YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS

“You have no idea what this means…”

By Colleen Morgan-Hobbs

My fingers were frozen with leather gloves on, and the serving gloves offered no more warmth when we served at Roselawn a week ago. We did our usual meals there and loaded the truck for our weekly trip to the levee to see the guys there and offer them a warm breakfast. The numbers were lower and with the weather so cold, we think they just don’t come out sometimes.

I saw Dave and asked him if there was anything I could pray with him for. He said he wanted a one way ticket to Michigan to go home. I asked around and found there isn’t money available to help these guys like that, and sadly, there isn’t anything that can be done. I took his name and number wishing I had the means to help, but I am working part time and just don’t have the money. I prayed with him that the Lord would provide the money he needed.


Dave came down to work for BP in the beach cleanup and there were needed certifications he needed that somehow he could not get and he ended up homeless and broke.

When I got home from work later I posted on Facebook to pray for a man named Dave who wanted a one way ticket home to Michigan. My nephew Kenneth called and left me a message that he wanted to help the guy. I was thrilled! I gave Kenneth his number and he called him and told him he was ‘going home’. That man cried. Kenneth cried. I cried. I was crying out of happiness.

Friday morning Kenneth and I met David on the levee and his eyes welled up and he kept asking, “do you know what you have done?” We packed him a care package with sandwiches, chips, candy and water and bought him a throw to cover up with on the bus, and a pillow. The thankfulness flowed out of David. We went to the bus station, Kenneth purchased the ticket and gave him $16.00 for meals. We were in the middle of the bus station talking and we started sharing the Gospel with him, the plan of salvation and I asked him if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart and he said no, but that he wanted to “right now”. We three stood in the bus station holding hands and he prayed after me. He then told us he was an identical twin and that his brother was going to be baptized in two weeks. We encouraged him to pursue it!

I went on to work and Kenneth stayed with Dave for 3 ½ hours at the bus station until he left. In the meantime they spoke to another homeless man named Richard who wanted to go home to Mississippi. My wonderful 24 year old nephew got him a ticket and he left too.

Dealing with the homeless is particularly precious to me right now because my own son Sean is homeless and living in a truck. He lost his job, is on probation and has a warrant for his arrest. He is open to going into a program but wants to go in “after Christmas”. He is 20, and I can only pray for him and suggest the way to go. Undoubtedly there are similar circumstances in some of these guys we deal with, but one thing I know…offering food and something to drink, praying with them and trying to meet their needs is being Jesus to them. All of this is done in hopes of having them turn their life over to Christ, recognizing Him as Savior and hopefully steering them in the right direction while showing love from Jesus. “God’s Kindness leads to repentence”…Romans 2:4

Leo wants to go home to Houston... anyone want to bless him?

It's Not What I've Learned, It's What God Has Shown Me What He Can Do!

It's not what I've learned, it's what God has shown me what He can do!There are so many different things that I have learned about God. First of all, Christ has done so much for me in the last 28 months, and it's great! For the people that don't know me, I was a drunk, a dope head, and didn't care what people thought of me, because I didn't like people and that's because I didn't like myself. So, I lived on the river in a tent, and these people in red shirts would always come around, I didn't trust them, I didn't trust anyone, but they kept coming around. I began to get close to some of these people. They would ask me to come to church with them. I haven't had a bath in a while, and I could smell myself, so I didn't go and yet they still kept coming around. I knew then that these people were for real. They weren't just coming around to make themselves look good, it's what God has told them to do. I'm going to be selfish with this one, He sent them there just for me!! Now, I'm one of these people in a red shirt doing my part no matter what it is. That's what I've learned. God has reached down and grabbed me and what He does with me from here on out, is up to him. He's taken care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. I love where He has me right now!!!!!!!!!!!I love what I've learned about going the extra mile to help others and I'm going to keep on coming around with my red shirt on.

Richard

Pray for Leona

Wednesday June 9, 2010

Today, we had 20 or more youth from The River Church near Houston with us as we served breakfast to the homeless. We were blessed and pleased to see these young Christians and you could really see that several of them were quite at home in our ministry - almost like they had been serving the homeless for years.

We took two car loads of these young folks out on our roaming trip to the Levee and around town. During our trip we made a stop at the infamous North Street Overpass. That overpass has started to accumulate homeless people again. For a while it had been vacant but today there were five people there - and later two more came.

We met a lady there named Leona. It was the first time any of us had met Leona but she seemed to be in a real bad way. She was eaten up with bugs and seemed to have a bad rash as well. She seemed ill, confused, and not focused. She was weak and tired and possibly suffering from drug withdrawals but I do not know this. She was also emotionally beaten down by the recent loss of some of her family members. She at times was wailing that she was alone in the world. We prayed with her, got her settled a bit and gave her a hot meal with some water and juice.

Leann was crying, but thankful that Jesus had sent us. She wanted out of her predicament. She was crying for help. Fortunately, we have a connection with a couple from the Zachary area that has helped get ladies off the street in the past. We worked out a meeting with those good people and delivered Leann to the comfort of their welcome.

Tonight, I want to lift that couple up - Devin and his wife and ask Father to protect them and provide them with the judgment, discernment and provision that they need to deal with this extremely difficult situation. I also pray that God be with Leona and comfort her. I pray that she receive the healing power that God can provide and that her soul and body be cleansed of the dirt and evil that has her in its grasp. Father we pray that you be with us all and especially those three this night.

Father thank you for blessing us with this serve team and for all the volunteers.

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

David V.

Pray for Leslie

These photos of Leslie should be a reminder to us all about the dangers of
street life. Two weeks ago we asked for prayer for Leslie who "lives" out
around EKL Medical Center and the Brookstown area. She is a 39 year-old
woman who has three grown children back in Alabama, but through a lifelong
series of various abuses going all the way back to her childhood, she has
succumbed to the rigors of life and is "existing" on the streets of Baton
Rouge. These photos show Leslie about ten days ago after she was severely
beaten by a man she has been in bondage to, basically over drugs and money.
She was beaten so severely that her jaw was broken and she had other serious
facial lacerations and abrasions.She filed a police report and the man is
now in jail, but Leslie fears for her life if or when he is released.

Leslie told me and Tecca on Sunday that she is consumed with hatred toward
this man. As you view these photos you can clearly understand why. She knows
that hatred is wrong, but cannot break free of her intense feelings. Leslie
again went to the altar at the Dream Center on Sunday and prayed for
forgiveness, with LaTasha. Her heart is open to God's place in her life, but
it is extremely difficult for her to break free of the things to which she
has become enslaved. Only God can do such miracles, and she needs a
miraculous intervention. Please pray for her about her issue of hatred, and
also pray earnestly that she will finally agree to go to Revelation House
with Georgia O'Neal. Leslie has promised to go, but says "things are still
pulling on me" to stay out here where I am.

She also continues to suffer from an infected tooth, but cannot have that
taken out with her jaw broken, and she has cirrhosis and has been told she
will not live for more than one year.

Why it Matters, What Ifs & Are You Always Listening For God?

Yesterday’s outreach started like most Thursdays, cooking at the shed, serving at Roselawn then out roaming. We arrive at the levee, start handing out breakfast and a couple of the regular folks we serve point down the levee back toward town & tell me the person I see is a 15 year old kid. The boy is walking away from where we are.

I go to the guy handing out the breakfast, he’s a runner, & half- jokingly say you’re a runner, why don’t you run down there catch the kid and bring him a breakfast. He didn’t take me serious, I didn’t know that I was serious, the kid was steadily walking away putting distance between us.

That’s when God took over. I grabbed a breakfast and had this overwhelming need to get to this boy. The runner looked at me and said wait, I’ll go with you, but he was still busy handing out breakfast. I couldn’t wait. I started hurrying to catch up with this boy. He says to be careful and not get out of sight, I joke and tell him not to worry. You see, I still don’t realize what’s going on, but I know I have to get to this kid. I scurry sideways down the levee instead of taking the paved ramp, I rush to cross the road and before I get across I’m yelling to get his attention. By this time I’m jogging into the field as the boy reaches the railroad tracks. I hear a train and try to get his attention between the train whistle blowing. He sees/hears me and turns before the train passes.

I offer him breakfast or something to drink, he doesn’t want anything. His name is Dustin, he’s aloof and distant, said he had stopped by to see someone he met a while back that serves with us, but didn’t see them on the levee. I ask him to go back with me, saying not everyone had arrived yet and we’d see if we could figure out who he was looking for.

I don’t know why, but I needed to really connect with this kid, I start asking where he’s from, what’s he doing out there, etc. As we make our way back to the levee he starts to open up and share his story with me. He lived in Houma from age 5 -12 somehow ended up in Baton Rouge, lives in a group home, is skipping school, doesn’t like it here. He shared where he goes to school, but not what group home he’s at. Once he started talking it all just starts pouring out, details of his life and the trouble he’s in.

He tells me that when he didn’t see the person he was looking for at the levee, he started walking away. He said he didn’t know where he was going. When he reached the train tracks and heard the train he was thinking about laying across the tracks and ending it all because things were so bad.

I’m dumbfounded, praying, God, give me your words to talk to this child, let him know You love him and he’s worth it and he matters. We continue to talk, he tells me his family was split up all except he and his twin brother Devin. He started getting into trouble and the family that took his brother in was supposed to come back for him but they didn’t. He feels like he’s all bad and his twin is all good. He says he wants to do better but getting in trouble is a habit, he does it without even thinking about it. We talk about God, he tells me he’s not sure if he’s saved. He had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior but now doesn’t think he is saved because he keeps getting into trouble.

The words come, they aren’t mine they are God’s, now I’m the one pouring out to him that he matters to God, that we are all sinners that we all need forgiveness. I share how God has answered my prayers and that I still have to pray every day for his help and guidance. I tell him that God doesn’t give up on us when we mess up, He always loves us. He lets me pray for him.

With the help of another volunteer, we had figured out that the person he was looking for was Charla, one of the dedicated homeless volunteers. He had come by to thank her for giving him a card to a youth shelter program a few weeks before. We assure him we’ll pass on the message to her. I ask if there’s a number she can reach him at. He knows he’ll be in trouble when he returns to the group home and won’t have phone privileges for a while. We give him a card with the number for the 24hr hotline telling him he can reach us that way.

It’s time for us to go but I’m afraid, I don’t want to lose contact with this boy. I hug him tell him I love him and encourage him to pray. That’s when he decides to take me up on the offer for something to drink. The truck that has the food in it is already headed down the levee ramp. I’m hollering for them to stop, they don’t hear me. Dustin says it’s ok he doesn’t need it. But you see, I’m not in control, God is. So I’m running down the levee again and catch them just as they are pulling out. They back up and are giving Dustin something to drink. I don’t know why, but I knew my part was finished so I headed back up the levee to my ride.

That’s when David, our volunteer who transports the food, meets Dustin. He recognizes him, you see David mentors another boy that stays in the same group home as Dustin. Praise God! He had already tried to reach out to Dustin when he was there to see the other boy. Dustin recognizes him too, now we have a connection!

For a long time I wondered what it was like for God to speak to someone. For a while now I’ve known when He’s telling me something, but wow when He uses us all together and we all hear & listen.

You see, Charla was disappointed she couldn’t go roaming with us yesterday, but God had already used her for His purpose weeks before.

I wasn’t supposed to be there yesterday, I was bummed, I wouldn’t get to spend time with Valerie a volunteer that was in town from Florida. Then the client I had an appointment with had to reschedule. Yeah, I could hang with Valerie. In my narrow vision I thought that was all that was going on.

David tried to reach out to Dustin at the group home before, but didn’t reach him. It wasn’t God’s timing, but yesterday was.

Thank you God for taking over, thank You for using us for Your purpose.

J

IN THOSE EYES

It is all new to me, serving the Homeless at a weekly breakfast downtown in Baton Rouge. I have always had the heart to serve, but had no connection, and was much too timid to appear there alone. I served with one of my Connect Groups as a pre-Servolution effort to relieve the Cooking for Christ group that cooks faithfully every week. It was such a blessing that morning, I decided since I work nights as a Caregiver for an Alzheimer patient and am able to get some sleep, I could serve weekly, then go home afterwards.

This past Thursday, I went to Roselawn Dream Center after work, and put my gloves on to help serve at the breakfast. There is something about teamwork that really appeals to me, so I was in my element serving eggs on the line with two others. I found I was rarely looking up as I worked at first, concentrating on my job. I noticed others who are regulars had big smiles, warm hugs and were on a first name basis as they saw the people come in. I found that so engaging. I found it inspiring. I’m a rookie on the scene, and would need to spend time in that environment to develop those kind of relationships, I reasoned within myself… then, I saw those eyes.

They appeared sad. They looked tired. I got the feeling as I looked into them, that they had been hurt over and over again in his lifetime. Those eyes had served as windows of the soul to that man. I got the sense that he was embarrassed and ashamed to be in that position, needing someone to feed him. I found compassion stir in my heart for him. I was scooping eggs over and over again, but I was there as a representative of Jesus to serve him. I looked back into his eyes and smiled. Those tired eyes crinkled at the corners and softened as he responded.

I realized I have had those eyes at times in my lifetime as well. Fortunately I have not had the circumstances he has had, however, in recent months, I have had three times I was out of work and really scared over my financial situation. Last summer I had double hand surgeries and was out of work for two months. It was tough then, but one of my sons sent money regularly during that time. I returned to work only to be laid off a month later. When I have work, the money goes priority-wise to basic bills which has kept me behind overall, but has kept my head above water.

I have had security in my life and I have had real scares. It has been a test of my trust in the Lord during these times. At Christmas, a family at Healing Place Church anonymously gave me a monetary gift which was so incredibly generous, and which God used deeply in my life to enable me, in faith to trust that He is my Provider and sees my need. I am still struggling, and what I saw last Thursday, is that I am two steps away from being homeless myself. Reality hits hard sometimes and causes us to evaluate truthfully our true position of need. I see that I am no different than that man who was hurting…I’m just still able to be independent. God forbid I think I am any better and have had a better, more wonderful life. It is all His grace.

I want to continue serving weekly, Lord Willing, and I hope I will never lose sight of what the Lord showed me through those eyes. Truly, Christ has compassion on our souls and enables us to love others...that is if we allow ourselves to see others with His Eyes.

Colleen Morgan-Hobbs