From Bridgetown Back To Redhill

A few days after our walk around Bridgetown, on the Cape Flats, we were back out doing Street Pastors in Redhill. Over the months, we have become more familiar with our town at night. It isn't the worst place to be, by any stretch of the imagination, but everytime we go out, I am struck by how many empty hurting people there are , and how they are seeking fulfillment in things which will never satisfy. Not so different from Bridgetown really, and everywhere across the world, people need Jesus to answer the questions in their lives.
Three people we met last Friday night have stuck in my mind. The first, a girl of 16 (K), who when we first saw her was curled up in a ball on the pavement, with a policewoman talking to her. It transpired she had broken up with her boyfriend, who as still around, and in between sobbing on the pavement, she became aggressive towards him and out herself at risk from him too. She wasn't particularly keen to talk to us, or the police, but eventually she was persuaded to go home in a friend's car. Second was a young man in his early 20's (D) who we talked to for about 45 minutes in McDonalds. He was intoxicated but over time, told his story of parental separation when he was 4, being a 'football' in the ensuing custody battle between his parents, and how his mother was recently going her second divorce after discovering her husband was having an affair. She had become suicidal and D had needed to lock up medicines at home, and felt he couldn't leave home, partly because of the risks she presented and partly because of the financial support he could give to her by staying there.
Finally was R, who was waiting for a cab after being at the nightclub. He showed us his bandaged up arm , from where he had cut his wrists the night before, He had also taken an overdose after feeling overwhelmed by financial difficulties.

None of these stories are necessarily remarkable in themselves, but they are the 'bread and butter' of life as a Street Pastor on a Friday and Saturday night in our town, and I suspect other towns and cities across the country. What is always amazing to me is that there are so many people wanting to talk, share something of their lives, and perhaps don't have much other opportunity to do so.
I pray that we can continue to be the eyes, ears, voice , hands and feet of Jesus to those we meet.