Monica Part 3

Monica came to downtown Los Angeles to give her baby away, simply because she couldn’t afford to buy food and take care of him. I wish I could tell you the story got better, more hopeful but it didn't.

As Monica and I talked, she grabbed me by the shoulders and she said, "Lady, Lady, you got to help me! My boy’s gonna come up dead lady, he’s in a gang- the blood- he carries a twenty-two and he’s only eleven. Do you understand me, lady? My baby’s gonna come up dead because boys that carry guns… come up dead."

I was sitting behind the mission in the alley listening to this mother, and I thought my heart would break.

I had heard that she wanted to give her two year old away but now she tells me about another child.

I’ve been so honored to spend my life serving the poor here on Skid Row and around the world, but I have to be honest; I’ve seldom been so deeply moved. I tried to understand, but of course, I really couldn’t understand the desperation of this mother.

Everything in her life was in shambles. She was sick, destitute, ready to give her baby away and now I hear that her eleven year old boy is running with the guns.

Life here on the streets of Skid Row is a far cry from the suburbs. It’s a far cry from the civility of polite society. Here on these streets there is depravation, alcohol, drugs, violence, weapons, anger, abuse of all kinds and there is only one answer that is salvation and transformation through the blood of Jesus Christ; God’s only son.

I need your help today to share Jesus the Bread of life for the soul and to share good food with hungry people. Visit us at: fjm.org.

Blessings,

Willie L. Jordan (Mrs. Fred Jordan)