We haven't finished today, but I have momentary access to a computer, so I am quickly going to tap out a message.
We slept well last night. (Walking to get the van, playing in the surf, all a plan to wear out excited teenagers, so the adults could sleep!)
This morning we had a tour of the LA Dream Center. When I saw the schedule, I couldn't see how we would need a tour for so long, but man, was I wrong.
This place is ah-mazing.
We started our tour on the roof, looking out towards the HOLLYWOOD sign and the Observatory. It was then explained to us how this building came to be. An amazing story of God calling a man to the area church that had about 30 people in it. Eventually, he had no one coming to church. Through brokeness God called Matthew Barnett to start the Dream Center by housing 1 homeless man, that turned into 60 and there are now 700 people housed within these walls. Homeless, DC (Dream Center) workers and temporary teams.
They feed 1700 people per day. If you can afford the $2.45 to eat you pay, if you can't you eat for free, spending 20 minutes in the chapel.
DC disperses 1 million pounds of food/month. Not just here, but they give it out to area churches who feed people.
They have a budget of 700,000 a month. Soon that is going to swell as they open floors 6-15.
DC is about to open an "Emancipated Youth" Shelter, housing 80 teens that have aged out of Foster Care. They are currently looking for a "House Mom and Dad". My heart quickened with the thought.
As we wandered around the College, GED Program, The Project Protection housing, (Pre-Foster Care work), the music studio, the gym/yoga studio, the coffee shop....I hope you are getting the idea here. They OWN a City Block in LA. They are about to burn the mortgage. I kept seeing example after example of 1 person saying, we should do this and Pastor Matthew affirming this vision and going for it. He said YES, rather than let's see if we can afford/man/do this project.
After our tour we went out to the Food Trucks and loaded the trucks with food. We drove into the area neighbourhood and gave out bags of groceries. A hard view. People needing the food were allowed to go through the line up more than once, but they had to go through then re-line up then go again. People were RUNNING after they got through the line so that they could go again.
I was broken. I was standing with Noah ready to pray for anyone who needed or wanted it. I was struck with the fact that we don't have to do this. After 7 months of Kent being unemployed God has been carrying us. We haven't been in need, his provision has been there from month to month.
I wanted our kids to see this. The people were in need, but being helped. Not, come to the church and we will do something for you, but rather leaving our hallowed walls and serving where literally, the rubber hits the road.
Right now, our Dream Team are painting the ladies dorm in the College, some are doing construction work in the "Emancipated Youth" Dorms.
I am here in the hot office thinking about a few things:
1. We are blessed beyond measure.
2. Our Dream Team has been amazing.
3. God is good. All the time.
Thank you to the parents who have let us take their kids so far away. To educate them better than by book or Sunday School lesson. I believe this will change them in ways that is so profound.
Tonight, we are going to "Hollywood/Vine". I told the girls where we were taking them and they got excited. What will happen tonight? The reality of what Hollywood looks like, not the glamourized version, Hollywood polished. They will see the nitty gritty of life.
And I can't wait.
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