TroysJourney: CHRISTMAS PARTY AT SOX PLACE

This past Saturday, we gave the street connected youth a Christmas Party. A local church came in and provided a breakfast, breakfast burritos, pancakes, oranges. Doyle read the Christmas Story to all who were in the building and everyone listened closely. Afterwards gifts were passed out to children of all ages. The adults were given gifts also and were eager to get something special. I glanced outside during the celebration and saw about a dozen young adults who did not come in. I can only speculate as to why they would not come in and join in the reading, the laughter, the happy time. Was it disbelief or was it the memories of a time when they were happy in a home celebrating Christmas with family and did not want to be reminded of what they did not have now. Pray for these precious souls whom society has rejected.
Doyle keeps telling staff that the Lord only gave him one thing to do with this ministry, one thing and that has not changed over the years - Love on these youth. We are to love them and not try to change them. The Lord will bring change as He works through us to be His hands extended. Just love them.
I found this poem by a street connected youth sometime in the past.

What would it be like to be a lost child,
Alone in your head - empty in your soul
No way in only out.
Knowing at any time you may become a number no one cares about.
Knowing that miracles come in the form of meals and copper dreams.
When it's cold, when it's dark, when it's lonely,
Where do you turn when nightmares come creeping.
There is no teddy bear to save you,
Or sheets to hide under to protect you from monsters & robbers.
Have you ever wondered what sleeping in garbage cans was like?
Next time your(sic) hungry wait a day then go outside and find a meal.
Next time your (sic) cold take off your coat and stay warm.
Pzus

In our day, many people are only a paycheck away from the streets. Some because of lost jobs, illness, and some because of mental illness are on the street and want to get back into 'normal' society.
I am reluctant to wish these precious souls a Merry Christmas, instead I want to wish them a safe, warm, and blessed Christmas.
For you my readers, I want to wish you also a Blessed Christmas. Let's remember that without this birth we would not have a savior who knows what we go through and loves us and wants to spend eternity with each of us! He left His throne in heaven to come to this earth that He created so He could become the sacrifice demanded by our sin.
I'm going to try to upload some photos now.
Love to you all.