It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in March. We had so many clothes for the TOP trip that one of our older youth, Mike, drove his car in addition to the minivan I rented. We arrived at Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, a little before the meal truck arrived.
By the time we unloaded the bags of clothes from the van, at least 20 – 25 homeless men were waiting for us. They dove into the bags, calling out orders for different types of clothes.
“Anybody see 32 waist jeans?”
“I need a big coat, man”
“Got any underwear?”
Our youth were handing out the last of the clothes when a violent wind blew through the park. That was the fastest temperature drop I have ever experienced. The clothes and the bags they came in were gone with the exception of a few things nobody wanted. The men we served huddled in line for the food wagon. It arrived as we loaded the van.
I was putting the last bags in the van when I heard the youth talking to someone. I looked out and saw a barefoot man. The look of compassion and helplessness on the faces of the youth told me that there were no shoes or socks left. They looked at me with pleading eyes. My mind raced as I desperately tried to figure out a way to get this man some shoes on a Sunday afternoon.
Then one of the youth exclaimed, “Wait a minute! There’s still stuff in Mike’s car!”
Several of the teens escorted the man to the trunk of Mike’s car. They opened it and found a pair of Frye work boots in like-new condition that were exactly the man’s size. They also found a couple of pairs of thermal socks. The expression on the man’s face changed from dejection and hopelessness to joy and wonder.
We were all amazed at this little miracle. God provided the perfect pair of shoes in the perfect size and saved them for this man through our forgetfulness.
