Sandwich Day 9 : November 6, 2007

Menu: Sacked lunch (sandwich, chips, cookie - Halloween candy)
Barbarian tribe includes Rick (back from Galveston), Jerry and myself.

The Cove

As we approach the Cove we can see some folks. As we pull up there are four people and a dog - immediately I am mad at myself...I don't have dog treats again. As we are walking up I recognize Rabbit! Standing tall and SOBER! He looked like a different man and I am so happy to see him doing this well. At the same time, I see Rabbit back in his old surroundings so soon - trying to do it on his own. He has chosen a very rocky path. Rick and Jerry were totally rejoicing with Rabbit and encouraging him. I will let them expand on the Rabbit factor. One fellow left as we were walking up - it was as if he wanted nothing to do with what we were about. The other two were Patrick and Melissa and a dog named Jenny. As Rick and Jerry spoke with Patrick and Rabbit, I walked over to Melissa who stayed off to herself. I looked her in the eyes and smiled as I introduced myself and tears came to her eyes. We truly don't realize the power of a simple smile. Her and Patrick and Jenny the dog have been on the streets this time for about a year. They hit financial hard times. She said that it's hard living this way. I have a new friend and I am going to what I can to lift her spirits next week. Seems like God has taken Mary out of my life but now has given me Melissa. We all stood together in prayer and it was time for us to move on.

Howard

As we pulled into the gas station to park - Rick was preaching a sermon on serving and Jerry was chiming in...when Linda the store clerk came out to the car. She said that Mary and Joe had been there yesterday. She told them that we had been asking about them. Someone named Red had died and it has been hard on Mary to deal with. I pray that she will be ok. We could see someone sitting under the overpass so off we go. As we approch this fellow, he is sound asleep sitting up. He could not hear us over the noise of the traffic but finally he woke. Rick handed him the sack lunch and he kinda was still waking up. He was a gentle soul - I could see that in his eyes. I knelt down beside him and he told me his name was Chris. He knows Jesus so we prayed over his lunch and for his protection. Time to move on.
Parme Lane - at the light is Isaiah. Rick hands him a lunch. He says that he really needs a jacket. It is starting to get cold and these folks know what that means. There was a desparation in Isaiah that brought me to a reality once again of all the things that I take for granted...like a coat.

The Edge - The Split Up

This is funny...we are at the light waiting to take a left. Here comes a fellow walking toward us. It is obvious that the light will change before he gets to us. What are we to do? We tell Jerry to get out and GO!! And God love him...he did. So we leave Jerry on the corner and go park the car at the gas station on the other side of the highway.
POPS!!! So good to see him! It's been a couple of weeks. Rick and I visit with Pops for a few minutes when Rick sees a guy under the bridge. So off Rick goes for more lunches and I stay with Pops. For a instance, you now can see me on the corner with Pops, Jerry on the other side of the highway and Rick under the bridge. Pops gives me his sign. So for a moment - I stood in Pops shoes - holding a sign watching cars pass by. I was holding the sign with one hand and give the peace sign with the other. I recommend everyone to experience this. Only one guy looked and gave the peace sign back. No one else even looked...or at least they made darn sure that I didn't see them look. I asked Pops if he is happy. He said yes. He said there is a differenc in being alone and being lonely. I understand that one. I asked him how he was doing with Jesus and he just smiled. I told him that I was still praying for him and I could tell that he was ok with that. Pops is really cool. Dear Lord, please, let's not lose him!
The three of us gathered back at the car with one lunch left...NOTHING GOES BACK...it was fun to see where the last lunch would go. It didn't take long.

The Gap - at the light is a lady named Freedom. We hand her the last lunch and she asked if we were the Biker Church people. We are becoming known. She said she is pregnant. She is smoking a cigarette and it's getting cold. This breaks my heart. We told her that we will be back next Tuesday and to be looking for us.

I have to keep reminding myself that my assignment is to feed them and it's not my business why they are hungry. I also have to remember that Jesus said there will always be the hungry. I feel like we are doing so little. Here comes the tears again. I thank you God for every .... single.....thing.

--Vicki
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This has become a highlight of my weeks. No matter how rough work might be these trips always lift me up! I love our Lord! I enjoy the barbarian fellowship!

It was so good to see Rabbit looking well. I hugged him immediately and told him how awesome it was. He is like a new man and he had to show us his sign that said 13 days sober. I pray next week it says 20! His new friends seem to understand and said they are helping him. I pray that is so. They seemed very nice and out of place. A gentle reminder we all aren't far from where they are. I reminded Rabbit about the load being taken off of him when he got saved "Like a ton of bricks" and told him he shouldn't pick the bricks back up. Let the Lord have them. I think he was a little upset about what happened getting to Temple and us leaving him and all, but at the same time I think he understands just why that happened. The Lord gently reminded him that is was His plan and I could almost feel it as we talked. He understands it did help him and accepts it even though it was painful.

It was awesome to see Linda, the store lady get involved and care about the folks. We really aren't alone in this world. There are barbarians everywhere! Chris at Howard Lane was nice polite and soft spoken.

We had a discussion about how these folks are fragile sweet souls and it is part of the reason they are where they are at. It takes fighters out there today to get by and these folks don't have that fight in them. As tough as they may look and the hardships they bear they just don't have the heart to be mean enough to do anything different. Wonder why Christ was homeless?

The cold is the enemy. Desperation and survival instincts are kicking in. Isaiah asked for a jacket. These are the first things they have requested of us. They aren't asking for money or dope, they need basic survival items.. The resources it would require to do this right are staggering.. I will be cleaning out the closet again. We have so much "Trash" that could be saving a life. Open up America. Hand deliver it, see a genuine smile. Goodwill is good but those items don't reach these folks. Give it where it counts, give from the heart the Lord has given you. The Edge we did what all good barbarians do, divide and conquer. It was good to see Pops and he told us of a new friend named James. He had just had a scuffle with Sheldon over a comforter that Pops said didn't belong to him and Jerry talked to Sheldon and his sleeping bag had been stolen. The cold is driving them to do things they hate but desperate men do desperate things and Sheldon had told Jerry he was very cold. It was 56 degrees and windy so we haven't even gotten to the bad stuff yet..

We will all feel the pain of Christ as we watch them suffer. People had to turn their eyes from the suffering of Christ. Stand on a corner with a sign and watch them turn their eyes from you. Christ reminded us they will always be there. It doesn't make it hurt any less. The last Sandwich went to Freedom. That really sounds profound. They are desperate slaves of hunger and cold. We are slaves to TV and telephones.. What would happen if everyone canceled their cable or cell phone and used the $100 a month to improve someone else's life? Not though a charity or a Church or any organization but through personal one on one interaction with someone who really needed it. What a blessing it could be to all!

I hope Time Warner or AT&T doesn't put a hit out on me for that last statement!

Blessings
--Rick
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Standing Strong but Cold...

One of the highlights today was Rabbi. We had no idea it was even him as we pulled up to the Cove. Only a few weeks ago I remember Rabbit could barely stand up little alone speak clearly. I didn't realize it but Rabbit is a pretty tall guy. He was now standing strong and looked as if he was again filled with hope. It is amazing how God works.

We also met up with Patrick, Melissa and Jenny. They were a very nice couple fighting to stay warm and keep their heads above water. We all shared with each other different stories and rejoiced in Jimmy's sobriety. Before we left Vicki prayed for all of us and we handed out some pocket versions of John. We asked that as they travel and cross paths with those who may be seeking Jesus, that they hand one of the pocket books out. Sometimes we just need to stop slowing down the Gospel, and just get out of the way...

To each a path...

Red Light...GO! I jump out of the truck sack lunch in hand and make my way through traffic as my new friend Sheldon makes his way towards me. He can barely breathe, he has asthma and it is apparent. As we sit down to talk on the over pass of The Edge, while highway traffic is blowing by at 70 mph below us we find it quiet. I ask him if he would like a lunch and of course he is hungry. He starts off by asking if I am with the Church Under the Bridge, The Salvation Army, etc...I told him I am just a normal guy doing as God ask me to do according to His Word. I think Sheldon finds it hard to believe, and rightly so, that someone would take time to
stop and say hello let alone drop off a lunch. Sheldon fills me in on the downtown Austin homeless situation and it is apparent he is very frustrated with how the organization is being funded and ran in general. He talks of his sleeping bag being stolen and how things get cut-throat this time of year. I remind him that the personal relationship with Christ can keep us warm in upside down times. Before I left Sheldon I ask him if he would like to pray and he immediately grabbed my hands with both us his, almost clinging on for dear life.

We asked God to look after us as we moved throughout our day and that he may lead us both, under His protection, down the path He sees fit.

--Jerry