“I wear black for the poor and beaten down, livin on the hopeless, hungry side of town. Lyrics from “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash

Saturday morning, August 31, 2024

Temperature: 62° / Partly Sunny

Today, we had the privilege of serving 27 people.

• In talking to most of our friends, there is pressure from BPD to clean out encampments.  Granted there is a criminal element to some of these.  Most of our friends that we work with are not associated with these.

• We met up with some of our regular friends, noticing (Tom) was not with them.  When I asked, they mentioned he got a job and possibly was trying to hit the resent button on his life.  We can only hope and pray.

• Clothing was in demand today because during a clean up by the city, their belongings got swept up.

• (Jay) got into a shelter in Waltham after getting kicked out of the local shelter.

• We ran into our friend (Jeannie).  She was complaining about her stomach pain.  She said she was going to the hospital to get checked out.  

• We visited our friends’ (Kathy and John) tent.  We brought heavy blankets, tarp, foam mats, along with socks, underwear, tee shirts, hooded sweatshirts, snacks, Gatorade, water and our packet of $10 bill/$10 DK card/prayer card.  We noticed the rosary beads we had given to them were hanging on a tree next to their tent.  Though some of our friends may not know how to say the rosary, they do know they carry a special power.  I remember a guy saying that a woman praying the rosary without her faith, they would just be a bunch of ceramic beads.

• We also saw the dark side of the street.  We met a new friend (Reenie).  Her nose was swollen and black and blue.  She is also pregnant.  She was beaten by her boyfriend recently.

• Our friend (Lee) met up with us, the cuts on her face just starting to heal.  She said she lost her Mass Health card and was going to have to start the long process of getting a new one.

• On a brighter note, we met a new friend (Johnny).  We asked him if he needed any help.  He seemed puzzled standing next to his shopping car with all of his worldly possessions.  He asked us what church we were part of.  We told him the history of the ministry with Jim and Terry.  We told him we are carrying it on.  He was so grateful for our packet of $10 bill/$10 DK card/prayer card and snacks.  When we drove away we noticed he was reading the prayer on Jim’s Mass card that we gave him.

God Bless,

Shaun Teed

Liz Londergan

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