Monday, October 26, 2009

Homeless ministry - Part II

We had an awesome, busy, transforming weekend here at the camp. Thank you so much for those who got emails; churches, family members and friends, who lifted up our ministry this weekend in your prayers! I know that some of the people who you will see in the pictures below made life-changing decisions toward continued rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol, and many more made decisions toward God!

72 people came to the camp from the homeless shelter, men and women both. We were asked to help as much as possible this weekend with the homeless in that while all are in rehabilitiation, some are working their programs better than others and might need continued encouragement to sit in on the meetings instead of choosing to not be a part. There were some who had only been clean for days to even a few weeks and were still going through the difficult task of detoxification. We were even told that some might be a bit of trouble and to watch carefully over particular people. God answered the prayers of many in that there were no difficult situations the entire weekend from Friday through Sunday with any individuals from this group! In fact, they all seemed very content to be at the camp, enjoy its surroundings and to be able to have meetings to sit in on! Our location here at the camp is a lot different than their lives on the streets of San Jose and at one point, I teared up as I saw many of them picking up the fruit that we have here at the camp right off the ground and enjoying the simplicity of oranges, limes, guava, and grapefruit. As I walked by one gentleman sitting at a picnic table peeling an orange I overheard him say in spanish repeatedly, "Gracias Dios", as he carefully peeled back the rind and observed the intricacies of the orange, and then began to savor the first bite!

This weekend we heard so many stories, each unique, all were difficult and heartbreaking. Some were of loss of family due to drugs, possessions like houses, eating from trash cans in the city, spending days in drug and alcohol "binges" on the streets of San Jose and then having no place to go.

Below is a picture of Jason during one of the services that the group held with their Pastor who came with them. He is praying for continued change in his life with the Lord's help. He has been drug-free for a couple of months, but it is not an easy road for him. There are many who are attempting to lure him back on to the streets so that they can buy drugs from him. Jason would ask that YOU would continue to pray for him!

This is a picture of some of the group during one of their services.

This is our church here on Sunday morning combined with the homeless shelter worshipping together. Ken and I were touched when at the end of the service, our church family reached out to each of the homeless shelter members with a small gift from the church. They did this, not at our suggestion, but on their own and then the shelter members reciprocated with a small gift back to the church! Very moving!

From left to right: Edwardo, one of the leaders at the homeless shelter, one of the members of the homeless shelter sharing his testimony with the church, Luis Diego, another leader at the homeless shelter and their Pastoral counsel and Jeffrey, the Youth Pastor of our church.

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to partner with this homeless shelter.

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