Friday was a grace-filled day. For the first time, Mike was home to help load up the SUV with supplies for the homeless — and what a blessing that was. The older one gets, the more laborious the task becomes. Mike made sure everything was in order: all the carts loaded and Melchizedek (the SUV’s name) gassed up and ready to go.

At Nohl Canyon Elementary School, where the sandwiches are made, the students were lined up and eager to help. With more than 30 volunteers, what normally takes two to three hours to produce 300 sandwiches was accomplished in just one hour. My friend Sarah was there as well, alongside all three of her daughters.

Saturday was not such a good day, as I was in an unusual mood. As the morning progressed my spirit was filled with dissension. I was upset because we had to pick up one of members of our team, going 20 minutes out of the way. I started complaining what a hardship this was and that this person needed to make other arrangements. Why was I allowing myself to behave this way? It was as if I had no control over my negative thoughts. The more I tried to show any type of remorse, the more this angry spirit prevailed. I have been picking up this person for years, I am often irritated  about this,  but this time it was bad.

Once we arrived at Skid Row, the anointing fell the moment the rear door of the SUV swung open. And yet, the conflict from earlier in the morning lingered — the poor behavior, the anger, the sense of unworthiness. How could anyone in that condition pray for another? That is precisely how the enemy works. The spirit had been out of alignment, and Satan was quick to whisper that God could not use someone who had just behaved that way.

But that is a lie.

God does not wait for perfect vessels. The moment that lie was recognized and rejected, the ministry opened up — and what a privilege it was to stand with brothers and sisters on Skid Row and pray.

As soon as we parked, two women approached to share some exciting news — “Refresh Spot” had recently opened on Skid Row. This remarkable ministry offers free showers and clean towels to the homeless, along with charging stations for cell phones and access to clean restrooms, all at no cost. Evans, the project manager, shared that within a few weeks, free washers and dryers would also be available for the displaced. It is the most significant and tangible improvement seen on Skid Row in years.

Nearby, a group of people had set up to feed the homeless for the very first time — though they had positioned themselves in one of the most isolated spots on the block, where foot traffic was nearly nonexistent. When asked what church they were from, the answer was surprising: no church affiliation, just a group of generous hearts standing and waiting for people to come to them. In a spirit of charity, a gentle suggestion was offered — walk to the people, hand the meals directly to them, and take the time to know them by name. There was a beautiful irony in the moment: many of the sandwiches were packed inside large Gucci shopping bags, the kind that come with luxury purchases. But God sees the heart, not the packaging — and the Lord will surely bless what was offered with such sincerity.

What a blessing it was to meet so many loving souls — among them Esperanza and her four children: Jocelyn, Jazmine, Richard, and little Alexa, who was nestled in her stroller. Esperanza and her family are currently living in a shelter, and she is expecting another child. Please keep her in prayer. We also met Amber, whose heart was broken over the separation from her children. She could not hold back her tears. Please pray that Amber finds freedom from drug dependency, so that she may be reunited with the children she so clearly loves.

Rosaries were distributed throughout the morning, and the response was deeply moving — so many people received them with genuine tenderness and gratitude. For those unfamiliar with the Rosary, every prayer within it is rooted in Scripture. The Hail Mary draws directly from the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary and her own Magnificat (Luke 1:28, 46–55), while the Our Father comes from the very words of Jesus Himself, taught to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). These are not man-made devotions — they are the words of God, prayed in rhythm and love.

One moment stood out above the rest. Selene, a homeless woman, pressed her Rosary against her heart and offered her thanks with quiet sincerity. Please pray for Selene — she is in need of stable housing.

When such profound peace is experienced on Skid Row, one conclusion becomes almost inevitable: those who ministered will soon come under attack. And that is exactly what happened. That ugly spirit returned on the drive home. Instead of praying, the mood turned unpleasant — again. Gary, a faithful member of the team, gently offered counsel about extending love to everyone, but the heart was not ready to receive it. A call to an old friend, Cindy, brought some relief — she listened, understood, and promised her prayers. Within a couple of hours, the dark cloud began to lift. Repentance followed, and with it, the return of peace and a cheerful spirit.

This is how the enemy operates — attacking the mind, the body, or those we love most. But the victory always belongs to the Lord.

This behavior was out of character, and apologies were offered to all who witnessed that unfortunate display. By God’s mercy, Mike was not home — because in that state, a fight would have been inevitable. After lunch, a large serving of humble pie was ordered and consumed in solitude, with prayer as the only company.

“Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” — James 1:19–20

Finally, please pray for Robert, a beloved member of the team. Shortly after serving the homeless, Robert’s appendix ruptured, requiring emergency surgery. He will be hospitalized for six days and will most likely be unable to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land this year. Robert needs our prayers — for healing, for peace, and for the grace to trust God’s plan even in this painful detour.

I heard my grandsons Lucas and Jacob arguing over sidewalk chalk. First came the destruction of the artwork, then the face-off. Lucas got in his younger brother’s face and called him an S.O.B, before I could make it the the door Jacob’s reply was “No! you’re the S.O.B.!” I ran out screaming “What did you say?” I was so upset screaming and yelling, that I restricted them from everything possible. I’m not that grandma that says, not my grandsons, they are boys and they pick up garbage from everywhere. I called both parents to report the incident and Russ, their father, asked Luke, “Where did you learn that?” Lucas’s honest answer was, “From you Dad.”  It seemed that earlier in the week, there was a minor road rage exchange in which the foul words were used.

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  I told the boys that they had to do something kind for using bad words. We made sandwiches for a picnic and packed two extra lunches for the homeless.

I have in the past mentioned our friend Carlos, who is a staple on Skid Row. Carlos has been and will always be our ally. As soon as I exited the vehicle there were signs that our friend had fallen hard off the wagon. Carlos was reaching two years of sobriety, but it was evident that he was not in good shape. As the friendly, loving Carlos was swallowed up by a negative alcoholic spirit, it was heartbreaking to witness his suffering. According to the statistics from the Centers of Disease Control, the probability  of a relapse is 40 to 90%. I would image that the numbers on Skid Row are closer to the latter.

Our service to the homeless was powerful. As we arrived the rain was gently falling, thus creating a slippery, muddy, messy sidewalk. I never realized how poorly the streets on Skid Row are maintained. Part of the problem is that the permanent tents in the area impede any upkeep that the city can provide.

We have a positive rapport on Skid Row so many of the regulars recognize us and are receptive of our ministry. Some of the homeless keep their area tidy but others are not as considerate thus breeding an epidemic of flies. Once you get through all the obstacles and start praying for people, all these outside distractions and bad scents disappear.

We met Yolanda, an attractive young lady in her mid-twenties; she explained that she was just released from prison. She was honest, and received prayer in a humble and loving manner. Good looking women are always surrounded by men and she had three men bidding for her attention. I prayed for her to find her way out of this situation and for her to find housing.

We made our way to the Cuban section and the people were as usual, kind and receptive to prayer. The Cubans are homeless due to their excessive drinking and smoking pot, but they do not get into meth or other hardcore drugs. They seem to be less violent, and stick to each other for protection.

We came across about seven sweet teenage girls standing in a tight row and handing out water. Some of them seemed displaced, but the fact that they were there to minister was a testament to their bravery. As we passed the girls, we met and prayed for many, with one man very excited to announce the birth of two kittens. His face beamed with great joy as he held out a one week-old-kitten. This new life gave him a sense of purpose and responsibility.

In front of the Midnight Mission I came across a young girl, whose beautiful black eyes spoke of deep hurt and pain. She did not want prayer, and could not even verbalize the response. She simply shook her head with a no. Whatever she was harboring was more than her spirit could bear. She broke my heart. As we walked ahead, part of the team stayed to pray for others. The Spirit of the Lord was moving so powerfully on Jane, Robert and John that from a distance I knew they were touching the hearts of many. Gary and I waited for the team at the corner while witnessing to our youngest volunteer, Dillian. Earlier Dillian had mentioned that he needed scientific proof of God’s existence. He got a view of both God and Satan in a few hours for good and evil manifested on Skid Row. Dillian has a special calling to the poor, and God will continue to tug at his heart until he is yielded to the call.

Whatever the homeless do not use it ends up on the street. It is a monumental task for the city to keep up with the debris of the homeless. The task force of volunteers work tirelessly cleaning up the mess.

We had lunch at Paul’s Kitchen, which our family has frequented it for over 35 years. This restaurant has the best Chinese food in L.A. and is located a stone’s away from Skid Row.

My Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, every person we encountered on Skid Row has a purpose in life. Lord, as we plant the small seed of love, I ask that you would cultivate and nurture your people. Let them hear your still, small voice in this chaos. Move mightily and speedily in their lives, give them dreams, and allow them to experience the presence of angels. Dear Lord, protect them from the elements, the cold, the rain, and the sun, and always provide food and water for them. Put it on the hearts of their loved ones to intercede on their behalf and offer them tangible help. Open the floodgates from heaven for those who are looking for housing. For those who have lost all hope, Dear God, I pray for restoration of their spirits. Please Lord, be with them, especially when they cry out to you. For Carlos, Lord, you know his heart’s intention; help him to dust himself off, and lead him to the road of recovery. Thank you for using us this day, Father, and allowing us to serve you. Amen