The Row

Today was the first Friday of the quarter. The first Friday that would initiate many trips down to LA, initiate many volunteer opportunities for college students..  but most of all.. initiate sowing of the service seed in people’s heart.

Not many people came to the Row today. It was only Kevin, me and George. I’m so glad that Kevin came down to Irvine and drove with me to Downtown LA. It’s pretty far driving from Irvine to LA, but tonight was especially far because it was especially trafficky. The night started small with just 5 people including Cue, Troy, us, who came from Irvine, and a really drunk guy.

The drunk guy prayed after Cue prayed about forgiveness and how he has to ask for forgiveness every single day... He was “ the most sensed drunk guy ,“ according to Cue. What started as just a simple prayer from a drunk guy, came lots of other drunk/high people. I figured.. it’s because it’s the beginning of the month that people just spend their paycheck on booze, drugs, or both. The streets were very busy tonight.

I would say that tonight was the most of the scariest time I had at the row. There was this huge black lady who came after Cue closed in prayer. She had a sense of authority because she would not go in the back of the line.. but say that, “I am the line.” She would not budge. She all of a sudden came so close to my face, staring those dark intense eyes into my eyes,  slithering her head as if she was like a snake, and slurring an eerie  question, “Who’s your God?” I just stood there.. (thinking to myself... maybe.. maybe not..) Good thing Kevin stepped up. But she did the same thing to Kevin too. And then Cue came. The huge black lady caressed her cheeks on Cue’s shoulder. But Cue coolly brushed her off. When the lady left.. Cue turned around to smile and me and Kevin and said, “Demonized.” He confirmed what I thought to myself earlier.. I was staring into the eyes of a demon attached woman! I was pretty scared.

After passing sacs of McDonald hamburgers and water out, I got to talk to Luis, a black guy who lives around the neighborhood and who always comes out to the row. He can whip out sooo many Bible verses like it’s etched in this brain. He described how he saw spirits and wasn’t afraid of them. He described it like looking at a light and seeing the orb around it.  He talks a lot, btw.

Leaving the Row was a bit scary too. It turned out that Cue and Troy left before us (me, Kevin, and George). We got caught up in praying for this two guys and it was already past 9 o’clock. The scary part was seeing all the drug dealers come out. It was when we were done praying that Kevin opened the front door of my car and told me to, “go, go, go, drug dealers are behind us.” I sped off and left the image of three huge, bald, drug dealers on my rearview mirror.

It was some interesting night at the Row. But God is good is keeping us safe and loving those on the streets.