Raising funds through Yard Sales

I can not recall whether this was mentioned before or not, but this started happening years ago. We would often come home and find random items sitting either in our driveway or on our doorstep. These items were donations towards the ministry, although with good intentions, somebody without a home might not have any use for a microwave. The donations kept coming and soon we started to fill our garage to its limits. We started doing yard sales to raise funds. This has become our best resource over time. It is certainly a full days work, as any of our team members can testify to that. The start time to set up is usually between 5-5:30am. We can hear the roar of the early bird customers creeping through the neighborhood by 6am, but we try to keep them off the property until 7am as we are still setting up. Manning the hoards of walk ups while setting up is far too overwhelming to take on both at the same time. Because these have become a regular thing, we have repeat customers and through this, we have had wonderful opportunities to build relationships with our clients. We've prayed with people, encouraged others and on a few occasions even had the privilege to lead some to salvation in Christ. What a blessing these tedious and tiresome yard sales have become. They are dreaded each time but they are so worth it in the end. October 17th, 2015 (Next Saturday) is the next. We still seek volunteers to help us. Please pray that God will provide the help.

Never stop loving... ever!

It's been so long since I've last written and so much has changed over the years. I'm at a loss for words, but the burden to post is pressing on my heart, not to just say anything but to glorify God and share of all that He's been doing in that time. Looking back and reviewing the photos, I'm caught in the past, reflecting on the good old days. It's been nearly 7 years since God called us to what we do. Our group in Clairemont has grown to approximately 50 people attending the meals. We may never see the fruits of our labor and I've learned to accept that. It's been a hard lesson for me. For so long, I craved results... not for my own self reward, but to confirm that we weren't wasting our time. That has always been my biggest concern. God has taught me through trials of my own, to wait and trust Him because He is always doing something. Loving Thy Neighbor, as a team has completely changed since the last entry. Only a small handful of original team members remain. Through the things God has orchestrated, we are fully supported by our church family at The Branch San Diego. I am so very grateful for the overwhelming love and support from such kind people. Majority of the new team are fellow members of the Branch. We are currently still only meeting for dinner the last 2 Fridays of the month. It's worked well, although the original plan with the move was to test the waters with serving just 2 weeks out of the month. So what's really new? Hmmm... The relationships that we have built with our friends has never been stronger. A large number of our guests are people we knew from the PB days. Some utilize San Diego's finest public transportation to reach their meal. Keeping that in mind, we make it a point to wait until 5:30pm before we start the night. A message of truth and hope is still given before the food is served. One of the benefits of a smaller crowd these days, is the luxury of changing the menu up. It's no longer just pasta. We have done bbq's, enchiladas, tacos, and may more home-made types of dinners. It's amazing to see the joy and love put into cooking for our guests. (I don't do any of the cooking, just to be clear.) I confess - "I can't cook". Our start time had to change to 5:30 so that I could still be a part of the ministry. I no longer work locally and my commute is less than fun, so 5:30 is the soonest I could get there. Sometimes everything happens so fast that we are reloading the truck by 6:30pm. Let me try to paint you, the reader, a picture in words how it all goes down at the intersection of Genesee & Bannock Ave... Amanda arrives at 4:45pm, greeted by the hungry awaiting guests already forming a line with their backpacks in place. As she pulls up, usually Wayne and other long-time guests are quick to unload the truck and have everything all set up,literallywithin minutes. As the team trickles in, everyone picks their station for the evening. It's very casual. I'm sure it looks strange to people driving by, to see a large group setting up with tables and clothes on the corner of a park. I've stepped away from preaching as much as I was. That privilege has been given to Joey (a long-time team member) and a brother named Paul. Paul is a unique brother with a tremendous gift. He was called by God, to remove himself from all comforts this world has for the working class, and step by faith into the mission field of the houseless life. He literally sold and gave away all that he owned, aside from his Ford Ranger that he sleeps in, to be alongside his peers, whom he shares the Gospel with on a regular basis. I cover in the absence of either of those two brothers. The support of our ministry has grown so much, that we regularly host yard sales to raise funds for special things, such as things found our our wishlist. I'll be sure to follow up on the wishlist another time. The most recent praise report is His provision on us obtaining a shed large enough to hold all the items for the ministry. Pictures will follow soon.