• A woman 5 minutes before who had no place to stay that night and didn't feel well.  There are a number of places to stay in the city but her welcome at most of them has been used up.
• A young man in his late teens who was homeless.
• two different men who were suffering from depression:
       Several years ago one had showed up at our door suicidal and going out to end his life that very night.  He lived to see his 2 grand_daughters born and to hold them in his arms.  He was glad to see me and I gave him a great big hug of joy, having walked with him in his shoes for a time . . .
       The other man had a Bible in his hand.  He had come forward with the others to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior 5 days earlier in Chapel and had come back for help which we were able to provide.

It is a challenge to meet all the needs.  In fact, it is impossible.  "The poor you will always have with you."  I spent years living in a warm apartment or house; comfortable; with food in the cabinets and refrigerator; inconvenienced only by the slowness of the driver in front of me while commuting to my secure job.  Insulated from the realities which surrounded me.  It was a case of me vs. them; mine vs. theirs.  If only I had had eyes to see what was going on around me.  I didn't then; I do now because God woke me up.

Yesterday a dear man from my church stopped in with a donation for the Mission (greatly appreciated).  He sat opposite me for several minutes and I was unable to speak about anything of significance - just being overwhelmed by all the poverty around the mission and trying to think of some way to communicate this to my friend who is comfortable, as I was for many years.