Prayer Requests 6/13/13

From the Sun-Sentinel on 6/14/13:

Two worlds tragically collided in a dark parking lot when a pair of homeless men were killed by an out-of-control luxury car driven by a young woman who police suspect was impaired.

At the wheel of her mother's 2012 Porsche Panamera early Thursday was Alyza Rachel Russell, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, officials said. Sitting near the corner talking were two friends, only known on the street as Zo and Slim.

Police Friday identified the two homeless men as Mackendy Jules, 30 and Samuel Artez Martindale, 35, both of Fort Lauderdale. On the street, Jules was known as Zo and Martindale was known as Slim.

The sound of screeching tires moments before the crash awakened witness Randy Trammell, asleep on his bed of cardboard in the West Broward Boulevard parking lot.

Trammell, a onetime cabinet installer who has been homeless for a year, said that Zo was a native of Haiti, about 30 years old, who had a wife and two children. He was one of the 10 or 15 regulars who slept in the parking lot nightly.

"He was a good guy," Trammell said Thursday afternoon as he searched in vain through Zo's suitcase, stashed in bushes nearby, for any papers that might indicate his full name.

Trammell said he didn't know Slim, also about 30 years old, as well as Zo.

…

When I read this news story, I recognized the name Mackendy Jules immediately. Some of you may recognize it, too. Because we've been praying for Mackendy by name for the past two years and as recently as a month ago. Both he and Samuel ate with us regularly on Thursdays. Every one of Mackendy's prayers was for a job.

8/25/11:
-- Mackendy J.: Please God, I need jobs.

11/10/11:
-- Please pray for Mackendy J. I need a job. God bless me.

5/9/13:
-- Mackendy J.: Please, I need a job.

There were many like that.

Praying for people by name and need is such an intimate thing. But knowing that Mackendy and Samuel are gone underscores all the things we don't know about them, their families, their lives. Even their close friends didn't know their full names. All we have left are little slips of paper with scribbled prayers.

The longer you're connected to the chronically homeless population, the longer your list of names grows. Nina. Leon. Scott. Kevin. Tommy. You'll read that someone drowned or was hit by a car or was found dead under an overpass and you'll wonder if you knew them.

What I come back to time and time again is how well God knows each of us. There are no anonymous people, no unknown identities, no unheard prayers. He knows and values us, not because of who we are but because of who He is.

Please keep the families and friends of Mackendy and Samuel in your prayers. Please pray for Ms. Russell, too. Her name is also known by our Father. Pray for all those in need, whether we know their names or not. 

I thank you for being such an important part of this ministry. The prayer requests are below.

Blessings,
Erika

Israel, the Lord who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 (GNT)

-- Prayer for friends and family.
-- Jordan: Change, get off drugs please.
-- Frederick H.: Pray that things get better with a job and a roof over my head for my kids, family, and friends. Thank you!!!
-- Pray for me to be able to get work and stability.
-- I pray for my health, for a job, a home, money and to help the homeless.
-- Yvonne: Need an apartment and pray for a blessing in my life.
-- Randy: Bless all people from this church and people in world.
-- Robert J.: Grant me a mansion near Oprah Winfrey's in Hawaii.
-- Lesa T.: Prayer for healing for mother.
-- Robert: Prayer for family, job, housing and financial blessings.
-- God bless all of our children, boys, girls, sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles, cousins 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Bless Mackendy's friends, family. Good, bad, homeless, help them. Those who can't help themselves, rich, poor, middle class, all of the above ...
-- Thank you, Lord, for the continued healing of Harry's body. Bless his physicians with wisdom and insight. Make Harry strong and whole.
-- Lord, please heal Kathy's heart. Strengthen her body. Cure her from all illness.
-- For Dave's killer to be found, brought to justice, and made whole. For Detective Torres not to give up.
-- For Bianca and her family.
-- For Lennox, Wolf, Smitty, L.C., Jamalle, Tino, Richard, Kevin, Lori, Kayla and Lorenzo, Lou, Jon K., April, Erika, Pery, Debbie, Sister Pat, Gypsy.
-- For Wendy, Peanut, Shy’ann & Kamaurry
-- For Charlotte, Ed, Jacques, Robert, Brad, Lance, Kelly, Shante, Shamona, Randy, Richie, Roger, Scott, Tony, Keith, Gary, Steve, Dennis, Brieanna, Carl, Rocky, Red, Johnny, Angel, Brian.
-- For neglected and abused animals and their caregivers. For Nina.
-- For all of LIA's volunteers; help us be quick to listen, slow to speak.