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Greetings from sunny California,
We prayed this morning for those of you
who are experiencing horribly cold weather. My husband told
me this morning about the temperatures Iowa is experiencing
and suggested that our group just stay in California until
April J
It messes with my mind to see the palm
trees, ocean and green grass yet knowing that it is so
different in Iowa.
The adventures continue….First of all,
thank you for your prayers. God has blessed our group with
unity, care and concern for each other.
On Friday, January 1st, we
left the hotel and headed for ‘our spot’ on Colorado Blvd in
front of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Three years ago
a Lutheran whose church is ‘behind’ the Presbyterian Church
saw our Petal Pusher group as we were buying health items in
a local store. He asked if we’d like to join him for
watching the parade. Long story short…..the Lutherans line
up 100+ chairs in front of the Presbyterian Church and has
people stay up all night to save them. He marked 27 chairs
as Petal Pusher chairs and we enjoy a great view of the
parade. He even brought a bag of fresh oranges that he
picked from his orange tree before coming to the parade.
After enjoying the great parade and
yelling and making a joyful noise as the Lutheran Hour float
went pastJ we
went back to the parking lot of the Rose Palace and enjoyed
our version of a tailgate party—sandwiches, chips and
cookies. That allowed some time for the crowd to thin out
and our team then went three directions. One group to the
after parade viewing. It was and area where they park all
the floats and you can walk by and enjoy them up close.
That is what I did. Really enjoyed the beauty of the bizzion
flowers. Part of our group went to the ocean and another
part went back to the hotel to sleep and relax.
Then we went to Sizzlers as a group for
supper.
Yesterday started with devotions at
8:00 and then off to Skid Row. It was an interesting,
thought provoking, reflective, hard-to-put-into-words day.
The weather was a perfect as weather can get until part of
the day, part of the group worked in the really hot sun
distributing clothes. We started out by helping set up
tents, tables, chairs, sound equipment, and distribution
centers for used clothing, health kits, backpacks, underwear
and food. We provided the majority of the food, 200+ health
kits, 200 Bibles and many suitcases of underwear.
We were inside a fenced in parking
lot. The Iowans, some members of a Christian motorcycle
group, a youth leader and some youth from her church, etc
worked together to provide items for the homeless. It was
very organized. They first asked the first 40 to come in
for a church service. Following the service, we ‘manned’
our stations and for 4 hours, distributed items to the
homeless. We learned a lot about the homeless and were
surprised with the individual’s stories that they shared in
just visiting. They are all God’s people and God loves them
as much as He loves you and me.
We met a family of 5….mom, dad and
three boys, a young mom with a year old, people who asked us
to pray for them, etc. It was all very moving and
humbling. Note: For those of you who are collecting items
for the IOWAY Spare a New Pair outreach, we have a few
suggestions. Most needed are large and x large men’s t
shirts and underwear, bras and larger size unders for women
and surprisingly…thermal underwear.
After Skid Row, we went to Orange, CA
for a 6:30 church service where Nichole, a team member who
is a Drake student and whose family lives at Orange
attends. It was a great service and Nichole did an amazing
job sharing her musical talents by singing a solo.
This morning we met for an hour for
devotions and a time to reflect and discuss yesterday’s
experiences.
I asked everyone to share their
thoughts of the Skid Row experience. For each of us, it was
a different experience. We met different people. God
connected people with similar backgrounds. One example is a
gentleman in our group from a farm background, visited with
a man in a wheelchair who had been a farmer before he was
homeless.
Following are the thoughts of our
group:
No name: People were polite and
thankful
I am thankful for this group of willing
workers
I was impressed with the amount of or
number of facilities available for the homeless in that
area.
Kathryn Sprecher: “O give thanks unto
the Lord, for He is so good and He is so generous.” His
gifts come daily and we don’t realize they are gifts—a warm
shower, toilet paper, a place to sit, a place to rest, warm
food, clean clothes to wear, a tube of toothpaste and a
job. Those were just some of the gifts that I daily take
for granted—until a day spent on Skid Row. Yet many that we
saw were not bitter nor angry at God. They were thankful
for another day of life and many with hope for a better
future.
Laura Herzog: What struck me the most
was seeing the people from Skid Row walk into the
area—seeing their faces and body language was
heartbreaking. Most had no one and looked like they had no
hope of getting off of the street. Once the service
started, however, some of them just lit up immediately.
Some really did have security in knowing that life in heaven
would come after their hard life here on earth.
No name: My experience on Skid Row was
very different from what I am used to. It was hard for me
to even imagine what those people have to go through every
day. Growing up with things being provided, it is difficult
to picture what life would be like. We had no idea what
problems these people had faced and are facing.
No name: I was impressed by how
organized and helpful our young people (Iowans) were. I was
also impressed that so many people were appreciative of what
was being made available to them.
No name: I was impressed with the
youth from our group and in the kind and Christ like
approach they had for the homeless we served. I was
thankful for the church service at Orange after Skid Row to
receive forgiveness for all the negative thoughts that had
developed in my head. I’d like for us to do this same
service/outreach closer to home, more often and on a regular
basis.
Tim Frank: The experience on Skid Row
was very eye opening. Not only did it make me aware of the
terrible situation some or most of the residents are in but
it made me feel good about myself to help them. I think
that being on Skid Row gave me a taste of the ‘real world’.
I am sure that the people living in this neighborhood, are
far better off than people living in third world countries.
I became aware that the ‘normal’ that I live every day is
far more lavish than most people. I and others have, of
course, heard this many times before but seeing it first
hand is an entirely different experience.
Mardelle Vandervante: Skid Row…WOW.
There is such a need and we were but a drop in the bucket,
BUT with God’s grace, buckets can and will be filled.
Kathy Scott: Note on the parade
theme: It was a floral tribute to heroes! I missed the
whole theme of the parade until now. It was “A Cut Above
the Rest” featuring champions and historical figures plus
the reality that Jesus is our hero!!
Skid Row experience—I thought it would
be worse and I am sure it is because I am sure many were not
able to make it to the service. Everyone had stories not
only on their faces, posture and appearances. Our young
people were especially resourceful and stepped up to help
distribute clothing, and other supplies.
Esther Fraser: I expected something
very different from what I saw. I prepared myself for chaos
and was met with order, humility and gratitude. People
living on Skid Row are no different than I except that they
do not have four walls to keep their belongings inside. At
first, I saw the deprivation of homelessness as some sort of
prison separating them into a group very different from the
people I know. This is not the case. Everyone was grateful
to receive what we had and not too proud to accept it. Many
were clearly hurting inside and moved through the lines as
quickly as possible collecting items. I saw their sense of
shame at their circumstances. My life could have been the
same. But I have been given so much, even though I
complained about what I did not have when I thought I needed
it. I handed out things that I take for granted. These
small things were no sacrifice for me to give. I wish I
could have given them something that would inconvenience me.
Jesus did. He sacrificed all for me
and for everyone of the lost sheep I saw yesterday. I can
only hope that my contributions shared a little of God’s
love with them.
No name: These people need help but I
have seen worse in a socialist government.
No Name: Skid Row in California.
Wow….what an eye opener. We saw people in all different
stages. Some were having some obvious health concerns and
others were there because of their circumstances.
No Name: It’s an unsolvable problem!
There will always be people in situations like or similar to
this. However, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try and
help them. Probably some of them were hungry, but I didn’t
think anyone was starving. Pray for them.
Time to take a break from typing and I
am sure you need a break from reading
J
To be continued……
God’s blessings, Ellie Menz |
