“Well I sit and pray in my broken-down Chevrolet, while singing to myself there’s got to be a better way”. Lyrics from song “Ball and Chain” by Social Distortion

Today, we had the privilege of serving 30 people.

• With the overnight rain and snow, this morning a lot of our friends were seeking cover either under the bridges or at the BAT kiosk until the library opens.  We did meet up with (Jay) who told us (Annie) is really sick with the flu and stayed in the tent.  We are concerned for her health, especially in these living conditions.  A lot of our friends won’t seek medical attention and when they finally do, the condition is much worse.  There is help out there with a mobile medical van that makes rounds in the city.

• We ran into our friend (Ray) who was visibly limping from a fall he had.  He asked if I had a cane.  I told him I had one at home for him; he said not to worry he will get one.  He was glad we found him; we gave him our packet of $10 bill/$10 DK card/prayer card and snacks.  He was happy.  It still amazes us how he has survived this long on the street.  When we first met him over a year ago, he was just healing from a broken neck he suffered when he fell into a dumpster where he was pulling out scrap metal.

• We found our friend (Jenny) in the BAT kiosk trying to stay warm.  I asked her how she was doing, and she always replies, “good”.  I gave her our packet; she allowed me to hug her.  She has suffered serious trauma and allowing me to hug her was huge.  We always ask her if she needs anything, and her standard reply is “no”.  Then we say how about some gloves, hat, underwear, sweatpants, and before we know it, we fill up a bag for her.  Our hearts ache when she heads off.  We always wonder to ourselves, where is she heading next?

• We ran into a bunch of old and new friends under one of the bridges.  A new friend (Chuck) was wide-eyed when we offered him our packet of $10 bill/$10 DK card/prayer card.  He kept shaking Claire’s hand saying, “God bless you”.

• Our friend (Ashley) had plastic supermarket bags over her sneakers to keep her feet dry.  We gave her a hat, gloves, sweatpants, underwear, along with our packet.  We will have a pair of boots for her next week.  We didn’t have any left.

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God Bless,

Claire and Shaun Teed and Tito

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“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths”. Proverbs 3:6

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