Made a new friend Today

So, today started out just like most other days at The Lot Project. Matt and I went to workout, and then came home to get the day started. I had to make my daily trip to Staples to make some copies. Little did I know what I would find. A guy was hitchin a ride, and I rolled down my window to see where he was going. He said that he just needed a ride downtown. So, he got in my car, and we went to Staples. I called one of our board members that invited us to lunch. Chris and I headed to lunch, and you could tell he was very uncomfortable. You could tell he just wanted to leave, but he stayed. We ended up to taking him to our building to get some clothes because everything he had was stolen at the Greyhound. He wasn't very talkative, but was very appreciative. I dropped him off at Pappa T's here in town, and he is supposed to come back to the building tonight to try and get him a place to stay tonight. Please pray for Chris, because it appeared that he was commin off of something, and that he will come back tongith!

God Bless,

Andy

Meet Little Rashad!

I have told a couple of stories over the last couple months about what it is like at my apartments. Well, there have been some new developments that I really don't know how to go into exactly. A few weeks ago we had 3 separate armed robberies right outside my apartment. I don't say this to scare anyone or make where I live sound worse than it truly is. It all centers around drugs, and people coming into buy drugs. I will tell you that I have been home every time that these robberies have taken place, and on 2 occasions have had the windows open. However, I never heard a thing! No yelling, screaming, or police! How this has all happened... I have no idea! I believe that the Good Lord was protecting both Matt and I.

But now on to the good news of the story! Two new lives have been brought into this world in the last 24 hours that I will have the privilege of being involved with! My good friend Jason and his wife Amber, who I work with at The Lot Project, had a little baby boy named Oliver weighing 8 lbs and 13 oz. Both mom and baby are doing well.

The second baby born is the one I have pictured. His name is Rashad and he weighed in at just over 5 lbs. I met Rashad's parents because they are my neighbors. Over the last couple of months I have been working on these parents trying to introduce them to the Lord. Not in a Bible beating - your a sinner type of way, but in I will show you Jesus loves you by my actions sort of way. Rashad's father and I used to hang out a lot! Chillin outside on the porch talking, but a couple of weeks ago I got a text saying that he (Rashad's father) had been arrested. I immediately went over to talk with Rashad's mother and try to find out what was going on. The stories are always confusing, but he had been picked up on one of the armed robbery charges. Rashad's mother and I went to go visit him in jail, but the first time we were to late and the second time they wouldn't let me in because I wasn't on the list. However, I had put some money in his account, and told her to tell him that I loved him, wasn't mad at him, and wanted to be put on the list.

Rashad's father got out on bail last night, and is now at the hospital with his precious baby boy. It was awesome to go and spend sometime with them at the hospital. I made fun of Rashad's dad because he wasn't very good at changing diaper's, and was able to hold little Rashad for about 45 minutes. The innocence and vulnerability overwhelms me as I write this. The little (and I mean little) boy will rely on his parents for everything. I was able to talk to him briefly about the charges, and he told me he didn't do it. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. What is really cool is that Jason (who I work with) and Rashad's father are only 7 doors apart! I don't believe that is a coincidence... do you? I ask that you continue to join me in prayer as we attempt to show this family the Love of Jesus, because as court hearings and the weight of being a new parent goes forth, I can guarantee that this is going to be a trial.

According to His plan~

Andy

Wrong Address!

Hey Everyone,

I was just informed that I had switched a couple of numbers around on my September News Letter. The address that support should be sent to is as follows:

Andy Gibson
P.O. Box 4181
Anderson, SC 29622

Sorry for the inconvenience!


Andy

Zo's 1st Birthday!

I have lived in Anderson for a little over 7 weeks, and it has flown by. There were some definite walls up, and it has been difficult to build the relationships that are needed to really help anyone who lives near me. It started out by just saying hi to everyone when I drove into our complex. Then it moved to spending more time outside shooting hoops, and taking everyone a bottle of water. Now it would not be uncommon for me to go outside and just hang out with the boys. It has been really amazing to see the walls that were originally there being broken down!

Last week one of the guys was talking about his little boy Zo, who I get to play with on occasion. He came up to me and told me it was his 1st birthday. I asked him if they were going to have a party, and he said no because they didn't have the money. So, I was able to go to the building and get a couple of toys, and a little teddy bear. When I saw his dad the next day, I jumped out of the car to give him the things for his son's birthday. It was awesome to see the genuinely thankful look on his face! I could tell it meant a lot! So, than a few days later he came up and invited me to his little boys party! I couldn't believe that the guy that they used to think I was an undercover cop, or that I was there to kick them out of their apartment, but now I am actually being invited to a party! I picked up some pop and chips with another guy and his girlfriend from my apartment complex and went to the park. It was fun to sit, talk, and eat birthday cake. Zo got it all over himself, and it was a privilege to be there! I will continue to ask you to pray for favor in these eyes of those in my neighborhood, and that walls will continue to be torn down!

According to His plan!

What it is all about!

Every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. we have what is called The Feeding. The Feeding is a time where anyone who is in need can come and get free food, free clothes, and a warm heart. On average we are giving away about 100 meals, numerous articles of clothing, and are able to pray with people before they leave.

Sometimes as one of the "leaders" you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of making sure that volunteers are in the right places, that we have enough food, and that everything is organized. Last night was no different until the end of the night when one family was there still finding things that they needed. It was a single mom named Kim and her two kids. Kim told me that she had heard about what was going on and that she had tried to make it on several occasion, but was never able to. She also said "I'm a single mom, and it is hard!" You could see the pain in her eyes, and I felt lead to say a pray for her! After the prayer she had tears running down her face, not because of anything that I did, but because of God working through me. The two volunteers that were left were able to help Kim get all of her new things, mostly clothes for her little boy pictured in the top left, to her van. As they were getting ready to leave one of the volunteers asked if she needed a jacket, and she said yes. He proceeded to take off the jacket that he was wearing and give it to her.

Even this morning as I am writing this I can not help but think isn't this what it is all about? I am blessed to be apart of such a tremendous move of God, it is through him that we get our strength, drive and passion! Please keep us in your prayers as we try to organize and move forward in the name of Jesus!

My First Clemson Game

This last weekend Jason (The Lot Project VP) took his son, Ethan, Matt (my roommate and Lot Project Founder), and I to a Clemson Tigers football game at Death Valley. It was Ethan's 7th birthday, and he wanted a day out with the boys! We loaded up about noon, and took off for the madness that is Clemson football. We ate out in downtown Clemson, and then went and enjoyed the tailgate parties, corn hole, and conversation. The game was awesome on the first play Clemson's Heisman Trophy Candidate, C.J. Spiller, ran back the kick off for a touch down, and the rest of the game was history. The crowd started to thin out after half-time because of the rain, but we toughed it out and were soaking wet by the end of the game! It was an awesome day to celebrate the life of an amazing kid, but also to relax away from the pressures and stress of starting a new ministry.

A Day At Our Apartments!

I don't have any new pictures to share with you all this week, because I am thinking at this time it wouldn't be a very good idea. Being here for only 2 weeks there appears to still be some racial tension. You see there are only 4 white people in our apartment complex. Matt, my roommate, and I are known as "The Christians."

One of the guys, Tae, that Matt and Jason have been working with for the last 6 months or so is going to stay with us for a few days because he doesn't have anywhere to live at the moment. So, he was out shooting some hoops with the guys that are always outside hanging out and dealing in our complex. I went out for a few minutes, and then headed back in to throw some things away, then back out to hang. I had to leave for a little while to get some things accomplished for The Lot Project, and when I came back we played some basketball. I was really thirsty so I came inside and got everyone a water, and a glass of milk for one of their girl friends. The more I hang outside with these guys the more I realize how much traffic is in and out of our complex, and how much is really going on here. They always put there joints out when we come outside, and apologize for their language.

It wasn't until after we came back inside that, Tae, told me that when I left one of the guys had put his .357 handgun in the bushes. He than proceeded to ask if we were cool? Tae was able to tell them that we were, and able to give us a little street credit. A couple of the guys are really cool with us, and we are able to talk too, but there is obviously a total lack of trust with the rest of them. It can be frustrating at times when they don't respond the way you would like them to, just because of the color of my skin. However, the more I think about it and wrestle with this idea the more I can't say that I blame them.

2 Corinthians 3:9-12 says "If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that bring righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison to the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. "

It is going to take some time to build those relationships, but please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray that we continue to be very bold for Christ.

My First Week!

I obviously made it safe and sound to Anderson, South Carolina! I am all moved in, and living in an apartment complex in one of the nicer area's of Anderson. However, this specific complex is fairly rough. There are atleast 3 drug dealers in our complex, and a one is said to be one of the largest in Anderson. When pulling into our complex it by no means is a stretch of the imagination for you to smell an all to familiar aroma.

It has been an amazing first week, and specifically last night. We do have a building and are trying to utilize it as best we can until we get the funding to build and operate the emergency shelter. On Tuesday's from 4 p.m-6 p.m. we give away food and clothes to anyone in need. It is also a way that we can provide a place for those in the church to volunteer and get involved in the community. Last night we were able to give away 110 sandwiches, bags of chips, and water bottles. We also able to give away 15 pairs of shoes, 74 articles of clothing, and a number of kitchen items! We had 44 volunteers last night, and a majority of our volunteers were jr./sr high schoolers that attend New Spring Church. As the word of what The Lot Project has spread more, and more people are wanting to get involved. The crazy part is that The Lot Feeding has only taken place for 4 weeks now!

Before I came to Anderson, I knew that God had something planned, but I had no clue what I was getting myself into. Right before I left I read Ephesians 2:8-10, which says " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I am beginning to realize that He has so much planned for us to do in this community, and it is so much bigger than us! Please pray for us as we continue to go into the streets and reach those in need!

-God Bless

Andy