10-12-24
Another great event this past weekend! We had 13 volunteers show up and served 98 unhoused neighbors. What started as bad timing in ordering supplies turned into a blessing; we ended up being forced to choose different bags to put our kits in due to long delivery times, which actually turned out to be so much better than what we were doing before. Especially as it gets colder, we have now found insulated bags that *perfectly* fit our meal containers and other items AND they’re half the price of the old bags. Where we make mistakes, God helps us out undeservingly!
We wanted to highlight two of the Neighbors we chatted with:
Truth: when we approached him and started chatting, he actually asked us if he could pray over us. He thanked us for being obedient to share love and service with our unhoused neighbors, and was able to encourage us in our work, even as someone who was currently unhoused and struggling on his own. We’d like to pray for him and his safety, as he prayed for us and our safety!
Ali: based on our conversation with him, it seemed like he is trying to find the right community, so we want to continue to pray for his mental health, wisdom, and an encounter with Jesus. One of our volunteers actually spoke to him at the last Neighbors event, where he had shared that he was Muslim and didn’t want our prayers.
This time, however, he agreed to let us pray for him. Praise God for building community and for softened hearts towards Him! This is why we do what we do- hallelujah!
Some post-outreach prayer requests:
Andrew: pray that he would find the strength in Christ to be able to get off drugs once and for all.
Juan Carlos: pray for him that he would be able to find more hope in humanity, which we know will come through hope in Jesus.
Zach: pray for his mental health to improve and be healed.
Jason: pray that he would find the strength in Christ to be able to get off drugs.
Adrian: he just wants to have a good day!!
Abud: pray for protection over him as he has lingering damage that he’s dealing with from a car accident.
Tim: pray for miraculous physical healing, as he got hit by a bus and is not doing well.
Obed: pray for those he encounters on the street, specifically Elaine (listed next).
Elaine: pray for her as she does not eat or drink, no longer speaks, and those around her believe she is close to death. Pray that she would stop starving herself with the intention of ending her life and that she would be able to find hope to keep on living through relationship with Jesus.
Kenny: pray for physical healing and sustained health; he fractured rib cage after CPR that was necessary because he had a seizure.
Kim: pray that she would be able to find a wheelchair and permanent housing. Pray for her to be able to find the funds to purchase a birth certificate renewal for social security ($160). Pray that she would experience a renewed sense of dignity, as she said she often feels like an animal on display because people gawk at her all day while she is out on the streets.
Ramsey: pray that God would provide a good job and housing.
Damon: pray for him, as he served in the Army. He said our meal was his answered prayer, so pray that he can see that as God seeing him, loving him, and directly answering his prayer.
Van: pray that he will overcome addiction and that he learns to lean on and surrender to God, as he believes he must overcome it in his own strength.
Louisa: pray for her husband, James, who recently was arrested. Pray for him as he navigates his time in jail, and that Louisa and James would be able to be reunited and refreshed.
Ryan and Candace: pray for them to have success in finding housing, as Ryan is currently out of work and their dads are missing.
Trish: pray for her as she lost her housing days ago and can’t work because of medical issues. Pray that her missing boyfriend would be found healthy and safe to be reunited with Trish.
Terry (and dog Bella): pray for him as he was wrongfully evicted. Pray for his health, as he is suffering from Hepatitis-C, diabetes, and COPD.
Kat: pray that she can find safe long-term housing and that she will have sustained patience in the waiting, as it is stressful since she has to wait outside the mission to see if they can get a bed every day.
Vernon: pray for him to be able to make better choices.
Eddie: pray for his memory to improve.
Troy: pray that he would be able to find reliable housing and safety.
Miles: pray for freedom from alcohol abuse and a softened heart so that he can experience the true love of Christ. Praise that, for whatever reason in his past, he does know the Bible and pray that the truth that’s already in his mind will make its way to his heart in a way that makes sense and brings healing.
Mike: pray that the courts will have grace- and he will act wisely enough- to be able to see his kids one day. Pray that he will be able to afford renters insurance and find a job that is gracious to past felons.
Taylor: praise that she is able to see and visit her daughter, and pray that God will continue to bless her cosmetology career and that she will be able to flourish in her new job.
Earl: pray that he would be able to obtain a new cart and new glasses that don’t keep breaking on him and are the correct prescription.
Esteban: pray that God would provide a hotel room for a safe night’s sleep and access to a shower.
Our neighbors that didn’t have specific prayer requests, but that we’d like to pray for anyway:
- Marlene
- Fe
- Stacy
- Jackie
- Benjamin
- Mike
- Brad
