Hello Everyone,

Before I start with the story of Christmas, HOPE style, I would like to "Thank You" for everything you have done and continue to do. The prayers, the support, the donations and the love that seems to flow from everyone involved in this ministry is just amazing. When I say the words "Thank You", those words come from the hungry that no longer hunger, the thirsty that no longer thirst, the cold that are now warm, the naked that are now clothed and the lost that are now found. "Thank You!"

The week started off amazing anyway with Steph and myself staying with friends in St. Joe that week end. Just a couple of days into the week we receive a wonderful donation of 90 pounds of ground beef! WOW!! (Our God delivers Sam's Club style! Praise Him!) Then Wednesday Steph and I stop by to get the tortilla's from Scott's and grab the rest of the ingredients from the store and head back to our apartment. Steph made 60 burrito's, watching my wife serve the Lord is so amazing! Thank you Jesus!

Christmas morning, Rick picked me up and we headed towards Front Street. The snow was deep and the wind was sharp. Rick and I arrived under the train bridge to find Michael and Marvin huddled at the side of the bridge, trying to stay out of the winds path. I stepped out to be met by Speedy and she passed right by me and into the van she went. Laugh I asked Marvin and Michael if it would be okay to go ahead and pick them up now and take them with us on our route, they had the same idea. Marvin had to go back to camp to get Paula, she was staying in the tent out of the wind. As Marvin was hiking through the deep snow and disappeared into the brush, I stood there under the bridge allowing myself to experience the cold. I imagined what it would be like to not have the warm van to get back into. What if this was my life. Rick, Michael, Speedy and myself all got into the van and did a u-turn and parked on the other side of the street to wait for Marvin and Paula. We picked Marvin and Paula up and headed down the street towards our route. The roads are pretty bad, but Rick (aka Mr. McQueen) Belk is driving, and there is no snow bank too deep or road too icey. We travel through the farmers market area looking for anyone that my be hungry and cold on a day like this. The streets were pretty bare. We made it down to the west bottoms by Kemper Arena and Camp Hobo. Like I said the snow was very deep, so there was no way to drive to the camp. Rick parked at the gas station, we loaded our pockets with food, and off we went walking toward camp Hobo. Of course, clutsy me, as Rick and I are walking in the snow, mud and slush, my legs like froze up and down I went. Right onto snow and rocks. I lay there laughing and rolling in the snow, and Rick offers a hand up, which made me laugh more, because I could just imagine Rick lifting this 300 pound gorilla off the ground and end up being pulled down on top of me, and that would look good from the road. You gotta stop and laugh at that! Rick did help me up, and off we went the rest of the way to camp Hobo, and it's a good thing we did, they were out of propane, they said they had ran out a couple of days ago. They had what looked like part of a pallet burning in their fire pit, which the smell and smoke was lung burning. The guys seemed to be in good spirits, and we asked Dave to walk with us back towards the gas station and we would get their propane tank recharged. I talked with the owner of the gas station and told him about these guys and he said that he has and will keep helping them the best he can. We will make sure to stop by and thank him once in awhile on our route. We gave Dave a hug and off we headed towards downtown Kansas City. We made it over to where Nicki usually is and again, no Nicki. So Mr. McQueen snowmobiles through an icy snowdrift and into the driveway of Restart. I get out and go inside and start asking about Nicki, describing what she looks like. Finally someone understood what I was saying and went and got Nicki. She is doing great, she is staying inside and keeping warm. I invited her outside to say hi to Rick, Rick jumped out of the van as soon as he saw her and she grabbed him and gave him a big hug. She loved the burrito's and was ready to get back inside to the warmth, I don't blame her. We had a maroon colored gloves and scarf set that I offered Nicki, and she was very excited.

We headed towards 9^th and Grand where we usually find a lot of people to feed and fellowship with. That is where we met Elf. Rick pulled into the alley beside the building and we started talking to a few people standing outside. We learned that the shelter will be closing their doors at 1 pm and everyone will be left on the streets. I guess they were closing for the Holidays! ( I don't know that for a fact, I'm being sarcasticly angry) This taller gentleman that we have been feeding for the last couple of weeks, told us that one of the outreaches offer a bus pass, and that is how he was staying warm. He was getting on the bus once in awhile and riding around the city. The bus stops running around 1am. We met this young couple. They were very new to the streets, you could just tell. He had a coat, but no layers. You could just tell he was cold, I asked him if this was all he had, he said yes. Rick reached into the van and pulled out a thick hoodie and handed it to him. He put it on under his coat and thanked us with a smile that really got burned into my brain. I will never forget the look on his face. The look of helplessness and fear. ( Please keep praying with me that the Lord will allow us a building in the city to help our brothers and sisters) We fed several people and left toward Scott's house, but leaving that couple there, was like leaving my own children there. I am still haunted by this as I write this. My only comfort comes from knowing our Father in Heaven has everything under control.

We get to Scott's house and get Speedy settled in the garage. She has a new beef knuckle, kibbles and bits and water, and of course her Spiderman comforter. Stephanie was in the kitchen cooking our Christmas ham and a whole bunch of goodies. Coffee ready for Marvin, Paula and Michael, and that's exactly what they wanted first, before their shower. HOPE provide Marvin, Paula and Michael each: 1 pair of sweat pants, 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of thick socks, 1 pair of underwear. All three of them expressed how nice it is to have these items to put on after taking a shower. The feeling of being clean and putting clean clothes on instead of your dirty clothes back on. After their showers we all sat in the front room and talked and watched CSI, Marvin and Michael really like CSI. We were given some homemade Christmas cookies and so we opened them up and put them on the coffee table. They were a huge hit! I never realized how much cookies make up the feeling of Christmas, but it just seemed like they added to the awesomeness of the day. Stephanie was putting the finishing touches on the wonderful meal, while people started arriving. The spread was just beautiful, Christmas! This is Christmas! The birthday of our Love! I really felt like we were celebrating HIM! I talked about the importance of this occasion and why we were gathered in this place to celebrate with a meal. We prayed and everyone hit the plates! The smell of the ham and the taste was like candy. Yum Yum!! Everything tasted so good and the conversations and laughter filled the house. Like I said, " This is Christmas!" It seemed everyone there was determined to make sure Marvin, Paula and Michael were loved. The Belks and Crosses brought some of their own games. Michael was the JENGA master! He really enjoyed playing that game and Paula loved playing SPADES with Rick, Tab and John. I hated to see the night come to an end. We had a house full of people. Everyone cleared out and the house quieted down. I stayed for awhile and visited with them for awhile. I felt like it would be okay to leave them there and for me to go to my home and see them in the morning. I left my cell phone with them and told them goodnight and went home.

I headed back over to Scott's in the morning, to find coffee brewing, the carpet vacuumed and the beds all made. Everything was cleaner than when I left last night. What a blessing. I sat around with them for awhile, and then it started snowing really bad. I asked them if it would be okay if they stayed another night, they accepted. The weather channel said it was going to snow as you all know. So I went home and left them there. I called a couple of times to check on them and they were just watching tv and relaxing. This is truly a blessing to offer this to them.

I headed to pick them up in the morning for church and they were ready to go. Michael had gotten up and fixed eggs for everyone for breakfast. He is really a super nice man. Speedy went outside for a tinkle and then off we went to church. Several HOPE people got the opportunity to see them and make them feel welcome. I got the opportunity to introduce Michael, Marvin and Paula to several people that haven't met them yet. I love introducing Michael Jackson most of all!:o) Marvin likes sitting on the side in the front. He said it's easier to see there. They really enjoyed the service and music. I am just dreading the idea of taking them back to their camp. Leaving them outside. I stalled for a while at the church and then we took our time and loaded the van very slowly and had some more conversation before we headed towards their camp. I pray the Lord will provide an opportunity to never have to drop them off there again one day. I know he will!!! I just know it!!! Paula gasped from the cold wind as she stepped out of the van and Michael and Marvin started unloading their Christmas presents out of the van and sitting them on the snow under the bridge. I told them I will see them Saturday and then drove away in tears. The tears were not just from sadness but also from happiness and joy. God is good!

We are coming to the end of another year. Everyday that we are given here on this earth is a gift, but this is not our home. Lyrics from a song that I always love: " We've been pilgrims on this earth, since the day of our birth, we are a long, long way from our home." Happy New Year!!!!! God Bless each of you and your families.

In Christ,

Brian