Merry Christmas everyone!  I wanted to share my/our experience on this past Monday night's homeless outreach.  It's a little lengthy (okay, it's LONG!), so you might want to grab a snack or a warm beverage.  ::Smile::: 

It's really wonderous how God puts us where he needs us, if we just listen.  Sitting here, it's hard to put into words exactly what I want to say...or to convey that amazement when things just fall together -- right there, right under our noses.  And you know that that's exactly how it was supposed to happen...but at the time, when you were leading up to it, you had no idea of it.  Am i making sense or just rambling?  Okay, let me try to clarify...

It actually started on Sunday, after church (and actually before that if you consider all the clothing and cans we have been collecting).  A group of us stayed after to sort through and organize the cans, clothing, blankets, etc.  My mom was helping us sort through the clothing when she came across some used children's books, some familiar titles -- The Hungry Caterpillar, Charlotte's Web, The Lion King, and others.  I told her that we didn't usually see children on the street...but something told me to just take them with us.  So I stored them in the back of my car.  Another bag of clothing revealed women's underclothing.  Though we don't normally get asked for that, they were packed in Suzie's car.  "You never know."  We packed boxes and boxes of cans -- filled with some of each food group -- for needy families.

Monday night we met at church and loaded up 5 cars.  We had Sako's entire truck filled with thousands of cans.  Nancy's car was brimming full of Ramen.  Garo had new shoes -- a truckfull.  Suzie and Vartan had the clothing and boxes of rain ponchos, and Ned and I had 2 cases of new sweatshirts, close to 100 blankets.

It was raining that night when we got to downtown.  Our homeless brothers and sisters were in boxes, under awnings.  It must have been a pretty crazy site.  Out of the blue, 6 cars pull up.  We jump out and suddenly, in the rain, the action begins.  "Would you like a blanket?"  "Who needs Ramen?"  "I've got warm clothes!"  "Shoes?  Back there in the last car!" And the food?  Well, yes, it was boxed for families, but these people were ALL our family!  The boxes were opened and every stop we made, the food went directly to those in need....each one selecting what they could use.  Some so hungry that they popped the tops off the cans right there and began eating. 

We pulled up to a street known for its drug trafficking.  Ned and I opened the trunk.  We were getting low on blankets and on our second case of sweatshirts when we met Linda.  Tall and thin, shoulder length, light brown hair.  From her eyes I could tell she had a kind soul.  She put her hand on my forearm and immediately asked my name.  She introduced herself and and said, "My life is a movie."  I didn't know what that meant but I saw that her eyes misted over.  She continued, "I was the beauty queen.  But so much happened.  And then I had an uncle that beat me down....he was abusive."  And she did one of those sad laughs. The lines in her face told her story, but her eyes had an amazing peace to them.  She saw the sweatshirts, and when we gave her one she thanked us so much.  Then she asked, "Do you think I could have one for my niece?"  I told her of course she could and asked the niece's age.  She was four.  I asked if she was living on the street as well.  "Oh no.  She's not with me but I'm going to see her for Christmas and I don't have a gift to give her."  Immediately we started searching for a small size shirt for the niece when I saw the bag of children's books.  I asked Linda if her she would like to give her niece these books as well.  She had tears in her eyes.  "This will make her so happy!  I will give her these for Christmas!  Thank you so much." She asked our names again.  "I will pray for you, Anush and Ned."  I told her I would pray for her as well.  And right then and there, she raised her hand up to heaven, she held my forearm, closed her eyes and prayed.  "Heavenly Father.  Thank you for bringing Anush and Ned and these people here tonight.  Bless them Father.  And thank you for all you have given us."  Writing this now, I'm getting tears in my eyes.  I can't forget her touch on my arm and that amazing "tingly" feeling as she was praying for us.  It was a beautiful moment.  I was touched by this angelic woman.

Another stop.  Another woman.  So thrilled to have a warm jacket, some sweat bottoms, a blanket.  I asked her if she had children because I had a few more books.  I showed her the bag. "No, I don't have any children here with me.  Charlotte's Web!?  I LOVE Charlotte's Web. I love to read.  Could I have it???"  She got the remaining books.

By this time we were completely out of blankets and sweatshirts.  We went to help Suzie with the clothing.  A young mother came up.  She lived at the women's shelter with her baby.  She was going to go for an interview and needed clothing.  We began searching for the right fit/size and found a few pieces that would work.  She was very appreciative and kept thanking us. And then she asked if we, by chance, had any underclothing. Well, of course we did!  Suzie immediately brought out the bag from her car.  The young mom took what she could use and I think we sent the rest of the bag with her for the other women in the shelter.

And then finally, the last stop.  I met a woman that had nothing.  She told me that everything that she owned was thrown away.  I learned that some of the people on the street live there.  Some live in shelters and have a roof over their heads but nothing else.  Some are on the streets and beg enough money to rent a room for a night once every few weeks so they can have a shower and access to a hot plate.  Some rent a low income apartment with whatever money they can scramble together but then they have nothing left for food/clothing.  And if you can't make your rent, there is no mercy, no grace period.  Your belongings are thrown out and you are locked out.  This was the case with this woman.  We were able to fit her with SOME clothing, but by then the warm clothing and blankets were gone.  Still, she blessed us nonetheless, and thanked us for coming.

Now we all began helping at the food truck.  And again I met another amazing woman.  I helped her gather canned goods.  She was looking for particular food items.  Fish, tomatoes, soup.  She said, "I can cook these up and make a fine meal."  I asked if she had access to a kitchen.  She explained to me that yes, she did -- she lived in one of those low income apartments.  And that after church, she comes back to her apartment and tries to make whatever food she can to feed as many of her neighbors as she can.  She had a smile on her face when she talked about this week's feast she was planning with the canned goods.

It was a full evening!  Our hearts were full.  We were all touched.  I had the amazing fortune of holding on to my friend Suzie when she experienced God's presence -- and I, in turn, was humbled to be part of such a blessing.   In one evening we were blessed by angels, taught about sharing with neighbors, saw the childlike happiness when remembering an old favorite book, played in the rain with friends, experienced God's love for us. 

Merry Christmas everyone.  Christ is Born!  Wishing you all a Christmas filled with God's love and peace.

Love,
Anush