"Abdi" is an older devout Muslim African who often asks me to pray for him.  He told me a great story on Tuesday about his "miracle bus ticket."  We've been lucky to have a partnership with the Refugee Survival Trust who have been providing all-day bus tickets for the destitute.  Each client is allowed one ticket per week -- meaning they can travel for one day each week on public transport.  Granted, it doesn't seem like much, but when you're destitute and have to walk miles and miles every day to get to any appointment, a day riding the bus can feel like pure luxury.

Abdi told me when he go on the bus last week, the driver issued him with a week-long pass instead of the day-long pass.  At first, Abdi thought this was a great little mistake in his favour, but quickly felt it would be dishonest not to point out the driver's mistake.  The driver thanked Abdi and told him that it would be too much effort to change and said, "Never mind pal, consider it a wee gift."  Abdi then says to me half-joking, "Paul remember when you prayed last week?  Do you think God knew I was really tried this week and needed a break  from walking everywhere?  This was a miracle bus ticket."  He then said, "Seriously, I will take the ticket as a gift from God, but it is even more important for me to know that people from the church are praying for me."

It was a good reminder of the importance of the interpersonal and spiritual aspects of our ministry to the destitute.  We do offer food and bus tickets, but I hope that our support goes deeper than that.  All of our destitute friends have names, are made in the image of God, crave community, appreciate that they are cared for as whole people, and need Jesus as much as the rest of us.