Thursday Streets on South Michigan/South Bend, IN.

Yesterday I was in the area of South Michigan St. in South Bend, Indiana. It was a very cold, windy and snowy day. This is an area that consists of homeless, alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, and pimps. I went around passing out food, warm clothes, and what sleeping bags we had. A crack house had just been shut down and it was like mice being run out of an area. They just scattered not knowing where they would spend the night.

I spoke with a guy named Marco who was very surprised that I turned the corner in the RAVEN van just as he was leaving the crack house. He told me that he knew that I was going to stop to talk to him. He said that he thought God has sent me to him. I told him that could very well be and that he needed to get out of the lifestyle that he was living. I told him that today could be that day to make the change and I offered to take him to a rehab home. He was not ready to get help so I told him that the Lord is knocking at his door but he is refusing to answer it and there will be a day when it is too late. Marco was brought up Catholic and said that the Lord would never give up on him. I told Marco that was not true then talked to him for a while longer then gave him my card and told him that the offer stands whenever he makes the decision.

I had lunch with a semi-homeless guy by the name of George. He did not have a winter coat and we happened to have one left that fit him perfect. George was very happy to have the coat with the type of weather we were having. I talked to George about not living off the government and about living a life where he had a job and felt good about himself. I talked most about him giving his life to Jesus and the fact that Jesus would take care of all of his needs.

I hunted for Rick who we found beat up a couple months ago. I had run into him earlier this week and he told me that he was living in an abandoned vehicle. I was hoping to get him a sleeping bag before we ran out but never found him.

I talked to many yesterday about breaking the generational curse that was on them. Many are living the lifestyle that their parents and other family members have lived. Drinking, using drugs and just hanging out everyday. I tell these people that the ministry comes to give them a "hand-up" not a "hand-out." As we build relationships with these people we will get the help to those that are wanting to help themselves and have a better life. There will be those who want to continue to live a "just existing" kind of life and we will not totally give up on them but with the resouces and supplies that we have, we must use them wisely.

It always blesses us to be able to go and do the work of the Lord!!