As I was driving on the on ramp to highway 10, I looked to my right and saw the scene above. Some people had set up a shelter and where living in the woods. These people were right off the highway. It was 35 degrees outside and it was afternoon, so nights were colder. I stopped to see if anyone was “home” and talked with a woman who was about 35 – 40 years old. She and two guys were living there she said.
When I stopped I had some granola bars and fruit I could offer her but nothing to help with the cold. That night when I got home I posted on Facebook about meeting some new friends and their needs, since it was cold and they were living outside. I collected some blankets, hats, gloves, warm clothing and food for my new friends. I stopped by to drop off supplies 1-2 times a week after meeting the woman about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.
I knew that I could easily be in the same place where this woman and two men were: homeless, sleeping outside, doing whatever they are able for work each day, to meet their needs for that day. I am technically homeless. If I did not have the supportive community that I do, I also could be permanently living outside, without a source of income and food.
I kept stopping by to drop off supplies once or twice a week but no one would be “home” when I stopped. I would tuck the food, supplies and note of encouragement into the rain fly of the orange tent to protect it from the weather. Two weeks before Christmas, I left work early and went to the grocery store, then stopped by to see these friends. The area where they had been living was completely cleared: no tent, no tarps, no trash. At first I was devastated. Did the police come and make these people move on? What happened?
As I prayed about this situation over the next few days, I was filled with hope and not despair for these 3 people. Why did them moving locations have to be a negative thing? Maybe they were helped by the police to get into a housing program or maybe a friend offered them a room to stay in?
The Lord taught me through this situation that I have to trust Him. He alone knows what happened to these three people, where they are at this very moment. I need to lift them up in prayer, asking for safety and provision and I need to trust Him, because He is faithful and cares for them even more than I do.
