His name is Vernon and he's come through our line for years. A native of LA, a veteran, a die hard Dodger fan and homeless. Vernon's suffered with back problems as long as I've known him. He lives in terrible pain and spends far too much of his time waiting to see doctors who don't know what to do to make it go away. He's had surgery, tried living on pain meds and nothing seems to work. Can't imagine that the years he's spent standing, sitting and sleeping on concrete have helped. Everything of value in his life is kept in his backpack... that rides on his ailing back. Sunday night he pulled up his shirt to show me the back brace he was fitted with that allows him to stand, walk and carry his few belongings safely through the day. After looking at his brace, he asked me: "Eric, can you pray for me? I need healing. I believe God can do it... I just don't know how long I can go on like this... nothing seems to help." He'd asked for prayer one other time- I'd thought he was asking for money -and in the confusion that followed we never took time to pray. Sunday night, there on the corner, I called Steve over and together we laid hands on Vernon in faith and love, asking Jesus to bring healing to this brother... to relieve his pain. Embracing, gingerly, after prayer, watching him walk away, I stood in the darkness in awe of the strength and resilience of creation. No investments to worry about losing, no equity to battle with the bank over, no shopping bills to keep up with... makes poverty sound like a blessing... and then you consider no car to ride in, no shelter as winter comes, none of the benefits of personal health insurance... even still he had faith to pray, believing in God, Who's Eye is on the sparrow, and that in these tough times when Heaven must be hounded with the prayers of billions, God would hear our plea. Can't tell you how many Sunday nights on the streets have renewed my faith. It happened again last week.

George and Robert... two of my heroes. Unlikely co-laborers and even more unassuming heroes, they head up the end of our service line each week- serving water, hot chocolate, tea and whatever other drinks we might have. Each of them have their own fair share of life's challenges and there've been many nights someone's mistaken them for one of the homeless. They serve asking for little in return and while on the streets always add to the night in their own special way. Robert's been working with me on Sunday night's for over 12 years... I'm guessing we'll probably get old and die together serving on the streets! We're part way there. George has been helping out off and on for at least 5 years. Robert takes a special joy in breaking many of the rules I set for our workers: running off to use the restrooms in surrounding buildings where he's made friends and giving out money to almost anyone who ask. I turn a blind eye... his heart is in the right place even when I don't understand or agree with his reasoning. George goes along for the ride. Standing by Robert like a faithful friend- lending support and aide -serving in the darkness without question... asking for very little. The two of them can have some off the wall conversations in the back of the van as we drive to the streets... coming home, they both snore. (rumor has it that I do on occasion... but I don't believe it). Watching them work, I'm always reminded that God's Plans are perfect and that He has a place of service for everyone. If you ever wonder if you'd like to give Sunday night a try... come on out and we'll let you ride in back with Robert and George. Their faithful service will humble you. I know it humbles me.

Last week alone in Tijuana. The drug cartels are on a killing spree and fear has gripped much of the community as beheaded bodies are dumped in plain sight and brazen killing raids are made into police stations leaving murdered officers behind. The happy faces of children at Siempre stand in direct opposition- as Light in the darkness -to the chaos that threatens to engulf the greater community. That's Ricardo in the picture- he turned 4 years old this week. Dropped off at Siempre as an infant, we're the only home he's ever known. He's one of the many reasons Pastor Israel and the men of the church at Siempre are working so hard to get a fence up around the property. Escalating violence, desperate people... our workers live in fear of a child suddenly being snatched away. The very thought of it sends shudders through me. We've hesitated to push for money to pay for the fence- with a slumping economy, giving to both Jackets for Jesus and Siempre have slumped as well. Without a very generous gift that came like a Miracle we didn't know how we were going to make it through last August. I'm guessing this past weeks losses on the market will make it even more of a challenge for many to give. Interestingly enough, listening to a "market update" on news radio this week while driving, the local expert didn't say how far stocks were down, he said: "In times like these it's important for us to evaluate our lives and to remember that which is of real and lasting value." I half expected him to jump into a pitch on putting it all in gold and precious metals. Instead, he reminded his radio audience that our relationships, family, love... was what mattered most. I was stunned. (I confess I also thought- "market must have tanked!) He's right. Just the last place I expected to hear it. In times that challenge our sense of financial security it's easy to forget that guys like Vernon are living on the streets in pain... even though he served his country. Easy to forget the bright smile of Ricardo and surrender him to the violence erupting all around Siempre while he grows up in innocence. We're better, healthier, more complete as people when we remember and join their battles. Pray for Vernon and Ricardo- they'll probably never meet each other -we're their link when we choose to serve Jesus in "the least of these." If you'd like to pay for the new fence, or build it, contact me. Please keep Vernon's healing in your prayers. If you'd like to join us Sunday night on the streets or next Wednesday at Siempre, You're Invited... in fact, You're Needed, now, more than ever.

for changing lives... and siempre,

Eric M. Denton

email: eric@centralcommunity.com

phone: 1-951-689-5806

web: http://www.centralcommunity.com