So,
My Monday started with me sitting at the hospital with my best friend as he was waiting for his wife to go through cancer surgery.
I got to work around 10:30 and a girl, let's call her M, was waiting to talk to me. Her boyfriend, let's call him R, left her. She slept on the street the night before. They had both had been shooting heroin for a few days, and they started fighting. So I tried to find a shelter that would take a 21 year old pregnant girl hooked on heroin. Before I knew it, Edgar came to get me because a guy, R, was yelling at a girl, M, outside. I went out and found R stalking, like a caged animal. After talking to him I realized what was going on with him. Heroin. Well, to be honest he told me, he said he wanted to get into a program to get clean. I called James from Come To Him Ministries and he agreed to come talk to him. James said he would be there in an hour. For the next hour R and M argued and then they talked, argued, talked, argued and talked.
After an hour James showed up and talked to R. He informed R that no place would take him unless he tested clean. As James talked, I was amazed how compassionate and loving he was. R seemed to understand. R and M packed up everything they had into a couple of backpacks and left with their arms around each other.
1:15 I went to lunch. 1:30 I get a call from the office that they are back yelling at each other. Pastor Rick told R that he would have to leave because he was yelling, screaming actually, at M.
When I got back to the office R was yelling at everyone, M, me, James, Amy and some poor woman who was looking for rental assistance. I asked Amy to take the woman, who looked like she was shell shocked, into the office. R screamed "I can't get any food or a bus pass?" "F- you, F-your god" to M, "F-your god" to me and "F-your god" to James. "He never did anything for me". He picked up his backpack that had everything he owned in his whole life and left.
M started praying and crying. She asked God to help her to get clean. I talked to her for another 1/2 hour. I gave her a bus pass so she could go to a facility in Long Beach. I don't know if she went or what will happen to her and her baby.
I walked into the office to find a woman, let's call her S, sitting in the hallway, in a chair crying. She still looked frightened. She told me her story. She owed the bank $300 because of overdraft fees. They would take it out in installments if she would use direct deposit for her SSI check. She said they charge her $48 a month for fees along with the money she owes. That leaves her $50 short for rent this week. This Friday is her daughters birthday and she was afraid she would have to use any money she received as a birthday present. She knows she needs to be in church but her daughter was sick during spring break so she couldn't come.
A couple of months ago this same woman came to talk to me about needing help. She had the same story, right down to the next Friday being her daughters birthday. I told her we couldn't help her. I walked into my office to find my phone ringing. Oh, by the way my computer has a virus. It hijacked everything. I can't even use it as a nightlight. Back to the phone. R was on the phone to apologize. I told him he had crossed the line and he couldn't come back for a while. He said OK and started to cry then immediately said he didn't care. That he was going to have to steal to eat and if he went back to prison he didn't care. He hung up.
A little while later I looked at the clock and it was 4:30, time to go home. As I was leaving the parking lot R was pacing back and forth in front of the Church looking at every car that was driving by because he had called M's father on the phone and threatened him. Her dad said he would come down there and kick his rear end. R was waiting for him to show up. I told him he had to move on. He said OK and picked up his whole life in that little backpack and walked off.
What's for dinner? Tears.
Don't worry, I'll be OK.
The Kings are up 2-1.
Robert
The Widow's Gift
The other day a man in a powered wheelchair came to the door and asked to speak with someone. So naturally, I get a call.
I go out to talk to him. His name is Robert. We sit for about 25 minutes and I listen to him. He doesn't have teeth (he mumbled) and is hard of hearing (he whispered) so it was tough to hear him. I don't think he cared all that much. He is a very lonely man and just wanted to talk to someone. After a while he was done talking, so I asked him if I could pray for him and he said sure. After we prayed he said he would like to give me some money for the homeless. He also said he didn't have much as he only gets $35 a week for expenses. The rest of his money goes to the facility he's in. He pulled $1.63 from a bag (he lost his wallet). I told him he didn't have to give us the money. I said he may need it and it would be OK for him to keep it. He insisted and handed me a 1 dollar bill (crumpled up) 2 quarters, two nickels and 3 pennies. I thanked him and told him we would give it to someone who needed it. I walked into the office and told Rebecca (our receptionist) about Robert. We both almost cried.
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.
And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them;
for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."
Luke 21: 1-4
I saw Robert driving his wheelchair across the street the other day. I just looked at him and smiled. The gift he gave me that day was more than money can buy. I thank you Robert.
In Him,
Robert
Drive to work
This morning driving into work, same route I always take: I got off the freeway, in the same place I always do, though something was different today. As I exited there were several police cars and flares scattered on the road blocking 2 of the 3 lanes. As I slowly turned down the street I noticed right away what all the commotion was. There was a car precariously balanced on the center divider! Yes, somehow this car managed to work its way up onto the grassy divider, facing the wrong way, with the front tires almost touching the pavement, back tires on the divider. What was more interesting to me was, as I drove slowly by, there was a woman seated in the car on the driver’s side looking at me. As we made eye contact, the look wasn’t amusement or annoyance at what had happened, it wasn’t fear or shock, it was I have no idea what to do next, won’t you help me? You know that look. We all see it in people’s faces every day; in the grocery store, at restaurants, work places, even stopped at a light. The question in my mind was, is she asking me for help? How can I help? There are police, I’m sure a fire truck was on its way, possibly paramedics, and lots of people standing around. I had to get to work, if I stopped I couldn’t possibly be any more help than what she was already surrounded by. So as I pulled into my parking lot, the vision of her still in my mind I realized the one thing I could do of course, pray. While she did not appear to be injured or in any danger, there was a reason our eyes met. God had a reason to bring me to that place at that time. So even though I did not know what her specific needs were, other than the obvious, I felt she was crying out for more. I sat in my car and prayed for her. I prayed that even though I don’t know what she needs, her Heavenly Father does. How much more should I be praying for those whom I am close to and love dearly and know their hurts and cries? My mornings are full of requests on behalf of others now. I fill my drive to work with prayer. So many of my friends & family are in need of prayer, please know that I am praying…
Liz
That's why!
One of my responsibilities at work is to work with the people in our neighborhood who need assistance. That could mean food, rent, utilities or just listening to them talk.
I'm not able to give everyone what the ask for. Sometimes I can only listen.
About a year ago a woman came to the office in tears. Her boyfriend left her and her son. (Junior High age) He took all the money and she didn't know what she was going to do. Her son was an angry young man, not doing well at school. She asked for help with rent. I wasn't able to give her any money. I sat with her for almost an hour. Listening. I wanted to help her but there wasn't anything I could do.
During our conversation she mentioned her need for "medical marijuana". After a couple seconds I realised there wasn't a medical reason for her smoking. I asked her if she was really surprised her son was so angry when he saw the things going on in the house, drug abuse and fighting with her boyfriend. She only cried.
Before she left I prayed with and for her. I prayed God would comfort her and draw her to Him. I prayed God would help her.
Over the the last year I talked with her son when he came by to pick up a bus pass. I always asked how he and his mom were doing. Sometimes he would say "good" and other times he would just shrug his shoulders. Usually he would shrug his shoulders.
Last Sunday at Church she came up to me and asked if I remembered her. I said I did (expecting her to ask for help). She said she wanted to thank me for the time I spent with her that day. She said that it meant everything to her that I would spend the time to listen and pray for her.
Her son is getting straight A's. She has a job and has stopped smoking. They are getting ready to move to a better apartment. Things are looking up.
Some have asked me why do I want to do what I do.
I can honestly say...That's why.
Robert
I'm not able to give everyone what the ask for. Sometimes I can only listen.
About a year ago a woman came to the office in tears. Her boyfriend left her and her son. (Junior High age) He took all the money and she didn't know what she was going to do. Her son was an angry young man, not doing well at school. She asked for help with rent. I wasn't able to give her any money. I sat with her for almost an hour. Listening. I wanted to help her but there wasn't anything I could do.
During our conversation she mentioned her need for "medical marijuana". After a couple seconds I realised there wasn't a medical reason for her smoking. I asked her if she was really surprised her son was so angry when he saw the things going on in the house, drug abuse and fighting with her boyfriend. She only cried.
Before she left I prayed with and for her. I prayed God would comfort her and draw her to Him. I prayed God would help her.
Over the the last year I talked with her son when he came by to pick up a bus pass. I always asked how he and his mom were doing. Sometimes he would say "good" and other times he would just shrug his shoulders. Usually he would shrug his shoulders.
Last Sunday at Church she came up to me and asked if I remembered her. I said I did (expecting her to ask for help). She said she wanted to thank me for the time I spent with her that day. She said that it meant everything to her that I would spend the time to listen and pray for her.
Her son is getting straight A's. She has a job and has stopped smoking. They are getting ready to move to a better apartment. Things are looking up.
Some have asked me why do I want to do what I do.
I can honestly say...That's why.
Robert
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