Caught up on housekeeping chores yesterday like laundry at Jim's home where I'm staying the next couple of weeks. My friend, Jesse Mazzoccoli and his significant other, Carol, took me out to the "Best Buffet", a Chinese buffet on the east edge of town off of Broadway. The food was great and the company even better!
Jesse is a professional musician and teaches guitar as well. He's also the worship leader for Unity Church.
Later that evening Jim and I discussed theology and the Catholic Church. It was another interesting and stimulating talk.
Today Jim and I drove over to visit Lorraine who is staying at a local nursing home while she recovers from a recent illness. However, she was out at a doctors visit so we'll try tomorrow to catch her. I met her 2 years ago at Unity Church and she wanted to visit with me but couldn't make it to church last Sunday for my speech.
Spoke with Michael Bickhaus this afternoon to get the details for my 2 speeches tomorrow evening for the St Francis Catholic Church Men's Groups. Evidently, there are 2 groups each meeting tomorrow one at 5:15pm and the other at 7:30pm. We'll grab a bite to eat between the 2 meetings.
Michael has been a huge supporter of my journey since we met on Rt 24 in front of his home outside Camp Point, IL near Quincy. He invited me over to his home sometime before I leave to reconnect with his wife, Christine and his 7 children. Can't wait!
As I pen this article I'm sitting at the McDonald's on Broadway and 12th. This is the same establishment where 2 years ago I met a 19 year old man ready to throw in the towel when I walked into the restaurant to get some lunch.
I struck up a conversation with him and we got talking about God. He advised me he didn't believe in God because he had never shown up in his life especially when he needed him badly.
He went on to tell me he jumped off the railroad bridge over the Mississippi River twice but lamented that he couldn't even kill himself because he such a failure. I asked him how long since he ate last since be appeared very gaunt. Told me it's been 3 days since he last had food.
I asked him if I could buy him lunch...anything he wanted. He was more than happy to let me oblige him. So, he ordered about everything on the menu including ice cream.
He continued his very sad story about his mother kicking him out of her home. Then he rented a room while working at a restaurant. The job wasn't a good fit for him and he was fired which meant he would lose his room and be out on the street.
He had interviewed for a position at Walmart over a month ago and he presumed because he hadn't heard back they must have chosen someone else.
"Where's God now!" he asked. I said God is visiting him right now. He just got a free lunch and someone to listen to his predicament. And just then his phone rang. It was Wal-Mart calling to advise that he got the job he interviewed for a month ago!
I said, "See! God is here for you!" He then got on the phone and called his friend and told me he had to go. I said for him to wait. He's going to need to eat tomorrow and the next day so I handed him the last of my money a $20 bill. He thanked me profusely and then lit out of the building to meet up with his pal.
I sat there basking in the warm feeling of being able to help someone who really needed it. I was hoping against hope I just might run into him again here at McDonald's this afternoon, but, alas he's not here.
Oh well. I take that as a sign from Heaven that the boy's doing alright and he's OK.
Well, it's time I get back to preparing my presentations for tomorrow.
I'm picking up Monica at 6:30pm tonight and we're headed over to Mac and Joyce's farm North of town. They have a farm museum they own and operate. I visited with them back 2 years ago when I came into town on my way westward. They're an older couple who have lived and farmed on this property all of their adult life.
Pics show my friends, Jesse and Carol.
Grace and peace to y'all! Bye!
BR Schoenbein
May 3, 2016- Monday
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