28th meal served this morning.

Today marks the beginning of the seventh month of serving breakfast in the park. This morning as we left our homes to prepare to package the food, the weather was threatening. We remained confident that God would show Himself faithful and once again He did. When we arrived, one man we didn’t recognize was waiting on us. The rain was still coming down, so we knew it might be awhile before anyone else joined us. As we talked with the man, he shared his story of how he ended up on the streets. Leaving a messy divorce situation and a 13-year-old daughter behind, he was heading to Florida to find work. He had been in Birmingham for six days and was just passing through. He was eager to talk, and many of our team members were able to share with him and show him kindness. It reinforced to us that many people are simply lonely and are encouraged by basic conversation.

As the rain slacked off, more and more people came to eat. One of our team members was approached by a man who eats with us often. He asked, “Where is the notebook where you write down prayers? I need you to pray for me to find work.” It is humbling that God allows us to pray for the needs of the people we serve and that they respond in this way. Another of our regular homeless women who we have been praying for consistently shared a prayer request today. This particular woman has transitioned from shunning our prayers to asking for them. That is God alone working in the life of this woman!

It is difficult to leave the park on days like today when we know that we are returning to houses that are safe and sheltered from the elements. As we drove home, we passed one of the women we serve huddled under a doorstep with a blanket over her and all her worldly possessions in bags beside her. She had no reason to get up and come to the park today in the rain, but God drew her there and gave us the opportunity to love on her for an hour. He alone is the refuge from the storms of this life. We trust in Him to meet the needs we cannot. May we never take for granted the awesome responsibility we have been given.