Jodi had been hard at work on this meal: saving the pork in the freezer, spent Saturday and Sunday cutting, cleaning and cooking, still with all she does, she'd be the first to say that she couldn't do it without our invaluable team members. Those like Beatrice, Evelyn, Robert, Bart, Phil, Carl who make each Sunday possible with their presence- when one is out of the line up- hey we miss you Carl- they're definitely missed. Then there are the team members we count on for serving- who faithfully, week in and week out, are ready to stand behind a table, hand out doughnuts, chips, jackets, sandwiches, whatever we put in their hands, with a smile and in love. With a crowd like ours it's a great way to spend an Indian Summer evening together.

At the edge of recognition... he came through line speaking clearly, relatively well clothed and with a smile on his face. Can't remember his name; he reminded me last night, but this guys come through our line for years- almost always, living just on the edge of human survival. He's shown up half naked, completely filthy, unwilling- possibly unable to speak and almost always the butt of abuse by others as one of the "crazy" homeless people. We haven't seen him for months and just assumed he'd fallen off the planet when he showed up clean, clear headed and ready for a meal last night. Said he's been living north of LA in Ventura and was still somewhat shy about the obvious improvement in his demeanor. For us, it was one more reminder of why we're there every week- not just once a month, or when it's convenient... the homeless have so few things they can depend on, so much in life has failed them as they've made their tumble into poverty, onto skid row and away from the social norm- we're thankful God's given us the opportunity to be there for men and women on their way back up... hopefully it's his way back up, and not down into his old darkness... either way, we want to be there and long after he forgets, we'll remember last night as a bright spot. A comeback. Evelyn will probably put the picture on her desk. Taking this picture started a collection of calls for "I want my picture with Evelyn!" What fun.

Jackets for Jesus took a tough loss last Friday night when our trailer was ripped off. The van's transmission went out in August and cost us $3,500-, we needed a new load of bags- we buy them 12,000 at a time, at over $2,000-, then our trailer is stolen, locks and chains cut with bolt cutters, from the church lot, two months before Christmas... OUCH! We're a low cost, street ministry that could never survive without the loving financial support of people like you as well as the shelter and care of Central Community, that's been our home since day one. We save our money all year long for Christmas- our biggest event each year -to buy hundreds of backpacks, sweatshirts, truck rental and all that goes into the huge party. This week we'll dip into those savings one more time to replace our trailer before Sunday. We now need all 15 seats in the van for workers - we took an extra car Sunday night -and our tables, catering containers, coolers, etc... take up so much room we have no where to carry jackets. There's never been a greater time than now to consider making a great gift to Jackets for Jesus. Right now it'll go to getting us set back up with a new trailer and paying for our backpacks for Christmas. God's Good and I know He'll take care of us through these challenges. They're nothing compared to what the men and women we serve face week in and week out just to survive. If you're unable to give- whisper a quiet prayer... maybe the police will find our trailer. The homeless were outraged at the theft... they acted as if it had been stolen from them and I guess it has been... nice to give people with so little something to hold onto as if it were their own... it happens in small ways every Sunday night- A Light in the darkness. You're invited. You're Needed. Now, more than ever. We're going this Sunday night, hope you can join us.

for changing lives,

Eric

email: eric@centralcommunity.com

phone: 1-951-689-5806

web: http://www.centralcommunity.com