While we were driving back from our missions trip up in Oregon, we received a call from Richard. He began explaining what led up to him being released from the Rescue Mission Program. The previous weekend he had gone back to his home town to see his daughter and while there he got caught up in the peer pressure and he proceeded to get drunk. Upon returning to the Mission he had to do a breath test, which is required whenever they leave the premises. Right away it was evident that he had broken the rules and was released and dropped off at the train station. He had nowhere else to go so he had just assumed he would go back to his hometown, which would’ve been a big mistake. Anyway, while waiting for his train which was late, his pastor just so “happened” to show up to drop someone off. He picked up Richard and took him over to another program. It was while he was on his way that he had borrowed his pastor’s phone to call Jeff. It was truly amazing listening to him explain how he felt that God was intervening and brought his pastor there to find him all the while making his train late. The following Sunday we showed up at the church affiliated with his program in hopes to see him. He was full of smiles and hugs. We felt he was in a good place and were excited to find out that that program would allow Jeff to continue to mentor him after his 30 day blackout time. We assumed all was well. 28 days later Jeff received another call from Richard. He said he was leaving that program. He described the conditions of the facility and the requirements and said he couldn’t handle it any longer. He said between the bed bugs, the roaches in the food and being told where he could and couldn’t stand he had had enough. This time though he had thought it through and had actually made some calls to find another program. The Salvation Army Program would have a bed available the following Tuesday and in the meantime, he thought he could stay at a facility across from the Rescue Mission. Jeff arranged to pick him up and drive him over to the other facility. When they arrived, he was told that since he had been released from the Rescue Mission program he wouldn’t be allowed to stay at the temporary housing across the street since they were affiliated with them. This left Richard homeless for a week. Jeff drove him all over town that day looking for possible housing situations. He made numerous phone calls and was left with nothing. Since Jeff had formed a relationship with him we would’ve taken him in for the week if we could have. It was the same week that our oldest was graduating from college and moving to Germany so we had a house full. As Jeff was driving Richard around feeling hopeless he had called us at home. Haley and I were sitting at the kitchen table crying and praying for God to provide for Richard. Jeff had to make the heart-wrenching decision to drop him off downtown. Richard had lived on the streets for a year prior to the Rescue Mission so he knew how to survive. However, it was the hardest thing that Jeff had to do. He gave him all the cash he had including the change in our car and let him out. It wasn’t 5 minutes later that Jeff called Haley and I and told us that he had just received a call from a family that had agreed to take in Richard for the week. Praise God! Haley and I continued to cry. Only this time it was cries of joy as once again we saw God answer prayer. Jeff luckily was able to find Richard and take him over to the house. Though he was a bit uncomfortable he was truly thankful and not only that but he too was able to see God provide in his time of need. He had a roof over his head, food in his belly and a safe, loving Christian home for the week. On Tuesday, Jeff drove him over to the Salvation Army location and right away they said that they may not be able to take him in because of the gang tattoos on his arms. They also said that he had to have dental work done before they would consider taking him. Praise God once again, Jeff made some phone calls and was able to get him into a dentist later that same morning. Also thanks to answered prayer they agreed to take him as long as he wore long sleeved shirts. Last Saturday we went to the facility to find out how he was doing and we were able to visit with him for a few minutes. What a blessing it has been to love on this man whom society has deemed unfit. He didn’t get a say to whom he was born. He didn’t get a say to what his upbringing was like. He didn’t get a say when he was pushed into this kind of life. And yes he does take responsibility for his poor choices and bad decisions along the way but we need to remember that God loves him just as much as he loves us. We are all His children and we have the privilege of sharing Christ with him.