Going the Distance

 

Happy New Year from all of us here at Street Life Ministries

SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP • CONTACT US • DONATE •

I (Carol) got a call one day in the office at Street LIFE Ministries. A woman was asking if we had any hygiene products that we could give her.  Typically, we don’t distribute items from our office location as we are in a residential area.  I explained to her that we give them out at Tompkins Square Park each Tuesday and invited her to come.  Since she lives in Flushing (Queens), I knew she would have to make an effort to get to Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan.  We had a nice chat and I asked for her name. “Katie.”  “Nice to meet you.  When you come, I’d love to meet you in person.  Ask for me.”

The following Tuesday at Tompkins Square Park, our volunteer, Paula, introduced me to a couple of women who arrived later that morning.  At first I wasn’t sure who they were but after introductions, it clicked.  “I spoke with you over the phone!  You made it!”  Katie had brought a friend with her.  I was shocked to see they made the journey from Flushing which could take anywhere from 45 minutes or more.  This made me think about how desperately they needed some help. It turns out they live in a shelter and needed some hygiene supplies.  I had set aside some special care packages from World Vision.  I also found some drawstring backpacks so I eagerly filled up a bag for each of them with socks, winter wear, and toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and other care pack items. 

I offered to pray with them and they happily welcomed it.  Katie’s friend looked like she was carrying a heavy burden.  Working with individuals struggling with various addictions helps me to be discerning and prayerful. Both wanted prayer to get a place of their own.  We had a wonderful time lifting their needs up to the Lord and they were grateful.  As we finished praying, it was time to start packing up.  They stayed and helped!  We also exchanged contact information so we could stay in touch.  

 

Once again we are truly blessed by all of our partners and for the opportunity to serve. 

Happy New Year and Special Thanks

Happy New Year from all of us here at Street Life Ministries

SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP • CONTACT US • DONATE • 

_________________________________________________________

 

We, here at SLM, are so grateful to God for His many answers to prayer and provision, and especially for some new donors.

1.    Young Israel, of New Hyde Park, New York for seven large bags of coats and jeans

2.    Officer John Erdman of the 111th precinct in Bayside, New York for 10 very large bags of winter coats and shoes

3.    Centerpoint Community Church in New Hampshire for socks, undergarments, and gloves

4.    for Church of the Savior in Worcester, Ohio for many boxes of toothpaste and shampoo and for Connie Franks who drove it from Ohio to a meeting place in
Upstate New York.

5.    Some anonymous givers of wool, winter blankets

6.    And the many people who have donated through the New York Cares Coat Drive of which SLM is an official drop off center!

 

 

We praise God for those who have even given extra finances during a very difficult season, and we simply pray that God would continue to burden your heart for SLM, the lost, the homeless and the hurting whom we are constantly loving and serving. We ask that you continue to pray with us, support and share the work, and that more people would be released to donate practical items including funding to help us continue ministering onto the Lord and the streets of NYC.

 

Once again we are truly blessed by all of our partners and for the opportunity to serve. 

SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP • CONTACT US • DONATE •

2020 A Year of Shaking

There Will be Christmas This Year!

With an abundance of toys from World Vision, coats from New York Cares Coat Drive, and food from The United Way of NYC, we drove to several locations on Northern Blvd. to bless people in need. 

A woman and her daughter JUST came out for a walk down the street. She saw us giving out these items and while waiting in line, she spoke to me (David) with pain and sorrow in her eyes and voice,  “We have no money, very little food and there will be no Christmas this year”.   

She was immediately filled with gratitude as I told her what we had with us! And she was able to receive food and a number of Christmas toys for her son and her daughter as well as new winter coats! 

Another man named Gabriel was from Guatemala. We have seen him here often on Northern Blvd. in Flushing.  He is always so blessed for the food and gifts we have been bringing since March.  He lets me know how much he misses his kids back home. Sadly, it was only 8 am and he already had a few beers due to his daily grief over the current life he leads during this pandemic,  

These and so many others are why we come to minister unto Christ, to bless God, to be a living fragrance of the KING and His Kingdom, and to minister to the most basic needs of people, especially during this pandemic. Please keep us in your prayers as we can continue in His Grace and Mercy, and the provision by faith, that will be there in the new year ahead!  THANK YOU, who have been a part of this through your prayers and donations!

Full of Turkey

We were thrilled to order about 3 dozen frozen turkeys to distribute the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Along with that, we added a 5-pound bag of potatoes, some sweet potatoes, boxed stuffing, vegetables, and fruit.  It was an extra blessing for those in need this Thanksgiving! 

Timing was everything as we never know 

when the food truck will arrive and we don't have 

a walk-in refrigerator or freezer to store the turkeys.  

God was on our side and the order came early in the morning.  We were able to make all the bags and bring them out to Northern Blvd where men were waiting to be picked up for work.  For those remaining, the prospect seemed low.

By the time we brought the bags out, it was late morning so we had just the right amount of bags (we had extra without turkeys as well) for distribution.  We also dropped off a few at our friend, Terry's house for other families in need.  

Of course, we were not the only ones to give out turkeys this year.  It is always a blessing to be able to give, especially now when so many have lost jobs and the lockdown seems to never end.  It is a year to be extra thankful for God's goodness!

Looking Out for Your Neighbors

 

I asked Terry (who comes to The King’s Fellowship here on Sunday evenings) to tell me about the people she has been giving the food to that Street LIFE Ministries drops off on her doorstep.  Here is what she said….

“First of all, I really appreciate the fact that I keep working with this ministry because I did have some health issues this summer (heart surgery).  I am getting a lot stronger.  As a Christian, you’re going to be friendly with your neighbors and so this gave me an opportunity to make sure they were handling this COVID pandemic decently.  Everybody has high rent and it leaves a lot less money for food. 

The lady next door to me lives with her son and because of the COVID lockdowns, he lost his job and hasn’t been able to find anything else. 

They told us that their rent is so high. So, I started bringing food to them.  I asked, “Would you like any of this?” They said, “Yes”.  I started bringing the boxes of food that Street LIFE Ministries would drop off and they were blown away.  She made me some Lasagna which tasted great in a gesture to pay back for the food.  I told her that it was not necessary because it was a ministry of the church and assured her, I was just glad to give it to her because I knew she needed it.

I was able to give it to another neighbor next door.  There is a lady who lost her husband a couple of years ago.  He went to the hospital and they wanted to admit him, but he refused.   He died that night.  She was left without him and now having to struggle financially.  I gave her one of the turkeys and she thanked me so much. Both neighbors were very happy and they were ready to give me a big hug, but of course, became hesitant with the fear of the COVID virus.

There is a lot of South American workers that work for my landlady’s son and I asked him if he knew of anyone I could give food to.  He said, “Yes, my workers”.  So, I have been leaving 8 bags of food to these guys.  It is not a whole lot but many are single, and they ride bikes for transportation. I think it’s been a surprise for them that someone would leave them food.  

A nearby town I used to live in was College Point.  I met this old lady one day and said hello to her because I am now an old lady.  She was hobbling by and I found out she has Gout and was on her way back from therapy.   That is how I met her.  We have been friends for over the last 3 years and when we were giving out food, I thought of her because I knew she was alone.  She would go out on her front stoop.  People would walk by and she would have dog treats.  Some of the people would come up because their dog ran to her. She knows how to get people to talk to her.  She’s 88 and she’s lived in that neighborhood, that one house, since 1963.  She said she was going to cut that turkey in half to make it stretch.  

She knew everybody and she knew several people who also needed food.  Her hairdresser was out of work and was stuck in his house.  There was a Chinese family that lived a couple of doors down and a single man who had hip surgery.  Then there were single old ladies who lived down the street that we delivered food to as well.  

I met this one woman with a sweet little daughter.  I’ve been bringing them food as well.  Her husband worked at the airport in the baggage department, but his job hours were drastically cut back to about one day a week.  She is not working, and they have a family of four. Before they had plenty of money, but now that has all changed.

I have been able to distribute the food around.  It’s been a way for me to keep up with people and every time I bring it, and they thank me."  

We are so thankful for Terry who has been able to reach out to NYC neighbors who have suffered through the lockdowns, with the love of Jesus and with food! These are just a few of the home deliveries that we have been doing since March! And we are so thankful to you for your support this year!

A Small Gift of Appreciation/Return to the Massage Parlors

A Small Gift of Appreciation

We had the joy of delivering groceries and hygiene products to one of our Beautiful One’s throughout the lockdown.  She loved the box of goodies that we would drop off.  We also made sure to throw in a little gift and an encouraging word.  Although she is back to work now, we have remained in touch.  Last week she reached out because she had a gift for me!  We expect nothing in return but she insisted on giving this present.  I think she wanted to show her appreciation to us and this was one way to show it. 

This was an answer to many prayers that we pray to be able to connect with the workers outside of the massage parlor.  

Return to the Massage Parlors

Last month Street LIFE Ministries’ Beautiful One ministry had the joy of returning to visit the women in the massage parlors.  Since March, we had to cancel outreaches due to COVID-19.  Yet during this time, we continued to pray for the ladies.  Several of them provided us with their contact information so we could check in with them.  A few had need of groceries and hygiene products which we delivered to them.  This month we started up again, dropping off gifts and befriending the ladies.  We weren’t sure what to expect but were happy to learn that many of the ladies we know were still around.  We visited 12 massage parlors, spoke with 12 women, and distributed 20 gifts.  We also spent time in prayer over each of the sites.  It was wonderful to be back!  The challenge remains for this ministry; we long to see the ladies’ hearts softened to the Lord and have more opportunity for relationship with them.  Prayer is what will make the difference.  Would you join with us in prayer and believe for powerful things to take place in the massage parlors?