Under the Overpass

Here is a story (real-life, unlike a certain famous bookclub choice...) of a couple of college age guys who decide to live on the streets, to see what it is really like.

They spend a month at each of six US cities, with nothing but a guitar and their sleeping bags. Their experiences are eye-opening (for them and for the reader). Particularly painful yet hopeful is how they are treated by various Christians.

The last chapter on reintegrating into "normal" life is worth the price of the book. Mike finishes by discuss somethings that people like you and me can do. While I was telling my friend Bill about the book, and the last chapter of suggestions, he said, "What are you doing this Saturday? Let's go downtown." And that was the start of our weekly walks downtown. Pick-up the book. Let me know what you think.

Blessings.

Carlos

I'm sitting here on Valentines Day, and my thoughts go back to a guy we met on Saturday. We were outside the Dorothy Day Center, handing out water, snack bars and gloves when he walked up to us. He was a young guy, maybe early 20s. He asked what we were giving out. We gave him some food and a knit hat. He hung around and kept talking, and we got his story.

Carlos is from the south of Mexico. He's here working in the construction trades. He's a roofer, and isn't working right now. Work starts up again in a month. He has no money until then, so he gets by sleeping where he can and eating at the Center. He admitted that it is so tough that sometimes he has to "escape reality" to survive. He glanced around at the other people outside the center.

After a pause, he went on. His biggest fear when he's working is that he'll fall off the roof and be injured. Next to that, his biggest pain is that he hasn't seen his wife and daughter in over a year. Right now he has no money, but once he gets some if he went back to visit he wouldn't be able to reenter the US. His eyes started to water, and I could see that he was torn between doing anything he could to feed his family, and missing them desparately.

Later that day, we kicked ourselves for not taking him over to Mickey's Diner for some food, and simply being there for him. Next week we'll seek him out. Larry is going downtown a couple of days this week, and is going to keep an eye out for him.

So here I am, getting ready to pick up some flowers to give my wife tonight, and I still see Carlos, and the hurt in his eyes that he tried to hide, as he talks about his wife and daughter. I still see his loneliness.

As we left we prayed for his safety, and also that God would guard his heart and mind and keep him from desparate choices. Right now, as you read this, you are one of a very few people that even knows Carlos the person exists. When you sit down with loved ones tonight, say a silent prayer for Carlos and his wife and daughter, for their safety and their reunion.
Blessings all!

New Life Family Services

When I first heard about Praxis, I was excited. I was excited to get involved, to reach out to the hurting of this world. To be Jesus to people.

My passion is children. Teaching, helping, loving, caring for children. And in doing these things for kids, I then have the chance to touch their families and their friends. There are so many opportunities out there to help kids. This post is about New Life Family Services. New Life is a non profit Christian social service agency. Their mission is to honor the sanctity of human life by assisting clients in life-affirming decisions with the love and compassion of Christ. They do free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, offer counseling, practical assistance, and licensed adoption services to the women they help.

Being a new mom myself, I am especially passionate about the smallest and most helpless of God's children (at least at this stage of my life). This is why I feel that New Life needs my help.

There are many ways to help New Life. We will be collecting baby and maternity items at the Praxis table each Sunday before and after Sanctuary. New Life accepts new and used baby items and maternity clothes. Also diapers, wipes, toys, stuffed animals, formula, baby food, etc. (any donated equipment like high chairs and car seats must be new and in it's original packaging). They also take office supplies as donations. Another option is to put together a Birth Mother Gift Bag. These gift bags are given to new moms who have just given their baby up for adoption. They contain things like disposable camaras, journals, picture frames, candles, lip gloss, etc.

New Life also has a 24 hour pregnancy hotline. Any time day or night women can call and reach a caring individual who can listen and pray with them. The hotline needs volunteers for off business hour times. I just called the women in charge of the hotline, and she said they are currently really hurting for volunteers. It is a somewhat of a process to get the training to work on the hotline, but I was like sign me up! I'll keep you updated on how it goes. If anyone out there is interested in potentially volunteering, please come talk to me at the Praxis table on Sundays! I know they could use you!!

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in the my name welcomes me. -Jesus (Matthew 18:5)