Hello all. We hope everyone is well.
I just wanted to give you an update of what a typical Tuesday afternoon looks like for a Buchanan (and others) in the Wild. (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun)
We try to get to the corner of 13 Street and Jamison Ave by 12:45 to setup. We will stop just a block away at Emilio’s Pizza to pick up 8-10 large pizzas, some cheese and some pepperoni, on the way. For whatever reason, on the days that we have our canopy setup, we have a lot of people stop and ask if we are giving away free phones. To which my response is, “No, but we are giving away free Jesus”. Some look confused, others smile and go on their way.
We try to be set up and prayed in by 1:00 pm and for the next 2+ hours we will meet all kinds of people. Some just want a couple of slices of pizza, others need hygiene kits and most days we have at least one that just wants prayer. We are starting to see some of the same faces each week which allows us to start building relationships. Today, we got reports from 2 people thanking us for praying with them in previous weeks and letting us know how God is already starting to work in their lives. One lady, we call her “C” come 3 weeks ago asking for prayer for her and her 4 sons. She was in the middle of a nasty split her ex. Her and her sons were living with a friend, We prayed for her and talked with her and gave her some supplies. She came back today just to tell us that in the last few weeks, she had gotten her own place, her oldest son got baptized and then joined the Army, and her second oldest had gotten into college on a track scholarship. She was praising God the whole time.
Another man, “B” had gotten prayer, some food and supplies last week,(I think, maybe 2 weeks ago) told us that since us first praying with him, he had found a job and ran into an old friend who is now a pastor at a church in Vinton and is now picking him up for church. “B” still needs prayer for his wife “D”, she is not a believer and just got diagnosed with lung cancer. We had given I’m a Bible previously but he couldn’t read it because his eyesight is too bad. I found a large print Bible in my truck and gave it to him and he was so excited. He is going to start reading the gospel of John to his wife in hopes of leading her to Christ.
On average we have 30-40 people come through in 2 hours. Some have homes in the area but most are homeless and all of them are hurting. We had a gentleman today “C” that began to cry as we explained that Jesus didn’t expect him the straighten out his life before coming to Him. He listened to everything we had to say and when we asked if he was ready to give his life to Christ, you could tell that the soul was crying “YES!!!” but the flesh got in the way and he just said “not yet”.
We ask that you join us in praying for him and everyone else out here. Southeast is hurting and in dire need of Jesus.
Below is a picture of a men’s hygiene kit, the women’s is the same with the addition of feminine hygiene products.
The kit includes 3 body wipes, 2 single use shampoos, 2 single use shower gels, a travel size deodorant, a travel size tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, lip balm, a gospel tract and synthesis of the gospel” which combines all 4 gospels into a single coherent narrative.
We also provide New Testament Bibles, snacks and drinks, socks and other items.
This is a list of items that we are currently running low on, some include Amazon links:
- Snacks (chips, crackers, granola bars, etc)
- Drinks (bottled water, Sunny D, Hi-C, etc)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Lip balm https://a.co/d/8iw4jsz https://a.co/d/1cURpXq
- Travel size deodorant (mens and womens) https://a.co/d/5NBJwVQ. https://a.co/d/4vI53jS
- Single use shampoo and shower gel packets https://a.co/d/c0T9EmM
- Quart size zip lock bags for mens hygiene kits
- Gallon size zip lock bags for women’s hygiene kits
If you feel led to donate, you can give supplies to directly myself, Melissa or Alex or you can have them delivered to us. Financial donations can be made on our website.
As always, much love and God Bless you
Derek, Melissa and Alex
Buchanans in the Wild
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