People are waiting, it's the reason we still go to the streets in the middle of the night. It's Jodi's motivation to shop and cook each week. It's why our team gathers on Sunday afternoon for final meal preparations, sandwich making and to pack the trailer... people are still waiting. Summer's a great time for friend's and family to share what we do, but with the tightening economy and no vacation time for those living in poverty, our lines continue to grow. If July's an indicator of what's to come, we're going to need even more backpacks this Christmas and it's going to be a hard winter on skid row.

Our place in line- where we serve for the night- seems to define our evening's experience. Some nights it's as if we've each been at separate corners of skid row, each of us discovering a completely different reality in the darkness. A couple of Sunday nights ago as we began to pray I shared that my Uncle Glenn Denton had died early that same morning, telling how Uncle Glenn and his wife Bernie had been long time supporters of Jackets for Jesus. When we prayed, we prayed for the family: we thanked God for their emotional and financial support as well as for comfort for Bernie and the family. I was touched as dozens of men and women removed their hats and bowed in silence. A warm moment in the middle of the night. Throughout the evening people expressed their condolences and sadness at our families loss and let me know they'd be praying for Bernie and the entire family. Everyone can relate to loss. The homeless have lost more then most of us can ever imagine... what little they have, they carry with them. In the van on the ride home, I listened as everyone shared their stories of the night. The only image that stuck with me was one of love as friends surrounded me with their encouragement and support in the darkness.

You might recognize Dr. George Ricks from our Siempre updates, he's the man at our monthly community medical clinics. He and his wife Mary normally bring a group for Jackets's for Jesus Christmas Party on the streets. Mary's sister Katie has been wanting to check us out so they all met us a few weeks ago, we had a great night working together and now Katie and her friend Leslie are in it for the summer. Sunday night Leslie brought her sister Gail and Bart put them to work at the head of the line. That's how we get workers- someone decides to check us out- they invite a friend... and the next thing you know they've added an entirely new dimension to our work and have been coming for ten years. It all happens so fast and more importantly the need never goes away. Jesus said it best: "You'll always have the poor with you." It was an invitation to those of us that have been blessed with so much to get involved and make a difference. Early Monday morning... about five minutes into the day, I said goodnight to Beatrice, Evelyn and Jodi as they finished up washing pots and pans. Driving home under a full moon, windows down in the summer night, it was hard to imagine better people or a better way to begin my week: sharing my life with those who serve "the least of these" with those who serve Him. We're all busy. Double duty often seems like the last thing we need. I've discovered it's just what I need. My prayer this morning is that you're experiencing His peace and your needs are being met according to His riches in glory. When you'd like to share in the small miracles that happen every Sunday night on the streets, remember, you're always invited... always needed, now, more than ever.

email: eric@centralcommunity.com

phone: 1-951-689-5806

web: http://www.centralcommunity.com