Last week I went down to the "Goodwill Camp" and met quite a group of people. I met a family- aka a group of homeless people in the camp. They are a little bit dysfunctional, but hey so was my family. These people will change your life. Yes, they smell. Yes, they are drunk by nine in the morning. Yes, they smoke and cuss all the time. But they see that this group sent to them is from God Himself. Like Bryan said "These people are our friends. Church people don't bring their babies down here!"

Let me introduce you to my new friend: his name is Link. I can't go into all the details about this man's life, but he has lived a hard life. He was placed in a mental institution because of things he had done by the age of 10. He stayed there over 2 years and was called crazy. Going on to college, he got his BA in literature. The man has the ability to quote authors like nobody's business! He was put in prison as an adult because of things he had done. Now he is drinking and living a homeless life.

The first time I met this man, he looked over at me and said "Angel, come here." (They all call us "angels") He gave me his bottle of vodka and told me to throw it away right before he passed out. I found out later that he had told everyone earlier he didn't need food, just alcohol. Then the next day he told everyone he doesn't need anything, not even alcohol. By the next day he willingly handed over his bottle (not empty) over to me. I was surprised, to say the least. In the coming days, God granted me the priviledge of getting to know Link as a person. Everyone was pretty much convinced he was demon posessed because every now and then he would just look evil. Straight up I asked him if he was demon posessed and told him Jesus could grant victory over his demons. He asked if I thought there was a demon in him. I responded with a what do you think. One word response "Yeah." He told me his life story. I cried with him, and told him Jesus Christ is the only way to have victory over anything in life- alcohol, being homeless, jobless, and hopeless. We parted ways but He made me a promise before I left: he told me if I could find a program that will help him detox with medication he would stay sober for at least a year. He told me "I want to feel alive again because my soul isn't hurting anymore, I know its dead." How well he sees the truth of life! I told him that everyone standing here who was visiting the camp all had dead souls, but Jesus made us alive. His response was "I know: Jesus walked on water because he only saves drowning men." Wow! That is God at work in a life!

So here is the challenge I walked away with, and I extend to anyone reading this blog. Do you have the faith, beloved, (no matter how small) in a God who can perform miracles? Who can reveal truth like this to a drunk? That makes no sense, why would God choose to reveal himself to a man who isn't even sober? Because He is God and He is amazing! God ordained Link's life- maybe this is the only road that would lead him to the Goodwill camp and to a group of Jesus' followers willing to sacrifice their time, safety, and money for a greater Kingdom. Some may think we are enabling, or being taken advantage of, or performing a fruitless task; but I think I speak for everyone- it sure doesn't feel that way. I don't feel like I am being taken advantage of when a demon possed killer looks in my eyes with clarity and declares in a sound mind that Jesus saves drowning men. How can we look at that and think this is fruitless? God is in control and for the time being I say- let's just go for it. This is being the church, being united with Christ in his sufferings so somehow to attain from the resurrection from the dead. Please, join me in prayer for Link and all the others in that camp. God has the ability to do it, so lets trust in Him! To Him be all Glory- because faith is going to start here in this camp! Laura