LifeHouse of Orange County

For those of you who are reading our blog on a regular basis, you’ll notice a few changes. We no longer put pictures of our friends on the site. Even tho we always ask if we can post their pix, we respect and honor them at all times and sometimes it’s not such a good idea for them to have their faces on the internet. It’s just better to leave them off. But I will be more creative in my choice of pictures. I love hands and feet so you might see a bunch that actually belong to our homeless friends…

Now, on to our Sunday at the riverbed. What an amazing group of friends we have. Both the friends who help us from our church and the friends who come and share a meal with us. This Sunday I experienced an outpouring of love and grace from our homeless guys, more so than usual.  Some were missing for a few weeks and we found out that hospital stays and jail time was the cause of that. But they are back and for that we are glad. We had simple sandwiches this time but a boat load of sugar-laden cheese cakes and cream pies. We also gave out a lot of canned foods that our friends can take home to their camps in case they miss a meal at Mary’s Kitchen. When we have any leftovers, we give them to a gentleman who is s sponsor for a group rehab house down the street. So the food and supplies that we have touches so many people!

Half way through the lunch, a  couple came up on bikes and saw the large crowd gathered there and wanted to know who we were and how they too can help. So many people just want to be generous and want to find a way to show compassion. We want to be the bridge for those with a generous and compassionate heart but no place to express it. We will continue to build a bridge between communities and help people to see first hand the great personalities and people on both sides of the lunch table!

The weather is getting cooler so we’re now looking for more sleeping bags and tents. They also do sweeps along the riverbed and throw away these items.  Although they get warnings sometimes folks dont get the messages till it’s too late and then they are left without any shelter. If you can help us with small tents and sleeping bags, check out how to donate page above.

And lastly, even tho we get negative attention at times, we feel so much mercy, love and compassion from our homeless friends who really see the motivations of our hearts.  Nothing feels quite like the hugs we get when we get there and when we leave. My cup is full when I drive away! And if that’s selfish, then I am one totally selfish person!

Thanks for reading! and if anyone out there knows how to un-push the insert picture button on WordPress…. lemme know!

Hugs

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Surprised (again) by the Holy Spirit

We have a pantry set up in the garage to house all the food we serve to the homeless community in the riverbed. And since we do, why not open it up to serve families that we know who are struggling to make ends meet – after all, we have plenty of food – fresh, frozen, canned …

We currently have 12 families that come each week. One of the more interesting stories is there was a Hispanic family who just happened to be driving by and noticed food in our garage. She asked Noel in Spanish if we sold food. No, we don’t but do you need food? He proceeded to explain what it is that we do and invited her to take food for the week – she’s been with us ever since – shopping weekly. Today, she came to shop with her elderly mom. A little lady from a small town in another country – she hugged me and said something in my ear that sounded suspiciously like a blessing – but I don’t speak Spanish so she could have been saying, “your zipper is open” for all I know. After this family shopped she asked me  if she and her mom could pray for us. I had another friend with me so we all held hands and she began to pray – these women prayed a prayer that deeply touched my soul. I have no idea what they said but they were interceding for me and Noel and this ministry, praying fervently to Abba. Tears welled up in my eyes and my friend touched deeply as well.

My life has become a freeway of very interesting intersections – you’re not supposed to slow down on the freeway, but in this metaphor, but that’s what seems to be happening. I go my this highway at a rapid rate of speed – doing good, what we think God has called us to do but sometimes missing the scenery around us/me. Then comes the intersection and the stop sign and a ginormous blessing from the most unlikely sources! She didn’t speak my native tongue but spoke the ancient language of the Holy Spirit.

While I’m on the subject of being blessed. We were at the riverbed a couple weeks ago – we bring lunch to the homeless community on Sundays when the local soup kitchen is closed. While we were driving by to make the u-turn, one of our friends who I call The Captain, was peddling feverishly in the opposite direction – we got to the park, set up and began to serve when he came flying up on his bike to us with a package in his hand…. Breathlessly he said – “here, I caught some BIG ol’ (expletive) catfish and I thought you’d like these!! He handed us two big fillets wrapped up. Ah… again, my heart swells with joy from these amazing encounters…none of them expected and all of them change our lives.

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