Dude! Share The Food!

Yesterday, we started something new.

New to us, at least.

We had felt that God was calling us to go downtown, share food, and “have church” on a Sunday.  So, a couple weeks ago, we decided to NOT form a committee, and to NOT over think it, and to NOT just talk about it… . . but just DO it!

So, we set the date, prepared a little bit, and, yesterday, we DID it!  And it.. was.. AWESOME!!

We shared hot dogs, beans, pretzels, and sweet tea.  We talked with the locals from this poor side of Atlanta.  Then, we shared a few songs, led by Robert, a local new friend, who had this amazing, low, clear, baritone voice.

Don Humphries shared about 10 minutes from God’s word.  Then, Shane gathered us all around with his neighbors and friends, and prayed.

What a great day!!!

God is Good!!

I hadn’t been to the “tent city” near Bankhead Hwy for a few months.

Sometimes the places we share food change.  Personally, I hadn’t gone downtown nearly as much in the last few months as I used to.  And then, recently, we just hadn’t gone to that spot.

The spot is very secluded, so, if we take new people, or children, we might consider not going there.  You know, break people in easy… . protect the children… safety… . etc.

But, last week, we went by there.  As we arrived, we carried our tub of brown-bag-lunches and some drinks up into the woods.  I noticed that James’ area was considerably less-cluttered, and wondered… . . . ..

Then, a new house-less friend, Walter, came up, and I asked about James.. .. . . . and he told me the sad truth “James died a couple weeks ago.”

I was sickened.  And saddened.

I really liked James.  Wil and I had many cheerful times with him.

He was always so kind.  And he pushed a cart around, collecting things.  And he took care of some cats.  And he always was cheerful.  And he would give us an encouraging word for God’s Word.  And he’d give others a lunch.  He. Was. Awesome!

What a guy.  Love you, James.  I’ll miss you.

Erik

While sharing food on the streets last week, a man was talking about his history with drugs.

He said that some years back, he was hooked on drugs, and that God helped him get free.  Only through God.  And he said a phrase that caught my ear.

He said about God, “He heard my cry.”

I thought, “YES!  THAT’S WHAT HE DOES!!  HE HEARS OUR CRY!!”

Man, He’s so, so good.

Erik

Yesterday, we broke our “sharing group” into 2 groups, going separate ways.

Rusty took a group from Cartersville with him.  I took Justin, Becci, Carol, Ryan, and the girls with me.  8 people in a 7 passenger van… . . .

I told them about the many times we’ve gone into the city, and really didn’t know where we would go.  About how we’d just let God guide the turns and stops.  And so, we did that again, yesterday.

As Ryan was guiding us to a spot in Vine City, I turned around to stop at a small park on Lowery Blvd.  We piled out, and began sharing food.

The girls literally ran to people as they approached, as they couldn’t wait to share.  The adults started meeting and talking and praying with people.

As I was talking to a new friend, I turned around, and saw an old friend that I hadn’t seen for over a year; Shane!

It was SO great to see him, and to introduce him to the others.

He told us that, that very morning, he’d been praying for favor.  And that we’d come at just the right time. We provided him with some food, and some supplies he needed for his baby.  And he went on and on and on about how good God is, and how we were the answer to his morning prayer.

Yes, it’s true.  God guides our steps (AND our stops)

erik

in atlanta, we have roaming around our freeways, HERO UNITS.  sponsored by state farm insurance, and maybe taxpayer dollars, they’re big yellow trucks with flashing lights and anything one might need for roadside assistance.

well, i finally needed one yesterday… . . . . ..

so, yeah, i was driving through downtown atlanta yesterday morning, during the bad morning rush hour.  it’s always bad, and much worse yesterday, since it was pouring rain!!

i was just about through it, but, just before spaghetti-junction, i heard a “clunk” in the right front wheel well.  “hmmmm.. .. what was that” i wondered.. .. . .

within one minute, the steering started getting squirrelly, so i started moving to the right.  then it was obvious i had a flat, and i pulled over onto the right side emergency lane.  and it was a loooonng way to the next exit.

man, those cars were flying by!  seemed like just inches away!!

feeling like i could be killed by these maniacs, i drove another hundred yards to where i could pull off a bit more.  the rain let up a little, so i started changing the tire (in the mud.)  then the rain came back, so i jumped back into the truck to wait it out.

after a minute, i saw the HERO UNIT pull up behind me.. . . .. . . and i thought “man, am i glad to see him!!”

then i thought “i wonder if that’s how some people feel when they see rusty and the Dude! Share the Food! crew pull up!!??”

i thought “yeah, it probably is!  what a great moment it must be to see someone pull up with something you need.”

and, it was nice, too, to just be with someone a brief moment.

SO, KEEP IT UP, ALL YOU FOOD-SHARING HERO’S!!  you make people’s days better!!

eh

it was such a great day today!

i was busy with some FreeWater promo and sales, but i left there to take the starbucks pastries to the food-prep team.  it’s always amazing to watch the team come together, work it out, and put together the 250 lunches.  they’re always enjoying the “work” together…

and the rain didn’t stop the delivery team (it never does…).  and i’m sure they met some great people, too.

then this afternoon, some of us met to plan out some things, and dream of the future for Dude! Share the Food!

it’s just so great to watch people become deeply involved, and connect to their Christ-inspired passion for giving!!  love it!!

love y’all

eh

hello!

it’s been since september since i posted anything here…  so, hey!  what’s up!!??  and how ya been!!??

anyway, since then, we’ve taken thousands of lunches downtown, and a whole bunch of Christmas gifts downtown, and we’ve met a whole bunch of great people!

a few things have changed with our sharing-groups.  we now have barb organizing the saturday crew, since lynn is taking a well-deserved breather.  thanks barb!  thanks lynn!  (super-great ladies!!)

i’ll be taking on the “chief storyteller” role again, and leading the planning meetings, too.  a great big “thanks!” to wil for giving me a sabbatical!

rusty keeps on leading the charge to serve our friends on the streets.

and many other new faces are excited about working, sharing, giving, and going out to be the hands of Jesus!

onward we go, right!!??

love ALL y’all!!!

erik

ps. we now have a facebook group page, started by becky.  it’s a nice way to share stories and invite others to join us.  check it out here;  http://www.facebook.com/pages/FreeWater/119637088059338?ref=ts#!/pages/Dude-Share-The-Food/104982726243227

The Christmas Wrapping Party was a huge success! Thanks to all those who gave of their time and contributions. We were able to put together 106 gift bags that included a toiletry bag and wrapped gift of a cap or scarf, a pair of socks and a pair of gloves. Thanks also to Rusty and everyone that’s going downtown Christmas day to give them out. Let Rusty know if you want to join them.

Just a reminder that we are not meeting for Dude Christmas day or New Years day.

Have a great Christmas and New Years!

God bless,
wil

Tomorrow night is the Christmas Wrapping Party!

We are putting together 50 toiletry bags with soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, comb, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste and washcloth. And we’re putting together and wrap 100 gifts of pair of socks, pair of gloves and cap.

Feel free to bring any of these items. If you are going to bring anything in bulk, please let me know immediately so I know what not to buy.

Bring some soup or chili and don’t forget wrapping paper!

It is at 6:30pm at Wil and Carrie’s house.
2890 Mt Vernon Rd.
Lithia Springs, GA 30122
678 391-8511

Call if you need directions.

Thanks for all you do!
wil

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow! I hope everyone had a great couple of weeks.

It’s getting cold out there! Besides food, we also take blankets, jackets, socks, etc. downtown.

wil