Get Good Advice

Last night I met up with two friends of mine who are true urban campers in the truest sense.

They live in a camp in the woods.

The last few days have been extremely tough seeing how it has been very cold and wet!

The wet is the biggest enemy! 

Once you get wet its hard to stay warm.

I thought it would be great to get with the guys and show them around. Afterwards we could go have a good meal together.

It was a chance to get out of the weather as well.

I asked them to join with me and dream for a bit about what an outreach might look like.

We had a great time together discussing the needs.

I might be able to come up with some ideas, but its much better to hear from those that will benefit the most from this outreach.

We covered a lot of ground.

Here are just a few ideas that came from our time together.  

1. I shared the idea that we can all come along side each other and be better together.
2. We discussed the need for all the folks that want to participate to actually contribute something to the whole.
1. If you know how to cook then get in the kitchen. If you know how to use the internet then teach someone else who doesn't.
2. Build dignity and self worth in all that we do.
3. Serve one another.
3. There needs to be expectations and boundaries for all.
1. Safety plays a key role.
4. The need for free laundry facilities
1. Not enough available in the city
2. The ones that exist are extremely hard to get into.
5. Showers
1. Too few around
2. Last night after dinner I took one of the guys across the river in order that he might get a shower at The Healing Place. That meant afterwards he was going to have to walk 3 miles back to his camp in the cold and wet.
6. Don't have any tv's except for on a special occasion.
1. Too much temptation for becoming a couch potato as well as an opportunity to fight over what channel it needs to be on.
2. No laying around all day there must be some form of engagement.


7. There needs to be more places that serve dinners.
1. Tues and Thurs nights are covered now, but the rest of the time is at the Salvation Army. What I am told is that it's not very good. I have seen even in California that the homeless get served what I wouldn't want to eat. How do you love your neighbor as yourself?
8. We need to connect those that come, back to the Church.
1. They need to see that The Church can make a difference!

The dream can become a reality if we get good advice!