![lexusamandaofficial:
Life has been an adventure lately to say the least, but the highlights are bright. Lately I’ve been waking up with an urge to help those in need after being inspired by a radio interview of a woman named Kimberly Smith who ventured to Sudan on a missions trip to help women and children that have been used for sex trafficking, abused, and raped. Sudan is arguably one of the most dangerous places to be as a young woman, and hearing her story was inspiring yet in the same breathe so heartbreaking. Kimberly Smith asked God to let her heart break for the people in need like His heart did, and it was answered. She spoke of the abuse she’d witnessed, and the abuse she actually suffered while she was in Sudan, she, herself was actually raped as well on her trip to save others. She later published a book called “Passport Through Darkness”
As this lady told her story I became filled with an energy to do anything i could to make a radical change in another’s life. Yet, i became flustered, because obviously I can’t venture to Africa immediately on a random whim to help another country, and I began to look for ways to help in my own community. Last Saturday morning I prayed the same prayer that Kimberly Smith did. “Dear Lord, please break my heart for someone like yours does, I need to help someone.” I didn’t know where i could find this but I relied on my faith. Later that day Nick and I got a random urge to venture out to Hollywood for the first time in a few months, so we drove out and called a few friends to see if anyone could hangout, everyone was either at NAMM or busy.
We arrived at Hollywood and Highland to see the religious protesters on the four corners like they usually are, with signs that read “Repent your sins and be saved” ”Jesus Loves You” ect. of all the hundreds of times i’ve been on that corner I’ve never sat to observe and people watch as they protested, So i did. We parked and I walked to one of the corners where a little blonde 14 or 15 year old girl with glasses held a large yellow sign that almost seemed too big for her to carry. I sat there and stared, she held up the sign with a smile, as the people would walk by they would shout insults at her, one man walked by her and shouted, “OH, LOOK IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GREATER THAN GOD, WELL NO ONE IS GREATER THAN GOD BUT ME! HAHAHA.” She just put her head down, i felt bad for her, she wasn’t doing anything wrong, wasn’t yelling in anyones face, being young, vulnerable, and just holding a sign… she didn’t deserve that. I approached her and asked her where she was from and what she was preaching. Her face lit up and she eagerly shared her story with me, I could feel how kind hearted she was and all she wanted to do was give me a book that had a few passages in them. It hurts me that people are so ignorant and quick to put people down when they really do have good intentions.
After this, nick and i began to walk down the blvd, we stumbled across 5 or 6 homeless kids probably in their early 20’s maybe even late teens sitting in the indent of the wall. On a normal day it would be my first instinct to pretend they didn’t exist and continue on my way, probably saying “sorry i don’t have any change for you” under my breath… instead I approached them… one of the girls was sewing her broken shoes back together. I said hello, and asked how they were. They were very friendly and i sort of just wanted to know what their stories were, what hardships they must have had to go through to end up where they were, what broken families and hearts must occurred. I asked if they were hungry and before i could finish my sentence they all said “YES!” so i said, “Ok, were gonna go to Mcdonalds and get a few burgers for you guys cool?” and they all said yes and thankyou.
So Nick and I walked back and into the Mcdonalds, there was a long line almost out the door. As we waited I noticed there was a homeless older man behind us in line. I turned around and looked at his face, my first observation was that he seemed so upset, then i looked closer and noticed he only had one eye, the other was completely gone, no patch to cover it, and his lid was partially open. He had a big coat on and carried a suitcase behind him. I looked to the man, and said, “Sir, can I buy you something to eat?” he replied so humbly “no, I have money, thankyou though.” It really struck me as a surprise, i’ve never had a homeless person deny taking any money. My hear sunk for him as i turned around and continued to wait in line. As I was waiting another young man approached me after being denied by everyone else in line, asking if i could buy him food, he was so hard to understand, the words could barely make it out of his mouth when he said, “Please, I haven’t eaten in three days.” I said “Ofcourse, do you like burgers?” He did.
The line seemed to have been taking forever, it felt as if the old man behind me was becoming anxious because he was so hungry, so i offered my spot in line to him so he might be able to order ahead of me. He selflessly said no thankyou, and put his head down. Then I said, “No, please sir, i insist take my spot” so he smiled and he did. Finally it was his turn to order and i noticed he only had two dollars, he bought an oatmeal cookie and a burger then stood to the side to wait for his order. Then it was my turn, I ordered 10 burgers for the kids and then i ordered 3 oatmeal cookies for the old man since i saw he bought them too, so he obviously liked them. I handed them to him and I said “here, i saw you order them so i know you like them.” His smile looked like it hadn’t been used in a very long time… it made my heart melt as he took them and said thankyou.
I finally got my order and I gave three burgers to the boy that hadn’t eaten in three days, he was alone so i sat down next to him. I wanted to know him and what his life was like. I said before he couldn’t speak very clearly, He was an african american boy and he too was blind in one eye like the old man. As one eye looked directly into mine the other was completely sideways and bloodshot. I asked him his age, he replied, “I’m 24 years old, I got hit by a car three days ago, I just woke up and i barely remember what happened.” Then I asked if he lived around the area, he muttered “Yes, I live with my dad, but there is no food in our fridge, he can’t get a job because he is a felon, and I cant get a job because i hear voices in my head all the time.” After he told me this my eyes started to water, and at that moment i realized that God answered my prayer. He allowed my heart to break for a complete stranger. This poor 24 year old, so young i could see through him and into his soul that he’s suffered so much. He went on to explain that he got hit by a car when he was young as well and that his whole body was filled with metal rods to stabilize it. So sad that someone with so many mental and medical problems couldn’t see a doctor because he was so poor, couldnt turn to a loving mother or father or even friend for a meal is devastating. I left him, telling him something along the lines of ”i’m praying for you, and im not sure if you’re religious but God changed my life, and He can change yours too.” Then i told him if he remembered my face and saw me again in hollywood he could approach me for whatever he needs.
We left mcdonalds with the 7 burgers we had left for the kids that were sitting in the indent in the wall on the blvd. We handed the rest of the burgers out to them and they said, “Thankyou!! oh my god I love you!” we smiled and said goodbye.
Then we got in my car to drive back home, but i still felt like we weren’t done there, we drove around for a little bit and i saw a man lying barefoot on the concrete by himself. I asked nick to pull over so i could talk to this guy. I got out of the car and said hello, he got up and immediately i could sense he was very kind. He had red/brown hair that was messy, i noticed he didn’t have any shoes and his feet were swollen and cut up probably from walking around barefoot so much. I asked him if he had any friends, he said “no, no i don’t have any friends” then i looked at his hands and his nails were bitten to the point where they were almost gone, he was in his mid 30’s at the oldest. My heart broke for this man and I asked him what he’d like me to get for him, he responded “do you have any food? or pants? shoes?” So i ran back to my car to see if i had anything extra lying around and i didn’t, i hurried back to the man and said, “will you be here a while? i’m going to the store to buy you what you need.” he smiled, and said yes.
We drove all the way to the other side of Hollywood to the 99 cents store and spent 30 dollars on food, scarves, beanies, sweaters, socks, deodorant, and bags for the man to carry his things in. unfortunetly they didn’t have blankets or shoes, but we bought the most we could. Then we made our way back to the man and handed him all these things, his eyes lit up and so did mine. A happiness i can’t explain filled my heart as it filled his, a much better feeling than you get from receiving a gift. By this time the sun had fallen, it was time to go home.
The fact that each and every random stranger you pass by everyday has a story, they’ve all had travesties, and heart breaks. The thing that upset me the most is that I spent so many days and nights on that same street and never acknowledged the people who’s hearts are the same as mine, to help when i was able. It’s sickening to think that it barely happens to those people. I then realized i don’t have to travel to africa to help the sick, poor, and needy… there are people that are right infront of us that need our help, and it’s our job to be their neighbor and do so.
My life was transformed so much in less than 24 hours of meeting new people and stitching their hearts together just a tiny bit.
I hope this encourages you. Thankyou Lord for answering my prayer.
“Dear Lord, Please let my heart break for someone like yours breaks for your people”
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Truly Inspiring](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyc0utMF9v1qck11uo1_r1_1280.jpg)
Life has been an adventure lately to say the least, but the highlights are bright. Lately I’ve been waking up with an urge to help those in need after being inspired by a radio interview of a woman named Kimberly Smith who ventured to Sudan on a missions trip to help women and children that have been used for sex trafficking, abused, and raped. Sudan is arguably one of the most dangerous places to be as a young woman, and hearing her story was inspiring yet in the same breathe so heartbreaking. Kimberly Smith asked God to let her heart break for the people in need like His heart did, and it was answered. She spoke of the abuse she’d witnessed, and the abuse she actually suffered while she was in Sudan, she, herself was actually raped as well on her trip to save others. She later published a book called “Passport Through Darkness”
As this lady told her story I became filled with an energy to do anything i could to make a radical change in another’s life. Yet, i became flustered, because obviously I can’t venture to Africa immediately on a random whim to help another country, and I began to look for ways to help in my own community. Last Saturday morning I prayed the same prayer that Kimberly Smith did. “Dear Lord, please break my heart for someone like yours does, I need to help someone.” I didn’t know where i could find this but I relied on my faith. Later that day Nick and I got a random urge to venture out to Hollywood for the first time in a few months, so we drove out and called a few friends to see if anyone could hangout, everyone was either at NAMM or busy.
We arrived at Hollywood and Highland to see the religious protesters on the four corners like they usually are, with signs that read “Repent your sins and be saved” ”Jesus Loves You” ect. of all the hundreds of times i’ve been on that corner I’ve never sat to observe and people watch as they protested, So i did. We parked and I walked to one of the corners where a little blonde 14 or 15 year old girl with glasses held a large yellow sign that almost seemed too big for her to carry. I sat there and stared, she held up the sign with a smile, as the people would walk by they would shout insults at her, one man walked by her and shouted, “OH, LOOK IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GREATER THAN GOD, WELL NO ONE IS GREATER THAN GOD BUT ME! HAHAHA.” She just put her head down, i felt bad for her, she wasn’t doing anything wrong, wasn’t yelling in anyones face, being young, vulnerable, and just holding a sign… she didn’t deserve that. I approached her and asked her where she was from and what she was preaching. Her face lit up and she eagerly shared her story with me, I could feel how kind hearted she was and all she wanted to do was give me a book that had a few passages in them. It hurts me that people are so ignorant and quick to put people down when they really do have good intentions.
After this, nick and i began to walk down the blvd, we stumbled across 5 or 6 homeless kids probably in their early 20’s maybe even late teens sitting in the indent of the wall. On a normal day it would be my first instinct to pretend they didn’t exist and continue on my way, probably saying “sorry i don’t have any change for you” under my breath… instead I approached them… one of the girls was sewing her broken shoes back together. I said hello, and asked how they were. They were very friendly and i sort of just wanted to know what their stories were, what hardships they must have had to go through to end up where they were, what broken families and hearts must occurred. I asked if they were hungry and before i could finish my sentence they all said “YES!” so i said, “Ok, were gonna go to Mcdonalds and get a few burgers for you guys cool?” and they all said yes and thankyou.
So Nick and I walked back and into the Mcdonalds, there was a long line almost out the door. As we waited I noticed there was a homeless older man behind us in line. I turned around and looked at his face, my first observation was that he seemed so upset, then i looked closer and noticed he only had one eye, the other was completely gone, no patch to cover it, and his lid was partially open. He had a big coat on and carried a suitcase behind him. I looked to the man, and said, “Sir, can I buy you something to eat?” he replied so humbly “no, I have money, thankyou though.” It really struck me as a surprise, i’ve never had a homeless person deny taking any money. My hear sunk for him as i turned around and continued to wait in line. As I was waiting another young man approached me after being denied by everyone else in line, asking if i could buy him food, he was so hard to understand, the words could barely make it out of his mouth when he said, “Please, I haven’t eaten in three days.” I said “Ofcourse, do you like burgers?” He did.
The line seemed to have been taking forever, it felt as if the old man behind me was becoming anxious because he was so hungry, so i offered my spot in line to him so he might be able to order ahead of me. He selflessly said no thankyou, and put his head down. Then I said, “No, please sir, i insist take my spot” so he smiled and he did. Finally it was his turn to order and i noticed he only had two dollars, he bought an oatmeal cookie and a burger then stood to the side to wait for his order. Then it was my turn, I ordered 10 burgers for the kids and then i ordered 3 oatmeal cookies for the old man since i saw he bought them too, so he obviously liked them. I handed them to him and I said “here, i saw you order them so i know you like them.” His smile looked like it hadn’t been used in a very long time… it made my heart melt as he took them and said thankyou.
I finally got my order and I gave three burgers to the boy that hadn’t eaten in three days, he was alone so i sat down next to him. I wanted to know him and what his life was like. I said before he couldn’t speak very clearly, He was an african american boy and he too was blind in one eye like the old man. As one eye looked directly into mine the other was completely sideways and bloodshot. I asked him his age, he replied, “I’m 24 years old, I got hit by a car three days ago, I just woke up and i barely remember what happened.” Then I asked if he lived around the area, he muttered “Yes, I live with my dad, but there is no food in our fridge, he can’t get a job because he is a felon, and I cant get a job because i hear voices in my head all the time.” After he told me this my eyes started to water, and at that moment i realized that God answered my prayer. He allowed my heart to break for a complete stranger. This poor 24 year old, so young i could see through him and into his soul that he’s suffered so much. He went on to explain that he got hit by a car when he was young as well and that his whole body was filled with metal rods to stabilize it. So sad that someone with so many mental and medical problems couldn’t see a doctor because he was so poor, couldnt turn to a loving mother or father or even friend for a meal is devastating. I left him, telling him something along the lines of ”i’m praying for you, and im not sure if you’re religious but God changed my life, and He can change yours too.” Then i told him if he remembered my face and saw me again in hollywood he could approach me for whatever he needs.
We left mcdonalds with the 7 burgers we had left for the kids that were sitting in the indent in the wall on the blvd. We handed the rest of the burgers out to them and they said, “Thankyou!! oh my god I love you!” we smiled and said goodbye.
Then we got in my car to drive back home, but i still felt like we weren’t done there, we drove around for a little bit and i saw a man lying barefoot on the concrete by himself. I asked nick to pull over so i could talk to this guy. I got out of the car and said hello, he got up and immediately i could sense he was very kind. He had red/brown hair that was messy, i noticed he didn’t have any shoes and his feet were swollen and cut up probably from walking around barefoot so much. I asked him if he had any friends, he said “no, no i don’t have any friends” then i looked at his hands and his nails were bitten to the point where they were almost gone, he was in his mid 30’s at the oldest. My heart broke for this man and I asked him what he’d like me to get for him, he responded “do you have any food? or pants? shoes?” So i ran back to my car to see if i had anything extra lying around and i didn’t, i hurried back to the man and said, “will you be here a while? i’m going to the store to buy you what you need.” he smiled, and said yes.
We drove all the way to the other side of Hollywood to the 99 cents store and spent 30 dollars on food, scarves, beanies, sweaters, socks, deodorant, and bags for the man to carry his things in. unfortunetly they didn’t have blankets or shoes, but we bought the most we could. Then we made our way back to the man and handed him all these things, his eyes lit up and so did mine. A happiness i can’t explain filled my heart as it filled his, a much better feeling than you get from receiving a gift. By this time the sun had fallen, it was time to go home.
The fact that each and every random stranger you pass by everyday has a story, they’ve all had travesties, and heart breaks. The thing that upset me the most is that I spent so many days and nights on that same street and never acknowledged the people who’s hearts are the same as mine, to help when i was able. It’s sickening to think that it barely happens to those people. I then realized i don’t have to travel to africa to help the sick, poor, and needy… there are people that are right infront of us that need our help, and it’s our job to be their neighbor and do so.
My life was transformed so much in less than 24 hours of meeting new people and stitching their hearts together just a tiny bit.
I hope this encourages you. Thankyou Lord for answering my prayer.
“Dear Lord, Please let my heart break for someone like yours breaks for your people”
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Truly Inspiring
