Who Have You Thrown Away? Sacramento, CA

We got to Sacramento in the early evening (another great hotel at a cheap price; God is Good!) While we were driving to Sacramento, we were calling my friend Joy whom I’d met through a new friend I’d met in Fresno CA. Joy is a retired ordained Lutheran Minister. I’d talked to her a few weeks before andwe’d planned to try to meet because she does a homeless ministry in Discovery Park in Sacramento. 

Ministry in Discovery Park

Multi-tasking as we do, as we were driving, we were also calling for a church where we could go to Maundy Thursday services as Kathy really didn’t want to miss that part of Holy Week. We’d located a Presbyterian Church, and we could just make the service. 

Then Joy returned my call. She only does her outreaches on Wednesday so we were going to miss it. She was going out of town on Thursday so I was sad because I’d really looked forward to meeting her and helping with her ministry. A short time later, while we were still driving, she called back again saying a friend of hers was having a special outreach the day after we were to get there and that she was going to change her own schedule so she could meet us after all.

After that call we were pulling into Sacramento looking for the church. We found it with 5 minutes to spare. We hurried inside and discovered they were having a Seder too! It was a bit different than David and Lori’s Seder had been but exciting just the same. We even got to sit with the Pastor and his wife who’d only been back in their hometown for about a year. The food was good, the celebration was good and after the meal we went into the sanctuary for a short play put on by the youth about Jesus, His disciples and the night of His arrest. We loved it so much we decided to come back the next evening for the Good Friday Services. 

We got up the next morning and met Joy at 9 a.m. at Discovery Park along with Joy’s friends who were doing the ministry that day in the park. The group of volunteers met and prayed together before going to the actual spot at which they were going to serve food to the homeless. We helped set up, and Joy introduced us around. 

Kathy got in the line to serve and Joy introduced me to a guy named Larry that they call Preacher Larry. Joy said “you need to get to know this guy, he can tell you stories about the homeless.” I spent the entire time of the outreach that day with Larry as we spoke about our missions, and he introduced me to the homeless, and we prayed with many people that day. 

The thing about Larry is that he was homeless for many years but now lives in his van. The longer I spoke to him, the more I knew I wanted to interview him. More on that later. He had told me about different homeless people that lived around Discovery Park and cautioned me to be careful there because, especially at night, things change and it can be dangerous. He agreed to let me interview him, so as we were leaving the next day we set up a time to meet the next morning. He mentioned he had friends he wanted me to interview, too, as they had some unique stories. 

Back to Joy. I told you she was an ordained minister but did I tell you she’s had quite the interesting life herself. She’s had her pit stories just as most of us have. She is now divorced and lives in an RV and barely makes it month to month but, boy, is she on fire for God. She has some special gifts from the Lord. She also is the author of a book called “White Trash Redeemed.” Her story is compelling. You can get it at Amazon (kindle).

NOW ONTO STORIES FROM THE STREET: 

I mentioned Larry early, whom we met in Discover Park. Just like most of the people we meet, Larry lived some wild days in his youth, in a while neighborhood, with wild friends. He was born in Wyoming, but raised in Sacramento in tough, poor neighborhoods. Due to his sometimes violent and drug-filled life, Larry has lived over 20 years (total) of his life in prison. But then God shook him up, and he discovered that God was the Savior. 

Now Larry is an activist for the homeless on the streets. His mission is to bring attention to the nation and the world. Larry said some things that were pretty profound. He said,

 “You can help, love, enrich your own humanity by loving and helping.”  

 “One person you throw away could be the person that could have helped you or your family some day in life.”  

“We need to have mercy and compassion on your brothers and sisters out here in the cold.” 

One thing we know about the homeless; no one has the same story, everyone has a different story, many are similar, the variables are infinite, some want to be here, but many desperately want out and don’t have first idea of how to get off the streets. 

Larry introduced us to many wonderful street people: artists, musicians, other street preachers. There’s a lot of talent on the streets and they just need a chance. People want to work, but most of the time people see they are homeless and won’t give them a chance. So all they are doing is keeping them homeless. 

Larry and his friends have a brigade called, The Society, to help advocate for the homeless. It is people on the Streets in Sacramento trying to make a difference for the Homeless on the streets. They have a garden they come to and fellowship. (They really put a garden in to keep it nice and make a peaceful place to have community. They do go to meetings on the topics of the Homeless at city hall. Larry really tries to help by giving the side of the homeless and show they are people and worthy of good things just like the rich or the better off. 


Before I sign off, can I ask you to help me?  The biggest part of our mission is getting the word out about the homeless.  Would you commit to sharing each story on your social media pages?  Every reader is one more person who is taking the journey with me?  

If you'll commit to doing that, would you simply tell me so in the comments?  It means so much to me to know that you are riding along with me!

Love ya, 

Sammie

Richmond and Novato

We left San Francisco and wanted to stop in Richmond, CA, at the Bay Area Rescue Mission, as our friend David Beall had called and lined us up to go there.  He said he’d not been there himself but had heard it was really nice.  When we got there it was true, it was awesome.  They were really busy just finished dinner for the men and working on dinner for the women, but had a lot of really awesome programs to offer.  It was incredibly gracious of them, but they took the time to show us around, even though they were so very busy.

We met with the Vice President of Programs, Tim Hammack, a really nice man who escorted us around. Our first stop was to show us how they were using all the food scraps and plant materials for composting, which is just one of the “green” ways they run the shelter.  They have a small garden of herbs for their kitchen close by that is tended by the program members.  To build up the soil and fertilize that garden, they not only compos,t but the compost bed is raised and they have earth worms in it and the water that drains off is collected and used to water/fertilize the garden so it is all organic.  They try to find a use for all waste.

They offer landscaping training by a local landscaper that allows them a plot of land to grow vegetables, also providing training in farming to help residents get a job when they leave the program. They are doing a hydroponics garden too.  In the water for the plants are fish whose waste is the fertilizer.  This is a complete “recycle” system since the fish are harvested too. 

The mission gives out of their excess to other area ministries.  What they are doing for “green” living was interesting to the media too, since they’ve been interviewed and stories taped on them by Oprah and Katie Couric. Pretty cool.  Definitely a different way of doing things.  I guess it takes all kinds, for sure.

Tim left us at the kitchen after he’d introduced us to Keith, the Kitchen Manager, who took us on a tour of the kitchen and offered us lunch.  The kitchen is state of the art and the men working there are given excellent training they can use to get good paying jobs in the food industry.  We accepted the lunch offer and were served two plates of food you wouldn’t believe.




Talk about a 5 star restaurant in a mission - this was it!  The meal was black bean soup, large cheese ravioli, carrot slaw, and chicken wraps.  Fresh fruit and salad was available if you desired.  The mission offers a culinary program to their program members.  All the food they use each day is fresh.  They raise some of it themselves offering another job training program in agriculture! MAN.  These folks have got it together!

Keith introduced us to the head chef, Mark.  Mark had worked at the mission years ago as a sometime volunteer but, when he retired, he came on full time.  His love of cooking had prepared him for this job.  He really enjoys showing the men in the program how to cook and his enthusiasm shows.  He believes in the Mission and the people in the program and wants them to have better lives.  Mark is the one that served us our meal.  Not only was it good, it was plated professionally.  They take their training seriously since they are preparing people for the outside world and work.

This mission has a Men’s and a Women’s program and all the areas of job/vocational training are offered to both.  Program members are given their choice of what training they want to participate in.  The mission believes if the members are to succeed, they must have a part in the decision making in this part of their training.  There are classes offered in computer skills and getting their GED.  There is an opportunity to get their ID cards and any other paper work they need to help them get back into society.

After the meal, I was introduced to Fred, the head Pastor.  He was quite interesting and started telling me what he did with the guests there. During our conversation he was summoned to a meeting with all the Pastors, and he invited me along.  I got to talk with all of them and share stories.  We shared our love of the Lord, and then they went on with their meeting, and I left.  While our visit there was brief and we didn’t get to visit with many of those being served there, we came away knowing the people responsible for this mission take their jobs seriously and are indeed showing God’s grace and hope.

Hope is one of the main reasons I’m on this journey.

Our next stop was to be Sacramento but we couldn’t make it all in one day.  As it was getting late, we checked prices in the Napa Valley for hotels but they were way too expensive so we stopped in a little town called Novato and found the Visitors Center right at closing time.

Remember the story about  the Ventura visitor center?  Well this was quite the opposite! We met a lady named Kris.  She was very welcoming just like the lady from Ventura, maybe not dressed quite as expensively, but obviously well-educated.  When we told her why we were traveling and what we were doing, she had a much different reaction.  Her face and demeaner changed too, but into a genuine and very friendly smile. She actually became very interested and told us she had worked with the man who was responsible for getting a women’s shelter up and running in Novato.  It was for Men in one area and Women and Children in another.

She was very proud of her town and what they were doing to help the disenfranchised.  She encouraged us to stay the night in Novato and gave us the name and phone number of the CEO of the shelter along with the address.  What a difference!  Gives me hope that some people do have a heart and compassion for the plight of the homeless and see them as people that just need some help to get their lives in order.  After Ventura, I really needed this.  Thank you Jesus.

We called the number and left a message as the Director didn’t answer.  Next day we drove out there and tried to call again.  From the outside, the place looked to be state of the art and was quite beautiful.  We finally got someone on the phone only to find out the Director was not in nor was his assistant.  We so wanted to get a tour and see if we could talk with someone but it was not to be, so we decided we needed to go on with our mission and left to complete our drive to Sacramento.  

A quick stop, but a beautiful and very encouraging experience all the way around.

Sammie

San Fran and Francis Chan - The Ups and Downs of Homeless Life

We arrived in San Francisco late one afternoon and met our hosts David and Lori Beall, their daughter, Rachel, and Chloe (their sweet dog) and their home. They helped us unload into the wonderful room where we were to stay, fixed us a lovely dinner and started planning our next day with David. I know I say this often, but we are so grateful for the kindness of strangers. It was a delight and a real pleasure to be hosted by such a devoted Christian family. We felt at home as soon as we got there (but then our God is like that, He connects with awesome people).

We met David over the Internet.  He had a lot of things he wanted to show us, and is incredibly active in the homeless community.  He has an awesome ministry called San Francisco Revival, and he also runs the Street Angel Program trying to connect people in need with professional service providers.  He says some of the best things he can do is be a dependable friend and provide spiritual and moral support. (I've gotta tell you, he has a serious network of friends that connects all through the San Francisco area!)

David bought us a rail ticket for the week and we headed on down to the Embarkadero and to the mission area which is called the Tenderloin area.  Homeless were everywhere!  Frances Chan’s Church (City Impact) and City Team all have their missions there.  We walked all day up and down the hills of San Francisco.  David knew all the places to go for homeless outreach.

You know this ole homeless girl was loving connecting with those people! We spoke to so many people on the street.  There is no way to tell you about all the people we met.  Sometimes I wish I could just stick y'all in my pocket for a day so you could get an idea of ALL that happens out here on the street.  You'd be blown away!

But I'll tell you a few of the stories about the lives of a few people we met.

We volunteered Frances Chan’s City Impact Mission.  It was too late the first day we went to volunteer but met a fella by the name of Harry who gave us the hours they needed help and said we could come back any time and help out.  There was a huge youth group from Bend OR there to help that week but they let me, Kathy and David volunteer, too. (It’s great to see the youth do such work, they led praise and worship, helped unload trucks and worked in the kitchen.  They were very active and smiled while they worked.  It was a lot of fun.)

Harry was a pretty interesting dude!  He came to San Francisco seven years ago, totally strung out on drugs. But four years ago, he did a total surrender to God and got off drugs. He’s been volunteering and in charge of outreach of City Impact (Facilities Director) ever since. He said God gave him a word to move to San Francisco and volunteer.  He’s been obedient to God and his sweet spirit shows through to everyone he meets.

David was quite the tour guide for San Francisco as he knows it inside and out.  He took us to the City Hall to show us a place he felt was a holy place by one of the flag poles.  The flag said "An Appeal to Heaven." He also took us to the Martin Luther King Park where they had filmed a documentary about a guy named Moses.  It’s an interesting story about his life, his addictions and how he’s overcome them.  Fran Guijarro, the director, did a beautiful story of his life and won awards at the James Notodo Film Festival in Spain.  Check out www.mosesthemovie.org


A quick rabbit trail here, but David and his wife Lori and family always celebrate Passover in a very traditional style.  We actually got to meet Moses at their house!  It was my first Passover Celebration and was very cool.  Lori, Rachel and David cooked all day making the appropriate meal.  Rachel cooked the Matza balls, which I’d never had before.  They were awesome!  They set the table in the traditional way.  We all had our wine glasses (filled with grape juice) and a script for the celebration. It was nothing short of amazing.  

This has been a tradition in their home for many years.  As a matter of fact, in the Elijah cup, David gave Lori her engagement ring prior to their marriage.  How cool is that?  Think David might be a romantic? David explained they are trying to live as Jesus lived and that Jesus was a partaker of this celebration every year of his life and the last Passover is our Maundy Thursday and basis for our Communion in the church today.  They have researched this celebration thoroughly and were very informative about its traditions. To live as Jesus lived, they even had a Madouza and put lamb’s blood on their door posts at Passover. Guess what, no one found the Matzo and Elijah didn’t come. (google it!)

Okay, one last San Francisco story and then we've got to get on the road!

One of the most special highlights for me was getting to preach at the Homeless Church of San Francisco on Pier 32. It was awesome.  It was a packed house, or should I say a packed “pier” with the homeless and people from other churches.  There were times you could hear a pin drop.  

My friend, Fran, (that’s the director of the Moses documentary), filmed the entire day.  Hopefully I’ll have it on YouTube soon.  A number of people came to speak to me afterwards.  That’s when I met a girl named Meredith.  Here’s her story:

Meredith is 23 years old.  She grew up in a small town, in a very abusive home.  From the age of 3 to 14, she was forced to have sex with her mom's boyfriends.  At 14, she finally ran away from home, where she stayed with friends, but eventually ended up on the streets.

At 20 years of age, she met a lady at a shelter who introduced her to the homeless church and kept after her to come.  She eventually started going and met and fell in love with Jesus.  I asked Meredith, “If you had one piece of advice you could give someone to help them, what would you say?” She said, “If you are homeless and sleeping on the street, I recommend you get card board because it’s an insulation barrier from the cold concrete.”  


(So innocent despite what she’s been through. So sincere.)  She even gave instructions on where to find card board and how to make it ready for use!

Two days later, David, Kathy and I were walking the streets of San Francisco, and we stopped to eat at a little cafe in the Tenderloin area.  I didn’t eat all of mine so I fixed it to take to give to a homeless person.  We went back to the holy place by the flag pole because a lot of homeless hang out there.  I was looking for someone to give the food to and I prayed that it would be someone that really needed it.  God put it on my heart to find a female.  I was looking around for a while for a lady, and I finally saw one across the park.  For some reason I was really drawn to her.  David and I walked over there.  As we got up to her, it was Meredith again!  I thought it was so awesome that God had drawn me to her again.  She was hungry and so excited when I gave it to her.

Of course, as always, there are many, many stories to tell you.  But we've got to keep moving down the road.  Thank you for your prayers, your support, your comments, and your continued financial contributions.  Every single thing you do for us is such an encouragement!

Sammie

Santa Cruz - What Do Hippies, the Homeless and Chess Have in Common?

We arrived in Santa Cruz from San Jose mid-afternoon in time to meet Ron Scandina, a friend of Ryan’s (from San Jose). Ron has a TV and Radio show in the  Santa Cruz area called "Santa Cruz Revival" on CTV Santa Cruz. Ron does a street homeless ministry every Thursday evening in downtown Santa Cruz.  I got there and he welcomed me like he’d known me forever.



He was already set up, had his chess boards out and the food was out.  The homeless know they can go there every Thursday for food and chess.  Yep.  That's right.  I said "chess."  You really just never know what you're going to run into out here on the streets.  

Here we were in this quiet little picturesque downtown area; and there, right on the main street in front of some really nice stores, were a bunch of homeless people playing chess!


The thing that struck me most about Santa Cruz was that it was what I would call a "hippie town."  Heck, even their homeless were hippies!


Kathy and I helped give out food, and I prayed for those who wanted prayer (and silently prayed for those that didn’t.) It was so funny watching people going into the nice stores in front of us.  Some of them almost ran into the glass as they were looking at what was going on!  Like I said, you never know what you're going to run into! HA!


I met a couple, Mark and Kelly, from Wisconsin. They left Wisconsin in a car with all their stuff, but the car broke down and they didn’t have the money to fix it, so they left it and took what they could carry in their back packs.  I couldn’t believe Kelly, about as big as a mustard seed, with a big ole' backpack on her back and one on the front. I watched her try to get the backpacks on, and I said “Girl you got to get rid of some of that stuff” and she said “this is all I have left now. I’ve already left so much.” 

She sure was happy though because she told me that after being in Santa Cruz for the last 3 months, a local church was getting them a one way ticket back home, and they were leaving the next day.  I gave her some more sandwiches for the trip.  We prayed for them to get home safe and to have peace and not to worry because God’s “got it.”


It was just a short visit to Santa Cruz, but it was so beautiful.  So we got a good night's sleep and hit the road time for San Francisco.

Sammie