PARK UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2009

The needs on the streets are growing and each week that is becoming more apparent. For the past few months, there are more and more new faces showing up at the park. People who are new to the streets as well as what is considered the new homeless, those who have homes but have to make a choice of weather to pay rent or buy food. So, they come down and share our table with us. We share the table with all and turn no one away. The winter months are coming quickly and some of the shelters are all ready full. This is alarming. The shelters usually never fill up until the bitter cold sets in and those who normally camp out, come in to get out of the cold. With the shelters filling up, there will be more out on the streets exposed to the cold. Last year it was reported that eight lost their lives to the elements. During those months there is always an increase in the number of people at the park looking for a warm meal. We are already preparing food for 200 each week and I ask that you pray that we will be able to continue to serve our friends when that increase comes.

I want to thank all of you that continue to come down and serve our friends in the park; they are touched by your generosity and love. For those who cannot make it to the park, we thank you for your support and prayers; you are making a difference in their lives. We have had a few new people coming to help, Bob, Joni, Linda, her son and Ryan have joined us as well. They have been welcomed into what our park friends call the family. Our park friends don’t consider us a feed, but instead a weekly family picnic. What an honor!

They have made this weekly gathering so much theirs that on the weekends that Deb is not cooking, I give over my kitchen to a few that insist on cooking, their way of giving back to us. We also had a street couple that so much wanted to bless us they bought food for this past weekend. Our friends don’t have much but they are generous with what they do have.

I am amazed at what the Lord is doing. Next month will be two years that I have been going to the park. What started as a call from God to go hand out sandwiches to a few people in need, He has blessed and has become a large gathering of our friends without homes. The Lord has brought some amazing, wonderful, giving people along on this journey and each and every one of you has been an answer to prayer and a blessing beyond belief. You will never know how grateful our homeless community, as well as myself are to you.

Instead of going to the park at four, we have changed the time to four thirty. This change is to help us better serve our friends.

Our friends continuously ask me to thank you for see them for the wonderful people they are and loving them period.

PRAISE REPORT

*Jim (out guitar guy) received housing a little over a month a go.

*Nate and Hillary on Sept. 11 gave birth to their son Timothy 7 pounds 9 ounces. On the same day they received housing and have since moved into their own place. Mom and baby are doing fine and Nate couldn’t be a prouder papa.

PRAYER REQUESTS AND NEEDS

*Walls that our friends have built up are coming down. Their hearts are beginning to open and the Lord is preparing those hearts. Pray for their salvation and the opportunity for us to speak into their lives.

*Help us pray for finances to continue feeding and to help obtain a building we can use for church services as well as be used to further help our friends and the rest of the community.

*Please pray against the spirit of alcoholism. The Lord has showing me lately the grip this addiction has on the people and I ask you that you pray that those addictions will be broken.

*Pray for those who have made it off the streets. Transitioning into normal society can be hard.

*A few of our friends had their things taken and are in need of some clothing, below are a list of things they are in need of. If you can help in anyway, please let me know and thank you.

Large backpack—dark colored
Men’s tennis shoes size 10 and size 11
Women’s tennis shoes size 6 ½
Women’s pants size 9/10
Women’s underwear size 6
Women’s shirt’s size medium