Kati's Update 06-03-2008

Hello friends. Greetings from New Orleans once again! Since I last wrote to you, the homeless outreach continues to thrive as we seek to build genuine relationships with those who live on the streets. We have transitioned from the “winter” months now to the “summer” months, and with this transition includes a new focus for our weekly time on the streets. As far as physical needs are concerned, we are focusing each week on taking as many pair of new socks and underwear as we can, and most importantly having cold beverages to hand out as the weather becomes even more hot and humid. We are working towards being able to provide full, healthy sack lunches as well. Our greatest desire, of course, continues to be building relationships with those we meet, loving them unconditionally as Christ does, as providing them with support and encouragement on an individual basis. We are sharing food with over 100 people each week and connect on a deeper level with anywhere between 10 and 30 individuals. The time we spend on the streets takes a lot physically and emotionally, but seeing fruits of our work and your prayers make every moment of it well worth it.

Personally, I am in another transition period, perhaps even a waiting period, focusing primarily on resting and getting healthy. Some of you are aware of the challenges I have faced over the past years, and I really am making a concerted effort to do everything necessary to start the next chapter of my life full-force, without the health issues holding me back. Second to resting, my efforts have also been directed toward serving Angie and her family during a difficult chapter in their lives. We are able to mutually support one another and focus on healing and moving forward. As Angie is now at home with the boys full-time, my role in their family continues to change as well. Third, as is most evident by the pictures and emails you receive; my efforts are directed at serving the homeless in New Orleans. On our ventures downtown, we are also able to serve the street performers and artists in Jackson Square as well as some of the tourists we encounter along the way.

We have been spending hours each weekend serving at the Claiborne Camp, but my most treasured time is in Jackson Square and up along the Riverfront. At those locations, we have more opportunity to connect one-on-one, whereas under the bridge, we serve a lot of people in a very short period of time. No matter the location, I feel confident that we are able to build genuine relationships with those we serve, as well as with the team that goes out each week.

Angie, her two boys, and I go out each week, and we are joined by others each weekend as well. Two weeks ago, we had the joy of leading a team of adults from Savannah, GA, on the outreach and really began developing relationships with the team. This past week, a friend of mine from college was able to engage with us during the week in preparation for the weekend as well as serve with us on Saturday. We also have a gentleman, Goke, who joins us every other weekend. I love that our team looks different each week, and I am encouraged by the number of people that feel the pull to go beat the streets each weekend. I have hope and expectation that the number of people serving with our team will continue to grow in order to best serve those we meet. One specific prayer request is that God would send us one or more Spanish-speakers to join us on the weekends. Having multiple Spanish-speakers from Savannah was really a blessing, because we were able to communicate with many people with whom we have not in previous weeks been able to speak or communicate effectively.

We hope that these updates will encourage you and provide you with specific ways to lift up our friends in prayer.

-Kati