Prayer Meetings and More

In early March, we started attending the Tuesday evening prayer meetings at Sun Springs Motel. Nam and her family open a room off the lobby of the motel for a place for homeless people and volunteers to gather for praise, worship, fellowship and prayer. The Springs of Life Ministry and Outreach, led by Pastor Patricia is a warm and welcoming refuge for all. The service begins with songs of praise, followed by a message, and concludes with a nourishing meal. This may be the only meal of the day for many of the homeless attending. During the meal, anyone in need is encouraged to put their name in a drawing for the possibility of winning a free night's stay at the motel. On an average Tuesday, we can expect anywhere from 10 to 20 homeless people so there are many who could use the warm bed and shower.

Hopefully everyone who shows up for bible study is sober but that's not always the case. If anyone arrives drunk and is disruptive, Patricia calmly and gently quiets them. On one occasion, I arrived during the singing and sat down next to Sam. The smell of alcohol was quite strong and Sam leaned over and shouted in my ear, "Can you hear me, Barb? I'm singin' my ass off." On another Tuesday, the message was about asking Jesus for what you need and he will answer your prayers. As I was drawing the name out for the free night's room, Taz said out loud, "I ask that my name be drawn out, in Jesus's name". I reached in the bowl and drew out his name (out of 12 names that night). The second name drawn out was Sam. Sam and Taz decided to share a room and give a room to Larry, an out of work landscaper sitting next to Sam. They had just met him that night. One thing we've learned, or one of the many things we've learned, is that these guys look out for each other.


On Tuesday, March 16th, Sam and Taz were 55 minutes late to prayer meeting. They thought they were 5 minutes early. When Patricia was already in the middle of her message, Sam kept looking at his watch and back at Patricia in disbelief. When I told him daylight savings time had started on Sunday, his comment was, "The sun came up at the same time on Sunday and went down at the same time on Sunday." And he was exactly right!


We started going to prayer meetings because we knew it was a way to find "our guys" during the week. We now consider it an important part of our week.....not only to check on the well being of everyone but for the singing and fellowship.