Jesus tells us, "Seek and you will find"
We're really just going with the flow in this ministry and I think that's how God likes it.
We just go out and He does the rest.
Through divine intervention, I found this HOMELESS MECCA in downtown Jacksonville.
We thought that Hemming Plaza was "the SPOT"...
Jared and I actually did meet in Hemming Plaza... it was DEAD as a doorknob since it rained that day.
nobody likes to sit out in the rain..
It had stopped raining about an hour before we arrived. There were less than 5 people out.
The first people to approach us were a couple: Lynette & Dwayne.
Lynette's Prayer was to get her life right and get off the streets.
Dwayne's... a job.
I prayed for her... Jared prayed for him.
She asked for a bible as well.
As we were walking away, I noticed her dreads and complimented her about them.
"I do dreads" she said.
(I was wearing a skull cap because my hair was looking WILD!)
I pulled it off and asked if she could do my hair!
she replied, "Sure!"
"How much do you charge?"
"$10"
[i think time stopped when she said that......... i couldn't even fathom that. if you go to ANY salon in town and ask for dreads... you're looking at $40 mininum... $60... even upwards to $100!!!]
I was just real humbled by that and set up an appointment to meet her again the next morning.
about 2 more people approached us. we distributed water and sandwiches, prayed, and went to the new SPOT!
I found the spot the day before on an adventure that the holy spirit sent me on (i'll have to do a video about it... VERY powerful). The day before there weren't too many people hanging out.
But when Jared and I went to this place, there were upwards of 30 people hanging out in this one area.
It was kind of segregated in a way.
Jared and I didn't care.
The first people we encounter were a couple: meet Daniel and Sharmayne. Young couple. We prayed for them, offered them food and water, and just hung out for a bit.
An older man by the name of Vernon wanted prayer to just get home to Augusta, Georgia. He had travelled from Seattle and wound up here....
... then up comes this little old lady that everybody simply calls "Mom"
She was nice... sweet... and homeless.
She loves giving hugs... we hugged twice. .
She's one of those nice old talkative ladies that you'd see in publix... she had a disposable camera and liked "taking pictures with her friends".
her husband died in April.
her son was out there as well... he was about in his 40's.
who knows if that was her blood son or not...
with the passing of her husband in April, you wonder if he was out on the streets with her, if they lived a 'normal' life in a home, or what..
she was upbeat... but you wonder if she was kinda delusional or in denial... it's really hard to tell.
i've never really met anyone who was homeless and SO upbeat.
maybe she had that joy unspeakable...we all took a picture...
Daniel, Sharmayne, myself, "Mom"
Daniel and Sharmayne both had issues with their legs. Jared and I prayed for them both.
Afterwards, Jared and I "went into the hood" (which was really just going across the street where young black teens were hanging out). They were hype about getting water and I think we ran out of sandwiches by the time we got to them. We prayed for those who wanted prayer and the general census was for jobs.
No matter HOW INTIMIDATING people that we approach may seem to be, asking if they need prayer REALLLLLLYYYYYY neutralizes the situation and makes the biggest man turn humble.
Psalm 14:1 says 'A fool says in his heart that there is no God'
with that being said... the homeless ESPECIALLY know that God exists......
time after time again... we'll ask people if they need prayer... you'll see in their eyes that their expression changes... it's like they're looking down a deep hallway... they'll look down.. and then there's the 50/50... yes or no...
when life is tough... you kinda give up hope on being positive.... so when someone asks you for prayer... emotions are stirred... which is a good thing in my opinion..
then there's the people that i like... they're usually older... you ask them if they need prayer and they'll blink quickly, turn their head to you and say "I can always use prayer".
I LOVE THAT............ it lets me know that they're wearing that Helmet of Salvation and still carrying the Sheild of Faith.
Jared and I then went across the street to where more older men were hanging out.
A slightly humpback man was talking to other guys about a doctor's visit to where he waited about 7 hours to get 5 Lortab for pain.. he says, "5 lortab... i pop 6 of those and don't feel a thing... thanks for the wait doc"
Jared and I were just standing there haha.. then offered water and prayer....
Up comes these two guys.. James and Bill... or as James called him 'Wild Bill from over the Hill'
they were a little inebriated...
We asked for prayer and THEY formed a cirle and prompted to join hands... I was praying and James would kind of concur with rhymes sorta haha...
"yes Lord, and tell the Po-po to GO-GO!"
It was kind of funny.
I can sympathize with them all... being that I have smoked and would drink heavily... when life sucks... you just want to 'get high' to "forget your problems"
Nobody really wants to get on what I call "the bridge" (I'm making a video message about that).
The night was a success... for going with the flow... things are going VERY VERY WELL...
super excited about what's to come..
Thanks Jared for coming along.. Love you bro!
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