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Crystal - St. Raphael

Country: United States
State or province: Minnesota

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Sharon Hedman
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Soggy day encounters 7/5/25

July 8, 2025

Our Drive Thru Prayer team consisting of regulars Lisa, John, Pete, Phil & Sharon were joined by Phil's friend, Jesus.

We had barely set up when we had our first vehicle pull up. B was recently evicted and is now homeless.  He spends his nights in a shelter.  He needs are many:   had been incarcerated (not sure when), medical issues, attending a community college, and seeking justice regarding property taken from while in prison.  He has a good attitude and if blessed with a little money, he buys items to hand out to other homeless people as he is fortunate to have a mother who can help him.  He is trying start a ministry to help other who have been incarcerated.  Phil took his email address to pass onto a man in our parish who does prison ministry.  We gave him a Miraculous Medal and a Guardian Angel Medal along with information regarding social services available in our area as the shelter he is using is in a different part of our metro area.  During our long (perhaps 30 minute) conversation with him, we had heavy drizzle and Pete held an umbrella so we could continue to minister to B.

Next we had two children bike by, followed by their mother and another child on foot.  The mother B wanted us to pray that she knows how God moves in their lives and wants them to respond.  Sharon gave each of them a Holy Spirit medal on a chain to help them gain assistance in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  B has occasionally attended St Raphael as they live near by and has a friend D who is a lector at our parish.

Next we had three Native American siblings, a sister L and two brothers D and L, drive up. The brothers came out their car while L who drove stayed in.  One of the brothers said he believes they were meant to talk to us as they saw a hawk that seemed to be directing them drive up.  They wanted prayers for health positivity for their mother who has health issues.  They stated they were raised Episcopalian and one brother proudly showed his cross tatoo.  Sharon gave them a St Raphael medal and prayer card for their mother explaining St Raphael is an angel found in the book of Tobit that is the Catholic Bible and may not be in the Bible they use.  She further explained that St Raphael is considered the angel of healing.  Sharon gave each of the siblings a Guardian Angel medal on a chain.  In appreciation for the medals and prayers for their mother, the brother that had talked the most pulled a drum out the vehicle and sang a song he had written in their native language (once he referred to them as Objibwe and once as Lakota.  Sharon's note: they may belong to the Objibwe tribe that uses the Lakota language.)

Lastly we had D who had been speaking with Jesus.  D wants to be a good father to his three teens and be a light to others.

After ending our session by praying for the people we encountered, we also prayed for the intentions of Lisa and Jesus.  Despite off and on heavy drizzle, we were able to minister to people on this soggy day.  God is good.

 

Postscript: The contact at our parish who does prison ministry was able to find housing for B at a site that helps people released from prison.  How fortunate Phil remembered this parishioner who does prison ministry.