Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for all that God is doing to help put an end to homelessness.

I am thrilled to be watching what only God can do.

God is up to big things in the Northside and beyond!

Some may say that homelessness can never be solved.

I say they don't know the God that can.

Some people say that there are those who don't want to leave the streets.

That maybe true but I know that they have lost hope.

I am thankful for a God who gives us hope against all odds even homelessness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep praying!

As Homeless Line Up for Food, Los Angeles Weighs Restrictions - NYTimes.com

The challenges that come with Homelessness.

As Homeless Line Up for Food, Los Angeles Weighs Restrictions - NYTimes.com

Homeless services gear up for long winter - The Washington Post

Keep those in Richmond in your prayers!

Homeless services gear up for long winter - The Washington Post

Awareness!

Awareness to the problem is a huge issue. I was unaware for most of my life!

Former homeless mother shares story of struggle, hope | The Chillicothe Gazette | chillicothegazette.com

Homeless ministry tries to build self-respect

Homeless ministry tries to build self-respect

Where is the Compassion in Hawaii?

http://www.alternet.org/state-rep-smashes-homeless-peoples-stuff-sledgegammer

Another example of a twisted approach to solving homelessness!

The fact that he is quoted as saying that he is "disgusted" with the homeless speaks volumes.

All I can do is pray!

I'm Above Ground, So I Can't Complain!

This morning on my walk this was the response I received when I asked a stranger " How are you doing?"

He said " I'm above ground so I can't complain!"

I love it because I have seen over and over again people who are homeless, poor and even sick have such great attitudes under horrific circumstances.

I wish I could say the same, but I can't.

I take for granted the fact that I am alive and blessed with so much.

I know a man who lives on a park bench and looks at life so positively?

How?

I try to relate but I can't.

The fact is that they appreciate God for all the right reasons. 

I seem to fall short.

I tend to take too much for granted.

I want to be thankful for what God has done, for what God is doing and for what God is going to do.

Let me wake up every day and say "I'm above ground so I can't complain!"

Homeless people being failed by system which 'lacks compassion' - Social Affairs & News from Ireland & Abroad | The Irish Times - Wed, Nov 13, 2013

I couldn't agree more!

Compassion has to be the leading force for change.

Homeless people being failed by system which 'lacks compassion' - Social Affairs & News from Ireland & Abroad | The Irish Times - Wed, Nov 13, 2013

Two Perspectives

Why is it that sometimes I feel like Richmond is doing better than they are with the homeless?

There is a whole another story to be told from the people who live on the streets.

Pain for Gain

Some times you have to do what you don't want to do even when it's painful, in order to accomplish something better that you can't even see!

May I have the faith to believe in what I can not see.

What's a Dixie Chopper?

Most will not fully appreciate this post unless you have been fully vested in the lives of those who once had nothing.

This morning on my walk I saw a man on a riding mower.

It was not Jim, who I see on the mower quite regularly.

This time it was Corey.

For the past few months Corey has been doing landscape work around Northminster Church.

He would always say he couldn't wait for the opportunity to get on the tractor.

Not just any lawn tractor but a "Dixie Chopper!"

You may not be able to read it on the front of the mower but it says "The World's Fastest Mower!"

Corey respects the fact that it is a very expensive piece of equipment and he wants to take care of it.

The joy comes from seeing his dream come true.

 I couldn't be more excited for Corey.

He has taken another step forward in responsibility.

There is a measure of respect and dignity in this process and it is a thrill to watch Corey grow!

A man who used to be on the streets, to a man over seeing a house of men and driving a Dixie Chopper.

It doesn't get much better!

PS I used to run a landscape business and I never got to drive a Dixie Chopper!

Prayers for Employment

This morning I got a call while I was on my prayer walk.

Your next question:

What are you doing with your phone on while you are praying?

Good question, but this morning at 7:00 am I am glad I did!

Shelton called to ask that I pray for him concerning a job he was applying for.

I was excited to join him in this prayer request!

What an awesome story would be told if he got it.

I love calls like that. I think he knew that I would be praying.

I hope that you will join in as well and pray that Shelton will get the job at Phillip Morris!

God can do it!

The Grip and Grab Movement!

Who would of thought that this one tool could do so much.

The other day as I was walking a man called out to me to say how much he appreciated what I was doing.

He was yelling to me from across Brookland Park Blvd.

He said "I wish more people would pick up the trash!"

He went onto say "At least put it in the trash can, there's one on every corner."

I said I was praying that more would do that.

As I continued down the road I saw the man go into his apartment.

Then a few seconds later he came running down the road.

He said " I got one too, but it's broke."

He held out his arm holding up a grip and grab like tool.

I smiled and acknowledged him.

"That's great!"

As he left to go home he said.

"I got your back."

What a cool moment.

Not only is trash being collected, but relationships are being built with a tool called the Grip and Grab!

Another Man Has Found a Home! It won't be in the woods anymore!

The past few days have been a whirlwind.

On Wednesday night I received a call from my daughter in Newport News.

She called to say she knew someone in Midlothian who was homeless, a young man in his twenties.

She heard about the man from her old roommate.

The roommate told my daughter about her father who lives in Southside and how he had come into contact with this young man.

The father happens to be an old friend who served with me on a Young Life committee.

He was looking for some help for this young man.

I spoke with my friend on Thursday morning as I was driving to work.

So the need traveled from Midlothian to Newport News to the City of Richmond.

How cool is that?

The young man was at the end of his rope. 

He had hit his bottom.

He showed up last Sunday in a church service on southside desperate for help.

He had been living in the woods.

This Church is coming together to walk with this young man as he tries to get his life back on track.

There are so many more miracles that took place, but I can not elaborate because of the circumstances.

By Friday housing had been found for this young man.

He moves in over the weekend.

So God has brought together so many people from different places to do what only he can do, love on this young man and provide a safe place for him to live!

Another person won't be sleeping in the woods tonight.

Meet Someone New Every Day!

The other morning on my walk I met someone new.

This little car stopped at the corner and and a man rolled down his window.

The man asked:

"Are you picking up the trash around here?"

I said I was and he responded.

I am (so and so) and I am the president of the Ginter Park Terrace Civic Association and we have advocated for years that we need to keep our streets clean.

Thank you for picking up the trash.

I said your welcome and he sped off in his car.

I never know where an encounter like that might lead, but I am enjoying meeting new people all the time.

I then started to pray, that I might meet someone new every day.

God is up to something and I am having a blast making new friends!

Do What's Best

Three days ago I posted an article about regional cooperation.

Unbeknownst to me, on that same day a similar article was written by Alice Tousignant, Executive Director for Va Supportive Housing in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

It also turns out that both articles are about the work that Va Supportive Housing has accomplished in the Charlottesville area as well as Norfolk Va.

It's time that the Richmond Metro Area follow the examples set in other parts of the state. 

I too believe that if we can all work together we can make a huge difference.

It's time to do what's best!

Do You Believe?

This story with pics is inspiring me for what could be in Richmond!

Just by looking at the pictures I can see love and dignity in what this shelter is providing.

I BELIEVE what about you?

Inside Silicon Valley Homeless Shelter - Business Insider

Charlottesville Homeless Survey Reveals New Findings - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

Charlottesville Homeless Survey Reveals New Findings - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

Regional Cooperation Does Exist!

This past week I got an interesting phone call from Anne who works with Va Supportive Housing in Charlottesville.

She was calling me to extend an invitation to a reception for The Crossings.

The reception was to celebrate all the success that they have had.

The Crossings is an apartment building to house the chronically homeless as well as low income families.

I had never met Anne and asked how she got my name.

She said she had read an article about The Homeless Retreat in a local paper back in March.

It was great fun exchanging stories and getting to know each other.

I look forward to seeing all that is going on in Charlottesville.

I already know that Richmond could learn a lot from the example that Charlottesville has set.

I pulled this from The Crossings website.

"With support from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, The Crossings is a regional solution to homelessness."

I look forward to the day that Richmond will see a regional solution to homelessness!