Greetings UBFM!
I hope this message finds you all in the early part of a
marvelous week. I was blessed with the opportunity to get on my bike and absorb
some of the perfect autumn weather this morning. There is something spiritual
about the colors of this season. The wilderness is converted into a vast work
of art. Regardless of one’s faith tradition, feeling something spiritual seems
effortless. I hope you all are able to experience it as well.
Last week was another successful Wednesday night meeting.
Many thanks go to the hands and hearts the made the evening possible. The
temperature was quite low when we started and it continued to drop as we
traveled around town. We are not seeing as many of our friends out as we might
have during the summer. This is certainly a blessing! However, there are still several.
Though, we may not see or visit with as many, we find it essential to shower
those we do see with love. Last week we delivered 200 burritos, 3 cases of
bottled water, a lot of candy, and enough granola bars to feed an army. We also
delivered a lot of blankets, coats/jackets, gloves, caps, and handwarmers. In
addition to all of that, once again, we rolled out the mobile hot cocoa station
and distributed warm drinks to any and all that were interested. Thank you ALL
for pulling together the resources that allowed us to allocate these items. We
are still accepting cold weather supplies. If you have any old coats, blankets,
thermal tops/bottoms, caps, gloves, and/or socks you are willing to part with
please let us know.
We are planning to put together some care packages to
distribute next week (Thanksgiving). If you have any ideas for items that we
may place in the packages let us know. Outside of any suggestions we are taking
handwarmers, hygiene products, chap stick, candy, tissues, beef jerky, chips,
crackers, etc. Or, if you and/or your group would like to create some of your
own unique care packages for us to distribute please let me know.
Many people have asked if we are still scheduling a ride for
the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We do, certainly intend on it. As a matter
of fact, I think we should focus on giving out much more next week. There will
be many people on the streets that don’t have families to visit and will not
have Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy. I believe this is a good opportunity to let
them know they are loved and thought about daily. That is the number one item
we donate: love. One meal per week is not going to fill a person’s belly for
long. The handwarmers will stop working, the jackets will wear out, the
blankets will get lost, and the hot cocoa will only last a few sips. But, the
love and genuine friendship offering will last. Allowing our friends to know
they are sincerely cared for will out last any good handwarmer. If you don’t
have any plans this Wednesday night, next Wednesday night, or any for that
matter, come and help us distribute some gifts to our less fortunate neighbors
on the streets.
If you plan on joining us this week we will meet at our
usual time. My door will be open at 6:30 PM if you would like to help make some
burritos and prepare some supplies. Otherwise, we will meet and load up at 7:30
and roll out around 8:00. We will return around 10:00 for some fellowship time.
Thank you all for the time, effort, donations, thoughts and
prayers. This missional group is possible because of you. I ask that you keep
them coming! Share the news of this organization. Let people know who we are
and what we do. I hope you all have a good week and I look forward to seeing
some of you soon!
Peace
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