Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Loved by God - 2023-07-16

July 23, 2023

Some of the young, the wealthy, and the homeless ventured outdoors last week. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A weather advisory (excessive heat) kept most people indoors. Also, people were not as cheerful as typical, except perhaps for those who had just soaked themselves in the walk-through fountain.

A “Justin” update (and thank you again for your prayers). Actually, no sign of either “Justin” or the man who tried to carry on Justin’s unholy outbursts last time. However, an unusually large number of well-dressed people (10-15 of them) pretended to neither see nor hear us as they walked past. Yet, even a pretended response is still a response, right? Could they be connected to “Justin”? Did God somehow discourage “Justin” and his cronies from disrupting and disturbing our visitors? Change is motion, and may that motion be towards Our Savior Jesus Christ!

A mother with four children (perhaps 12 years old, down to 4) stopped when they found out the Rosaries were free. They were not Christian, said the mom. So, as well as encouraging her to use the Mysteries to get to know Jesus, we also gave her a copy of the one-page kerygma. They each chose a Rosary.

A passing family declined a Rosary but later, as they passed going the other way, they let the children select a Rosary. The parents were nice but noncommittal and did not choose Rosaries for themselves. May the beads of the Rosaries be like seeds of God’s love that unexpectedly sprout to become Faith in the hearts of this family.

A homeless man on a bicycle steered toward us to say he had lost his Rosary. We offered him another and, though reluctant to take a Rosary pamphlet, he ended up accepting one of those, too. Another homeless man, carrying some bags, wanted a Rosary because he liked to give them to people he thought needed them.

A third homeless-looking man stopped for a Rosary. He was thin, deeply tanned, and using a wheelchair. He named his “favorite Catholic” and asked if we knew who he was. When we said no, he abruptly left, without taking a Rosary. (As he went, e. Lucy felt like we had just “dodged a bullet”.) E. Chuck then looked up the name our visitor had mentioned and found it was a late writer who had been critical of the Catholic Church.

[Speaking of bullets, there was more fear again this week on the part of one of the evangelists. When a lone police officer rode by on a bicycle, she felt unexpectedly reassured.]

A couple of girls in their early teens were playing in the fountain and then came over for a Rosary, saying their mother had said it was okay. One girl said she was attending church. A few minutes later, one of them brought two more teens for Rosaries. A few minutes after that, they brought a mother with a toddler, who each also accepted a Rosary. May God bless that young evangelist! And may her family be united in devotion to Christ.

Another homeless-looking man stopped. He was somewhat heavyset, with shoulder-length thinning hair. He had stopped once before, a couple of months back. As he came up, he announced that God had told him to come get a Rosary. E. Lucy tried to encourage him to use the Rosary to grow closer to Jesus Christ, but he would have none of it. God speaks to him directly, he said, and gives him messages. He mentioned several of these, but they were all self-affirming modern platitudes. E. Lucy carefully didn’t agree with him and wished him well. At that, he left. May God heal all homeless people, those with mental problems, addictions and tragic circumstances, that they may each accept the tender mercies of God.

An economically challenged couple declined our offer of a Rosary on their way to the fountain. Later, though, the now dripping-wet pair stopped when the woman noticed a chain Rosary on the table. She claimed what she called “a metal one”, and listened to our brief exhortation to pray it daily. The man then stepped forward and also claimed a Rosary. She said it was then 106° F (41° C) outside.

God had mercy on us and gave us a steady breeze throughout the session. Altogether, we gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

God still calls all hearts to Himself. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).