Homelessness can be fiXed......

Homelessness is the condition and social category of people without a regular house or dwelling because they cannot afford, or are otherwise unable to maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.


The term homelessness may also include people whose primary night-time residence is in a homeless shelter, in an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.


In CA, there is 159,732 homeless people across the state. (based on 2007 census).  
In  TN, there is 8,700 to 11,000 homeless people across the state.(based on 2009 census).


82,000 people are homeless on any given night in Los Angeles.


At my work "PATH"'s goal is to end the homelessness. 

PATH Mission: “To break the cycle of homelessness by empowering people with the tools for self-sufficiency” 

PATH Approach:  To help homeless individuals and families find work, save money, secure housing, and empower their lives.

PATH’s strategic approaches to ending homelessness are resulting in successful outcomes and the creation of model programs that have been replicated in many other communities. PATH proven track record of getting individuals off of the streets is one of the many reasons why one former PATH client referred to PATH as “the prime-rib of supportive services.” By providing homeless and low-income individuals with the full range of resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency, PATH is working toward the ultimate goal of eliminating homelessness throughout Los Angeles and America.

Each year PATH serve approximately 4,000 homeless individuals and families, providing them with access to the housing and supportive services they need to break the cycle of homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency.  In the past year, the PATH Mall has achieved the following successes:

PATH'S FACTS

- Provided 13,047 case management and referral services to 3,111 unduplicated clients through the PATH Mall Access Center, linking homeless individuals to the supportive services they need to overcome their barriers to self-sufficiency

- Provided 23,843 basic services, including showers, lunches, and clothing

- Through the PATH Finders Job Center in the PATH Mall, PATH provided academic support, job training, and employment assistance services to 410 individuals, 101 of whom secured full-time, living wage employment. 

- Improved the housing stability of the homeless, as measured by providing referrals to emergency, transitional, and permanent housing to 958 individuals

- Improved the health of the homeless as measured by providing 3,099 service visits to 1,260 homeless adults and children through the JWCH Institute Medical Clinic in the PATH Mall

- Helped the homeless cope with mental illness, as measured by 1,400 individuals who received mental health care services through Gateways Hospital in the PATH Mall

Pretty amazing.......   

GLENDALE OUTREACH TEAM

When I first arrived at the army shelter in Glendale with Mark, Christina, and Alayna there was a line from the end of the street to the doors of the shelter. We walked around and talked to folks in line. A man who work for the shelter yelled and said " I am sorry but we have no blankets for tonight. We have pillows and sheets. No blankets. Again I am sorry. If you come tomorrow night, there will be blankets."  Some of the people seem to be disappointed by the news but others just shook the chip off their shoulder knowing they going to be in shelter tonight. A young man from Michigan walked up to me, asking me about my cohear implants.  I answered his questions and we ended up having a discussion on how technology helping people then I asked "What brought you here?" He said" I wanted to get away from Michigan and start new life here."  Did you have a job when you first came here? I asked.   He said I was looking for one but couldn't find the job. I ran out of money. So here I am but I am still looking for jobs.  He asked for a sweatshirt to me and Mark.  Later that night, brand new sweatshirt showed up for the Michigan boy and tons of blankets. Where did those come from?? Mark had connections. He called few places and delivered to help these people.   Mark is the founder of Invisible People. He experienced being homeless and turned his life around and now he is a top representative role model to speak on homeliness to people. He have been across the US to spread the word on homeliness.  Check out his blog  http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/about/ 


Later on that night, I was sitting on a army bed cot listening to a man who was in his mid 60s. He worked for construction for 37 years. He lost his home after he got laid off.  Not enough money to retire. He stayed at friend's apartment for few months but he knew it was time to go.  No job. No money.  "Its hard to get accepted for a job at his age and a type of work he does" He said.  I have no computer skills, if I had that, I will be ok finding a job. Then he just smile and then said "I stay here tonight and be hopeful for tomorrow."


A man came and sat in front of me as he ate his dinner food. We both did our quick hi and names.  Then he said "I am here now and can get some rest tonight." I replied "Yes sir."  He just kept on eating as he stare at me like he is waiting on me to ask him something. "How was your day today" I asked.   "Well its the first day." he said.   I was puzzle of what he meant by that. Then he said "I am drug addict"  I stopped the last time that I did it.  I said good. Then he said "I don't know how long that will last. I have been unsuccessful of staying away from it. All the homeless shelters I try to get into, have been hard on drug addicts. They don't allowed me to stay the night, I have to stay clean to come in the shelter. I had different type jobs in the past but the choices got me here now. So its the first day. 

That night after listening to their stories. I gave them encouragement, suggestions and information on Path's Glendale Achieve shelter in Glendale. Glendale Achieve shelter help you find jobs, teach free classes from computer skills to art, a place to help you start off better after you finished Glendale's program. Most of the homeless I talked to, said they will check into it, some just ignore it.  There is nothing I can do but just let them know the choices are available.  

About  a week ago we just did a homeless count in certain part of LA. This homeless count program asked for volunteers to do the count for 3 nights from 8pm to 1am. The staff split up the volunteers in teams and go to certain area that they were asked to go to, to count. There was police and Path outreach staff involved in this program and offer assistance to the volunteers.  They haven't gathered the total count yet. The only places volunteers didn't count was in Glendale and Long Beach.

Hebrews 13:2 (King James Version)

 ²Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.


What this mean is do not forget to show hospitality to strangers and some people have shown hospitality to others without knowing it.  Jesus wants us to treat others like our own brother or sisters. Its hard for me to leave the shelter after I listened to their stories and want to do more. But I can't  The best thing we can do is listen and lift their spirit up.  Let them know that you are noticing them.  Help them feel not invisible as they have been walked by so many people ignoring them. We are all the same in Christ. 

People (YOU) need to know that the homeliness people out in the street that could be dirty, sick, or whatever come to your mind when you first see them. I don't see that. I see the people in the street  that can get chances to start over.  God give us chances to ask forgiveness..... Why don't we start offering and noticing the people out in the street. We need to let them know there is places to help them out. Short or long term housing. Nobody deserves to stay out in the streets, alleys, abandon cars, or trees.   PATH is here to not only help the homeliness but to spread the word of this problem and solve the problem by ending the homeliness.   Nobody chose to be homeless... Its just happened to people.  Its stinks. But it can be fix.  God got a plan and he had and will guide me as I continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters.   

Please pray for my housemates and I as we started a new schedule at community house with kids.  Pray for the kids to become understanding of the new schedule.  Pray that the new volunteers and neighbors to keep connecting with us and the community house as we develop stronger friendships with neighbors and kids.  Please pray for the people and the government in Egypt that violence or ignoring the suggestions is not the answer to end their problem. Pray for my family, Matt's family, and my housemates's families.   


God bless!

A Roller Coaster ride in December.

If you have been blessed, it's your responsibility to bless others with what you've been given. God hasn't given those gifts just for your  own good but for the good of others as well. Early in my childhood, my parents have taught me that it is important to help and care for people who are in need. Its in my blood, to help, listen, care, entertain, and lift someone's frown into a smile.  I know what talents what God have given me to use and I am truly blessed  that God have given me experiences with my talents in past mission trips and now in CA. I see  it as my responsibility, but also my privilege, to be generous with what God had entrusted to me.  

A few days before I left for Christmas break, there was a break in at the community house. A part of a door frame was torn apart when the door was kicked in.  In the room was full of leftover toys and gifts for the kids buy for their parents for Christmas.  Nothing was taken in the room except for the missing door frame was ripped off.   At that time, I was disappointed and thinking "Who would do this?"  A week before that, there was blue paint splattered all over outside bulletin board and outside walls of the community house.  In the month of December, it seems to have its up and down. We had a Posada event with the  neighbors and two kids dressed up as Mary and Joseph. We all walked together singing Christmas carols in spanish and in english. We went to 3 different houses, Mary and Joseph knocked on each door and asked "Is there room for us?" All three owners replied no room available. The fourth house, we went to, was the community house, the host let us in as we saw Mary and Joseph put plastic baby Jesus on the table as other kids acted as wise men standing around Jesus.  After that, we spend time with kids and talked to their parents at after-party. God is Good!

Posada event

The next day after the Posada, we had a Toy store for the kids for 3 afternoons to buy or do chores around the community house to get any gifts they want to get it for their family members. We had baby toys, kid books, adult watches, women make-up stuff, men's tool stuff, sport supplies, and digital cameras. My roommate Brady's friend donated money for us to buy all this stuff that the kids requested to get for their parents. This was the first time that the dwellers did it, it went very well with neighbors. The kids got to wrapped their gifts and write letters to their family.  After I came back from xmas break, some of the kids told me, that their parents enjoyed their gifts.

Toy Store

It seems at some moment, we get closer with our neighbors with events involving with the neighbors but then when the break-in or bad stuff happened, I feel weird. I am not scared but am concerned for kids out in the street.  I wondered if we are doing something wrong or offensive to the neighbors?  Its is not hard to continue to do good things for the people but sometime I wondered is it the reason that is making whoever did this bad stuff at community house mad? I don't understand of why bad stuff happened after we done good stuff?  I pray that the neighbors know that we are here to serve God and be there for them and their kids.  We are not here to interpret the routine of the neighborhood's life. We are here to lift someone's frown into smile, make them laugh, listen to their stories, give them guidances and  the words of the bible and many more reasons of why God put us here.
With the first paragraph I put up on the top of this blog, is my talents being put into good use to the kids or the neighbors?  I don't know. I thought it was, but then why this stupid break in happened?  Its hard to figure out.  Its all in God's hands and he will lead us and the neighbors through this road.

The night before I left for Christmas break, I was taking pictures at Path Mall of a holiday event where celebrities show up and spend time with the kids and families who is on a verge of starting new life after being homeless. Pat O Brien (All Access Reporter), Tommy Davidson (Living Colors), a kid from TV show "LOST" and few others was there. Tommy Davidson was homeless at a young age and he understands the stages that these families face. It was interesting to hear his life story from poor to famous. It was really awesome to see the kid's faces brighten up when they got their gifts.

While I was home in TN for Christmas, it was good catching up with my parents, friends, and church friends. I beat my Mom and Dad in a blokus game (12 times) that I got for them for Christmas. I am the champ. They probably will not admit that fact. lol    I have more stuff to post so there will be another blog in a few days.   God bless!

Imaginary Feast Slideshow

Slideshow for PATH (click on this)

This is a project I am doing for PATH fundraising event.  This project is about Mayra and Wilbur who is staying at Path's family center.  Its just a min and 25 sec video.  Check it out!
: )  Maybe you could donate some money toward this fundraising event.

People's faith and taste buds changes.

I am eating cucumbers, dipping chips in guacamole, drinking egg nog, and my relationship with God have gotten closer after the last 4 months in LA.  In the previous blogs, I have mentioned how I am so thankful that God gave me opportunity to serve him and be a witness to others and he is teaching me new stuff that I never thought of.  I never though in this mission (YAV) program that I will do mission work and design work together and I have been told it was very unlikely to find that dream in this program.  I never lost faith in God but I allowed to listen to negative information from people. God proved us all wrong. I am doing the dream.  God listens and God already knows what best for you in HIS own time and HIS way, not our own time or our own way.  I have listened to people's stories and God opened the gates for me to understand what they are saying. For some reason, I still have a hard time understanding my roommates, but have no problems understanding the people outside the apartment from homeless people to the people I  just met randomly. God opened my ears.  God knows blueprint of my life, I don't. My faith have grown stronger from the lessons I have learned from God for the last 4 months. Nobody and I will never will understand the entire mystery of God but we can gain stronger relationship with him through our daily lives. My friends back home have asked me "Am I scared, homesick, bored in LA?" The answer is No.  Of course I miss my family and friends back home.  But I have been welcomed since I have arrived in LA.  God had this plan  and he gave me a trail to meet and form friendships with people. I have a LA family, church friends, and  friends from work or sport games. They have offered help if I needed it. I am so happy here.  I have always been independent back home and here that have tested my boundaries in a foreign land  that I never been before. God gave me directions and a mouth to speak clear to ask people for advice if I got stuck. I am truly comfortable in this environment. God gave me opportunities to enjoy and have fun while I am here in LA.  I never thought I would talk to Robert Dowery Jr or shook hands with Denzel Washington 2 months ago. But the real celebrities are the people who have prayed for me, supported for me, and leaned a hand.  My director, his family, my family, my LA family, my prayer partner, my church from home and in LA, my friends in LA and back home.  The number one celebrity is God of all times. He listened and still listens. In the first sentence, of this paragraph, I mentioned cucumbers, dipping chips in guacamole and drinking egg nog, I hate those things but since I been in LA, my taste buds have changed.  I love guacamole, egg nog, and cucumbers now. So 2 things changed for me, a closer relationship with God and taste buds. 

God knows best.

Matthew 21:16-22 KJV

¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

 ²⁰And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

 ²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

 ²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

At Hollywood First Presbyterian church, I started to get involved with the youth group about in late October. Well me and youth pastors decided it was right time to tell my story to kids after they seen me few times.  I gave my testimony to the middle school and high school kids along with adults in the room on Sunday morning. I had a power point set up and was little nervous of the kids might not understand me. I done lot of praying before this, asking God to speak his words, not mine and teach me to speak slow as I talk. After I gave my testimony, I asked if there was any questions? Kids and adults started to raise their hands and asked me about my hearing, mission work, what I am learning so far from God in LA, and etc.  It was all great questions.  I understood everyone's questions. : )  There was some answers that came out of my mouth that I never thought of it before I spoke as I was answering their questions.  I didn't realize that during the testimony.  I truly knew it was from words of God. My director Matt asked some good questions about my hearing so I could explain clearly about differences of hearing aids and implants and my struggles with it in the past and how God helped me with it.  Some asked me missionary questions. At the end, David (co-youth pastor) asked to pray for me and kids surrounded me and put their hands on me as David prayed. I will keep on being a helper and christian leader throughout the year with the high and middle school kids of the church. I enjoy every minute!    Oh yea, David told me that a boy came up to him and asked why do I talk funny?  David thought of telling him in his own words  about it but then he said Kyle will be talking that today and you can ask him questions. Then David said to me it was the right time for you to tell your story to the kids. The kids are noticing you more at events and on Sunday mornings.  God is Good and God knows what is best. 

POSADA (A Christmas festival originating in Latin America that dramatizes the search of Joseph and Mary for lodging.)

On December the 13th we are having POSADA event. 

So we and neighbors will go to 3 houses in the neighborhood and knock on their doors and ask if there is room available for us? (All the 3 owners of their houses will say no) The fourth house we show up will be the community house and the host will let us in. We will see 2 of our neighbors dress up as Mary and Joseph and plastic baby Jesus. (we reenacting the birth of the baby Jesus) 

We will have desserts and sing Christmas carols in Spanish afterward.  The dwellers from the past years, done that every year. Last year, they had over 40 neighbors showed up and walked with them as they knock on the doors. I am really looking forward to that. 

Gift Store 


We are having a gift store at the community house for kids to buy something for their parents on Dec. 14, 15, and 16 in the afternoon. We are purchasing many of these items, and will open a store for the kids to buy them at a reduced price or with service. We are asking for volunteers to help us out to help the kids wrap presents, make sweet letters from the kids to the parents, and help with the budget. Last week, we talked to the kids and been finding out what they want to give to their family if they could afford it. So we going shopping this week to get the stuff and have it at the store when the kids come. 


I ask that will you please pray that POSADA and Gift store event go well and bring this neighborhood closer together for Christmas and bring joys to their families. Also please pray for me, my housemates , Matthew, and volunteers as we try to get all of this ready to go before the deadline. 

Saturday night, Me and my housemates went to Matthew and Darcie's Christmas party. A lot of my church friends was there. We chatted, sang songs, told jokes. Good times!   About a month ago, we discovered that Matthew (our director) was in a music video few years ago with Five For Fighting on youtube.  So we been planning on what will be the best way to tell Matt that we seen it. So on that night at the party, Josh played his guitar and I played the bongos and rest of the housemates sang 100 years by Five For Fighting in front of Matt. It went great. Matt was laughing about us singing the whole song. The adults was asking about why we were singing that song to Matt and we told them. LOL

Just click on it and at 0:44, 0:59 you can see Matt on the tree. 

!00 years by Five for Fighting

I hope y'all are doing well!  God bless!

Thankful For Opportunities

2 Timothy 1:7
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.


Last Wednesday, I worked with the outreach team from PATH. The outreach team goes out in certain parts of LA and find homeless people. So at 8am I arrived at the office with my 2 housemates Josh and Robert which they been a part of outreach team since September. We found out that someone who is a huge supporter of PATH, brought few hundred jackets along with gloves to give away to the homeless.  Her name was Mrs. Getty, I recalled of hearing good things of what she have done for PATH and she was one of the 32 honorees we honored at PATH's gala event this past October.  So we went to a church called Blessing Sacrament where the jackets going to give away. The church gives away free breakfast 4 times a week to the homeless. On Wed, they are normally closed but on the 24th(Last Wednesday), they opened up to give away jackets and food. There was about 120 homeless or more lining up outside the fence waiting to get in. There is a school on the church property and the kids from the school helped out give away jackets as we (outreach team) helped the homeless find their way out of the church as they got their jacket, gloves, and food. Each homeless person that came out of the back door of the church, we greeted them.  Sometime we started a conversation with them. I seen mix emotions of the homeless people's faces as they walked out. Some excited, sad, or frustrated.  Some didn't want the jackets, so they just got the food. There was a friendly cop that was with us and he asked one homeless fella, why didn't you get a jacket? The homeless fella said you will find me too easy. Too big of a jacket!  Ha Ha.  Some were thrilled to get jackets. Some came in with shopping cart filled with trash bags full of stuff or a backpack with stuff tied on the ropes of the backpack. I was introduced to a homeless man who worked for a long long time. PATH did some research on some stuff for him awhile back and ended up getting some benefits for him cause he worked for so long. So this week he will have his own apartment and paid for because the benefits.  God is Good. 


Thursday morning, Thanksgiving day I went to PATH building of Hollywood to take the homeless to Pink Taco for Thanksgiving. When the homeless was lining up, I hand them a waiver paper to sign so we can take pics, etc at this event. If they didn't sign it, they couldn't get on the bus. Over 100 homeless people went to Pink Taco.  Pink Taco was a mexican restaurant.(Not a Taco Bell type)  This was the 2nd time Pink Taco did this for PATH.  It turned out to be great. While I was there, I took pics and talked to most of the homeless there. I listened to their stories. Some of them have said life is gonna get better soon. I know it, they said. They enjoyed the food. There was 2 guys was giving me a hard time for being for the Saints while they were for the Cowboys while we watched the game for little bit.  

They are enjoying the food and the conversation.

People lining up to get back on the bus to head home. 

About 3:30 I came home, and met up with the rest of my housemates and neighbors for thanksgiving. My housemate Alex threw a thanksgiving party for the neighbors from 1pm to whenever. Over 40 people came. I met new and old friends from the neighborhood. 

I made my nanny's peach cobbler for the event.  We had ton of food from church friends and neighbors beside the dishes we made on our own. My parents sent in few boxes of cans and my housemates's families wired in money so we could use it for thanksgiving event for the neighbors.  God is Awesome!


I am thankful for opportunities that God have given me here in LA. He taught me to see things in a new way.  Everybody take things for granted and I know I have. I have seen homeless lived out in the dirty streets where they face no protection from weather, lack of food, lack of friends, lack of shelter, lack of money or job. All they need is a shelter, a job, and food.  We need a cell phone but certain kind of cell phone or grape juice but certain kind of grape juice. We take things for granted in ridiculous ways. Its stupid. Some of you might argue at the fact that we worked hard to get good things and we deserve to have stuff that we can enjoy. Yes but think of this, do we need it to survive?  Are we gonna get to take it to Heaven with us? No.   Does this mean, I am going to get rid of my macbook or my truck or stop using it for awhile? No. But since mid September I started to not take things for granted seriously and I am thankful for God showing me this in a deeper way. In past mission trips where I have seen poverty for a week and felt the effects from their stories. But that tend to wear off after few weeks after the mission trip. Now I am seeing poverty every day and seeing the people out on the street asking for food or money.  I have  better understanding for poverty now and want to find a cure to fix this. Christmas is coming up, we all be at home catching up with families and friends and be warm while there are people who will be sleeping or staring at the traffic while on the street in cold weather. My stomach hurts when I think about that. I wish I can just clap my hands and all the sudden, everybody in the world have a home, food, and families. The reality part is that there gonna be people out in the street no matter what. 


I ask you please to pray for homeless that they find warmth, shelter, food, and love through the holiday season. Pray that the homeless shelter help them start fresh again in their lives. Pray for the people who are volunteering their time to help out at the food banks, homeless shelters, fundraising, and helping the homeless during their holiday free time. Pray for the people who gonna travel during the holiday to their families safely and for the ones staying at home. Pray for my friends who are in other countries doing mission work for a year. 


I am thankful for my parents who raised me in church and taught me that God is first before anybody or anything.  I am thankful for opportunities that God have given me to see his glory shine. I am thankful for my housemates, my director Matthew, Matt's family, my FPH church friends, my prayer partner Brandon and LA friends that I met this year. I am thankful that God still listens. I am thankful whoever made sweet potato pie with pecans for Thanksgiving and its was good.  I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  God bless!   

Listen to the People

Hello friends and family!  

Its been 2 weeks since I typed my last blog.  I have been praying for few days of what I should type on this blog. So here it is. 

On Oct. 28, Me and my housemate Robert was heading to West Hollywood to check out a free movie that I won through a contest. As we were getting there, Robert was telling me about his job with PATH. He is on a outreach team which go out in LA and search for homeless people. What they do is, offer a ride to hospital if they are hurt , offer advices,  give a bag of food, and let the homeless know that there is a shelter called PATH that willing to help them start a 2nd chance at life.  They do alot of thing to help the people. Robert brought up something I never thought about.  A lot of homeless have lost their self esteems or lack of courage to seek a job. Why?  What if you been out on the street for months or years, and people stare at you as they walk by or never talk to you  and just ignore you. You will feel hopeless and think that if I try to get a job, that boss will ignore me just like the people walk by me on the street.   So one of the things the outreach team do is meet the homeless and start a conversation with them. That will help their heart heal and become stronger and realize that not everybody is the same. The outreach team try to see the same homeless person few times every month so that person know that the outreach team haven't forgot about them. So the homeless will gain confidence  and make a effort to get a job. There is some homeless that are lazy, some who can't help that they are in this situation, and some who are trying but not aware of shelters like PATH who willin to help them out.  LA is a big city and its our job not only help the homeless but spread the word about us and what we offer to help the homeless a 2nd chance at life.   As we were getting close to the movie theater, we saw homeless man walked by at a stoplight in West Hollywood. Robert said a lot of homeless people come up to West Hollywood in the morning cause there is churches who give away coupons, gift cards, breakfast sandwiches for free every morning. Then after that, they go back to hollywood or downtown LA.     

A few weeks ago, there been 10 or 15 homeless people living the hills of Hollywood near the Hollywood Bowl.  There are houses on those hills.  There been complaints that the homeless is starting to build fire on the hill. There is trash forts that they build on the hills. Basically, the people with houses on the hills can't get fire insurance because of what the homeless is doing on the hills.   So the sheriff and his team was going to take down the homeless shelters down and force homeless to move or accept help from the PATH's outreach team.  So the outreach team was with sheriff and his team.  The sheriff  team took down shelters and 11 out of 15 homeless seek help from outreach team and they took 11 to PATH shelter and helped them get clean up.   Please check out this article about this homeless situation from my friend Joel who is a CEO of Path.  This will tied in with this story. Just copy and paste. 

The War Against Homeless Sweeps

http://www.povertyinsights.org/2010/11/01/the-war-against-homeless-sweeps/

 My housemates and I have changed the schedule around tutoring and recreation with neighborhood kids about 2 weeks ago.  Instead of all 6 of us being there on Tues., Wed., and Thurs. from 5 to 8.  We ended up doing where 2 of us will have our own afternoon to do tutoring and recreation with kids one day a week.  For example, Me & Robert in charge of Wed afternoon from 5-7:30,  Alex & Brady in charge of Thurs., etc.   My housemates like it that way, I don't care either way. I love being with the kids even if it not my afternoon to be with the kids.  My director told me back in May in the interview chat, that he wanted us to have our own time to rest and do what you like to do for fun because there will be a time where we will get frustrated or fill up with emotions of what we do every day helping the homeless.  I haven't reach that point and I hope I won't.  I love every minutes I have spent with the kids and with people in my office at PATH.  I enjoyed learning from them and hearing their stories.   

God is Amazing!

At PATH, I have finished up adding over 900 names or businesses that donated items/money to PATH into a software program called SAGE.  The program organize the names with addresses, phone #, email, etc.   Its help us and my bosses so when PATH do another project or fundraising event, we have that data where we just sent out emails or letters to the ones who have helped PATH in the past.  I also been working with my media design partner Paul, where we created a few logos for PATH's partners and I come up with ideas to make that logo pop out from colors, texture, sizes, pictures, fonts, 3-D or art.  Its been great learning new stuff from Paul and he have been teaching me how to work with a new program called Firework which design websites.  I normally used dreamweaver or basic HTML to make websites.  I am learning the trade and tools from this job.  Its have been a blessing! This past week, my housemate Brady who work in the same building as I do, his boss Andrew saw me the other day, and told me that he heard that I am the best of what I do in computer stuff. I laughed and said I don't know if I am the best, but I try my best.  He just smiled and said good, I talked to your boss Jeremy and he is okay that I can borrow you for now. So the next day  I had papers of signed names of homeless people who have used our program for showers, meals, phone calls, etc. As I was reading the names and list of things they used at PATH and I was typing at the same time.  There are some people that can't write. There was names that you couldn't even read. Andrew said just come up with best name that you think might fit in the names you can't read. So if you ever writing a letter or signing your name with info for something, write good, not horrible. Sometime someone will have to read all those names and type it into the computer. It will  make that person's eyes little easier to read as they type.  

Let me explain this Doors / Young Adult program require us to do for year.   

- Complete 32 hours a week with agency 

- Start a tutoring /recreation program in afternoons with neighborhood kids. 

- Read over 6 books related to christian stuff  over a year and teach of the 2 books out of 6 to the housemates.

-Be involve in a church every Sunday.

-Do community service with your housemates once a month in the neighborhood. 

I don't have the whole list what Doors require but here is some of the important ones above.

One of the cool things, my director Matthew has done is that we all have a prayer partner that we meet few times a month.  We had a dinner with few possible prayer partners to get to know them about a month ago. Few weeks after that, me and my housemates deicded that Matthew should make a decsion on who is best for who.   Matthew picked Brandon to be my partner and we connected.  He actullay go to Hollywood Pres. so I see him every Sunday. He is carpenter and does frame work and finshes on furniture  and stuff. He have worked for Extreme Home Makeover Edition for 2 years and traveled with them. We have a lot of stuff in common and we shared our testimony last Tuesday afternoon and it was awesome. His wife is from TN and a UT grad so finally somebody I can talk to about UT Vols. lol 

My director Matt had given us a month and half to search for a church. I have checked a few churches. LA Reality, Ecclesia , and Hollywood Pres. Church.  I have prayed and seek advice from my parents and my director Matt. I have decided to go Hollywood Pres. church.   About 2 weeks ago, I knew how the routine schedule was going to be week after week for me.  I have been praying and thinking about being a part of a younger youth group of middle or high school kids. I  had a chance to be in a position of a leader role with youth group at FPC of M'Boro for a year when I was in college. I loved it and enjoyed being with the kids.  I had that feeling in my heart that God wanted me to do that again. So I done few emails and conversations with 3 youth pastors at Hollywood Pres. and did a final meeting with them last Thursday. I will be a part of the youth group as a leadership role helping out the middle and high school kids on Sunday mornings and random events on Friday nights. My pastors want me to try for a month as a trial to be sure that I am not overwhelm as I do have responsibly with Doors program. I am very excited and so are my youth pastors. I have met few kids Sunday morning and started few conversation with what they like to do.   I ask you to pray for me and my communication that the kids will understand me. 

God is Good!

We had our Fall Festival at the community house to welcome families and kids in. We had games set up, paint faces, pose goofy behind a sign as a clown, give-away prizes, art drawings, and fill up plastic glove with popcorn. It went great. I printed 62 flyers out in the neighborhood and came back with 4 left in my hands.  We been planning for this for 2 weeks. It was successfully well done and prepared.  There was more new kids and families that came than the regulars. Which that was great.  Few kids bob for apples!

God is Awesome!

The entrance to the Fall Festival

She won a guitar. Oh yeah, that is my roommate Brady behind her as a banana boy. 

Almost every weekend, Me and my housemate Josh go to a park and play Ultimate Frisbee with friends that we met at the park and other places.  Its had been a blast meeting new people.  Last Saturday, we played for 3 hours.  About a hour before it was over, there was no more players in white t-shirt left to take our spot if we need to catch our breath. So we ran back and forth for hour with no sub. Lol  I had a blast.  Josh's feet hurts so bad, he was limping for the rest of the evening.  

                                            The park where we play Ultimate Frisbee. 

On Halloween night me and few of my housemates and friends went to West Hollywood to a free halloween festival. We saw a lot of crazy costumes. Over 150,000 people was there. The police closed down sunset blvd for few miles for this event.  It was fun but that was my one time experience for me and won't do it again.

                                              Here is us as somebody else for one night.