Smacked in the Face with Favor.

Back! We actually got back from the conference on Wednesday night, but so much has been going on since, I'm just now getting a chance to debrief and reflect. Okay.

Conference: Wonderful. We learned a lot of information, and honestly, a lot of it was very overwhelming. It was focused on the business/budget side of planting a healthy church. Hmm budgeting? Not my favorite topic. Nevertheless, the sessions were filled with great advice and wise counsel. The amazing part of the conference? God's provision. We went into the conference severely lacking in finances and praying that God would give us some good connections soon. Little did we know that He had planned to provide abundantly over our expectations. Four difference churches, including the large church running the conference, promised to support us! This was SO unexpected, especially after the speakers listed the standards each church plant should meet before seeking a partnership. It was completely humbling for them to recognize that we met those standards and then some. God. is. good.

Wednesday we got back from the conference around 6pm, and at 7pm we went to a homeless outreach event. Can I just say God knows what He's doing? He knows what He's doing. There's an organization in Indio called The Narrow Door, which acts as a food bank for the Coachella Valley. Every Wednesday night they put on a "Church without Walls" at a park in the heart of South Indio. This park is a consistent hangout spot for homeless individuals, prostitutes, and recovering addicts. The Narrow Door decided to take advantage of this spot and use the location as an opportunity for ministry. At the Church without Walls, there is a short sermon, hot dinner, clothing for those who need it, and fellowship every Wednesday night. Its beautiful, to say the least. Mark has preached there a few times over the last several weeks and thought I would like it. I DID. Though I was exhausted from the weekend, I was stoked for God working here! After a few days of information overload, a night of diving into service was...well, perfect. I really can't believe God's favor.

Thursday: um. interesting. So! On Wednesday night, I met a homeless woman Mark has been talking to for the last few weeks. Mark had mentioned that she was a Christian and may be interested in discipleship, so I started talking to her. We agreed to meet the next morning at 7:30am for coffee. Now prior to this arrangement, I mentioned to her I had a meeting to go to at 8am the next morning.

"What kind of meeting?"

"A monthly, city council type meeting discussing what's going on with the Youth of Indio."

"Oh, well then maybe I'll just come with you."

I initially responded, "Sure!" seeing as I thought it was a public meeting, I didn't see why she had any less right to go than I. So we agreed to meet at 7:30 to get coffee and then head over together.

Here's where the drama began.

After saying yes to her, I immediately started having second thoughts. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate for my relationship with her to go to this meeting together. I hadn't confirmed that anyone could go to this meeting without being asked. I thought I had made a mistake. So I talked to Mark about it, and agreeing he said we should check out the meeting, make sure you don't need an invitation, before she comes to the next one. Since it was pretty late at this point, I decided I would just tell her tomorrow morning when we met.

The following morning, she showed up 15 min late for our coffee date. I told her I only had 10 min before I had to head to the youth meeting, and after thinking about it, I didn't think it was a great idea if she came with us to this meeting and suggested she comes with us next month.

She starts panicking.

"Well now I don't have anywhere to go! I thought I was gonna be with you and I don't have a safe place to be for the next couple hours, I don't have a place to put my stuff. Now what do I do?"

In my head I'm thinking, your guess is as good as mine, girl. But I apologize and say

"I really just don't know for sure that you can come. I should have checked beforehand if it was invite only."

"Well, what if I just wait outside for you?"

I call Mark. Double check.

"Okay, I think that would be alright."

We go to the Boys and Girls club where the meeting is being held. Of course, there are no seating options outside. I say

"Well you could sit inside, instead. I'm sure there's a lobby where you could wait."

We go in, the meeting is smack in front of our faces. I don't know what to do.

Seeing as there were only 40ish seats, I say that I don't think it is a public meeting.

"Well, can't you just ask someone? Why don't you do that and I'm gonna head to the bathroom."

"Alright."

What.

I just moved here 5 days ago. I have no clue who anyone in this room is, I don't know how to begin to explain to ANYONE what kind of situation I'm in with this woman. I decide to stand firm and go tell her she can't come.

I walk into the bathroom: "You know, I don't think it is an open meeting. I'm so sorry, I never should have said you could come."

"Stop apologizing! It's alright, I will talk to them."

She walks out of the bathroom. Walks STRAIGHT up to the board who is running the meeting. Introduces herself to each person, shakes their hand, and starts explaining her life story.

"You know, I've been on the streets or the last 6 months. I was involved with drugs and stuff, you know, but now I'm trying to get right with God and I'm volunteering and stuff. I live right on King Street, man, right in the heart of it all. I have a lot of history in youth ministry and was just wondering if I could sit in on the meeting today?"

The look on the councilmen's faces: purely stunned. But, surprisingly they say

"Of course, it's open to everyone! Take a seat."

Now I'm all distracted and completely can't focus on the meeting, but I'm glad they let her stay and I'm glad I got to spend time with her! Seeing through her eyes was a blessing and not at all what I had anticipated for the day. God is definitely at work here, that's undeniable. The fact that I've been going nonstop since I've been here is testament to that. There is need for willing hands and feet, which is exactly what we are humbly attempting to be.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- My relationship with this homeless woman. I want to develop healthy boundaries with her and am not sure how to do it. Pray God would bless our relationship and make it into what He wants.

- This homeless woman. Pray for her protection, safety, and ultimately that she would come to walk with Jesus in every part of her life.

- People who are willing and able to come and help with our church.

- The church service this Sunday. That God would abide and speak, and that we would have open ears, minds, and hearts to Him.

- Unity in Indio. It's ABUNDANTLY clear that this city is suffering from division. Between families, between churches, between individuals. Pray God would BREAK THAT OFF and that we would come together, finding community in the name of Jesus Christ.

- That God would continue to bless and unite the Salazars together as a family centered on Him.