the side-walk both weeks.  I don't know his name, but he told me that he and Red had been beaten up by some people and so had the people on 9th St too.  When I drove around the block to 9th I saw Chris by himself in his wheel-chair.  I asked him about the thugs who were coming around beating people up.  He told me the police had just left when I pulled up.  He said they even kicked Debbie around.  I was astonished at this because Debbie only weighs 80-lbs, if that.  So here you have a defenseless woman and a man with a leg brace in a wheelchair suffering from kidney and liver failure.  Sometimes the degree of evil is just disgusting.  Chris asked if I had a blanket and I just happened to have one left when I loaded up the car. I had it on the floor of the front seat so I was able to just grab it and hand it to him.  He was greatly relieved at getting the blanket, because the thugs keep stealing their stuff from them too. Well, I have to say these weren't really 'happy' trips, but they were important none the less because it helped the morale for these folks for me to be there if nothing else.  What a privilege it is. --Until next time.  John   

PS.  I guess I should say something about it being Oscar Sunday.  The Academy Awards show was starting up nearby at the Staples Center about the time I was finishing my trip.  I have nothing against the movies or even this awards show.  The extravagance of it all and the arrogance of the rich kind of gets to me at times as I'm sure it does you.  The lifestyles of the rich and the people I see regularly downtown are so vastly different I suppose neither side will ever understand the other.