"Everybody can help somebody"

Recently my wife got me this children's book as a gift. I have yet to read it in its entirety, but flipping through the pages I'm seeing it looks like a great book.Today we are going downtown, Hopefully God can use us for His glory. Hopefully, God can take this simple idea, that if we all did something small it will amount to something big. Hopefully God will raise up souls with a desire to get more involved with what we are doing, and come along side us as true Yokefellows for His kingdom!! Today i want to challenge you to forsake what you want to do, forsake the plans you made for yourself and go out of your way to minister to someone in need. Someone who cant so easily repay you, someone to whom you don't even know, someone to whom the world has forgotten.

Just when you thought you were right.

How Does A Homeless Man Spend $100?: http://youtu.be/AUBTAdI7zuY

Freebox bike path

The man was sunning is feet and drying out his shoes. "Could you appreciate a pair of socks" the freeboxbike asked. "I sure could"he exclaimed.... and the blessing begins. Saturdays down by the river will be a place to volunteer if you'd like. Come down and share Gods word or better yet Gods action.

Little girl donates to the freebox.

So last year we got our daughters a burley bike trailer to tow them round town. They loved it. It was one of their favorite things to do. Recently we contacted surly bikes to see if they would be interested in donating a trailer. They were pretty encouraged by the idea of the free box bike however they had already given out all the free trailers that they could for the year. So I sat my daughter down and asked her if she would be willing to donate her trailer to the homeless ministry. She was more than willing and I am so happy for my little girl. Here is a picture of the trailer all stripped down with a stainless steel rack I got for $2 at a garage sale. It's no surly trailer but it'll work for now, hopefully in the summer will be able to move up to something bigger.

Sock ministry

Tonight was a blessing. Me and my wife took the girls downtown. The girls gave away socks to thankful travelers. It's true what Jesus said...

"it's more blessed to give than to receive."

WHY WE DO IT

 I grew up in
Southern California doing what kids do. I thought little about others,
indulged in pleasing me, flunked out of school, and formed unhealthy
addictions. I got busted a bunch and then finally grew tired of the
feeling of failure. In 1996, I started reading the Bible and realized
that there was so much more to life than I was seeing. I cleaned up my
act, sold everything I owned, got on a bike, and traveled for fourteen
years learning about myself.  But more importantly, I learned about
others. I saw a part of this country few ever get to see and am thankful
 for every step of the way. This is where the the freebox bike project
started to grow. At times, we would go out giving things away, helping
out at bike co-ops around the country, etc. All the while being homeless
 myself. It was a great life of simplicity and peace. In 2009, I married
 my touring partner. We traveled for about four years from city to city
with our bikes and camper van. I did odd jobs to provide while work
trading and care taking. Now we have three small children and are
getting more settled in Oregon.  I got a great job driving a wheelchair
van and am renting 5 acres in the country. We have a small, hobby farm
and are very thankful! 
We wanted to start up something good so we bought a Surly Big Dummy used
 off of Craigslist to involve the community with a homeless outreach. We
 want to do this all with our bikes to be among the homeless and their
camps......more of a real feel environment. We have a great love for
people and bikes and we think the two together is a great combo. I think
 our past experience being homeless adds a the ingredient of empathy the
 "system" lacks.   

Homeless Work Shop Idea

The Freebox bike (Eugene)

© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap

(google map) (yahoo map)

Hello,
My name is Timothy. I'm looking for people who would be willing to hire homeless people for small, odd jobs, etc. We have started a mobile Homeless Ministry in Eugene called The Freebox bike. (www.thefreeboxbike.blogspot.com).

We are small and hope to stay more ground floor with this project in hopes of keeping things real and a blessing. An idea I had was to find people who are willing to help out (the homeless) by giving them some work. I'm sure it could do a host of good for their dignity.

Now, I understand there can be a number of issues with this. I am charging forward in good faith because....... to be honest, there is a great need in this city for more reaching out. This is all in a small, root-like stage, but brainstorm here for a moment. I will be interacting with individuals on the street. I know there are rivers and valleys galore but every so often there is someone who is in a transition and really could appreciate some hard work. Earning some honest cash can really be a blessing when you feel like everyone's against you!

The Freebox bike can be a sort of go between for these special individuals who are willing to work. Keep in mind, it can be very hard getting back up with no home, address, and a petty criminal record.

Please take some time to think about it. And yes, I would love to have some constructive criticism. The picture above is not my bike. I actually have a Surly cargo bike but I am hoping to raise the money to build a trailer like this one.

Thank you.