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In Early March we heard of a man who had been violently assaulted and left in his flat. We heard his name and wondered if it was the same person whom we had seen just before Christmas.
Eric the Chef
Eric is a Frenchman who has been living in England for about eight years. Dave and I first met him about seven years ago, he was temporarily living in a hostel, where I was working. We invited him to church and he came a few times, then he disappeared for a while. We lost touch for a few years, until just before last Christmas, I said to Dave, “I wonder what happened to Eric and if he is still in Salisbury” A couple of weeks later we saw him walking down the street, and followed him to his place of work, but by the time we got there Eric had disappeared. We prayed we would see him again, not long after we did, and invited him for a coffee at a nearby café. We spent a long time chatting and catching up on all the news, he asked if we still went to church and asked if he could come along. We arranged to pick him up, but unfortunately due to working until early hours of the morning, he overslept.
For a couple of months we heard nothing more of Eric, until March, a friend confirmed the man who had been assaulted was our friend. We visited the hospital a few days after he had been admitted to find him in Intensive Care, on a life support machine. The doctors said that when he was admitted he was unrecognisable and only gave him a slim chance of survival, he had been severely beaten, his kidneys had stopped working, and his lungs had collapsed. The day we visited him he had just come round, the doctors said he would be in hospital for at least three months. We asked Eric if we could pray for him, being unable to speak he nodded yes.
We held his hand and asked the Lord to bring peace and a quick healing. Three and a half weeks later Eric was discharged. The Doctors were totally amazed that he recovered so well and so quickly. God is so good and always Faithful. Eric has now started to come to church with us.
Jim
On 13th March a new man came to the poultry cross for food, he was an older man, his trainers were hanging off his feet and his trousers were ripped, but there was something different about this man, he radiated a peace. We provided him with new shoes, trousers and jacket, and over the following days, he told us his story.
Dave helping Jim with some new socks and shoes
Jim’s story
Jim was born just outside of London on 15th April 1941. His dad died when he was young Jim lived at home most of his life, and did labouring for a living. In 1983 His mum and him moved to Gloucester. His mum had been ill for a number of years, Jim looked after her for the last ten years of her life, she died of sclerosis of the liver in 1983
In 1984 Jim took to the road, he told us he had been on the road now for twenty years, and he had given his life to Jesus twelve years ago. “I was staying in Bath at the time, a man came up to me and started telling me about Jesus and asked me if I would like to become a Christian, I said yes, the man then led me in a prayer of repentance. Jim said he had never seen him since, “that maybe because I haven’t been back to Bath since” he said with a twinkle in his pale blue eyes
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April 15th was Jim’s 63rd birthday and we celebrated the day with him, all the lads who come for food signed a birthday card for him, and we took a chocolate (jims favourite treat) cake he said he had a fantastic day. Jim has started coming to church with us and is hoping to get Baptised in Water on 2nd May.
Bev giving Jim his birthday cake
Jims birthday cake
The Lord continues to move on the streets of Salisbury, bringing people to us many of whom, come for the company as much as the food. People who are broken and hurting. One man we met, lives as a hermit in his flat and usually never has anything to do with anyone, came for food for several weeks, A few years ago his wife killed herself and their two children. We never really know all the things that have happened to people, we have to totally trust the Holy Spirit to lead us in everything we do and say, we continually pray for boldness, but at the same time great sensitivity, that we may be share Jesus love with these people.
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