_by Pia Hugo

I have some very sad news for those of you who know Lesell, our friend who was rushed to the hospital a few weeks back when John, Steve, Neil and George called 911 and helped him get situated there. You might recall, it had been raining for days prior to that and he was soaked from head to toe. His diabetes was also acting up and he was in a lot of pain. Peggy, Corey, Sam (I think) and I had a chance to visit him at the hospital and we were able to witness Lesell, a former minister at the L.A. Mission, turn his life once more completely to the Lord.

After that, the team would see Lesell down at Skid Row--sleeping on a mat right outside the Hippie Kitchen or just slowly walking around with a blanket draped over him--from time to time. This morning, his friends told us that he had quietly passed away Wed. night. The street community put up a memorial for their friend, Gene Lesell, right where he used to sleep on the sidewalk outside the Kitchen. 

_One is a picture of the memorial  The other one is a picture of a note written to our friend by someone whose life was touched by him. It reads "God bless you Gene. I felt so along! You came along. You bought joy. You didn't stay long. Thank you." Sure there are spelling errors and other mistakes but it's a note that comes straight from the heart of one of his many homeless friends. I found it very touching that several of them wanted to let us know as soon as we got there this morning. They knew we cared about him.

Please keep his family and friends who are hurting over his loss in prayer. Again, we take comfort in knowing that just like Peter Paul, Michael, Annie, and so many others before him--he may no longer be with us physically but we can rest assured that he is in a far, far better place than Skid Row because we were intentional about making sure he was saved. May we continue to feel that sense of urgency to reach as many of our homeless friends for Christ before it is too late.

On a happier note, we counted 56 people who showed up at the prayer circle this morning at church--more than 30 of them being high school students from three different high schools: Crescenta Valley (where I teach), Glendale High and La Canada High. They cheerfully served at the food table and walked around passing out food bags with the adult leaders. Later on, two kids shared with the group how it was their first time but it definitely would not be their last. "I was really touched how everyone we met had a smile on their face when we would pray for them and how it made them so happy and grateful we were there! I've never seen anything like that!" one of them said.

_Helena, who is usually shy and shuns from crowds, spoke up at the debriefing session for the first time. She said, "I just wanted to thank you all for always coming. Every Sunday, we wait in line for 1 1/2 hours...sometimes 2 hours...just to get some warm food, to see your smiling faces and feel God's love through you. We all love you here and we cannot thank you enough for all you've done and will continue to do for us. God is really using your group...you just don't know. Please, don't ever quit coming!" She started to cry and many of us in that circle shed a few tears as well.

At the end of our time, we sang "Happy Birthday" for Pete as he beamed from ear to ear. Then Martin, our deaf friend, came to church with us (after being gone for a long time) and said hi to Pastor Mark. Mark later announced to the CA crowd how Martin came to the Lord through our ministry years ago and how happy he was to see him again (Martin now goes to a deaf church in L.A.). He looked him in the eye and said, "We love you brother!" His words didn't need interpretation. Martin responded with a huge smile.

Lesell, Helena, Pete, Martin, Rodney (who helped us cook again on Sat. and helped today at the food table after also being gone for a long time)...the list goes on and on of all the homeless people whose lives have forever been touched by the CA Skid Row Ministry...not to mention the lives of so many students, as well as, adults. Who would have thought that such a diverse group of people from all walks of life, all races and all church backgrounds would come together in a little corner on 6th and Gladys and find such joy, such love, and such unity? No one but God could have conceived such an amazing plan!

I don't know about you but the year is barely starting and it already looks like it's going to be one awesome God-glorifying year! I can't wait to see what happens next!