Update on My Homeless Friends, Mike and Ron

My last blog talked about how my friends, Jan and Danny Miller had sacrificed to Mike and Ron. During the snow storm last winter, the Millers invited the men into their home for a few days until they put them up in a hotel for several months. They got Mike admitted into the VA hospital before his alcoholism nearly killed him. After detoxing while in a coma, Mike still thought he wanted to go back into the woods and be homeless with Ron who had, by this time, returned to his tarp home. The doctors said returning to the woods would kill him but Mike was willing to take that risk rather than feel like a prisoner in rehab.

I ended the blog with the thought that even though it didn’t seem like a happy or successful ending to the story, Jan and Danny had still been obedient to the Lord. By the world’s standards, it may have seemed like the Miller’s were not successful in putting the guys on the road to a better life, but they had been models to many of Christ’s unconditional love and had been obedient no matter what the outcome.

At the end of the bog I said, “But the story is not over yet.” And indeed it wasn’t. I’m happy to report that Mike is now receiving treatment for alcoholism and is even attending church with the Millers. “PTL” as Jan would say!! (or Praise The Lord)

Ron, on the other hand is back to living in the forest behind the Red Robin restaurant—not too far from my house. I see him now and then by a busy intersection with his card board begging sign. I gave him a few bucks recently and hoped he wouldn’t spend it on alcohol or cigarettes, but realistically I know he does use some of his “earnings” to buy those things—his addiction is so strong. My friend, Kathryn, suggested I keep cans of soup with pop tops in my car so I can be sure Ron, or any other homeless person, is eating and not spending the greenbacks on liquor. So in case you see the Campbells rolling around on the floor of my car, you’ll know I’m not just trying to be over prepared in the event of a snack attack.

Just today I saw Ron sitting on the sidewalk next to his bike. What a difference between the different paths each man decided to take—Mike is headed for recovery; Ron is still feeding his addictions.

Please keep Mike and Rick in your prayers. And may the Lord give us wisdom on how we can meet the needs of the poor.

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” Proverbs 19:17

“There will always be poor in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and the needy in your land.” Deut 15:11