Random Thoughts...

Some days, work doesn't seem like work... relationships are great, attitudes are so positive
-despite the fact our people are living in our parking lot -and sometimes they can surprise you.

The other day, I was helping clean up in the morning and one of our guys made the comment 'You shouldn't have to do that.' Taken aback, I stammered 'Why's that now?' The response, 'It's not your mess, we made it, we should clean it up.' And he did.

I could reel off a number of other examples like that... but it's an amazing thing to think how, by allowing our guests to stay in our parking lot, relationship has grown so much. Respect, love, trust -it's at the level these days, that we've all wanted to exist in the Mission. It's truly the strangest irony of this whole situation.

It's also been a blessing to see how the community again has responded. Sure, there will always be those that will criticize (coming from a place of ignorance or fear), but to see the countless number of people come by in the evening with sandwiches, drinks (non-alcoholic of course), fruit, snacks, blankets, sleeping bags; financial donations have been coming in and amazingly, new volunteers are coming forward. It's really been an answer to prayer.

The flip side of that is sin is still all too prevalent. And when there are vulnerable souls in the balance, the enemy will come to steal, kill and destroy. Reports of drug dealers dropping off their product in the night, men in nice new trucks stopping by to pay for favours from our female guests -and the male guests -letting it happen.

This reality is unacceptable and sickening and makes us all the more fervent to pray for a new shelter space to be found and up and running as soon as possible. A safe place for our guests to rest their tired minds and bodies -away from the threat and temptations of the street. It's not too much to ask right?