Good Day

This day started out (depending on when starting is to you) on the lame side. After Kaylee's trip to the hospital, we were awoken by roughly 60-70 protestors at the gates of the church parking lot, chanting and yelling something about a rat and not leaving. Turns out (and this sickens me to no end and makes me think unions are now hurting the american worker, not helping) these were not laborers for the construction company (the church is building the new wing right now, something we will be doing soon, right pastor Frank?) at all! They were brought in because the construction company uses non-union laborers! 

Other than that things went pretty well. We got wind from the hospital that Kaylee was well and headed back to us by 8 am. Praise God! Once we were all together we headed back to the beach for more silence and solitude. There were no attacking lady bugs this time. It is so cool to have time with God in His creation. He is so incredible.

After the beach we headed down to the Union Rescue Mission in downtown L.A. That place is a machine. We chopped, cut, sorted, cleaned, seasoned, and served food for two of three lunch shifts. It is such a large operation. Hundreds of employees and volunteers working to make meals and counsel and give medical attention, shelter and showers. All throughout the building, there are huge signs that are verses hanging all over the place. Behind the building, is actual Skid Row. The street is actually called San Julian. There are probably 200 homeless people milling around, in and out of a small park, other buildings and sitting on the sidewalk within one city block. This small part of downtown is surrounded by upscale hotels and restaurants; offices and sports complexes. Some of the richest real estate in the nation surrounded by such poverty. 

All we really did was chop onions, sort boxes, serve lunch... But the ministry that we helped is changing lives. We are truly enjoying each other and the work we are doing together. 

Today, we will head to Skid Row once more to a ministry called "The Jonah Project." This ministry is primarily relational so we will be spending time with clients (the homeless) and talking with them. it should be interesting.

We will be done with this by noon and our plan is to go to the beach for the day. Pray for the weather!!!! It is supposed to rain, yet it is sunny and 60 right now. We will blog more later!!!

-E