Hi Everyone!
This month I want to share about an encounter I had during
the “Don’t Walk By” outreach.
Meeting Shaquetta
She came asking for help looking for a shelter. Kicked out
of her house over a year ago, her life was now sleeping in subway carts with
her boyfriend and going in and out of jail. “These are my papers from jail and
oh here, information from my doctor because I have PTSD and Bipolar I.” From the moment she sat down to the moment she
left, I felt God’s presence nudging me, whispering; this was the one He was
pursuing tonight. As we began our intake process, she shared how life had been
difficult since she was young and that she’s experienced things that caused her
to be traumatized. At 24 years old she’s been estranged from her family, has attempted
suicide on the streets and felt so angry and misunderstood. No one could deal
with her issues, not even her boyfriend, who she complained could not fathom
why her moods would change so quickly. As Shaquetta finished the assessment, I
felt God saying now is the time to ask her if she believed in Me. So I did.
Her response? “Well, no, maybe, I mean I don’t know, I feel
so alone and not sure where He’s been throughout all those times.” Of course
that did not surprise me. I knew exactly how she felt. Having been abused and
misunderstood by people around me, I began sharing how our encounter tonight
was not by accident, that being there was a result of people praying and God
pursuing us. I shared how although she doesn’t feel God was there, He wasn’t
giving up on her. I shared the Good News and how much He desires to have relationship
with us. To give us freedom when the past comes to haunt us and make us new. Her
eyes widen as she listened to the words I spoke. What happened next was truly wonderful.
A few moments later, Dawn from Walter Hoving Home joined our
conversation and shared her testimony. She shared how God brought someone in
her life at the right moment when she was drunk, sitting at a railroad track
waiting for the train to come and hit her. Dawn continued sharing how God helped and healed
her and now she works with women in restoring their lives – something she’d
never imagine! Without knowing Shaquetta’s history with suicide, Dawn had spoken
life into her situation. How awesome was that!
Towards the end, Shaquetta let Dawn and I pray with her and
I gave her some information about Street LIFE and our outreach at Tompkins
Square Park. I reminded her that she’s not alone and that God is pursuing after
her. Please continue to pray for her with me! I’m praying she will show up one
of the days we are at TSP and believing that her story is not yet complete.
Thank you for your support in reaching the lost & broken
on the streets of NYC.
Love,
Amy
p.s. for more stories from this months outreach check out: https://www.facebook.com/dontwalkby?ref=ts&fref=ts
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| A full house @ DWB with guests being served and conversations at every table |
