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Greetings!
That's James holding out a full plate and smiling with joy from a full heart. I'd slipped in last week from vacation to join the crew headed to the streets. Driving to LA, Bart and Jodi filled me in on the previous week, that I'd missed, letting me know how it went, who'd worked, how many guys were there... all the usual stuff... then Bart told me about James, waiting to make a long distance call home. Funny, so many new things happen each week: people we've never met in the line, someone's unhappy, someone else has a story to share. In the midst of it all- each Sunday evening feels new, yet I suspect to those outside of Jackets for Jesus our work must seem monotonous. I missed one week on vacation and felt like there was a hole in my life... guess part of it's knowing that the homeless never get a vacation from poverty... there's no rest or re-creation when you're in a daily battle for survival, too often, at best, all they can hope for is a few moments of escape... or maybe a Sunday evening with friends. Hopefully, our little corner of peace and abundance offers that moment of relief before the mill begins to grind again as they walk away from our line.
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A Message Home |
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It's easy to forget that every person on the street has someone, a family, friends, the folks who raised them, somewhere, who loves them. When someone "disappears" into poverty it's often after many bridges have been burned: the last dollar borrowed, one final promise broken, a night of anger and heart break that overflows into harsh words and someone walking away... and soon... after shelters are exhausted and sometimes countries crossed, they stand in our line, holding out their hands for a meal, opening their hearts one more time to hope. Every person in poverty has a priceless story to tell that they've usually buried beneath years of pain and heart break. The families of the homeless have stories too- often the stories of those at home all end the same, "If we only knew where he/she was... if they're all right... if they're alive." One message home can mean so much.
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"My Sister Told Me to Thank You" |
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James missed everything last night... but he still showed up- he had a message that wouldn't wait. Last week he'd asked to use the phone again- he wants to make the same call every week- the call that never goes through. He always pulls the same letter from home- the one that looks like he's been carrying it for years- out of his back pocket: unfolds it methodically, gingerly pulls out the well read words and points again to the long international number and gives instructions on how to dial it. We've never gotten through to anyone. I'd never even heard it ring... until last week. Standing on the side of the street, dialing familiar numbers one more time, suddenly the phone was ringing: it felt like a time bomb in my hand! Handing it off to James, his eyes jumped open wide as a voice from home answered. He spent the next 15-20 minutes talking to family in Ecuador. I imagine they caught up on old times, told him how everyone was at home... but most of all, one question was answered: "He's alive!" James was in shock the rest of the evening. He sat and ate, smiling, thanking me over and over again. This week, late for everything, food gone, he showed up just in time to give me one message: "Last week my sister told me to thank you for letting me call." Hugging him, telling him it was no problem, I thought of my sister, of my family, of what that one phone call would've meant to them, and I silently praised God, He's still using Jackets for Jesus.
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Our Father |
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I'm teaching on prayer this month at Central Community. This weekend I'd covered two life changing words and their impact in our lives: "Our Father." Our family is one of the greatest gifts we received when we confess our faith in Our Father. So many of you have supported Jackets for Jesus in prayer, hard work and finances: this morning I'm thankful for you and your part in our family. You're in my heart and prayers as I write. Without you, James family would still be in the dark, wondering if he was alive or dead. Because of you, we have a phone, we serve meals, we have a van- with a new transmission - and we have the encouragement that comes from your continued financial support. Thanks so much. My wife and daughter, Debi and Julia, (that's Debi in the picture), joined us last night. Julia leaves for Rwanda and Kenya with my sister's family next week where they'll do a baseball camp for street kids, led by my nephew Pat, and serve in a number of other ways over the next 4 weeks. Julia's grown up around Jackets for Jesus and had the opportunity to see a number of old friends on the streets and tell them about her coming trip. Watching it all happen, I marveled at the miracle of light that's shining in dark places because Our Father's got big plans for keeping His family connected- all around the world - our family. Thanks for all you do to support the ongoing work of Jackets for Jesus. So many men and women, just like James, are living far from home and just waiting for someone to help them reconnect with those who wonder if they're even alive. We have a vital part to play. It all begins with a jacket. Check your closets- hot as it is you can surely find a jacket or two to clear out- then bring them with you and we'll share them on the streets. They're needed, more importantly, you're needed, now, more than ever.
for changing lives,
Eric
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