Saturday 27 October 2012

San Fransisco

                 We stopped at the ocean, obviously, and had a run on the beach. What a beautiful day!
                                                           Handsome men.
                                              Family photo op. We don't do enough of these.
               Some of the girls in our truck had never seen the Golden Gate Bridge before.
                They were so pleased to make the stop to take some pics.
                          Downtown San Fran on a beautiful sunny day. Such a special city.
                So we stayed at a YWAM base in the heart of the Tenderlion District. There are
                      80,000 homeless in a seven square block radius. We walked all over the city
                              and prayed for different houses that rehabilitate teens who are on the street,
                          and houses that protect abused women.

                             We got took some city buses too... Wes wasn't as green as I thought he'd be


                              We packed some lunches and we each packed a second to give away.
                          We walked down to Hippy Hill (where Janis Joplin used to hang out)
                           We found there to be hundreds of homeless there, and were able to sit and
                          share our food with many of them. 
                            

                                Hippy Hill. Doesn't look like there are many people... They were mostly
                                   up in the trees where they camp out. We had to go looking.
                                  That is Demi in the back seat with the boys. She's our new friend from
                                   Finland that Eli and Finn both adore. Bobbi and Katheryn were riding
                                      with us as well. We had SUCH a fun drive!!
                                   The San Fran YWAM base. Both boys had a great time (Eli claimed it was
                                   boring) I think he forgets he got to stay up late playing pool, ping pong,
                                      fooz ball, and were playing hide and seek up much past their bed time.
                                  We met this guy, Rolland, and he was drinking right outta the bottle
                                   on the street.(which is not uncommon) and I asked him how he became
                                     homeless. He started weeping and told us he wanted to die because
                                        of how ashamed he was, and how his family has excommunicated him.
                                      We were able to hug him, and pray for him, and direct him to the YWAM
                                        base if and when he decided he wanted to get off the street. We talked
                                       for half an hour, and he said he couldn't remember the last time someone
                                      was so kind. Yes!!!
                                    
                              This little lady has lived in this spot on the street for the past 3 years,
                             and had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. It was a toothless smile,
                                but her eyes were so sparkly, and when she looked at me, there was love
                                     in her eyes. Hard to explain. Wouldn't surprise me if she was one of
                                        the angels that are mentioned in scripture. 

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Hanging out and helping out.

                                                    Our new friend Demi is from Finland.
                                                    This is her first experience with the
                                                     roadside taco truck.
                                As they say, you had to be there....

                                Finny and his girlfriends.
                                We spent a day talking, praying for, and helping out the
                                  homeless community in Visalia CA.  This is us starting out
                                  the day with lunch at the homeless shelter.  My parents were
                                  hanging out to.
                                            This dude needed a shirt, literally
                                            Picking up some trash on the street.


                                            Loading up some water to hand out at dinner.
                                            Sorting through some donated clothes.
                                Our tour guide Matt (left) showed us around and told us about the city.
                                There are tons of homeless people in this city, crystal meth
                                 is the drug of choice, so many sad stories.
                                             Who's the drunk dude passed out! Oh, wait a minute,
                                              it is Finn taking a break.
                                Sweet art on a trailer, I wish I had have taken more time to
                                get a closer picture.


                                Dinnertime.
                                It was a great day.  Lots of good stories.

Rasin day parade

                                The kids took part of the town parade because they are part of
                                 the local BMX club.  They had a quad which pulled this ramp
                                 around, it would stop in front of big crowds and the kids would
                                 take turns riding over it.

                                Finn going over and Jen handing out flyers.
                                  Eli's turn.

Back at it.

                                            Back at it, the Bobcat is leaking somewhere.
                                            Found it, old hoses everywhere.
                                This is the kids acting just like the people on the beer ad.
                                Our turn feeding the homeless after church on Sunday.

                                  Sketchy repairs.
                                Peaches and baby food waiting for a semi truck.
                                             Random dumping
                                           Kids playing 4 square.