As I was driving on the on ramp to highway 10, I looked to my right and saw the scene above.  Some people had set up a shelter and where living in the woods.  These people were right off the highway.  It was 35 degrees outside and it was afternoon, so nights were colder.  I stopped to see if anyone was "home" and talked with a woman who was about 35 - 40 years old.  She and two guys were living there she said.  

When I stopped I had some granola bars and fruit I could offer her but nothing to help with the cold.  That night when I got home I posted on Facebook about meeting some new friends and their needs, since it was cold and they were living outside.  I collected some blankets, hats, gloves, warm clothing and food for my new friends.  I stopped by to drop off supplies 1-2 times a week after meeting the woman about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.  

I knew that I could easily be in the same place where this woman and two men were: homeless, sleeping outside, doing whatever they are able for work each day, to meet their needs for that day.  I am technically homeless.  If I did not have the supportive community that I do, I also could be permanently living outside, without a source of income and food.

I kept stopping by to drop off supplies once or twice a week but no one would be "home" when I stopped.  I would tuck the food, supplies and note of encouragement into the rain fly of the orange tent to protect it from the weather.  Two weeks before Christmas, I left work early and went to the grocery store, then stopped by to see these friends.  The area where they had been living was completely cleared: no tent, no tarps, no trash.  At first I was devastated.  Did the police come and make these people move on?  What happened?

As I prayed about this situation over the next few days, I was filled with hope and not despair for these 3 people.  Why did them moving locations have to be a negative thing?  Maybe they were helped by the police to get into a housing program or maybe a friend offered them a room to stay in? 

The Lord taught me through this situation that I have to trust Him.  He alone knows what happened to these three people, where they are at this very moment.  I need to lift them up in prayer, asking for safety and provision and I need to trust Him, because He is faithful and cares for them even more than I do.