This week Steve Martin, Charles, Stef and Justin joined me in Pontiac. We walked around and ended up on the steps of the Salvation Army Community Center with Marily and another guy whose name escapes me. We spoke of spiritual things and she blurted out some things in "tongues" out of nowhere and kinda freaked the kids out. We discussed it later to help them better understand what "that" was. Justin joked that she stole his soul. Which is kinda funny since she did look through him while speaking in tongues then ask him what it was he wanted to say... Justin said, "nothing" and she agreed with "Amen." I couldn't wipe the stupid smile off my face. We discussed later how some of the things she was going through mentally could be something of a spiritual nature (demonic oppression/possession) or perhaps simply a human being who has lost touch through a psychotic break from too much stress and anxiety, etc. We are frail, fallen humans that can "break." But we are also spiritual beings capable of being influenced, oppressed, even possessed spiritually. She may have gotten into some "not-so-good things." and opened herself up to spiritual oppression. Or again maybe she just had a nervous breakdown and never regained touch with reality. We discussed this and how there are things we do not see in the spiritual realms and how as saints we are directly involved in the battle that is waged in the spiritual realm. As in Frank Perretti's "This Present Darkness." It was then very cool that Sunday Shannon's sermon spoke directly too that conversation. Confirming to us that perhaps we right where we were supposed to be on that Tuesday. Its good to know that we are in tune with God's Spirit.
Week 4
Only Steve and I went to Pontiac this week. We went to a location that Tim tipped us off to the week before. Last week we saw Tim as we were leaving town and I stopped and gave him water and prayed for him. I am not sure who was more blessed, Tim or I. It was awesome. We did not see him this week and I pray that God protects him and gets him off the streets before it gets too cold. So we visited WHRC Elementary and no homeless there. We went back to town and found Kyle and Rudy on the steps at the Sal. We sat with them and offered water and some long sleeve shirts. They accepted and were grateful. I also passed on some decent shoes to Rudy, I will take some socks next week as Rudy's looked rough and smelled worse. I want to get some folks like Kyle (who doesn't mind being on the street) a good sleeping set-up. Like a sleeping bag and sleeping pad and a backpack he can put it in. It is funny... they share with each other out there, don't get me wrong, they fight too. But they will take care of one another. A man named Robert came out to visit Rudy and Kyle and he brought blankets. But because they already had some, they were going to give them out to others. Pretty awesome. We are gaining rapport and trust from some folks as we are out there each week. We are learning a lot too. Like the Baldwin Center opens up in the cold months as a shelter from 8pm to 7:30am. They also offer showers 3 times per week. There is no laundry as it is a 6 week wait. Some folks just through out soiled clothes as they cannot wash them. There are some basic needs met out there. Steve and I are going to check out Baldwin Center to see how we can help or compliment what they do to meet more needs. It sure does make a difference in my faith walk to be doing what I know I am supposed to be doing. What are you supposed to be doing that perhaps you are not. There is joy that comes from doing what the Lord asks of you even a deep peace and fulfillment when we do the Lord's will. You may not be sure what He is asking of you. Pray then, step out and do. What if you step out and were wrong? No big deal really. But what if you are right when you step in faith? You have everyhing to gain. What if you do not step out at all? You could lose the immeasurable blessing of a fulfilled faith life.
Tonight was great. Charles, Charlie, Justin and I went to Pontiac. We drove and parked and walked and began praying for God to lead us. We continued to walk and met Lawrence. Lawrence seemed drunk or perhaps mentally impaired, but kind and we gave him water. He was very grateful. We walked some more and found Marilyn whom we had met last week without getting her name. We brought shoes for her as we knew her shoes were in really bad shape. However, when I finally got the courage to speak to her I found that she didn't want other shoes for different reasons. Marilyn is very knowledgable of the bible and prays alot. However, I think she may be schizophrenic with delusions. But she was kind and was very talkative. I hope to get her to wear some new shoes as she may as well be bare foot. As I was speaking to Marilyn, the guys met Kyle and Tim. We didn't even know they were homeless, but they told the boys to be careful out here (everyone is still scared from last weeks brutal beatings of 2 homeless men and 2 others). We found out Frenchie, the man who was on life support from the beatings died today and Kyle was pretty upset as he said they were close friends. Kyle is a character, I like him. He is very ill and isn't sure how long he has. Tim wishes there was somewhere he could go and get a job and get his life back together. I wish I could help, though the task would be daunting as all 4 of these kind individuals would require some professional attention as far as their mental impairments are concerned. Rudy seemed okay mentally and we gave him a water and he was on his way. Everyone seems to smoke (except Marilyn) and they are well fed by the various agencies in the area - Baldwin Center, Salvation Army Community Center, and St. Vincent de Paul. There just is no shelter available. Kyle thinks there are 70 to 100 homeless downtown and more like 1000 in Pontiac city limits. Tonight was great because we actually got to meet and speak to some folks and get to know them a bit. This is one of the greater needs (as you can see we learned alot from Kyle and Tim and I think they enjoyed talking to us as much as we enjoyed hearing from them). They have food, clothes, medical, and some hygiene available but not alot of fellowship from the community and no shelter. Right now I will spend time with them and meet whatever needs I can, but I will be praying about shelter. Pray for God to guide and lead us and to continue to meet the needs of our friends and to keep them safe; plus Kyle's poor health, Tim needs a job, and Marilyn needs some psychiatric attention. I can't tell you how awesome it is just to be doing something that we were created in Christ to do, it fills a missing piece of my discipleship. If you want to know more or experience it... Just come and see.
So Charles and I just got back from our first trip to Pontiac. It was nothing short of amazing. It was somewhat uneventful for the first two hours. We wondered if there were any homeless in need. We continued to pray for God to lead us to someone or for God to lead someone to us. We handed out a couple of waters to Ronnie (I think his name was?) who though he said he was homeless, I had my doubts. We saw a man sleeping and we just didn't feel led to wake him. We then found ourselves at an intersection or a crossroads if you will. As we tried to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading we would just be quite sometimes. This was one of those moments and I thought and said, "let's walk around that side of town one more time, we haven't been over there in a while." Then as we walked past the Grace Centers of Hope we saw what seemed to be an entire family walking away with duffel bags, backpacks and suitcases filled to capacity. I said to Charles, "what is going on there?" We caught up with them and asked. The man of the family, Chris, said "homeless." There was no room for them at Grace Centers and they were going to try the Salvation Army Community Center. I told them they could have a water and that if "the Sal" couldn't help that they could come see us and we would by them dinner. We waited and they soon came walking back our way. They did not come all the way to us, so we went to them. I asked "they couldn't help?", and of course they couldn't and I asked then "why don't you come and eat with us?" So we went and ate at the coney and we found that Chris (the dad), Mikka (the mom), Tez (the son), Cupcake (nickname of daughter), and Theresa (the friend) all rode a Greyhound in from Ohio and had no place to stay, but had family in Ypsilanti. Let's pray they get a fresh start and that they build that start on Christ. We spoke of Christ with them and gave Him the glory for our encounter. Chris needs a job and the whole group needs shelter. Keep them in your prayers.
Join us in our adventures in serving Christ in Pontiac next Tuesday!
