By the time we got down to Monroe Park my ride smelt like a mobile Mickey D's wagon, but our excitement and anticipation outweighed the intense aroma of McDouble goodness. After driving around for what seemed like an hour, we finally all found a place to park and set off on our mission to feed the hungry. At first, it seemed like a small group of people but as soon as we started handing out the goods people came from what seemed like everywhere. As we were handing out the food and drinks my heart broke as many expressed how they had not eaten all day.
It was awesome to not only give out food to those who really needed it but even more awesome to be able to sit and talk with them, hear their story...and just be a friend. I was surprised at how open most of them were to pray with us and even more shocked about what many of there requests were. I would think living on the streets you would ask us to pray for you to get a car, house, or something, but most didn't want us to pray for a free handout. Many wanted to pray that they would find work and be able to provide for themselves, some wanted prayer for their family and did not ask for anything for themselves. One man's request really shook me to the very core. As the clouds grew darker and the rain began to fall he looked me in the eye and asked that I would pray that he would have a heart more like God. I was taken back and humbled by this man's honest request. It made me feel guilty that a lot of times my prayers are completely selfish and all about what I want and desire and here is this man who really has needs in his life but wanted us to pray for what really mattered and what is truly the most important.
The plan was to minister to the homeless and hurting in Richmond, but I realized from that moment that Spread the McLovin' ministered not only to the homeless and less fortunate, but truly impacted my life as well. As the rain began to pick up and we handed out the last of the food and scattered back to the shelter of our vehicles many of them sat on benches covering what little they had in trash bags, as I watched it really put things back into perspective. Sometimes we forget how good we have it. I may not have the nicest of everything or have all I want, but one thing I know...my last name may not be McDonald but I sure am McBlessed!
