After breakfast, we helped unload the truck for the food pantry. Since there were so many people helping, we got the food unloaded and sorted in about 20 minutes. We got done so quickly we were able to help with some other tasks around the church. For lunch we had some leftovers, but we still couldn't get all the food we bought eaten up.
We were able to hang out at the Salem House of Prayer (aka S.H.O.P.) for a little over an house. It was great to just be in God's presence. Before heading to the S.H.O.P., we prayed for each person on the team to see what God might have us speak into their lives.
About 3:30 we started heading to Portland for Night Strike. I'll tell you one thing. I am pretty laid back and relaxed most of the time, but this city driving thing makes me crazy. I can't stand not being able to see if there is a car in the lane we are about to merge into. I have learned it is best for me to out my head phones in and close my eyes and pray that we don't get in a wreck. Then I can stay at least a little bit oblivious to the crazy traffic.
We got to town about 4:30 and headed to the Chi Alpha house to drop off our stuff for the night. Their house is 100 years old, has 4 stories, and is over 4000 square feet of space! It is huge.
We headed over to the Liberation Street Church a little before 5. We were hoping to park in the church (free parking) and walk somewhere to find food. Turns out this church doesn't have a parking lot. It is on a very busy street corner. So we found a parking lot...it was only $6 to park. Not a bad deal.
When we started walking around, we found out that there weren't very many places to eat that would let all of us inside. Most of them were pubs...no one under 21 allowed. That is 3 out of 5 people in our group. We ended up finding a little place that sells pizza out of a window on a corner.
By the time we got our pizza, it was about 5:05. We walked up to the church. It was locked. We were over an hour early. I guess it never hurts to be a little early. We were definitely fish out if water! We stood outside the church for a minute trying to figure out what to do for the next hour. Thankfully there was someone in the church. He came and let us inside so we could eat our pizza sitting down...I was thinking thank you Jesus that Justin saw us. I did not want to stand out on the street any longer than I had to.
After a while, Justin out us to work moving tables and chairs and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Night Strike. Once we got the system down, we were sandwich making machines!
In all, I would say about 175 volunteers showed up to help this evening. We had a little worship and went through a few rules before heading under the bridge.sara helped hand out bibles and other literature. Bailey and Max were "clothes bouncers." They had to make sure only three people were looking at the clothes at once. Brandon helped clean the church and then visited with guests under the bridge. I helped out with the dignity station. At this station they paint fingernails and hand out toiletries.
I was able to visit quite a bit with Jessica, one of the other volunteers. She is a teacher at a high school in Portland, and she came to help chaperone some high school students who were volunteering. I was able to paint a couple people's nails. There was a dad there with his son. I painted the dad's nails and his done chose the colors...green and orange! Later they came back because the little boy, Adam, smeared on of his nails. I repainted a couple of them and Jessica painted a couple. Then Adam insisted on painting my nails...keep in mind, Adam is only 5. He painted three nails, and then got bored and left. Oh well, it will remind me I pray for him.
The night went really well overall. It seemed like everyone enjoyed serving. It was well organized and the guests seemed to enjoy it as well.
Prayer requests:
-praise God for safe travel to Portland
-safety for the rest of our travel
-tomorrow is our free day in Portland. Safety. Also that we would keep God in mind and be willing to listen when He asks us to do something.
-Max's foot. We will probably be doing quite a bit of walking tomorrow.
Thank you so much for your prayer support!
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