As I was preparing to open the store, I noticed there was someone in our dumpster. At first, I thought it was one of our normal repeat offenders digging in our trash. However, as I looked inside I saw it was a young man I had never seen around before. As I leaned over to look inside and talk to him I noticed he had little to no clothing on. I began to talk with him and he became very scared as he thought I was going to call the cops on him. I assured him all I wanted to do was to help him. He calmed down and began to tell me how he had gotten to this point in his life—drugs, alcohol, and male prostitution. I clearly saw that he was desperate and at a low point.
I invited him into the store to get clothes to cover his half-naked body and he expressed wonder at why I was caring for him since no one else ever did. We were able to find everything except shoes and I was shocked to see he was walking around town with only one blue sock and one white sock on with both big toes sticking through. I noticed then that the shoes I had on my feet fit him perfectly. It was not a good day to have to give away the shoes on my feet but then I realized all I had to do was drive a few blocks and select another pair from my closet.
Each one of us does not realize how good we have it in our sheltered lives. I really wanted to share the gospel with him and pray with him but he wanted nothing to do with anything about religion because of his past experience with what he called “so-called Christians.” I did not push any further except to show love and kindness to him. He was extremely grateful for what I gave him. Since that day I have not seen him in the area but I pray that I will see him again soon and have the opportunity to show him Christ’s love again.
Let’s take the Good News, let’s take the Living Word around the corner, around the world. People’s lives are becoming more desperate and out of control, this is why the ministry of World Impact Thrift Store is important and must continue.
