"He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?" --Romans 8:32
In the book of Acts chapter four we are introduced to a man named Joseph who the disciples called by another name. That name we are told was Barnabas, which means 'son of encouragement'. I had driven a long way Sunday and arrived downtown at almost 6 pm. For some reason, the story of this man kept coming to mind and I started praying that I would be like Barnabas and be an encouragement to someone, hopefully more than one, as I worked among the homeless that evening. I was tired and certainly didn't feel like an encouragement, but after buying some supplies I was ready to give it a go. I wanted to go anywhere there was a human hurting. I know God can do amazing things if one is just willing to put themselves in a position to be used by him. I can't say that I saw for sure anyone saying or acting in a way that would indicate they were encouraged. I met two guys named Robert that I hadn't seen before. Both men were under the I-10 freeway at San Pedro Ave. They weren't together, but sitting alone around the corner from each other. I'm sure neither of them were expecting anyone to come up and offer food and water. One of them accepted the offer for socks too and when I opened the back of the car up, he was amazed that I drove around and gave out stuff to people in need (including him). When I first pulled up he was sitting on the ground with his head down on his knees. When I left him (after praying with him) he had a smile on his face. Maybe he was the one. Just down the alley from him I looked over a concrete barricade and saw Antonio and Leticia. Well, they weren't too far from where I usually see them, but I was surprised to find them there. It probably is a safer location than on Trinity St.
There were a couple of others that I saw Sunday who I haven't seen in a while. One was Eugene. I didn't see his wife Helen with him, but he told me she was doing OK and feeling better. The last time I saw her she was having some health problems. In another alley off 14th St. I saw the third Robert of the evening. At times Santa Barbara has stayed with him. He was alone Sunday, but told me Santa Barbara was doing OK. He (Santa Barbara) has the tumor on his kidney that he's being treated for. Before leaving town I drove by and saw John Stokes. I only had one burger left (I think I got short-changed) at the burger joint. John had somebody with him and I only had one burger!
I just heard a remarkable sermon by Mario Murillo and one of the key points I'm going to remember and use downtown among the homeless. Mario said, "Your past does not disqualify you." This could be taken at least two different ways that I can think of. Your past does not disqualify you from the kingdom of God initially. And, your past does not disqualify you from being used in amazing degrees of usefulness in the harvest of God's kingdom. I don't know where you are along this Christian journey. But whatever has gone on before now, does not prevent you from what God can accomplish through you in the future...something to think about before my next trip. I opened with the verse from Romans 8:32. The net of that verse says, "Your worthy for Jesus to be crucified so you can be redeemed through him. Your also worthy to 'inherit' all the blessings that go along with the salvation." Remember also the companion verse in John 14:12. "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these,...." --- Until then. John
Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Downtown 4/21/2013
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." --Ephesians 2:10
I hadn't gone to the Jack in the Box in quite a while to purchase food for one of these trips, but today I did (I had a gift certificate). As I pulled into the parking lot John Stokes was standing out in front and when he saw me he said, "Oh boy, am I glad to see you. I'm hungry!" So that was how this trip started. While inside a woman, who John knew named Brenda, came up to him after I had gotten the food needing help and another man at the next table, named Peter, needed help too. John and I sat at the table for quite a while talking. He has about a month to go before he starts collecting social security. He plans to move back to the Atlanta area where he has family, he hasn't been there in almost 25 years. John was one of the first men I met when I started making these trips and kind of showed me the ropes on what the homeless are in need of. When I walked out the door towards my car two other men were walking up in the parking lot asking for food. There names were Don and Dixie Dog (yeah, I know what you're thinking about the name). I think I've may have met Dixie Dog before a couple of years back, anyway I got to pray with them too. I still hadn't made it back to my car when another man came over to me from the recycling center next door asking for some food. His name was Rick and after giving him some food and water I got to pray with him also. So finally, after helping six people before I even made it back to the car (and over half the food was gone) I was able to take off and look for others. I think Brenda may have told the people at the recycling center about me. Does that remind you a little of the woman at the well?
Well I drove around a little bit, went down one of the BBQ alleys and found Wayne. He was asleep at first and a little wary about me (we hadn't met before), but he wasn't about to turn down any food. I asked if he needed some clothes and when he declined I asked if he needed any socks. That usually gets a positive response and it did in this case too. Now I was able to get out of the car and open the back and let him look through the clothes for shirts and whatever else he might need and start a conversation. Wayne is from the San Diego area. I told him about this particular alley he was in and kind of warned him about the police running people off. He said they had come by in the morning and written him up about sleeping there. He expressed disappointment about having to move on because this was such a nice quiet and out of the way alley. No, I wasn't put off when he told me he heard voices and struggled with drug issues. I told him I drive down this alley just about every Sunday about this time, so if he's around he can look for me there. I really do hope I see him again because he needs a friend.
At this point I didn't have much food left, I drove over to where Leticia and Antonio live. Leticia was there, but she told me Antonio had gone to find a bathroom. We actually got to talk for a while and I told her I prayed for her and her husband often. She asked if I would pray for them now! When I asked for God to keep them in good graces with the "policia" and protect them from "hombres muy malo" (very bad men) I heard her groan in agreement. Unfortunately, the womans clothes I had were too small for her. I'll have to look through my supplies and find some larger clothes to take next time. After leaving her I had one burger left and found Willie a couple of streets down on Wall St. where I saw him last week. All in all, the food lasted about an hour and it was all given away. There were others on Willie's street that I could have helped, but I was out of food. This is happening a lot lately, probably because with the warmer weather I'm seeing more people out on the streets.
So I thought I'd end this blog the way I usually begin it with what I prayed for ahead of time. I always pray to find the people in need that God wants me to reach. This time I asked for God to send his angels to prepare the way ahead of time and to prepare peoples' hearts ahead of time too. I know it sounds a little out there, but the bible affirms that there are angels doing God's bidding, so why not ask Him to send some ahead of time to help prepare the way? So when I was met with John Stokes needing and asking for my help before I even got out of the car that was interesting to say the least. Then to have had the opportunity to help a half dozen people before leaving the parking lot was confirmation that God was involved and His presence was evident in the openness and receptiveness of the people wanting me to pray for them. Our God is awesome and He does answer prayers! --Until next time. John
I hadn't gone to the Jack in the Box in quite a while to purchase food for one of these trips, but today I did (I had a gift certificate). As I pulled into the parking lot John Stokes was standing out in front and when he saw me he said, "Oh boy, am I glad to see you. I'm hungry!" So that was how this trip started. While inside a woman, who John knew named Brenda, came up to him after I had gotten the food needing help and another man at the next table, named Peter, needed help too. John and I sat at the table for quite a while talking. He has about a month to go before he starts collecting social security. He plans to move back to the Atlanta area where he has family, he hasn't been there in almost 25 years. John was one of the first men I met when I started making these trips and kind of showed me the ropes on what the homeless are in need of. When I walked out the door towards my car two other men were walking up in the parking lot asking for food. There names were Don and Dixie Dog (yeah, I know what you're thinking about the name). I think I've may have met Dixie Dog before a couple of years back, anyway I got to pray with them too. I still hadn't made it back to my car when another man came over to me from the recycling center next door asking for some food. His name was Rick and after giving him some food and water I got to pray with him also. So finally, after helping six people before I even made it back to the car (and over half the food was gone) I was able to take off and look for others. I think Brenda may have told the people at the recycling center about me. Does that remind you a little of the woman at the well?
Well I drove around a little bit, went down one of the BBQ alleys and found Wayne. He was asleep at first and a little wary about me (we hadn't met before), but he wasn't about to turn down any food. I asked if he needed some clothes and when he declined I asked if he needed any socks. That usually gets a positive response and it did in this case too. Now I was able to get out of the car and open the back and let him look through the clothes for shirts and whatever else he might need and start a conversation. Wayne is from the San Diego area. I told him about this particular alley he was in and kind of warned him about the police running people off. He said they had come by in the morning and written him up about sleeping there. He expressed disappointment about having to move on because this was such a nice quiet and out of the way alley. No, I wasn't put off when he told me he heard voices and struggled with drug issues. I told him I drive down this alley just about every Sunday about this time, so if he's around he can look for me there. I really do hope I see him again because he needs a friend.
At this point I didn't have much food left, I drove over to where Leticia and Antonio live. Leticia was there, but she told me Antonio had gone to find a bathroom. We actually got to talk for a while and I told her I prayed for her and her husband often. She asked if I would pray for them now! When I asked for God to keep them in good graces with the "policia" and protect them from "hombres muy malo" (very bad men) I heard her groan in agreement. Unfortunately, the womans clothes I had were too small for her. I'll have to look through my supplies and find some larger clothes to take next time. After leaving her I had one burger left and found Willie a couple of streets down on Wall St. where I saw him last week. All in all, the food lasted about an hour and it was all given away. There were others on Willie's street that I could have helped, but I was out of food. This is happening a lot lately, probably because with the warmer weather I'm seeing more people out on the streets.
So I thought I'd end this blog the way I usually begin it with what I prayed for ahead of time. I always pray to find the people in need that God wants me to reach. This time I asked for God to send his angels to prepare the way ahead of time and to prepare peoples' hearts ahead of time too. I know it sounds a little out there, but the bible affirms that there are angels doing God's bidding, so why not ask Him to send some ahead of time to help prepare the way? So when I was met with John Stokes needing and asking for my help before I even got out of the car that was interesting to say the least. Then to have had the opportunity to help a half dozen people before leaving the parking lot was confirmation that God was involved and His presence was evident in the openness and receptiveness of the people wanting me to pray for them. Our God is awesome and He does answer prayers! --Until next time. John
Monday, April 15, 2013
Downtown 4/14/2013
"If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because he has given us...His Spirit." --` 1 John 4:12b-13
In the last several years I have prayed for some foundational changes in me that I have mentioned in these blogs from time to time. One of the first prayer requests a few years back was for a heart like His for the lost. Six months or more ago, I started praying for the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 to be displayed in my life. Over the past week my prayer focus has shifted slightly to asking God for a heart that pursues Him,....relentlessly. I hadn't thought about it at the time, but yes, this is the exact sentiment expressed in Psalm 42:1. I can't really say what prompted this, other than a simple and pure desire to follow as closely as I can in His steps. As I prayed for yesterday's trip, I asked for a greater expression of His presence in the encounters and for me to just love these people as he wants them to be loved and feel loved...and so here is what happened. Oh, one more thing, I asked to see someone of the 'old' BBQ gang too, I haven't seen any of them in months.
My first encounter was with a woman named Ricoh. I saw her in an alley looking through some clothes that had been dumped on the ground there. This alley had at one time been paved with asphalt (maybe twenty years ago), but now its filled with dirt and pot holes. This is what the clothes were laying on that she was looking through. As I pulled up, I asked her, "Do you want to look through the clothes I have in the back of the car?" Of course, she jumped at the chance. I gave her some food and water and she asked, "Are you the guy that comes on Sundays and gives out food?" Apparently, she had heard about me from John Mellon. During the course of our time together she must have hugged me three times because she was so happy to receive the help. At one point she told me, "Well, I'd rather be out here and homeless than getting beat up at home by my boyfriend." Here was a young woman just wanting to be loved and cherished and instead was being abused and disrespected by someone who should be her protector at home. How disgraceful. I was able to give her a large duffle bag to put her clothes and the blanket in. I prayed earnestly for her before leaving. I hope I see her again soon.
In the next alley over, I saw Robin again from last week. He was in the exact same spot as last week, and asleep again. He thanked me for the help, but said very little. I guess things are still strained at home for him. On down that same alley where I found four people last week, I found one man named Ricardo this week. I hadn't met him before, but he was from the general LA area. He admitted to me that it was drugs that caused him to end up on the street. I told him this has happened to many people and he wasn't alone. I then told him that Jesus was a friend to those who were hurting and the 'outcasts' of society. I told him how in Luke 15:1 Jesus himself was condemned by the religious rulers for talking with "tax collectors and sinners". I said the church needs to be here, right where he is, helping the people who need help. You wouldn't believe it, but he hugged me twice and thanked me for not only helping him with food and clothes, but just stopping to talk with him. At one point he told me, "I can tell God is in you!" I held Ricardo as I prayed for him. I told him that the day he was born, God smiled down on him (as he does with all of us) and that he was a person of worth. Before I left I gave him a copy of the New Testament and reminded him that what we talked about was from Luke 15. What a great encounter this was.
Next, I looked for Antonio and his wife Leticia. They were on the same street, Trinity, that I've seen them on in the past. For some reason they looked older Sunday. They must be in their fifties. I found a couple of other men, one in the alley behind the auto parts store where Gary used to live and another man named Mario at a gas station. Both men said very little (English is not their primary language), but they thanked me for the help. As I drove around on the south side of Washington Blvd, I happened to glance at someone walking down the other side of the street and thought they looked familiar. It turned out to be Willie! After a while, we met up on Wall St just north of Washington Blvd. He was staying on the sidewalk with another man named Tom under the I-10 freeway where the MTA parks their buses. The three of us talked at length and we were able to get caught up on where Tara, Chris and Dave are. I don't know at this time whether I'll be able to see them all together again, but we'll see what happens in the next few months as the weather warms up.
This trip seemed to go by far too quickly. I only wish I had more resources to look for more people to help. It's troubling to see so many people hurting, yet being able to bring them hope and a little bit of heaven, if only for a little while, is so amazing and such a privilege. I'm looking forward to next week. --Until then. John
In the last several years I have prayed for some foundational changes in me that I have mentioned in these blogs from time to time. One of the first prayer requests a few years back was for a heart like His for the lost. Six months or more ago, I started praying for the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 to be displayed in my life. Over the past week my prayer focus has shifted slightly to asking God for a heart that pursues Him,....relentlessly. I hadn't thought about it at the time, but yes, this is the exact sentiment expressed in Psalm 42:1. I can't really say what prompted this, other than a simple and pure desire to follow as closely as I can in His steps. As I prayed for yesterday's trip, I asked for a greater expression of His presence in the encounters and for me to just love these people as he wants them to be loved and feel loved...and so here is what happened. Oh, one more thing, I asked to see someone of the 'old' BBQ gang too, I haven't seen any of them in months.
My first encounter was with a woman named Ricoh. I saw her in an alley looking through some clothes that had been dumped on the ground there. This alley had at one time been paved with asphalt (maybe twenty years ago), but now its filled with dirt and pot holes. This is what the clothes were laying on that she was looking through. As I pulled up, I asked her, "Do you want to look through the clothes I have in the back of the car?" Of course, she jumped at the chance. I gave her some food and water and she asked, "Are you the guy that comes on Sundays and gives out food?" Apparently, she had heard about me from John Mellon. During the course of our time together she must have hugged me three times because she was so happy to receive the help. At one point she told me, "Well, I'd rather be out here and homeless than getting beat up at home by my boyfriend." Here was a young woman just wanting to be loved and cherished and instead was being abused and disrespected by someone who should be her protector at home. How disgraceful. I was able to give her a large duffle bag to put her clothes and the blanket in. I prayed earnestly for her before leaving. I hope I see her again soon.
In the next alley over, I saw Robin again from last week. He was in the exact same spot as last week, and asleep again. He thanked me for the help, but said very little. I guess things are still strained at home for him. On down that same alley where I found four people last week, I found one man named Ricardo this week. I hadn't met him before, but he was from the general LA area. He admitted to me that it was drugs that caused him to end up on the street. I told him this has happened to many people and he wasn't alone. I then told him that Jesus was a friend to those who were hurting and the 'outcasts' of society. I told him how in Luke 15:1 Jesus himself was condemned by the religious rulers for talking with "tax collectors and sinners". I said the church needs to be here, right where he is, helping the people who need help. You wouldn't believe it, but he hugged me twice and thanked me for not only helping him with food and clothes, but just stopping to talk with him. At one point he told me, "I can tell God is in you!" I held Ricardo as I prayed for him. I told him that the day he was born, God smiled down on him (as he does with all of us) and that he was a person of worth. Before I left I gave him a copy of the New Testament and reminded him that what we talked about was from Luke 15. What a great encounter this was.
Next, I looked for Antonio and his wife Leticia. They were on the same street, Trinity, that I've seen them on in the past. For some reason they looked older Sunday. They must be in their fifties. I found a couple of other men, one in the alley behind the auto parts store where Gary used to live and another man named Mario at a gas station. Both men said very little (English is not their primary language), but they thanked me for the help. As I drove around on the south side of Washington Blvd, I happened to glance at someone walking down the other side of the street and thought they looked familiar. It turned out to be Willie! After a while, we met up on Wall St just north of Washington Blvd. He was staying on the sidewalk with another man named Tom under the I-10 freeway where the MTA parks their buses. The three of us talked at length and we were able to get caught up on where Tara, Chris and Dave are. I don't know at this time whether I'll be able to see them all together again, but we'll see what happens in the next few months as the weather warms up.
This trip seemed to go by far too quickly. I only wish I had more resources to look for more people to help. It's troubling to see so many people hurting, yet being able to bring them hope and a little bit of heaven, if only for a little while, is so amazing and such a privilege. I'm looking forward to next week. --Until then. John
Monday, April 8, 2013
Downtown 4/7/2013
"You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."--John 15:16-17 ----Jesus' last commands to his disciples in the upper room the night he was arrested
Sometimes I think I rely too much on what I see and don't figure in what God is doing in the unseen realm. Last week's trip was on a weekday (Monday) and I felt led to not purchase any food for the trip. Consequently, I didn't see much happen. I only had one encounter and that was it. When one is involved in ministry to a certain group of people you tend to measure success by what you see and experience as a result of the interactions with that group. However, we often discount what God is doing in us! It may not be as easily quantifiable as how many people are prayed with, fed or clothed. Since a lot of those things take physical resources I sometimes get caught up in my lack of resources. Therein, lies the lesson-not my resources but His resources. Success is not in the way I count success but in the way He counts success. So an unsuccessful trip in my way of looking at it may be a successful trip in His eyes if a spiritual lesson is learned. If I'm focused on my limited resources, perhaps it's time for a reminder that the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels and that God can bridge the gap between overwhelming need and underwhelming resources. Perhaps even a changing of the direction of my desires and prayers is in order. I have experienced a distance from God in the last few weeks, probably due to the recent death in my family. As a result of this I started asking God for a renewed desire for Him in my heart. The Spirit flows from God, so asking Him for the kind of heart that desires Him is only logical. Yesterday, I asked for His presence to show up in a more visible way for me to experience. I also recalled from scripture that God blesses the work of those involved in helping widows, orphans and the poor. One doesn't have to wonder about it, scripture tells us he does. Yes, this time I bought food! I also went on Sunday and not a weekday. My desire and goal for Sunday was basically just to go downtown and love people. It was really just that simple.
The first man I wanted to help was sleeping on a cushion at the end of one of the BBQ alleys. I decided I'd go on down the alley and turn the car around so I'd be on the same side of the alley he was asleep on as I drove by him. As I drove down the alley, in between some large piles of trash and debris that had been dumped, there were four homeless people, two couples. I pulled up and asked if they were hungry. In a loud voice in unison they all said, "Yes". Then I asked if anybody needed some socks. I got the exact same response. I jokingly said, "Well, why didn't you say so?" I parked and got out and opened the back door so they could go through the clothes. Of the four people I think I probably have helped all of them before. Aaron was the only one I wasn't sure about and he said he had seen me down by the 4th St bridge awhile back. Terrell and Debra I know I've seen before and the woman (I never did get her name) I think I have helped her before too. Anyway, we all talked while they collected some clothes. Another man by the name of Enrique rode up on his bike and asked for some food too. When everyone was done I said, "Well you know what happens now don't you?" Debra called out, "Thank you." I said "You're welcome, but now I get to pray for you." I took a couple of steps closer to the middle of where they were and stretched out my arms. Debra and Aaron came over and the other woman too, then they put their arms around me. I think while I was praying that Terrell joined us. Enrique stood a couple of steps away while I prayed. It was pretty cool. I said my goodbyes and told them sometime soon in an appropriate place we'd do a BBQ. I still want to try and find Willie and Tara Lee. I turned the car around and headed back to the other end of the alley where the man was sleeping. His name was Robin. He said he was having difficulties at home and couldn't go back for a couple of days until things blew over. I prayed that hearts would be mended in his family and tolerance would rule. I probably will never see him again, but I think the prayer was already getting to him, he seemed a little misty eyed when I left.
My favorite encounter of the day happened next. It was the couple I saw a couple of Sundays ago down the street from the burned out church. I think the name of the street is Trinity St. His name is Antonio and she told me her name is Leticia. I gave them some food and water and let them look through the back of the car. I gave them a blanket and some socks and Leticia got a jacket. All of their collective belongings were in one shopping cart. I'm guessing they are both in their forties. Leticia doesn't speak English, but Antonio does pretty well with the language. She had asked me something in Spanish that I didn't understand. Antonio translated for me, "She wants to know if you know the 'Truth'?" I told her "Yes" and I put my arms around both of them to pray and Leticia folded her hands and bowed her head as I prayed for them. It was one of the most humble of moments ever. What a privilege to pray for this couple. I told them I would be back next Sunday. I will bring enough food to last a few days for them next week. I'll start praying about what else I can bring to help them through this time. Please pray for this couple!
I helped a few other men before leaving town. It was kind of a quick trip since I gave out so much of the food in the first encounter. I simply wanted to go down and love people. It happened just that way. --Until next time. John
Sometimes I think I rely too much on what I see and don't figure in what God is doing in the unseen realm. Last week's trip was on a weekday (Monday) and I felt led to not purchase any food for the trip. Consequently, I didn't see much happen. I only had one encounter and that was it. When one is involved in ministry to a certain group of people you tend to measure success by what you see and experience as a result of the interactions with that group. However, we often discount what God is doing in us! It may not be as easily quantifiable as how many people are prayed with, fed or clothed. Since a lot of those things take physical resources I sometimes get caught up in my lack of resources. Therein, lies the lesson-not my resources but His resources. Success is not in the way I count success but in the way He counts success. So an unsuccessful trip in my way of looking at it may be a successful trip in His eyes if a spiritual lesson is learned. If I'm focused on my limited resources, perhaps it's time for a reminder that the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels and that God can bridge the gap between overwhelming need and underwhelming resources. Perhaps even a changing of the direction of my desires and prayers is in order. I have experienced a distance from God in the last few weeks, probably due to the recent death in my family. As a result of this I started asking God for a renewed desire for Him in my heart. The Spirit flows from God, so asking Him for the kind of heart that desires Him is only logical. Yesterday, I asked for His presence to show up in a more visible way for me to experience. I also recalled from scripture that God blesses the work of those involved in helping widows, orphans and the poor. One doesn't have to wonder about it, scripture tells us he does. Yes, this time I bought food! I also went on Sunday and not a weekday. My desire and goal for Sunday was basically just to go downtown and love people. It was really just that simple.
The first man I wanted to help was sleeping on a cushion at the end of one of the BBQ alleys. I decided I'd go on down the alley and turn the car around so I'd be on the same side of the alley he was asleep on as I drove by him. As I drove down the alley, in between some large piles of trash and debris that had been dumped, there were four homeless people, two couples. I pulled up and asked if they were hungry. In a loud voice in unison they all said, "Yes". Then I asked if anybody needed some socks. I got the exact same response. I jokingly said, "Well, why didn't you say so?" I parked and got out and opened the back door so they could go through the clothes. Of the four people I think I probably have helped all of them before. Aaron was the only one I wasn't sure about and he said he had seen me down by the 4th St bridge awhile back. Terrell and Debra I know I've seen before and the woman (I never did get her name) I think I have helped her before too. Anyway, we all talked while they collected some clothes. Another man by the name of Enrique rode up on his bike and asked for some food too. When everyone was done I said, "Well you know what happens now don't you?" Debra called out, "Thank you." I said "You're welcome, but now I get to pray for you." I took a couple of steps closer to the middle of where they were and stretched out my arms. Debra and Aaron came over and the other woman too, then they put their arms around me. I think while I was praying that Terrell joined us. Enrique stood a couple of steps away while I prayed. It was pretty cool. I said my goodbyes and told them sometime soon in an appropriate place we'd do a BBQ. I still want to try and find Willie and Tara Lee. I turned the car around and headed back to the other end of the alley where the man was sleeping. His name was Robin. He said he was having difficulties at home and couldn't go back for a couple of days until things blew over. I prayed that hearts would be mended in his family and tolerance would rule. I probably will never see him again, but I think the prayer was already getting to him, he seemed a little misty eyed when I left.
My favorite encounter of the day happened next. It was the couple I saw a couple of Sundays ago down the street from the burned out church. I think the name of the street is Trinity St. His name is Antonio and she told me her name is Leticia. I gave them some food and water and let them look through the back of the car. I gave them a blanket and some socks and Leticia got a jacket. All of their collective belongings were in one shopping cart. I'm guessing they are both in their forties. Leticia doesn't speak English, but Antonio does pretty well with the language. She had asked me something in Spanish that I didn't understand. Antonio translated for me, "She wants to know if you know the 'Truth'?" I told her "Yes" and I put my arms around both of them to pray and Leticia folded her hands and bowed her head as I prayed for them. It was one of the most humble of moments ever. What a privilege to pray for this couple. I told them I would be back next Sunday. I will bring enough food to last a few days for them next week. I'll start praying about what else I can bring to help them through this time. Please pray for this couple!
I helped a few other men before leaving town. It was kind of a quick trip since I gave out so much of the food in the first encounter. I simply wanted to go down and love people. It happened just that way. --Until next time. John
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thoughts on Downtown-3/17/2013
"As he (Jesus) came near and saw the city (Jerusalem), he wept over it." --Luke 19:41
This passage describes Jesus' emotions as he enters the city of Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, also known as the 'triumphal entry'. Luke is the only gospel writer who records this. While the disciples and the crowd are rejoicing, Jesus weeps. This is only the second time in scripture where it says that Jesus wept. The other time was with Mary and Martha on the death of their brother Lazarus.
I started reading a book yesterday about a woman who decided to join the nunnery. On her first day at the convent for 'aspirants' she passed by a crucifix that had the words "I thirst" posted by Jesus' head. When I read that I thought of the scripture above where Jesus wept. It was the topic of Sunday's message at church. Somehow the two phrases collided in my mind. I had made a trip downtown two Sunday's ago but didn't have the time to write about the trip. This Sunday I didn't go. I spent Sunday with my Mother. One of my brothers passed away the week before and the memorial service was fresh in our minds. I began thinking of the times I returned from a trip downtown and wept over the deperate situations I have found people in. I can never forget Willie telling me in a barely audible whisper, "I'm hungry and thirsty." On three different occasions I've had people kiss my hand because they were so thankful to receive the help I'd given them. I won't forget the woman in a wheelchair who, along with her husband, were evicted from their apartment because they couldn't pay the rent after he lost his job. To make matters worse, two weeks later I saw her again and she said her husband and left and she didn't know where he was. Yes, I couldn't help but weep when I got home and thought about that one. Such heartbreak and tragedy is difficult to witness and even more difficult for these people to endure. All I can do, is bring comfort where I can. I am unable to permanently change their situations, but I can alleviate the loneliness and physical discomfort at least temporarily. And I can keep coming back!
A couple of years ago my wife and I were returning home from San Fernando valley at night time. We drove passed the downtown area on Hwy 101. As I looked at the beautiful night skyline I realized that the city was barely recognizable from the view I usually have at ground level. Here at night, the lights in the tall skyscrapers cast an amazing view. I realized that every encounter I've had in the nearly four years of making these trips occurs in the daytime shadows of these buildings. Down in the dirt and fowl air beneath these buildings the lives of too many people scratch out an existance each day. Hopes have long ago vanished replaced by the most immediate of desires. Pretty much the vices and habits of the world at large play out among men and women living on the turf beneath these buildings each day. Yet, I have had the privilege to give smiles to so many. I praise God that he gave me a heart for these people. You can't imagine the joy on the face of someone who receives a warm blanket in the middle of winter, or food when they haven't eaten in a couple of days. A bottle of cold water on a hot day is priceless to these people. Even a simple, "Hi, my name is John, what's your name?" will generally evoke a warm response. One man on a hot summer afternoon thanked me for just talking to him. He appreciated the food and water, but he was most thankful for me just taking the time to talk with him and not being in a hurry to move on. Incredible what simple acts of kindness can mean to someone. Mother Theresa was right when she said, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can to small things with great love."
Years ago, I began praying for God to give me His heart for the lost. It has been a remarkable journey and one I pray doesn't end anytime soon. On my last trip I gave food to a couple sitting on the steps of a building about a half a block down from a burned-out church (yes, literally burned-out). It was close to dark. I don't know if they had eaten recently or not, they didn't speak English. But I do know the man was happy to receive the food and water and his wife was smiling from the steps behind him when he came over to the car. At least they knew they could keep going for another day. Sometimes, that's all we need ask for, the grace to make it through one more day. As I go through this season of grieving it's all I can ask for too. --Until next time. John
This passage describes Jesus' emotions as he enters the city of Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, also known as the 'triumphal entry'. Luke is the only gospel writer who records this. While the disciples and the crowd are rejoicing, Jesus weeps. This is only the second time in scripture where it says that Jesus wept. The other time was with Mary and Martha on the death of their brother Lazarus.
I started reading a book yesterday about a woman who decided to join the nunnery. On her first day at the convent for 'aspirants' she passed by a crucifix that had the words "I thirst" posted by Jesus' head. When I read that I thought of the scripture above where Jesus wept. It was the topic of Sunday's message at church. Somehow the two phrases collided in my mind. I had made a trip downtown two Sunday's ago but didn't have the time to write about the trip. This Sunday I didn't go. I spent Sunday with my Mother. One of my brothers passed away the week before and the memorial service was fresh in our minds. I began thinking of the times I returned from a trip downtown and wept over the deperate situations I have found people in. I can never forget Willie telling me in a barely audible whisper, "I'm hungry and thirsty." On three different occasions I've had people kiss my hand because they were so thankful to receive the help I'd given them. I won't forget the woman in a wheelchair who, along with her husband, were evicted from their apartment because they couldn't pay the rent after he lost his job. To make matters worse, two weeks later I saw her again and she said her husband and left and she didn't know where he was. Yes, I couldn't help but weep when I got home and thought about that one. Such heartbreak and tragedy is difficult to witness and even more difficult for these people to endure. All I can do, is bring comfort where I can. I am unable to permanently change their situations, but I can alleviate the loneliness and physical discomfort at least temporarily. And I can keep coming back!
A couple of years ago my wife and I were returning home from San Fernando valley at night time. We drove passed the downtown area on Hwy 101. As I looked at the beautiful night skyline I realized that the city was barely recognizable from the view I usually have at ground level. Here at night, the lights in the tall skyscrapers cast an amazing view. I realized that every encounter I've had in the nearly four years of making these trips occurs in the daytime shadows of these buildings. Down in the dirt and fowl air beneath these buildings the lives of too many people scratch out an existance each day. Hopes have long ago vanished replaced by the most immediate of desires. Pretty much the vices and habits of the world at large play out among men and women living on the turf beneath these buildings each day. Yet, I have had the privilege to give smiles to so many. I praise God that he gave me a heart for these people. You can't imagine the joy on the face of someone who receives a warm blanket in the middle of winter, or food when they haven't eaten in a couple of days. A bottle of cold water on a hot day is priceless to these people. Even a simple, "Hi, my name is John, what's your name?" will generally evoke a warm response. One man on a hot summer afternoon thanked me for just talking to him. He appreciated the food and water, but he was most thankful for me just taking the time to talk with him and not being in a hurry to move on. Incredible what simple acts of kindness can mean to someone. Mother Theresa was right when she said, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can to small things with great love."
Years ago, I began praying for God to give me His heart for the lost. It has been a remarkable journey and one I pray doesn't end anytime soon. On my last trip I gave food to a couple sitting on the steps of a building about a half a block down from a burned-out church (yes, literally burned-out). It was close to dark. I don't know if they had eaten recently or not, they didn't speak English. But I do know the man was happy to receive the food and water and his wife was smiling from the steps behind him when he came over to the car. At least they knew they could keep going for another day. Sometimes, that's all we need ask for, the grace to make it through one more day. As I go through this season of grieving it's all I can ask for too. --Until next time. John
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Downtown 3/10/2013
"So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of grain for such a woman. Then I said, 'Now your are mine'." Hosea 3:2-3a
As you've probably read before, I do a lot of praying before making these trips, asking God to lead me to people who really need help. For some reason Sunday I was very earnest in praying to meet desperate people. Someone so desperate that the glory of God would be evident and be on display. I really didn't know what that would look like, but that's what I prayed for....
Sunday was the first day of daylight-savings time, so I knew it would be light out until around 7 p.m. I arrived at about 5 p.m. and bought some food. I drove by a few places hoping to find Gary, Jorge and Jose, but none of them were around. Next, I drove over to the BBQ alleys. No one was in the first one and the second one looked empty, but I went ahead and drove all the way down it anyway. As I got to an area where there was a lot of trash and debris I recognized a woman sitting on a cushion that was laying on the ground. We recognized each other right-away, although I hadn't seen her in several months. Her name is Cindy and she is in her mid-forties. She knew I came around this area to help people and asked me if I had any pants in the car. In fact, it was more like begging for a pair than anything else. That's when I noticed she only had on a T-shirt! Luckily, the T-shirt was long enough to cover her up. I didn't ask what happened, I knew she was embarrased to be in this situation so I just pulled over and started going through the clothes in the back of the car. I found a couple of choices for her, one of which was a pair of jogging pants. With jogging pants one size pretty much fits all. I also gave her a sweat shirt with a hood and pockets and a blanket and a couple of pairs of socks. She didn't have any shoes or socks on, but she did have a pair of men's slip-ons. They looked more like slip-on slippers than anything, but they were also a couple of sizes too big. She told me that her toes were swollen because small rocks would get in them and rub against her toes. Well, I didn't have any womens shoes in the car that would fit her, but I told her I would go down to the Payless Shoe store and get her a pair (she wore size 9's). Before leaving we talked for a bit. Since she knew me and what I do there she asked me what church I go to (I get that a lot). I told her it isn't the church that sends me here and let it go at that. I did tell her that I heard someone on the radio a few days ago who told the story of Hosea (an Old Testament prophet) and that she might be interested in the story. She commented that she loved the stories in the Old Testament and was familiar with Hosea! I told her that often times God would have a prophet do something pretty strange so the people of Israel would take notice. This strange thing would represent either what God was about to do or indicate what their relationship with God was looking like and it would then convey some sort of message. In Hosea's case he was to find a prostitute and marry her! Cindy even recognized the name that the prostitute Hosea married was Gomer. Anyway, they had three kids and then she left Hosea and went back to being a prostitute and eventually ended up being a slave. Then Hosea was instructed to go and buy her back, which he did for 15 pieces of silver. The going rate for a slave was 30 pieces of silver (remember that's what Jesus' price was). So Gomer wasn't even worth the full price of a slave. So while I'm telling her this she's starting to "get it" that even though God knows everything that she's done in her life and everything that has landed her in the place where she is at this very moment, He still loves her and wants her back. Cindy was overjoyed at hearing this. I also found out she has been feeling very alone lately because the phone number she had for her Mother wasn't getting through anymore. Her Mother lived at the same number for years in Salt Lake City and now the number isn't working anymore and she has no idea what has happened to her. Well, by now she was eating one of the burgers I had given her and I told her to put on the clothes, finish eating and "Stay here! I'll be back with some shoes." The shoe store is about a mile or two down Washington Blvd and I found some grey tennis shoes that won't show dirt so much and brought them back to her. She had put on the clothes by now and the shoes seemed to fit so she started lacing them up. I glanced down the alley and another man was pushing his cart towards us. Boy, I was sure glad Cindy was fully dressed by now. The man turned out to be someone we both knew by the name of Chicago. Cindy told him I had just bought her a pair of shoes, so he wanted to know if I had any size 12's. I told him the only size 12's I had I was wearing, but if he wanted them I'd give them to him. He declined the offer. Well, I gave him some food and water and some socks and asked about our mutual friends. He told me where Willie and Dave were staying and where Tara Lee was. Cindy had told me where John Mellon was hanging out already. I was sad to hear that Chris was in the hospital with some sort of internal organ problem. Before leaving we all prayed together and I took their picture. It was a great and fulfilling moment. Cindy looked totally transformed from what she looked like when I first pulled up. She even asked me for a bible. I didn't have one to give her but I did give her a gospel of John. I asked Chicago if he wanted one and he said he already had a bible! Here are their pictures.
Well there were others that I was able to help including three homeless Latinos on Pico near Olive St. It always humbles me when they bow their heads and remove their caps when I pray for them. It was totally dark when I gave out the last of the food and got on the freeway to head home. All I can say is if that is the way God chooses to answer prayer.....I want more.... as long as He is glorified! Until next time. John
As you've probably read before, I do a lot of praying before making these trips, asking God to lead me to people who really need help. For some reason Sunday I was very earnest in praying to meet desperate people. Someone so desperate that the glory of God would be evident and be on display. I really didn't know what that would look like, but that's what I prayed for....
Sunday was the first day of daylight-savings time, so I knew it would be light out until around 7 p.m. I arrived at about 5 p.m. and bought some food. I drove by a few places hoping to find Gary, Jorge and Jose, but none of them were around. Next, I drove over to the BBQ alleys. No one was in the first one and the second one looked empty, but I went ahead and drove all the way down it anyway. As I got to an area where there was a lot of trash and debris I recognized a woman sitting on a cushion that was laying on the ground. We recognized each other right-away, although I hadn't seen her in several months. Her name is Cindy and she is in her mid-forties. She knew I came around this area to help people and asked me if I had any pants in the car. In fact, it was more like begging for a pair than anything else. That's when I noticed she only had on a T-shirt! Luckily, the T-shirt was long enough to cover her up. I didn't ask what happened, I knew she was embarrased to be in this situation so I just pulled over and started going through the clothes in the back of the car. I found a couple of choices for her, one of which was a pair of jogging pants. With jogging pants one size pretty much fits all. I also gave her a sweat shirt with a hood and pockets and a blanket and a couple of pairs of socks. She didn't have any shoes or socks on, but she did have a pair of men's slip-ons. They looked more like slip-on slippers than anything, but they were also a couple of sizes too big. She told me that her toes were swollen because small rocks would get in them and rub against her toes. Well, I didn't have any womens shoes in the car that would fit her, but I told her I would go down to the Payless Shoe store and get her a pair (she wore size 9's). Before leaving we talked for a bit. Since she knew me and what I do there she asked me what church I go to (I get that a lot). I told her it isn't the church that sends me here and let it go at that. I did tell her that I heard someone on the radio a few days ago who told the story of Hosea (an Old Testament prophet) and that she might be interested in the story. She commented that she loved the stories in the Old Testament and was familiar with Hosea! I told her that often times God would have a prophet do something pretty strange so the people of Israel would take notice. This strange thing would represent either what God was about to do or indicate what their relationship with God was looking like and it would then convey some sort of message. In Hosea's case he was to find a prostitute and marry her! Cindy even recognized the name that the prostitute Hosea married was Gomer. Anyway, they had three kids and then she left Hosea and went back to being a prostitute and eventually ended up being a slave. Then Hosea was instructed to go and buy her back, which he did for 15 pieces of silver. The going rate for a slave was 30 pieces of silver (remember that's what Jesus' price was). So Gomer wasn't even worth the full price of a slave. So while I'm telling her this she's starting to "get it" that even though God knows everything that she's done in her life and everything that has landed her in the place where she is at this very moment, He still loves her and wants her back. Cindy was overjoyed at hearing this. I also found out she has been feeling very alone lately because the phone number she had for her Mother wasn't getting through anymore. Her Mother lived at the same number for years in Salt Lake City and now the number isn't working anymore and she has no idea what has happened to her. Well, by now she was eating one of the burgers I had given her and I told her to put on the clothes, finish eating and "Stay here! I'll be back with some shoes." The shoe store is about a mile or two down Washington Blvd and I found some grey tennis shoes that won't show dirt so much and brought them back to her. She had put on the clothes by now and the shoes seemed to fit so she started lacing them up. I glanced down the alley and another man was pushing his cart towards us. Boy, I was sure glad Cindy was fully dressed by now. The man turned out to be someone we both knew by the name of Chicago. Cindy told him I had just bought her a pair of shoes, so he wanted to know if I had any size 12's. I told him the only size 12's I had I was wearing, but if he wanted them I'd give them to him. He declined the offer. Well, I gave him some food and water and some socks and asked about our mutual friends. He told me where Willie and Dave were staying and where Tara Lee was. Cindy had told me where John Mellon was hanging out already. I was sad to hear that Chris was in the hospital with some sort of internal organ problem. Before leaving we all prayed together and I took their picture. It was a great and fulfilling moment. Cindy looked totally transformed from what she looked like when I first pulled up. She even asked me for a bible. I didn't have one to give her but I did give her a gospel of John. I asked Chicago if he wanted one and he said he already had a bible! Here are their pictures.
By now it was about 6 p.m. and I really needed to get going before all the daylight was gone. In the alley where I saw Shawn two weeks ago and Howard last week I found Kevin and Santa Barbara. I hadn't seen Santa Barbara since the last barbecue on Sept 30th. Shortly before then, he had told me that he had been in the hospital and they found a tumor on his kidney. Now he is getting treatment for it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He is very weak and tired (and he's homeless). He asked for a blanket along with the food, water and socks I gave them. We talked for a while and then I prayed with them. When I finished Santa Barbara began praying, thanking God that He still had people willing to take the time to come down and help others out. It was a very warm and memorable moment with a very ill man.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Downtown 3/3/2013
"..everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I will not turn any of them away." ..He sent me and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost." --John 6:37,39
Last night in a church service I watched online I heard the line in a song, "He will embrace the broken ones." I tried to find the song on youtube, but was unable to. However, that line stood out for me and encapsulates the message I try to bring to the people I meet each week downtown. I ran across this quote from the famous evangelist D.L. Moody this morning. "No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend-a friend that will stick closer than a brother." And then I remembered the scripture verse quoted above from Jesus. One of the most important things about that verse from Jesus is that it ends with a period. There are no conditions added like, 'unless' or 'but' or anything else, just "I will not turn anyone away." Period!
Most every man I encountered yesterday was alone (and broken). The first man was Ricardo. I met him last week, although I thought he said his name was Carlos last week (I've been having hearing problems lately). Anyway, he speaks very little English, yet he was able to communicate that the police had run everyone who had lived in that alley away. Ricardo was on a bicycle and moves around quite a bit. I haven't been able to pin down exactly where he stays at night, but he is forced to keep a low profile with the police I'm sure. One day he will probably just disappear from the area and someone will find and take his bicycle. In another of the alleys near where Ricardo was I found Loren. He was wearing a shirt, shorts and shoes. He was hungry and accepted some food and then seeing the clothes in the back of the car asked if I had any pants. I can not imagine how he was surviving at night with only those clothes. I wondered, "Doesn't anyone else care about this man?" I didn't realize until this morning that, indeed, God cares and that's why He sent me. I could only find one pair of pants in the car at the time and he was about to try them on when I left. I sure hope they fit. I also gave him some socks and a heavy sweater with a hood. There's supposed to be another storm coming our way in a couple of days, I know I could smell the moisture in the air later Sunday night.
I had brief encounters with Octavio (I hadn't seen him in ages and he looked pretty ragged), TonCarlo (I think that's what he said) and Ronald. They all needed a meal. I had also driven down the alley where I saw Shawn last week. He wasn't there at that point, but a woman and a man named Ed were there. Ed was very suspicious of me and why I was there. I asked if Shawn was around and the woman said he'd be by later. I told them I'd try and come back a little later. At the time I hadn't picked up any food yet, mainly because it was a lot earlier than I usually go. I think it was about noon right then. After prayer-walking on skid row and seeing the people above I pulled over to take a prayer break. I hadn't "felt" anything special about any of the encounters so far and wanted to feel the Spirit's presence more. I didn't realize until today my "feelings" are not what matters in these trips. You know I pray every week that I reach people in need. Every week I find them. After the prayer break I realized I was just down the street from the alley where Ed was earlier. I have to admit that I was a little uneasy about going back. Nobody wants to go someplace where they aren't wanted, yet Ed wasn't the only one there and maybe Shawn would be back. Well, when I drove up, neither Shawn nor Ed was there. The woman may have been there, but she wasn't visible inside her 'house' she had set up. However, a little ways down the alley I found Howard. Howard was fifty five years old and originally from South Carolina. He knew Shawn and had seen him a little while earlier in one of the other alleys around there. We talked for quite a while, during the course of our conversation I told Howard the same story I told Shawn the week before about how God had spoken to me about forgiveness in such a specific way that I immediately was able to forgive a person I had been very angry with. I explained that since God knows where we've come from and everything about us, he knows exactly how to speak to us through circumstances to reach our hearts. I could actually see I reached Howard with this story by that look of "Ah ha, I get it" on his face. I hope that understanding translates into seeking after God in a new way for him.
Before leaving town I looked for Gary behind the auto parts store, but his stuff was completely gone. Ray still isn't around on Cloud Nine Alley either. I found a guy on 18th St by the I-10 freeway sleeping on the sidewalk. His name was Kevin. He had one blanket to lay on, but nothing to cover himself with. He was also pretty tall, and we had to dig around to find a sweater big enough to fit him. I just love praying with people in this situation. Think about it from their perspective. You're laying down on the sidewalk. You're hungry and trying to sleep so you don't feel the hunger. Someone drives up and offers you a meal, gets out of their car and gives you some warm clothes, a blanket and some water, prays with you and drives away...asking nothing from you! You lay back down thinking, "What just happened? It must be my lucky day!" And then you're hit with the realization, that God really hasn't forgotten about me!!!
I saw Mel and John Stokes as I left town. In the world of the homeless, mistrust of others and out and out dislike is just as prevalent in their world and on this little street as it is in our world. I gave out the last of the food to them and then dug around the back of the car for another pair of pants for John. He had on jogging pants, which aren't very warm unless your jogging. You may remember he had another man named Dave living next to him last summer and actually for about a year or so. One day, Dave left to go to the recycler (with some copper I think) and never came back. All his stuff was left behind. John never found out what happened and it has troubled both of us. I had already prayed with John, but when we got around to talking about Dave I said, "We need to pray for Dave." John immediately said, "yes" and bowed his head, so I prayed again right then. Where we were praying was next to a fenced yard with four small dogs in it. I had mentioned the dogs while praying for Dave and then for John's protection, more for humor than anything else. After all, two of the dogs were puppies anyway. When I finished, the first thing John said was, "You know your right on about those dogs. They have alerted me to danger and someone coming by in the middle of the night more than once." What is it the bible says about the Spirit interceding for us when we don't know what to pray for? God is awesome! --Until next time. John
Last night in a church service I watched online I heard the line in a song, "He will embrace the broken ones." I tried to find the song on youtube, but was unable to. However, that line stood out for me and encapsulates the message I try to bring to the people I meet each week downtown. I ran across this quote from the famous evangelist D.L. Moody this morning. "No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend-a friend that will stick closer than a brother." And then I remembered the scripture verse quoted above from Jesus. One of the most important things about that verse from Jesus is that it ends with a period. There are no conditions added like, 'unless' or 'but' or anything else, just "I will not turn anyone away." Period!
Most every man I encountered yesterday was alone (and broken). The first man was Ricardo. I met him last week, although I thought he said his name was Carlos last week (I've been having hearing problems lately). Anyway, he speaks very little English, yet he was able to communicate that the police had run everyone who had lived in that alley away. Ricardo was on a bicycle and moves around quite a bit. I haven't been able to pin down exactly where he stays at night, but he is forced to keep a low profile with the police I'm sure. One day he will probably just disappear from the area and someone will find and take his bicycle. In another of the alleys near where Ricardo was I found Loren. He was wearing a shirt, shorts and shoes. He was hungry and accepted some food and then seeing the clothes in the back of the car asked if I had any pants. I can not imagine how he was surviving at night with only those clothes. I wondered, "Doesn't anyone else care about this man?" I didn't realize until this morning that, indeed, God cares and that's why He sent me. I could only find one pair of pants in the car at the time and he was about to try them on when I left. I sure hope they fit. I also gave him some socks and a heavy sweater with a hood. There's supposed to be another storm coming our way in a couple of days, I know I could smell the moisture in the air later Sunday night.
I had brief encounters with Octavio (I hadn't seen him in ages and he looked pretty ragged), TonCarlo (I think that's what he said) and Ronald. They all needed a meal. I had also driven down the alley where I saw Shawn last week. He wasn't there at that point, but a woman and a man named Ed were there. Ed was very suspicious of me and why I was there. I asked if Shawn was around and the woman said he'd be by later. I told them I'd try and come back a little later. At the time I hadn't picked up any food yet, mainly because it was a lot earlier than I usually go. I think it was about noon right then. After prayer-walking on skid row and seeing the people above I pulled over to take a prayer break. I hadn't "felt" anything special about any of the encounters so far and wanted to feel the Spirit's presence more. I didn't realize until today my "feelings" are not what matters in these trips. You know I pray every week that I reach people in need. Every week I find them. After the prayer break I realized I was just down the street from the alley where Ed was earlier. I have to admit that I was a little uneasy about going back. Nobody wants to go someplace where they aren't wanted, yet Ed wasn't the only one there and maybe Shawn would be back. Well, when I drove up, neither Shawn nor Ed was there. The woman may have been there, but she wasn't visible inside her 'house' she had set up. However, a little ways down the alley I found Howard. Howard was fifty five years old and originally from South Carolina. He knew Shawn and had seen him a little while earlier in one of the other alleys around there. We talked for quite a while, during the course of our conversation I told Howard the same story I told Shawn the week before about how God had spoken to me about forgiveness in such a specific way that I immediately was able to forgive a person I had been very angry with. I explained that since God knows where we've come from and everything about us, he knows exactly how to speak to us through circumstances to reach our hearts. I could actually see I reached Howard with this story by that look of "Ah ha, I get it" on his face. I hope that understanding translates into seeking after God in a new way for him.
Before leaving town I looked for Gary behind the auto parts store, but his stuff was completely gone. Ray still isn't around on Cloud Nine Alley either. I found a guy on 18th St by the I-10 freeway sleeping on the sidewalk. His name was Kevin. He had one blanket to lay on, but nothing to cover himself with. He was also pretty tall, and we had to dig around to find a sweater big enough to fit him. I just love praying with people in this situation. Think about it from their perspective. You're laying down on the sidewalk. You're hungry and trying to sleep so you don't feel the hunger. Someone drives up and offers you a meal, gets out of their car and gives you some warm clothes, a blanket and some water, prays with you and drives away...asking nothing from you! You lay back down thinking, "What just happened? It must be my lucky day!" And then you're hit with the realization, that God really hasn't forgotten about me!!!
I saw Mel and John Stokes as I left town. In the world of the homeless, mistrust of others and out and out dislike is just as prevalent in their world and on this little street as it is in our world. I gave out the last of the food to them and then dug around the back of the car for another pair of pants for John. He had on jogging pants, which aren't very warm unless your jogging. You may remember he had another man named Dave living next to him last summer and actually for about a year or so. One day, Dave left to go to the recycler (with some copper I think) and never came back. All his stuff was left behind. John never found out what happened and it has troubled both of us. I had already prayed with John, but when we got around to talking about Dave I said, "We need to pray for Dave." John immediately said, "yes" and bowed his head, so I prayed again right then. Where we were praying was next to a fenced yard with four small dogs in it. I had mentioned the dogs while praying for Dave and then for John's protection, more for humor than anything else. After all, two of the dogs were puppies anyway. When I finished, the first thing John said was, "You know your right on about those dogs. They have alerted me to danger and someone coming by in the middle of the night more than once." What is it the bible says about the Spirit interceding for us when we don't know what to pray for? God is awesome! --Until next time. John
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