Jesus was homeless

Strange thing. I was pondering this very thing today as I began to think of many people of whom I know and have met out in the streets this past year. 2 people in particular because I see them almost daily and really spend what I can in helping them in tangible ways...I believe in spite of what little I can provide, that praying for them is the best thing I can do because Gods resources are unlimited...Believe me, my Prayers hold no magic power and often when praying, especially for myself, I feel like they are hitting the ceiling and going no place...Still, I know that Gods grace is sufficient and unlimited....I am troubled because today as I was going home, I found one of them sleeping outside of a church on a hard concrete floor...No kidding, I thought I was going to cry...I know, men don't cry. Well I do. I can't help it. It is who I am. Still Jesus had no place to lay his head and makes mention that there will always be poor people among us...He also says that it will be more difficult for A rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven, than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle....I wish I could do more..

Pentax K-7 with Tamron 28-300MM lens.

A buck is a buck

As I was walking the Venice boardwalk, I thought it cool that this young lady was able and above all, willing to help this fellow who was down on his luck. She handed him a buck, I handed him a buck and you know what. It would be enough to buy something to eat. 8-)

K20D, Tokina 20-35F/2.8

A buck is no longer a buck

As I took a light detour on my lunch hour as I picking up some parts, I passed the fashion district. I could not pass up the temptation so I got off to shoot a few pictures. Stuff everyplace you look around here, but this store caught my attention...Everything $1:00...So I went in only to find out that indeed everything ''starts'' at $1:00....Hmmm, misleading?

K20D, Tokina 20-35f/2.8

My picture of the day

I am amazed at how often when walking around, people ask me to take their pictures. :)
Here is my favorite from today. Cute couple.

Pentax K20D with Tokina 20-35F/2.8

Meet Regina

Hi Folks, Met Regina today. Nice gal, nice smile. Making the most of being out on the street. She said take my picture, take my picture...I said, sure but only if you let me buy you some lunch...Which she gladly accepted....


K20D, Tokina 20-35F/2.8

Some new pals

A couple of new friends I had the privilege of meeting.. I was able to share a meal with them. Well not really, they ate, I and just talked and mostly listened to them. More and more I am amazed at how many folks have some amazing stories to tell. Some are happier simply to be free out in the street doing nothing, but seem to be happier than me. Still there are others who want to belong. I do not remember these folks name, but I do have them written down in my book. My mind has not been very sharp of late. What struck me about these two, was one was very happy and one was very angry. When I approached the one that was very angry had his guard down, while the guy who was very happy had his guard up until he felt a peace with me...The change in mood was surprising to me, because usually I know what to expect, but here it was different. STILL, we had a wonderful time.

K-7 with Tamron 17-35F/2.8-4.0

Some Favorites of mine

Invisable

Do you ever feel like your drowning? Do you ever feel invisible? Do you ever feel like you have a target on your back? Do you ever wish this life would simply end? Do you ever have one of those days? I have had one of those weeks. In the past 2 days alone, I had the left front brake on my truck break in pieces...The brake pad broke away causing me to loose my brakes for a moment while I pumped them to get the metal on metal. I am so lucky that I did not run over those people crossing the street because they where not there. Had there been people there as is usual, I would have run them over...After gaining my composer, I limped back home grinding away...Well I get to work and start to repair my brakes when my nice barley used Snap On floor Jack collapses...Again I was lucky, I was not on under the truck at the time or it would have killed me or atleast done some massive damage to me...Perhaps that was bad luck not to be under it...I will need to ponder that. So I get another jack and finish the job. Great I have brakes again, but notice my radiator is leaking....''sigh''..It had been leaking but it seemed to have cured itself and then it started all over again only worse....So I say fine....Well, I go to do a paypal transaction only to discover someone had been trying to hack into it and paypal clamped down on it...So I did not loose any money but now my account is on hold until they can fix it...Then I discover that someone was also trying to get into my checking account, likely tied together...I got lucky there too...I don't know...Too much drama. Still. there is always hope...

The greatest of these is love

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Passing through.

What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

k20d, Sigma 24F/2.8

Life is but a blur

Does Life ever seem like a blur to you? Foggy? Ghostly?

Walking Broadway

Waiting

Meet Dean and Gina

Hi folks...I had the honor of meeting both Dean and Gina today. Dean is originally from Virgina and is visiting California and is now going to be headed to Canada and then Alaska...He had some wonderful stories to tell as well...Gina has now been out of Rehab and had committed her life to Christ and is doing well...All the people in this homeless community that I was in where very surprised and excited for her to be doing so well...Here she is with a care package....

Dean is also an avid reader. A few people asked me if I had any Bibles and I was disappointed in that I had not even one...

Images made with my Canon G10

Sean and Sammy

Hi folks...I met Sean and Sammy today in Old Town Pasadena. In a strange twist, Sammy was from Venice and she followed Sean to OT PAS...Strange, because I am in Venice allot...These folks where a lovely couple...

I also met a street performer there as well, but shame on me, I did not get his name..I will have to fix that....None the less, I did tell him he would be up :)..We spoke for a few minutes and I must say, He was a very nice fellow...



Pentax K20D with Sigma 24mm F/2.8 and Tamron 28-75F/2,8

Chips and carts

Hi folks and thanks for reading. Today, I will share a few things I have learned and a small story.
As I was making some rounds last week, I came across a few of my friends that I run into from time to time. Linda, Dale and Robert. (These are some homeless that folks) Anyway, I really enjoy my conversation with many of these folks, but these three in particular are funny, loving, caring and recognize that these blessings truly are from God...(Certainly not from me as it is not in my nature to do this) As we talked they where telling me how Jesus takes care of them and how they look out for one another. What I see there is a ''real'' family...with out a place to live..They watch over each others belongings and share food and many items...These folks live in a park that is fairly open so they can see when strangers are coming. It is an amazing community....

Last week as I was giving them some more care packages, Dale offered me these 4 chips (I ate 2 of them) from a fresh bag...In his own words...

''Javier, I wish I had more to offer you, but when your hungry, these are more valuable than gold''

...I was floored...I mean, really floored...I then thought of all the times I was offered things, but never took them. I have been offered a used pen, a very used hat, an old coat and up until the chips, I have kindly declined...BIG MISTAKE..I came to learn from Linda that when offered something out in the street, it is respectful to take it as it shows a friendship that goes both ways..Not to accept it, is disrespectful...I did not know this and felt bad, but now I know..and I understand...Another thing I learned was about carts. The more carts you have that are full of stuff, the wealthier on the street you are...Reminds me of how back in the bible days, you where known for wealth by your herds....Lastly..I asked Linda why is it that most women make themselves look like men...Her answer shook me...''So that other men will leave them alone''...(I know I have some kids reading this, so I will let the parents explain if they see fit)

So I leave you now with a picture of Linda, Dale and Robert...





Canon G9

Home sweet home, or is it?

Now this is a mystery to me. I saw this lady with what looked like all of her possessions. She was ok dressed, seemed to have it somewhat together, but when I tried to speak with her, she was like...In denial...From what little I gathered, she was evicted...Then I look at her things and she has a little wall plaque that reads...home sweat home...

Canon AE-1 with FD28f/2.8 and Ilford XP-2 underexposed.

Real people

Hi folks. Thanks for reading. I am also encouraged by the private messages and personal emails I have been getting...Keep em coming as they are huge to me...What we have here is a prayer list..Yes, I try and keep track of the people I meet. Many do not give me their names so I don't write them down. Still, this is about 2/3rds of them for the past two weeks. I have seen prayer work most of my life..Sure many people think I am nutz and maybe a religious freak and that's fine...I am who I am...None the less, these are real people, with real problems and often times, Only GOD can fix them...Pray for these folks as you are lead. :)

Pentax K-7 with Tamron 17-35F/2.8-4.0

Meet Jamie

Hi folks...I had the privilege of meeting Jamie today.. Met her on a couple of occasions and I was very happy to see her smile this evening. Her smile made my day as she blessed both my Wife and me with it today... I told her I would post up her picture today as she is a pretty girl and we would be praying for her and her friends as well...This image was made in Old Town Pasadena and I figured she could check it out in the apple store that has free computer / internet there...So Jamie, if you happen to see this, I would love to hear from you. May God take care of you...

Pentax K20D with DA*50-135F/2.8 and Tamron 28-75F/2.8

Celebrating Sukkot

I will tell you. Orthodox Jews are among some of the nicest people I have ever met..Everytime I run into them, we end having some great conversations..Short, but good....Here is this family celebrating Sukkot May God bless them.

Pentax K20D with Tamron 17-35F/2.8-4.0 lens

What is the Torah?

Hi Folks, Thanks for reading...I love this image with the little boy holding the Torah..This past week many Jews celebrated ''Sukkot'' ...It was nice to see manu Orthodox Jewish familys out with out the fear of being bombed.

Canon AE-1 with FD28F/2.8 and Fuji 400-xtra film

Streets have no favorites

Hi folks..Thanks for reading...Yesterday while walking around the downtown L.A. area, I sat on an empty bench and just looked around...It dawned on me that the streets have no favorites in whom they take. I have seen hispanic folks, black folks, white folks, asian folks and so forth all taken in by the street...The street is the least racist of all...it plays no favorites...

Pentax K20D with Tamron 17-35F/2.8-4.0

Spilled blood

Hi folks...Well, today I had a little bit of a different encounter...I met Leticia today and she spoke only Spanish..I put her in her late 40's early 50's... Good thing I am fluent in the Spanish language.. Anyway, as I saw her walking down the street, I pulled over to see if I could help her noticing she was a bloody mess (to my UK friends, literally blood) After calming her down, I proceeded to clean up her face and hands and gave her some food, apple juice and a tooth brush and paste...I always carry anti bacteria clean wipes...She said she fell down, but I know she got beat down...I was really mad..In truth, had I seen it happening, I would have given the fellow a beat down or got one in return for trying to help..I am not one to sit back and do nothing...Men who hit women are cowards....Anyway as we spoke, turns out she lives in ELA, but I am not sure..She did have a bus pass though and she said she was not homeless, but again, I don't know....Anyway there was another elderly couple there who proceeded to help her as well and get on her way...

Photo taken by my blackberry phone.

A new friend

Hi folks..Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Greg. Trully it was a blessing from God as I was feeling a bit down. Having just finished walking the park above the Santa Monica peir, I could not help but notice how many homeless, hungry people I saw their...I had made up my mind to add this area to my list of places to take care packages to. Still I felt ''alone'', very alone and hence I was feeling depressed...Well, on my way out, I struck up a conversation with Greg (pictured above) and as we talked and talked like what seemed for hours was infact only a few minutes..Still in that short time I discovered that he too goes out via an organization to take care of folks who are down on their luck. He is out of New Zealand, but his work is in the U.K...I am hoping he chimes in and gives more details of what he does...But what really got me was his generosity. He said I want to help and handed me $10.00 bucks..At first I did not not want to take it, but he insisted I do...So I took it knowing full well that God will bless him for it...As for the $10.00, he just purchased 10 tooth brushes and tooth paste that I will be handing out this coming weekend...I am amazed at how much tooth brushes and tooth paste are appreciated...He just blessed 10 more folks...
Thank you Greg, for blessing me.. :)

Pentax K20D with Tamron 17-35F/2.8-4.0

Video's, some of my favs

Hi folks...I spend very little time on you tube, but these videos are some I have seen a few times as I enjoy street photography

Sandra Roa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOG12sZmOxI

I really like Bruce Gildens work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SpBLUkquDk


I also like Garry Winogran's steet stuff as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu4RaFXt6JI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl4f-QFCUek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zk1nkZ3-kE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitfGxc6vbw

Meet Anton, Steve and Sunshine

Hi folks...Meet Anton on the left, Steve in the middle and Sunshine on the right..On the floor are a couple of the care packages I handed out..It was great. As soon as they opened them up Sunshine and Anton both brushed their teeth, then and there..It continues to amaze me how much the tooth brushes and tooth paste is appreciated....

Now get this.. As I was handing out the last of my 12 packages, I had another fellow come by and ask me for one. I was crushed as I had no more...and then came another and another...Soon there where 4 people ''empty handed'', but then I saw an act of Love that will remain with me for ever....Sunshine said, ''hey no problem''..She took the three care packages I left along with the three that where left by the family that left three before me (see story below) and divided it all evenly and they all where able to eat a great meal.....Keep in mind..In the streets, people are fending for themselves....So as people where eating, I went back to my truck to see what else I can put together..The only thing I had where 4 boxes of serial bars that I had bought the day before at Target on clearance for 89 cents a box..They contained 8 bars each for a total of 32 bars...So I went back and to Anton, Steve and Sunshine and handed them the bars...Well, Sunshine took them and proceeded to hand them out to 32 different people....Wow, was I amazed...''AGAIN''....Later on as I ran into them again, Sunshine says to me...Thanks for blessing us and remain nice....The truth is, they bless me....

Pentax K-7 and Tamron 18-250mm lens

Meet Sunshine :)

Hi folks...Thanks for reading...I will tell ya...This past Friday as I was making my rounds to pass out my care packages, I saw something that blessed my heart beyond words...As I got to this group of folks, I saw ''sunshine'' reading this bag out loud to Anton and Steve (Steve I knew)...Turns out that these care packages where given to these folks by a very cute family of mama, papa and two sweet little girls..They hand wrote the notes on each bag....I mean how cool is that....But here is the thing...There was a sandwich and a juice inside the care package...It is because of that gift of food that the words on these bags meant something to these folks...Faith with out works is dead!!!

Pentax K-7 and Tamron 18-250

Care packs

Hi Folks...Well, I thought I was done blogging about these care packages. I mentioned before that while I have been doing it for quite a while, it was not something I spoke about...The reason I did that day was to bring awareness to a growing problem...Well, I must say that the amount of ''e-mail'' and private messages I have received regarding these packages, has prompted me to write some more on this.....Here is a part of one of the many conversations I have had regarding this...Again, I share this in the hopes that even more people will step up.....for those who would like to meet some of the actual folks I have met in the streets, browse the archives...
Now on to the conversation.. 8-)

Hi, Sorry for the unsolicited message, but your kindness has struck a serious chord.
I've had a few people mention that they would like my images on their wall and willing to pay for it, so I'm thinking that I could save the 'profits' from this to buy care packs (as I take photos for the joy of it, not for money).I'm just wondering what the 'best' care packs contain?
After reading your blog, I've gathered some ideas like toothbrushes, food and socks. What else would you recommend? Thanks in advance for any help!

Here is my response..
I will try and keep this brief. I have received a few messages regarding this very question and so it brings me much joy. Every single person matters TO God and so they should matter to us as well...First, I feel I should express my beliefs. I am a Christian first and foremost. But when I am out in the streets giving out these care packages, I have yet to preach to anyone. Sure this could change, but that is not my intention..The reason I don't preach to these folks is because they don't need another sermon. There are plenty of people who do that and hand out tracks, but do nothing for the person that will help them now. So all that preaching and handing out of tracks comes out more hypocritical to them...They need food, clothing, hygienic things and respect...I have met a few people who are not Christians doing the very same things in handing out stuff that is tangible and I rejoice with them in doing that...If we remember that it is about the less fortunate and not about us, then it will work....

Ok, now to the packages. They are always different because it depends on what I can afford to buy and specials and things. I am always looking for sales, coupons etc. But for food, I use easy open canned foods, I try and provide Iron/ protein, sugars, fiber, etc..A balanced meal.. ''Soft foods'' are most important because many do not have teeth or very soft teeth. Tooth brushes and tooth paste are always cherished even by those with no teeth, because they can still brush their tongues. For the ladies, I provide toilet paper and GIRLY things of that nature. Socks and scarfs are huge for them as well. Chapstick is a welcome sight... After a while, they will tell you what they need.
It is usually very small..Flash lights are great as well..


I have found that trying to go the same places over and over again will bring you street cred and get you closer to the people. I have three areas that I do regularly, plus I try and have a few care packages ready at all times for that emergency that comes up...

When I first did this, it was with a group of friends from church It was in October of 2000. We made 250 Sandwiches and put meals together...We went out to skid row to hand them out and at first, we could not find anyone to give them to..As soon as we gave out the first, many started to come and then many more after that. In 15 minutes after that first one, all the food was gone..Whats more, it got crazy because there was more than twice as many people who did not get anything and pushing and shoving ensued along with other ugly things...Still, it was a good feeling....All we could do is pack up and get out quickly...

So now I do it with my Son mostly. My wife and youngest daughter help put the care packages together and we go out on shoots and hand out our little care packages. What we do is this...We prepare 12 of them...that is it. I started out with 5 per trip and moved up to 12 where I am staying. Why 12? No reason other than that is what I can carry with me as I walk...It is also more quality than quantity. I provide enough calories for 2 days, though for most it would be one days worth...or less.

I also look for ''individuals'' or they find me. Most often they find me...I always ask them their name and I write it in a journal so that in my own private time, I can pray for them. I never hand out my packages in a crowd or problems will come. one on one is good for me...and I get a chance to get to know them...

So my advice would be to start out with even one package..One package would make a huge difference for one person who is made up of flesh and bones..One package will change that persons situation if even but for a moment...The most common thing I hear, is...''Wow..somebody loves me''...The first time I heard that, I was crying...But that is what I hear from some of my regulars...
Here are two pictures of the past two weeks care packages...I will be writing more on my blog in the next day or two..
Blessings to you my friend,
javier

I will also add that I never ''ever'' go out with out a time of prayer between me and God first. I know to many of my readers this is strange, but to me. it is my life's blood...

Images above are made with my Canon G9

The empty bench

For as often as I have been to Venice, this is the first time I have seen this bench empty. This bench is so Venice in looking at it. I sat on it for a little while and went on my way.

K-7 with Tammy 17-35F/2.8-4.0

Light a candle

I remember the day I took this. There was a lady lighting a candle along with a prayer...Not sure why, but i really like the picture...