Downtown 1/29/2012

To my loved one--"When you pray to me, I will listen. When you look for me you will find me." --- This week's note, included in each bag of food given out. It is a paraphrase of Jeremiah 29:12

Most of the people I look for to help are usually alone. I like to include a short personal note like the one above with each bag of food so that after the food is gone, they have something left to think about. I've given out copies of the Gospel of John, Guideposts, and other literature with a spiritual content in an attempt to point the way to Jesus Christ. I know that however the encounter went, they will be left with something that they can reflect on after I'm gone and after the food is gone.

The first guy I met this week was Robert from Oakland. I had helped him out a couple of weeks ago while I was looking for Mark. Yesterday, Robert was in about the same place Mark used to hang out under the I-10 freeway. He told me he hadn't seen Mark in a while now. In the course of talking to Robert I found out he doesn't receive any kind of government assistance. One of the issues he has is he doesn't have any kind of identification either. That is a big hurdle to overcome for most of the homeless. Whether their ID or driver's license was lost or stolen, getting a new one requires a lot of paperwork and waiting to get a replacement. I've seen Robert a few times now within a couple of blocks of where he was yesterday. He had four old worn-out (and dirty) blankets. He was OK with them, but I was able to help him out with some new shoes and socks and a couple of shirts. He told me the nights have been pretty cold lately. Fortunately, I had been given a supply of gloves and a cap with ear flaps. Before leaving I prayed specifically about Robert's ID issues and for just a general blessing and protection. I think Sunday night was going to be a lot better for him.

Remember back in the 80's there used to be a guy with the crazy Afro hair-do that was rainbow colored? He used to beat on a tamborine and would hold up a John 3:16 sign at all the football games on TV? Well, yesterday I helped a guy from Chicago with a Mohawk wig that was rainbow colored! No tamborine and no John 3:16 sign though. You do see some crazy things downtown. Right before rainbow man I was driving through the parking lot of an industrial area. Brandon from New York was sitting on the steps of one of the buildings. I think he was sitting there because he wasn't visible from the street. I think he was probably trying to keep a low profile and not be seen. He didn't look to pleased when I pulled up next to where he was, but when I asked him if he needed some food he perked-up in a hurry. He was very young, like maybe 20 or 21 years old. He had on a Syracuse sweatshirt and said that's where he was from. I asked him if he was pulling for New York in the Super Bowl next week. He said he was and was hoping to be able to find a place to watch it. We didn't talk too long, so I don't know how he ended up out here. I'll save that conversation for the next time.

A little over a year ago on Halloween, you may recall my encounter with three men where I ended up giving a quick Bible lesson in the street on Romans 1:21 at their request. I remember being shocked when all three of them pulled out Bibles. They were just coming from a church service that evening. Their names were Billy, James and Will. Billy and James moved on to Pasadena a few months later, but Will stayed in an alley around the corner from where I first met them. I have seen him every once in a while and yesterday I saw him again. He told me that he and another man named Willie are looking to pool their money together and get a place to stay. He told me that life on the street is wearing him out and he wants out. He just turned 54 last week. They hope to make it happen in March. I'll be praying for them.

Six weeks ago I met a young man named Melvin sitting on the dock of a cold storage warehouse on the corner of 10th and Stanford. He was a young man of about 20 years old. He's out on parole and has no place to go. He has stayed away from the skid row area because he's been beaten up there and as he says, "I don't fight very well." I hadn't seen him since the time I met him, but have looked for him ever since. As I was driving down 14th street I happened to pass by a man trying to be inconspicuous in the corner of a parking lot. I passed by and noticed a man there, but didn't really see who it was. I turned around and drove back and pulled up right next to him. When I was able to look him in the eyes I was happy to see that it was Melvin. Yes, he remembered me too. He told me he had been arrested for staying on that loading dock because it was private property. Talk about kicking a man when he's down. He told me his parole officer said it was OK for him to stay in the spot where I saw him yesterday. He has to move on during the day though. I know others have stayed in that same area also, in fact, we talked about a couple of them that I've seen and he's seen too. I think he said his parole ends in March. I hope they can be of more assistance then than they've been so far. As it gets closer to dusk, the area right there just west of 14th and Central becomes a favorite area for homeless people to spend the night. It's far enough away from the craziness of skid row at night, but within walking distance if you want to get a meal or two during the day. Just down the street from Melvin was another man pushing a shopping cart named Willie. A lot of the men this far away from skid row just stay away from that area completely. Willie is one of them, and yes he was really happy to receive the bag of food.

Speaking of skid row, when I was prayer-walking on 6th, I noticed a crowd of people around the back of an SUV. I had parked in front of the police station and a man was standing there eating some food on a plate. I commented to him that the food looked pretty good and he pointed to the SUV (his mouth was full of food). As I crossed the street and saw the car and the crowd I noticed the spray painted metal housing on some electrical power box. I took the picture because of the spray

painted comment and the whole setting behind it. The picture on the left is what's behind the spary painted sign. It is the crowd of people around the SUV and on down the street is the Midnight Mission. At the corner and across the street at the end of the block an Asian Church serves a meal every Sunday evening (rain or shine and it was going on as this picture was taken). Amid the darkness, you'll always see points of light if you look for them. If you don't see them, then you'll just have to be one! --Until next week. John

Downtown 1/24/2012

Tuesday was a day of relief for most of the homeless folks downtown. After suffering through a lot of rain on Monday the sun was finally out on Tuesday. Although it wasn't the warmest day, it was certainly warmer than Sunday and Monday. I started out going over to Lincoln Park and found Tony and Deborah. Tony told me their 'stuff' got soaked over the last two days. They seemed to be OK although I was a little surprised Deborah didn't come over to the car. I have to remember that people probably aren't recognizing me yet in this 'new' car (it's a ten year old Saturn). I asked if they had seen Phillip and Nancy recently, but Tony said they hadn't seen them in quite a while. Anyway, they were draping their blankets over their shopping carts in an attempt to dry them out. After leaving them I headed back into town and drove by Stanford and 10th to see if Melvin, the kid I found the week before Christmas was around. Being a weekday, that area was really packed with cars and especially trucks and he was nowhere to be found, even in the alleys in the surrounding area. So I headed over to the alley where I had the barbecue a few months ago. Kenny, who was at the barbecue, was there. He was pretty happy to see me. He had been recycling and had few cans and bottles, but not enough to get much yet. You can imagine how happy he was to get a bag of food that had a couple of sandwiches in it. I asked if he needed any socks and he indicated he did. He made a comment about David getting the last size 12 shoes that I had and he was wearing some 14's that made his feet slide around (he wore 12's). I told him he was in luck that I had some 12's today and gave him a pair. I probably should have asked him to give me the 14's, but I didn't think about it at the time. I asked him about where some of the others were and he told me some of them were hanging out around Paloma and Washington Blvd. by a food bank. I went over there and saw some homeless 'housing' set up, but didn't actually see anyone. I usually don't try and roust people out of their boxes or tents, especially, if it looks like there are several people living near each other on the same block. I have helped people on that street before that were standing outside their 'place'. I did see a couple of businesses that appeared to be food warehouses. I'll have to ask around next time and see which one is a food bank and just exactly what is it that they do.

I'd have to say my best encounter of the day was the next one with a man named Ernest. He was sleeping on the sidewalk at Paloma and 14th. I don't think he was really asleep, but he was probably trying to. By now it was almost noon and he was in the shade, so it was quite cool where he was. When I walked up to him with the bag of food he answered right away that he was hungry and when I asked if he needed socks he said yes to that too. He then asked something a little strange. He asked if I had any slippers because his feet had blisters on them and he was having a hard time walking in his shoes. He didn't say whether his shoes fit or not, I guess I should have asked, but I just happened to have some open toed sandals that he thought would work out just fine. We talked for a while (he was already eating one of the sandwiches from the bag of food) and I found out he was from Inglewood, which is a city near where I grew up. We talked about going to the forum to see concerts and the Lakers back in the day. I told him I haven't gone to see anything at Staples Center yet, because it's just out of my price range. He told me he hadn't been to anything there yet either (and for the same reason too). It was really cool to pray for Ernest before I left him. He told me he stays pretty much in that area all the time. I'll keep looking in on him in the weeks ahead.

Before leaving downtown I saw Alan and Jackie. Alan was sitting on the curb on Olympic Blvd. I think he might have been eating something, but you can never help Alan enough. When I asked him if his Christmas was OK he actually answered, "Yeah". That is a long conversation for Alan! Jackie was at her normal spot by the I-10 and Los Angeles St. Yesterday, she looked totally worn-out. The homeless lifestyle these people live is never very conducive to rest during these winter months. Between sleeping out in the cold and trying to scrape up enough money through panhandling and/or recycling makes these months particularly difficult. Add into that anything that you might have that's in the least bit valuable will be a target for other homeless people to steal from you and your problems are now compounded.

When I was prayer-walking in the skid row area I noticed a couple of new store front churches on San Pedro St. by 5th St. One was called Potters House and I think the pastor's name was Hong. Music was coming out of that place and next to it was a banner that said "Meals on Jesus" with another sign that said "5 breads and 2 (and then christian fish sign)". There were a bunch of people gathered around there and I think they were about to serve a meal. I'll be praying for their success in the area. Until next week. --John

Downtown-1/16/2012 on Martin Luther King Day

The first question that the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But the Good Samaritan...reversed the question, "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" ---Martin Luther king, Jr from a speech April 3, 1968 (the night before his assasination).

I began a blog back in August with this quote. It seemed appropriate to use it today, being Martin Luther King Day. It is one of my favorite all-time quotes and it encapsulates the message of Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan. You will probably never know how difficult it can be to make these trips downtown sometimes. We all lead busy lives and it's easy to let other things get in the way or to use the "I'm tired card" and just stay home. But two things always seem to win out over the myriad of excuses to not go. The first is the message found in the quote above. What will happen to these people if I don't go. More than likely, the answer is they will remain hungry or hungry and cold. I can't save the world, but I can relieve hunger and cold for a few people and pray with them too. The other thing that comes up is, "What will I miss out on?" I began this ministry to 'be where God was working'. When we make ourselves available for His use, then He will use us and that is always an adventure. Some trips are more adventurous than others to be sure, but you never know what's ahead. You can use the analogy of quality time and quantity of time. Given enough quantity (opportunity) will eventually generate quality experiences.

Today I was given quite a surprise by John Stokes. I was down to my last bag of food and since I hadn't seen John since Christmas Day and since he is by himself again I decided to stop and see him. He was laying down but quickly got up when he saw me. When he came over to the car and we started talking I asked him if he knew what day it was. He said, "Monday". I said, "Yeah, but do you know it's Martin Luther King Day?" He said "No, I didn't know that." That's when he told me that back in the early 60's he marched with Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy and Jessie Jackson in Selma, Alabama. I don't know how many people from that era are left who can make that claim. I knew John was from the Atlanta, Georgia area and I was certainly glad I stopped to see him today or I might never have known this. I'm proud to know him and call him my friend.

Well, that was my good fortune today, but along the way I was able to help 5 other people who desperately needed help too. The first was Dorothy. I don't see her to often, in fact, only twice before and today she looked even more worn-out than usual. She was glad to get the food. I also saw Dalton today. I haven't seen him in a few months either and today I found him near where I usually do, but he was sitting down on the sidewalk in the sun light trying to get warm. He had on a jacket and was half asleep when I walked up to him. I gave him some food and a blanket. Mary I saw on Christmas Day. I haven't been able to get much of a conversation going with her yet. She didn't want me to pray with her the last time and I didn't push it today. It will happen when she's ready and I'm OK with that. I just haven't been able to figure her out yet. She sits on the corner at 16th St near Hill St. She has a suitcase and a small chair that she sits on. She appears to be waiting for someone or something to happen, but she's been there now for 2 or 3 months. I don't know what to think of her situation. I'll keep praying that she will open up and talk with me sometime.

A couple of weeks prior to Christmas I met a man named Mark who was living under the freeway at Central and 16th. I tried to find him on Christmas Day, but didn't see him. I looked for him there today and around the corner on 17th St, but still didn't find him. However, I did find Rick from Oakland who knows Mark. He told me that Mark was out recycling. I gave Rick a bag of food and told him to tell Mark I said 'Hello' and that I'd keep looking for him next week. I also had met a young man named Melvin the week before Christmas that I also tried to find on Christmas Day but without success. I was even having trouble finding the corner building where I first saw him. Today I found the location at Stanford and 10th, but he wasn't there today either. That didn't really surprise me, because today is a weekday and that building is a cold storage warehouse that is in use. I'll have to try looking on another Sunday some time.

No trip is complete without an encounter by the Jack in the Box. Today it was a man named Kevin Oneal who was from Arkansas. He had a bicycle and was hitting up people coming out of the Jack in the Box for change. I noticed he seemed to be in quite a lot of back pain. He said he had some vertebrae/disc problems with his back and it was really painful. I didn't have anything for the pain, but gave him a bag of food, which should enable him to get off his bike and his feet. Hopefully, that will give his back some relief too. Yes, we talked about our Arkansas connection and he thanked me for praying with him and giving him the food.

Well, that was today's trip. Six encounters and six people helped. Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan was in response to a question by a religious man of his day which was, "Who is my neighbor?" Five of the six people today I've helped before. Some I've helped only a couple of times and others several times. They all live 25 miles away from me. I say this because some who read this blog don't live in this country and may not know the terrain. I still think of these people as friends and neighbors. I wouldn't want to think tonight about what would they be doing if I hadn't stopped by. I'm sure Dalton is wrapped up in his new blanket as I write this. That is a comfort to know. --Until next week. John

Christmas Day Downtown--2011

It was a pretty warm day for late December. I think the thermometer said 67 degrees when I was getting off the freeway at Alameda St. I wasn't sure if the Jack in the Box would be open or not so I had bought some sandwiches and had four regular bags of food just in case it was closed. Surprisingly, it was open and I was able to buy a bunch of burgers to give out. While waiting for the order, I saw Richard Brown recycling outside. I walked out to talk to him and he told me that Dave (Parker) was over where he lives and was waiting for me. I had hoped that more of the guys would be there Sunday, but when I got over there only Richard and Dave were there. I had told them two weeks ago that I would be there on Christmas day. Last week when I saw Solo, he told me that a woman who they call "OG" had died. I knew that both Richard and Dave knew her. Richard had told me a couple of months ago that a man they referred to as "Angel" had also died on 25th and Hooper. I wanted to give these men an opportunity to talk about these friends of theirs who had died if they wanted to. We did talk briefly about it, but they seemed to be OK with it. At this stage of their lives they understand that we could die at any time and that it is part of life. Richard lost his brother, Cleveland, a couple of summers ago and I think he was more upset with that one at the time than these two. Anyway, I told Richard and Dave about a story I read about an orphanage in Mozambique, Africa. During one week several babies (about 7 or 8 as I recall) that had been brought to them died. The woman in charge, Heidi Baker, was very distressed about it and cried out to the Lord asking why this had happened. She said the Lord answered by telling her, "I only ask that you love them into my arms." It was such a simple yet profound answer. It didn't answer the question of why, but did give the path of action that we all need to take. "Just love them into my arms!" It occurred to me that this is what we are to do with everyone we meet! After all, Jesus said the two main commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and (2) love your neighbor as yourself. If we keep theology simple and obey these two commands it does make life simpler....love God and love people. How simple can it get?

I had met with a couple of men last week, one was Mark and the other was Melvin. I told both of them that I would be there on Christmas day, but I couldn't find either of them. I did see Willie and Robert. I looked for Tara Lee and Doug, but couldn't find them either. Along the way I was about to help several others who I hadn't met before. I had a lot of extra food with me (but not a lot of extra time). On Olive street I pulled over to help a man who was going through a trash can looking for food. While I was helping him, two other men walked up needing help. There was a woman named Mary who I have seen and helped the last three weeks or so on a corner on 16th just east of Hill. She was all bundled up (it's colder when you sit in the shade like she was). I was able to give her some hot burgers and a blanket too. I was disappointed though when she didn't want me to pray for her (she asked instead that I pray silently AWAY from her). Perhaps in the future, I'll find out more about her. She doesn't seem to want to talk too much, although I did find out that she is from the local area. I'm guessing her to be in her thirties.

During my trip I drove over to Cloud Nine Alley (still no one living there) and down to skid row. Skid Row was packed! There were also serveral relief organizations in the process of setting up to give out assistance. I saw more children down there than I usually do. On one of the streets off 5th, I saw a church service going on with an overflow crowd sitting in folding chairs on the sidewalk. It was Sunday and they always have church services going on in some of the store front locations around skid row. Richard Brown had told me that in the last 24 hours that many people had stopped by to give out food. This probably occurs all over the downtown area at Christmas time.

Although I saw several more people than I've mentioned, I did want to say a little about my stop with John Stokes. He was surprised I had come down on Christmas Day. Throughout the two plus years that I've been making these trips, I've always been somewhat concerned about the mental outlook some of these people may have about me. Yes, even I have some insecurities! Even though I go nearly every week, I sometimes wonder if the people I see ever say to themselves, "Yeah, John comes down here a lot, but then he gets to go back to his 'regular perfect life'." You and I both know that nobody has a 'regular perfect life' and mine has just a many problems as the next guy. Yet I wanted my friends, who I have met down here and mean so much to me, that they are important enough for me to take time away from my family even on Christmas Day to make sure they have a good Christmas too. I had spent time with my wife and daughter in the morning and after the trip spent the rest of the day and evening with my extended family. Yet, the 3 hours or so I spent downtown was well worth it. There were people who I was able to give assistance to who may not have gotten anything to eat that day if I hadn't made the trip. There were people I prayed with that day that may not have given God a moment of attention if I hadn't stopped. As is often the case with these encounters downtown, the moment passes and it's only later, when I reflect on the encounter that I am hit with the importance of the mement that I completely missed at the time it ocurred. I always pray for encounters with eternal significance. I hope that is the case with some of these people that I met on Christmas Day downtown. --Until next time. John

Downtown 12/18/2011

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." --A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

The quote above came to mind when I thought back about yesterday's trip. It had a couple of very difficult moments and then some moments when I was glad to have persevered. I arrived around 1:30 in the afternoon with only a half dozen cans of food and an ice chest of bottled water. I didn't have a lot of funds available (after all it is Christmas time) and I was basically out of socks. At one point I drove over to the stores where I buy the socks at discounted prices hoping they would be open the Sunday before Christmas, but they weren't. However, I knew whatever I brought, the Lord would help me to find people in need who could use it. I started the trip by prayer-walking on skid row and on Cloud Nine Alley. Nothing special happened at either place, but while I was walking Cloud Nine Alley I was reminded of the relationships I have with Gary and Ray (two men who have lived there) in the past year and the special relationship with Pastor Rodriguez' church. I took some pictures (nothing I haven't posted before) of the alley. One of the pictures was opposite from where Ray lived. It is simply a picture of two roll-up metal doors that are heavily spray painted. It's what Ray woke up to every morning when he lived there.

I had been driving around quite a bit and saw a man named Richard on the corner of Hill and 16th looking for food in a trash can. I've seen Richard many times and have offered to help him at least three or four times in the past, but each time he refused to accept help. One time I left a bag of food next to him (he was seated on the sidewalk) and he got up and walked away leaving it there. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps the only way to get him to take the food is to throw it in the trash can. Yesterday, I drove around the block to get back to him and offered to give him some food again (which he declined) and the person in the car behind me started honking their horn! They must have been delayed all of 4 or 5 seconds. The problem when this happens is you can get pretty indignant and then your whole attitude changes to one of anger. Anger that someone couldn't wait the few seconds while you try and help someone and then the retribution that starts forming in your mind about what you would like to do to that person. In a very short time the idea of being a vessel of God's love to the homeless is all gone and your just filled with anger. Shortly after this, I was driving off Washington Blvd and down a small street called McCreary. I noticed a man laying on the sidewalk and thought it might be a friend of mine I haven't seen in awhile named Doug. As I pulled around the corner and was able to look right at him I realized it wasn't Doug and was someone I didn't know. Well this guy basically told me to move on, except he didn't say it civilly. After a couple of attempts on my part to talk courteously I gave up and drove on. I realized the more I tried to talk to this guy the worse it would get. Even if I got him to understand that I was there to help him, he wasn't going to be able to 'save face' and change his attitude, so I just went on. Both of these instances happened within about 10 or 15 minutes of each other. I've been rejected before, but never as vile as this guy was. I guess after two and a half years of doing this, that's a pretty good track record. I always have to remember to not take the rejections personally. These folks have all been treated harshly by society and they can get into a self-protection mode towards anyone they don't know.

Well, shortly after that things turned around somewhat dramatically. It was probably about 3:45 by now and I was in the area of the Jack in the Box. I turned up from a street off Olympic Blvd to 14th and saw a man who looked familiar. It turned out to be Solo. He was one of the men at the barbecue back in October. In fact, I had seen him last week a couple of streets from there where Richard Brown and his friends were. Solo told me that OG had died. OG was what the other homeless people called her. She had always referred to herself as Faulstine to me. She died on the sidewalk during the night Saturday. I noticed Solo didn't have much stuff in his shopping cart and I asked him if he wanted to look in the trunk for anything he could use. As it turned out, I had put a huge comforter in the trunk just before going downtown. It turned out to be just the thing he could use! It was not only warm, but because of it's size it would also serve as some padding for sleeping on the sidewalk too. One of the things about this encounter that made it special, was that Solo was "very happy" to see me. After the prior two encounters I needed that kind of welcome. When I gave him the two cans of food he told me, "I'm gonna eat this right now!" I saw that he had a bag from McDonalds. He told me someone gave him some fries. No hamberger, just fries, so the cans of beef ravioli were just in time.

Last week I met a new friend named Mark under the freeway at San Pedro. I drove back there and found him again yesterday. He didn't recognize me until I got out of the car and then he just erupted in joy! "Man, I am so glad to see you! I told everyone about you!" I had asked him last week where he had been staying and he told me a couple of the streets where he had stayed. I had driven over there and saw a tent but no one was in it. Anyway, Mark told me a little more about himself and his situation. Due to alcohol abuse he had lost everything including his family. I'm guessing Mark to be about forty years old. He was thankful for any help I could give him. I was sorry I only had the two cans of food. I gave him a blanket and prayed with him. I also had an opportunity to tell him about something I heard in church that morning that I felt he needed to hear. The message was on the birth of John the Baptist and how John's father (a priest) filled with the Holy Spirit talked about John being the forerunner for the redemption of Israel. The pastor had pointed out that this 'redemption' was a full pardon and not just the holding back of the consequences of sin. I told Mark that this applied to him too. I kept it brief and the prayer brief, because I don't know about Mark's spiritual background and by keeping things brief now could open the door for more meaningful conversation later. I told Mark I planned on being down there next Sunday (Christmas Day). He asked me where I wanted him to be! I told him anywhere around there was fine and to look for my car. I'll find him. As I drove away he called out, "Thank you John."

OK, the last encounter was down off Central Ave. I saw a young man sitting on a loading dock. His name turned out to be Melvin and he was probably about twenty years old. He told me he was on probation until March and had no place to go so he had been staying there. He said it was too dangerous any closer to downtown and he was afraid of getting beaten up. I told him I'd look for him next week too. I gave him the last two cans of food, water and a couple of packs of cookies that I had. He asked if I had any socks. I was able to find a pair of regular socks and a pair of new ankle socks. Ankle socks are OK during the summer months, but during the cold air of this time of year the longer ones are much better. Anyway, Melvin was a lot happier after I left, in fact, I gave him some 'reading material', a New Testament. Perhaps we'll have more to talk about next week, Christmas Day. Until then, John

Downtown 12/11/2011

It has been a busy week at our house. Although I've taken a week's vacation, it was taken specifically because there was so much going on last week and this weekend and I was needed at home (translation--taxi driver). So with little time and little rescources I went downtown knowing I was only going to have 2 or 3 hours to spend down there. Since it was a Sunday that shouldn't prove to be an obstacle in finding and meeting people. Actually, as I was leaving the parking lot of my neighborhood grocery store I was approached by a man named Rene who offered to clean my car windows. I ended up giving him some cans of spaghetti and bottled water. You know I think I may have met this man before, maybe a year or so ago. I did get to pray with him before leaving. I had decided to buy burgers this time and give out bottled water, that's because it takes less time to get ready for the trip. I needed to be back home by 6 p.m. I'd have to say this was one of my least prepared trips ever. I didn't have any spoons for the cans of food I was taking and when I ordered the burgers at the Jack in the Box I didn't notice until it was too late that the order was wrong (smaller burgers than I wanted). Well, I had my 'hot box' and my insulated burger bag with me and found a place to get some spoons.

During last week's trip I had run across Willie and he told me he had seen Tara Lee under the freeway at San Pedro and 16th. I drove over there, but didn't see him. I did find a man named Mark. He told me he had been staying right around that area and on 17th St. Didn't get too much information from him but he was real appreciative of the help. I spent some time on skid row and Cloud Nine Alley (still no one living there) and went back to 17th and Hooper St. Richard Brown has moved from under the freeway at Hooper St to 17th. When I pulled up there were a couple of other men there, both named Dave. One of them was at the barbecue a few weeks back. In fact, during my time there, several men came by and a couple of them had been to the barbecue. I opened the trunk up and was able to give out a lot of clothes and shoes. There were a couple of items that got snapped up right away. One was a long bathroom shower mat and the other was the cushion for a chaise longue recliner. Both provide some insulation from cold hard concrete. I'd say about 7 or 8 men came by during my 30 minutes or so there. It was really an enjoyable time. Richard is a very happy outgoing man and always encourges me to pray for him and any others that might be there. It also helps that we've known each other now for over two and a half years, so that trust is communicated to the other people. Before I left I had given out all but three of the burgers and the trunk was left with mostly womens clothes. I was a good stop, but the most rewarding part of it was it was an extremely fun and enjoyable time. I had been praying in the days leading up to this trip that I would be a vessel of God's love to the people I would meet and that is
exactly the way it unfolded. It was amazing. The photo at right is of some of the guys who came by. I asked Richard where he would be at Christmas. He wasn't sure because he has a sister who lives in La Mirada and he said she might come by and get him for the day. Anyway, I hope to be able to spend a couple of hours down there on Christmas afternoon. We'll see what happens.

I had three burgers left after this stop and happened to find Alan pushing his mountainous shopping cart. As usual, he didn't utter a word, but simply nodded his head when I asked him if he wanted the last of the hambergers. I gave him a couple of bottles of water and told him I loved him. He nodded again as I drove away. I remember seeing Alan during the first year I started making these trips. I wondered at the time as Christmas approached what he might be thinking about Christmas's in the past. He grew up in East Los Angeles. I guess he has no family left to help him out. I know God hasn't forgotten about this man...and neither have I. Until next week. John

Downtown 12/5/2011

"I remember thinking,'What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God?' Hadn't I always taught my kids that actions had consequences? 'What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?' I couldn't live with that thought.." Richard Stearns, CEO of World Vision, from his book "The Hole in the Gospel".

Where do I start, in talking about yesterday's trip. It was relatively uneventful, Monday trips usually are. However, there was a powerful lesson learned and the thought from the quote above certainly came to my mind after one of the encounters. Both the lesson and the encounter happened shortly after I arrived yesterday, so I'll begin there. I have learned in the course of making these trips that a certain amount of prayer is necessary before I go. I hesitate to label a specific amount of time that's necessary, but preparing my heart before going and asking for God's guidance, presence and providence in bringing about the 'right' people and encounters has become part of the preparation for each trip as much as gathering the food and clothing items and getting them into the car. Yesterday, I wasn't quite ready when I arrived so I wanted to go to the Lincoln Park area because I knew I could sit quietly in my car uninterrupted. As I got off the freeway at Main St and the I-5 I saw three homeless people behind a corner market. I wasn't sure I knew them, although one of them was a woman and I might have helped her before. Across the street from these people was another man, Kenny, who I definitely have helped before standing with his shopping cart in the parking lot waiting for benevolent people to help him. Although I wasn't quite ready to start helping people (remember I wanted to go pray first) I filed the location of these folks in my mind and thought if they are still there on my way back through I'll stop and help them. Then I started thinking about how these folks are always there and I began thinking somewhat critically about how they weren't even trying to 'improve their lot'. Here it was about 11:00 a.m. and they were just standing around not doing anything (like recycling). Now since I have total discretion over who I help I thought maybe these folks don't 'deserve' help today. That's when I started getting 'the lesson'. It seems as though everytime I start thinking critically about these people that I work with I am hit with the thoughts of my own sins and weaknesses. Am I somehow more 'deserving' of God's mercy and forgiveness than these people? Of course, the answer always comes back with a resounding "No". All of us, including me, have sins and weaknesses that we have struggled with all our lives. The old sin nature will plague us until the day we die. The difference between God's lofty Holy and perfect status and us is so vast that the differences between my sin and these homeless peoples' sin is inconsequential. Jesus had to die for all of us. Then part 2 of the lesson hit. Peter's question to Jesus about how many times must we forgive others. Peter thought seven times must surely be enough, yet Jesus said we must forgive seven times seventy! In other words, endlessly, because that's how many times God forgives us over the same sins and weaknesses. If we are to be Christ-like, we must be prepared to do the same for others. Do we really believe God's grace, mercy and forgiveness is endless....endless enough to forgive us of our weaknesses? If we believe it enough to proclaim it to others, then we must believe it for ourselves and begin to show that same grace and mercy to others, whether we think they deserve it or not. So I parked the car by the park and started asking God for a pure heart. "Lord, please give me your heart for the lost, because the one I have is like a cold stone." When I drove back through there, Kenny was still in the same place. He thanked me profusely for stopping and helping him. The other three across the street weren't there (maybe they were recycling now after taking a break), but there was a woman across Daley St. At first she was behind a chain-link fence and 3 other women who were standing at the bus stop were looking at her. I drove around a couple of blocks and backtracked to where she was. When I came back there she was crouched down under the freeway overpass. I wasn't quite sure why she was in this position, but when I called out to her and asked if she needed some food she quickly came over to the car. Her name was Yolanda. After taking the bag of food she started walking back to the concrete wall under the freeway. I couldn't stay stopped there (a bus was coming) so I pulled on down the street. It was as I was pulling away that I figured out what she was doing. Under the freeway and positioned along the wall of the freeway are several pipe openings. They are drainage pipes. She was filling up an empty plastic soda bottle with run-off water from a drainage pipe. I was horrified. I quickly backtracked and drove back to her. I had a gallon jug of drinking water---real drinking water. You can imagine how happy she was to receive it. That's when the quote above came to my mind. I'm really not too excited about Monday trips because the encounters are so brief you end up just handing out food and water. My personal disappointment was that I didn't get to pray with anyone on this trip. Yet, giving this woman some clean water was as important as anything else I could have done yesterday. Luckily, God answered my prayer to guide me and to providentially 'set up' this encounter. It only takes a couple of minutes at most to fill up a soda bottle with water from that pipe. Yet I was there at the exact time she was doing it. God rules and overrules. Praise Him for that.

I did see Willie yesterday. He was one of the men at the barbecue a while back. Everyone living in that alley has since had to move because its gotten so dangerous there. He told me where Tara Lee spends the nights. They both have had to move around quite a bit and they can't hang-out during the day where they've been staying at night. They are both spending the nights at different locations. There is still no one living in Cloud Nine Alley and Skid Row was pretty hostile yesterday too.

There was an encounter last week that I didn't talk about. I didn't get the man's name, but I saw him (see photo) sleeping in this corner. He had nothing but the clothes on his back. As I got out of the car I put some extra food in the food bag I wanted to give him. Yet when I walked up to him and asked if he could use some
food, he angrily got up and walked away. He didn't speak English, but I'm sure he understood that I had a bag of food available for him. I wondered how many times we are like this man. How many times have we missed God's blessing because we were too busy to stop and take notice of His presence. Well, just wondering. --Until next week. John