my new friend john...

A few Saturdays ago I was at my regular site in the South Bronx.  Nothing out of the ordinary was happening that day.  The kitchen was being well managed, volunteers were giving out clothes and praying with people, and I was catching up with some friends of mine.  In the midst of the outreach a gentleman by the name of John stopped by and asked about getting into a drug rehab program.  Immediately I brought him into the bus office to determine how ready he was, which program would fit him best, and to encourage him in this step of faith.  He shared with me that he had been struggling with addiction for almost 25 years.  He also shared with me that within the past few years the addiction was leading to severe depression and hopelessness.  That day was also his 49th birthday and wandering around that day he told me he wondered if he would make it to 50.  But he said that the Bus's presence was God's confirmation that he would make it and that it was time for radical change.  Very rarely do we get men and women that are ready to enter a program the way that John was.  I told him that if he was ready then so were we.  I had John take the next few days to wrap up his affairs in the Bronx so that we could connect him to a life change program here in Jersey.  That Monday he excitedly called the office saying he was beyond ready!  I drove our van into the Bronx the next day to pick him up and am excited to announce that John is still in the program working towards freedom!  Please continue to keep this son of God in your prayers! And as always please pray for myself as well as the rest of the organization.  At times its very easy to feel worn out and discouraged.  Please pray that God would sustain us and keep us encouraged as we continue bringing light into the darkness... Grace & Peace...
Lance