"I'm gonna take yall out to dinner one day..."

A lot of folks often how ask how "successful" we were in New Orleans, as in how many salvations did we witness or how many people we saw rise out of their situation... And honestly, I have no answer for this because that isn't at all what it was about to us.   I mean, we were defintely there to show the love and grace of Christ, but we were NOT there to preach and keep count... If we have to use the term "successful" though, I would think the most "successful" encounter is from a man named Chad.  We met Chad at the wall one day, and it was very obvious that he was just a fella down on his luck.  He moved to New Orleans from Florida with the promise of work, but after some things fell through he found himself on the street.  He found an orginization that would put you in a Hotel for a flat rate amount per week, and proved that you were constantly working or attempting to work.  After sharing a some water and beautiful conversation, we asked if there was anything he needed.  His reply was awesome, though it seemed so standard.  "Work things... gloves, backpacks, food I can eat at work...anything that can help me like that!"  The awesome part though was that he knew he could have asked for absolutely anything!   After making a list and exchanging numbers, we dropped him back off at his hotel.  We made a shopping trip that next Sunday, gathered all the work supplies he needed, and head back down to NOLA!  We picked him up at his hotel, and to say he was excited would be an understatement!  It was kinda like a kid on Christmas morning situation!  After going through his backpack and supplies, he thanked us and promised to pay us back over and over again.  He promised that as soon as he found steady work, and he passed through Hattiesburg, that he was taking us out to eat.  Promises like that are always made down there to the folks we minister to, and I honestly believe they're made with grand intentions, thought they usually never work out.  In the past we'd had a few experiences where people would call us, but it always to ask for a few more items.   About six months later, I was out of town and received a couple of phone calls from a number I didn't recognize.  Bein that I was on vacation, I decided not to answer.  About a month later, I got another call, and decided to answer it this time... "Hello"... "Hey, is tyler there?"... "That's me, what's up?"... "TYLER!!  This is Chad, from New Orleans!!!"... Almost took my breath away hearing from him six months later!!  He told me he found steady work with a company up in Colorado, and that he was just letting us know that he was ok, and that we were in large part to thank for that!  After talking for a few minutes he said "Yea man, I came through Hattiesburg not too long ago, and I called you because I promised yall dinner, but I wasn't able to get ahold of ya."  Man, what a beautiful thing!!  Beyond excited, and completely humbled, to say the least.  There is no doubt in my mind that our God had Chad call me that night... Earlier that day, I was questioning if all of the time and money put into NOLA was really worth it.  I was wondering if were touching and making a difference in lives, and was wondering if it was something we needed to keep pooring resources into... A few hours later... Chad calls... I defintely didn't hear God's voice come from the clouds like thunder, but I know without a doubt that I heard it from a pay phone in Colorado!! Thanks so much!!  God bless, GOd love!!