Tis three more days upon us before the streets are empty as Christmas Eve brings the 10th year of Operation Silent Night into gear. The donations continue to come forth and the anticipation and excitement of meeting new friends in the darkened alleys brings forth the radiance of joy.
Tonight a small team of twenty five or thirty will assembled 200 brand new backpacks with ponchos, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, toilet paper and hygiene kits of tooth brushes, toothpaste, bars of soap, shampoo, lotions, combs and wash cloths.
The crew will also make up some 200 food bags that consists of Slim Jims, potato chips, apple sauce, puddings, Chex Mix, Cheese Crackers, Granola Bars, Cookies, Chocolates, Fruit juice and Oranges.
Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches donated by Arby’s along with hot ham and cheese sandwiches donated by Walnut Creek Cheese Company will come out of the hot ovens of our food truck on the curbs of the streets. Donations of Pepsi and bottled water along with the Troyer’s famous hot chocolate will be served with the sandwiches to people as we meet them.
Yes, tonight begins the journey to Washington, DC where over 8,000 people are homeless and over 600 sleep on the streets on any given night. What began ten years ago with two single women serving 25 hot sandwiches continues to grow each year!
The lunch truck will be packed tonight along with the shuttle bus holding the backpacks, pillows, comforters, coats and hoodies. Tomorrow the gas tanks will be filled and propane filled to have the ovens and large coffee maker ready for hot chocolate.
All systems are “go” but much prayer is needed!!! Will you come to DC with us through your prayers? We’ve been watching the weather pattern for DC and we are seeing 80 to 90 percent chance of rain for Christmas Eve and Day. We pray to the One who parted the sea, to the One who speaks to the wind, who controls all the universe. Please join us in prayer that He will hold back the rain on these two days that we can reach as many of our friends on the street as we can.
Pray for our safety as the world has changed a lot in the last few months… Pray for our travel and good driving conditions and the mechanics of our vehicles. Pray for wisdom and discernment for all that we do and all that we say.
May the radiance of Jesus shine in the darkest alleys this Christmas Eve and may He use each of us as an outpouring vessels of His love and mercy.
Thank you for taking this journey with us to the deserted streets of DC. God bless you and yours on this blessed Silent Night.
Sue Thomas Ministries 