Last Friday, our camp was on the way back from a field trip at the zoo. When returning we had to go through Pittsburgh. As we pulled up to a red light, we noticed two overpasses on each side of the bus. What was under the overpass was to our amazement. It basically looked like a typical bedroom. However, this was a bedroom that a couple had created out of their homelessness. There was a bed, "shelves" as in a ledge from the overpass, shopping carts that surrounded them to form a boundary line, a little storage area for their food, and anything and everything they had picked up along their journey. My friend Diz and I said immediately, "we have to meet those kats!"
Saturday, a group of us went down to the Strip District; this is a strip of street vendors and fresh produce, along with some really cool shops. When we were leaving I asked them if they would mind if we went to look for these specific people we saw under the overpass. So our journey began. Next thing I knew, we were walking up to the couple praying they would find favor over us. That they did! We had about a 15 minute conversation with them, prayed with them, and then arranged a dinner date with them for Monday.
Monday night rolled around; we packed up some ribs, green beans, corn, and brownies, and headed toward the city. Tim was a little taken back it seemed, that we actually followed through with our word. Kathleen was super excited to see us. Tim and Kathleen have been together for 20+ years and have been on the streets for 6 months. They are awaiting government funding next month to get off the streets. We sat there, ate, talked, sang, and danced for a majority of the night. Tim and Kathleen are very special people who seem to know that Jesus loves them and cares for them. They find themselves in the midst of sleeping under a bridge, fighting off unwanted rodents and intruders, going to the bathroom about 2 feet away from where they sleep, but making the best of what they have.
I am excited to see where God takes this relationship. We believe strongly this was a divine meeting. We left saying, "we'll be back, if we don't see you here, we'll miss you, but we'll know you are in a safe place." God brings hope. Hope to those who are struggling. Hope to those who are content. I am thankful to the Lord that He continues to put us in situations that brings glory to His Kingdom!
Love Deeply
The Strip district is one of the best places in the city. Girl, you're making me miss my family there! More though, you're making me miss the heart that Jesus has put in you! I love that you're serving in the most practical ways.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love and miss you!