Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 7

Good Moring

Well it is the last morning of waking up to the sound of traffic. It is going to be a big day around here today. Church Service at 9:45 am and at 7:00 pm Screening of "Lost in Woonsocket".

We shuold be hopping all day.

Well after I posted to the blog last night, I had some more visitors. At 11;00 oclock at night people drove out of their way to "let you know we support what you are doing. and they were praying for me". WOW!!!

Made my sleeping a little easyer, "Sweet Dreams " seemed as a possiblity after that.

I am going to try to place a video in this post

Shalom

Pastor David


"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 6

Hi All

Blessings from the little 5 foot by 6 foot tent. Its a little tight in here, but the good news is it is my last night in here.

Well I said this morning, things would be active around here today. It was non-stop, people every were, folks stopping by saying Hi. waving as they drove by. It was a fun day, And I was well feed, all day. Had surprise visits from friends and the best surprise was Jane (my wife) came by to say good night. She spent about an hour with me, then headed home. It was a bitter sweet visit, she is missing me (well that's what she said) and I am missing her. But one more night. AMEM!!!

We are getting ready for the Screening of the film "Lost In Woonsocket" at 7:00 pm tomorrow night.

I am realy tired tonight, so I well hit the old sleeping bag a liitle early Chat with you in the morning

Shalom

Pastor David

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 5

Good Morning

Day three, chilly this morning woke to clear starry skies. My mood is different this morning from yesterday morning. Feeling very lonely, I think it is the crash from yesterdays High. So many faces, then nothing, nobody around, by 10:00 last night I was alone. I woke up about midnight and found myself alone and annoyed at the people that had visited me during the day. I was annoyed and resentful, they “went home” and here I am in this silly little tent. They all said “how great of a thing I was doing” then they went Home. I found myself thinking; “if this is so great, were is your tent” and “I bet we can find a sleeping bag for you”. I went back to sleep than woke up at about 5:30 this morning. When I woke I was no longer annoyed or resentful, but rather ashamed, guilty, and saddened over my poor thinking. How could I have the audacity to feel that way? This is my choosing, to be living on the lawn, not theirs.

But what about those Real Homeless People that had no choose, how do they do this every night? Are we aware of the ups and downs or could we possibly understand the roller coaster ride of emotions. No wonder some of the Homeless people I have met, seem to be uncertain or leery of people. We need to take the time and try to understand what is going on with the Homeless, try to find out what part of the emotional roller coaster ride they are on when we met them.

Well the morning is getting better, sun is up and folks from the church are dropping of Hot Coffee from DD and a muffin or two
There will be a lot of activity today at the church, “Clothes To Go” will be open this morning for people to come by and get FREE Clothes.

Come on by, Say Hi and pick up some new clothes

Shalom

Pastor David

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 4

Hi All

Day two is coming to an end, and God sure blessed me all day!!! The day started great with a surprise wake up visit from my wife Jane. She is Great!! God had all sorts of people dropping by today. If the real Homeless People had as many visitors as I had they would be feeling like a king or queen. My friend Chris stopped by on her way to work, with a cup of coffee an two breakfast burritos form MD. Then a few people passing by stopped an chatted for a few minutes, which was very nice. I found out that not more that a half mile from the church a man is living in the woods. A few of the people passing by offered to get me food or drink, this is a major change from the day before. Then the Friday Morning Prayer Group showed up and held their prayer meeting on the lawn right by my tent, Roseann D come walking down the street with bags from DD. Complete set up a Box of Joe, Cream, sugar, cups, and muffins WOW!. About 1:00 o clock a car pulled up and I really had a surprise, Dr. Dan from Amazon ChroiMed stop by to give this old back and neck an adjustment, "A HOUSE CALL to A HOMELESS Pastor?" Dr Dan and Anita stay for awhile then the went and brought back lunch and sat and ate with me. Italian! Hot food WOW. Kim W and Z showed up with a Cheese Burger and Fries, and coffee from MD's and less then an hour passed and Thom D is walking up with a coffee from DD and Home Made grill cheese sandwiches. So day two of being Homeless, Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch and Supper was delivered to me.

I really loved all of this out pouring of love from friends, But what about the REAL HOMELESS.

This out pouring of love is exactly what Jesus tells us to do for everyone. Not just for some pastor trying to make a statement. What about that man that is living in the woods a half mile away? I wonder when was the last time he got one meal dropped off to him, never mind THREE and SNACKS.

There are 380,000 Protestant Churches in this country with an average attendance of 100 people each week. There are 4 Million Homeless in this country, If each person in each church feed ONE HOMELESS Person for one day there would only be 200,000 HUNGRY HOMELESS PEOPLE in this country.

The Church of Jesus Christ has to but down the things that are dividing us an PICK UP THAT CROSS that unites us. God's plan is very simple, " love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul. and love your neighbor as you love your self" WOW !!!

Shalom

Pastor David

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 3

Good Morning

I woke this morning to a wonderful surprise!!! My cellphone rang at about 5:30 am, it was my wife Jane saying "Good Morning". It felt so good to hear her voice, then she told me to "open the tent " she was parked in front of the tent with a HOT CUP of COFFEE from DD. It moved me to tears. We spent some time together before she had to head to work. I am truly blessed with such a wife. After Jane left I felt very sad, not only that she had to leave, but how many Homeless people have no one to spot by and say "Hi". How much would it cost any of us that are blessed with a family, friends, and a home. to spot by someone in need or that has less than we do and just say "HI!!!". I really feel we would not fall into financial ruins if we just noticed one another.

Slept very well last night, The traffic noise wasn't bad. I do not know if I am become accustom to it or I was that tried enough that I just slept through it. A little cooler this morning, but clear blue skies. Can't wait to see what other Blessings God will send my way today.

Shalom

Pastor David A

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus Post 2

The first full day of being homeless, was very interesting.

I was tired all day, not that much sleep the traffic keep me awake most of the night.

By mid-morning found myself getting very depressed, I thought the lack of sleep was causing the depression. However I realized that it was not just the lack of sleep, but the thinking about not having anyplace to go, feeling very exposed to everyone passing by. It took about an hour to get myself out of that slump. Then my thoughts turned to all those homeless people in the country, If I am getting depressed on my first day of a few days of homelessness. What is it like to be homeless for months or years? How deep and well rooted well depression be in a few months, never mind a few years.

I made it a point not to eat supper last night and not eat till lunch. I wanted to feel what it must be like to wake up and be hungry. Boy I was hungry when noon came, I could smell the food from the to eateries down the street. I was ready to walk down the street and pickup lunch. Then it came to me if I was truly homeless, I would have no money for food and would have to rely on the free food of a "food pantry". So lunch was a can of cold "chef boy arde" Macaroni with meat sauce from the churches food pantry and supper was crackers and Spam (cold)

The people passing by made the day a little shorter. For the most part lots of people are very friendly, smile, say hello, how's your day, and so on. Some look at me, with the "how dare you say anything to me look" or the "what the heck are you doing there look". Even the cars passing by will wave and smile, if i make eye contact.

I think I am starting to understand this "them and us" thinking. As cars pass by I am thinking of how good they have it and how little I have. It is very easy to forget that my car is parked 100 feet away. We take what we have for granted, until we do not have it any longer.

Getting ready to sack out for the night. It is a lot cooler tonight them last night, put no signs of rain, This is good!!

Blog you in the morning. You are in my prayers

Shalom

Pastor David A

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake"

Sleeping Out for Jesus

Well I made it through the first night on the lawn of the church. Set up the tent about midnight, climbed in said some prayers and tried to get some sleep. Do you know how noise traffic can be? I well say that load mufflers and small trucks shake the ground. My sleep started to get better when the traffic subsided that was about 2:oo am , Oh thats when it started to rain a little.

The town of Mansfield cleans North Main street at about 3:00 am. Just for your information, a street cleaner at 3:00 am and about 10 feet away not only shakes the ground it LOUD!!! real LOUD!!.

By 3:30am I was thinking and praying hard about the millions of people all over this country sleeping under overpasses, along highways, and in doorways on busy streets. I will be in my bed on Sunday night, so this is just a little unconfortable for a few days for me. But the homeless in the world live like this every day and night.

I well keep you posted on how things are going. I would love to here from you

Shalom

Pastor David A

"Have Fun, Take Chances, & Go Fast for Christ's Sake!"

The Working Poor

Faith Fellowship UMC to host a screening of the
Award-winning Documentary Film
LOST IN WOONSOCKET
At
9 North Main Street
Mansfield, Ma. 02048


On Sunday October 12, 2008, at 7 PM, Faith Fellowship UMC will host a one time screening of LOST IN WOONSOCKET, a film about how kindness and hope can bring about miracles.

Faith Fellowship UMC, Mansfield’s renewed and upcoming church is focusing on outreach to the community. Since almost closing last year, this Mansfield church’s outreach to those in need has expanded to helping other churches feed the homeless and working poor and clothing people locally, regionally, nationally, and globally giving out over 55,000 pounds of clothing

Executive Producer and Director John Chester’s award-winning documentary will be shown at 7:00 p.m., on October 12, 2008, followed by a question and answer reception, at the Faith Fellowship United Methodist Church. When viewed in Baltimore, Harold A. Smith, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, says: “LOST IN WOONSOCKET revealed how small acts of compassion can change lives, even maybe yours. In this land of riches, there is a critical need for people to get involved—even in small ways such as mentoring or volunteering to teach a class—to change the world one person at a time.”

David A Arruda, pastor of Faith Fellowship UMC said that he and the congregation feel very strongly about reaching out to the needy and homeless, especially at this time. “With the economy as it is, oil, gas and food prices rising exponentially, you will be seeing many more homeless and with a new profile. The working poor are a growing group. Many are only steps away from homelessness. These are the families working 3 to 4 jobs to make ends meet. With rising fuel and living costs, the economy, and with depleted savings, they are just steps from homelessness. Your child’s school’s janitor, the teacher’s assistant, the sales associate at your favorite department store, the wait staff at the restaurant that you often visit. All it takes is a hospitalization even with the now limited health insurances, a job loss, or a sudden family death. The working poor are living from pay check to pay check, balancing family needs of food, shelter, and clothing with paying medical, heat and energy bills. Going without the basic needs is now a way of life for too many people.”

LOST IN WOONSOCKET is a story full of hope, kindness, and the painful reality of human frailty. It chronicles a group of filmmakers from Random 1, an A&E Network television series co-created in 2005 by John Chester and Andre Miller, as they began a bold humanitarian experiment roaming around the country looking for perfect strangers who needed help. What they didn’t expect was to stumble upon a tent in the woods outside of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, containing two men who had been missing from their families for 13 years.

It was a discovery with far-reaching implications that would prove to be one story for which they had no real control. The film goes way beyond what the TV series was permitted to show and explores the profound circumstances that brought this awe-inspiring journey to a surprising end.

The filmmakers are challenged to look beyond right and wrong and are forced to make decisions based upon consequences as they face once-in-a-lifetime decisions that could change lives forever.

The two men in the woods are Mark and Normand. Both are extreme addicts who have forged a strong bond of friendship. Both are about to be shocked by the power of kindness.

Up close and unflinching in its raw honesty, there are moments of pathos, humor, and grace. This beautifully shot documentary examines the rush people get from helping one another, the ceaseless struggle against addiction, and the belief that compassion still exists in modern society. According to John Chester: “You’ll never look at strangers the same way again.” I also believe the film captures a simple example of how we all might take part in changing the world…through individual involvement.”

At the conclusion of the film, Pastor David Arruda will host question and answer session. Faith Fellowship has arranged for a special appearance by some of the film’s star subjects. Norman and Pastor Brian Sousa will describe how we, as a community can facilitate getting involved in simple ways to help those on the long road to self sufficiency. Also the Mobile FISHES and LOAVES canteen truck and staff that makes daily visits to homeless sites will be there to answer questions.
Admission is free. Free will donations, will graciously be accepted. For more information and directions to the church call the church at (508) 339 - 6040