More.

I just met two more homeless people, Promise and Mike, up in my area of Tampa outside Steak n' Shake. It was raining, and Promise told us that her matress in the woods was soaked, and she didn't have anywhere to sleep tonight. Promise and Ryan were talking for a while about God. She said she gets angry at God sometimes. She's been homeless for a year now, and she prays for God to provide her with a place to stay, but she's still on the street. She told us about some handicapped boys she saw one time, and said she doesn't understand why God would let there be suffering in the world. We tried to explain the little that we know about the gift of free will, and though it is a gift, it allows suffering when humans as a whole choose to disobey God. We tried to emphasize that God is upset at the suffering of His children. I hope it gets her thinking. And I hope that she could get back on her feet soon.

Mike came by towards the end of the conversation. She saw him walking by and called him over, and introduced him as her friend. He seemed like a really nice guy. After we talked to them and helped out the best we could, they walked towards the woods together under Mike's umbrella.

We were in our cars and about to drive away, and a guy named Zach (probably not THAT much older than us) approached Ryan's car window. Ryan said "I remember you!" They had met a while ago in the same Steak n' Shake parking lot. Zach said he remembered Ryan too. He told Ryan that he had been in jail for 6 months, but he just got out. Then he explained how he had found Jesus, and proceeded to preach to Ryan. He then stopped and apologized for "thumping him with the Bible." Ryan gave him the address to the Underground and his phone number. I hope he gets back on his feet soon too. Maybe we'll see him again soon.

There are so many homeless people here. If you open your eyes, you'll see them, perhaps even meet them. And the thing is, they are all people with real lives, real stories... and they were all created by God for a purpose. They all have names. Promise. Mike. Zach. All the others we've met, and the tons more who we haven't.

Keep them in your prayers, please? Don't forget about our brothers and sisters who will be sleeping in the rain tonight.