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Richardo and Socorro have three kids: 12-year-old Jasmine, 11-year-old Merian, and 10-year-old Juan.  They stay strong as a family.  They visit a church.  Yet, they have been living on the street for more than a year.  Everyone gladly received prayer.  They trust and thank God to keep them together and healthy. 

Maria is 16.  She moved with parents from Los Angeles to Orange County.  She sat by the city hall and looked lost and aimless.  After prayer, a smile came back to her face.  She knew Jesus is real.  She had already known the truth of Jesus dying on the cross for her and was resurrected 2000 years ago.  She had accepted Him as her personal Savior some time ago.  Once again, she felt Jesus’ love. 

Brian has a job but lives in poverty.  Dan just got out of jail and stays at a shelter.  He was somewhat bitter and overwhelmed with the adjustment back into freedom and society. 

Maria is a single mom and lives with 12-year-old daughter Marsha.  They come to S.A.S.O. to get lunch.

The list goes on and on…

Yvonne’s Four-Year Anniversary

Praise God!  In His grace and mercy, compassion and strength, Yvonne celebrated the four-year anniversary on her commitment of praying at the Santa Ana Street Outreach.  The Garden Grove First Korean Presbyterian Church’s team has faithfully served for over eight years.  (You can see team photos at http://yes-jesus.com/saso.htm, and read the S.A.S.O. story at http://yes-jesus.com/testimonies/outreaches/saso_story.htm.)   Yvonne joined in October 1999.  She and kids went two Saturdays every month around 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. for three years.  Then, three Saturdays a month since October 2002. 

Praying for the ones in need is always a joy.  Yet, the needs are great on the streets.  She asks each individual for permission to pray, and what they would like to pray about.  Even if she may never see the person or family she prays for again God is in control.  Holy Spirit will continue His mighty work.  Yvonne also collects the names of those who give her permission to pray.  The S.A.S.O. prayer list has grown long.  Her motto remains, “See you in heaven!”

What Yvonne has done is little.  Yet, to her, it’s worth celebrating.  The Lord gave her an assignment.  She has kept the commitment.  S.A.S.O. is one of the training grounds God has used to grow her spiritually.  It was also one of the giving grounds the Lord has given her so she and kids continuously receive rewards on earth.  The celebration was private, just between her and the Lord.  It was full of joy, sweetness and thanksgiving.   Somehow, what the psalmist says in Psalm 131:102 describes her heart:

¹ My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Photos From A Street Crusade

For an encouragement, the Lord gave her two pictures to cherish.  They were actually taken in a Santa Ana street crusade at Grant and Minnie on Saturday October 4.  Mario Murrillo Ministry and Stay Focused Ministries together held an outdoor crusade by a housing project.  Residents are primarily Latinos and some Cambodians.  About 500 people, mostly youngsters, received Christ as their personal Savior that day.  Yvonne was just a volunteer counselor and had the privilege to pray for about 10 children (new, precious young brothers and sisters in Christ ) after the altar call.  A local church pastor couple kindly took the pictures and e-mailed to her.

All in all, nothing is worth more than to please our Lord Jesus.