I was getting ready to cross the parking lot and the tree was in sight; when an El Cerritto cop pulled up and stopped me. I recognized him, because he's been patrolling this lot for a year and has driven past the tree/camp many times, in his little white cop-truck with a big gold cop-star on it.  {:-)

Note: He never caught me in that year, and I'd see him through the skylight.

He wanted to know where I was going. I thought this was it. Just great--on the last day I'm gonna get busted. Must be the devil--and it's repercussions for the "Ghetto" assignment. This was going through my mind.

     I pointed beyond my camp--and said "that way".  I had no intentions of going to camp in daylight with this cop watching. He then started to talk about the guys living here. He asked if I knew them. I told him yes. (Was carrying the shield).

     The cop said he was trying to give one of them some food but the homeless man refused, and he was worried that someone might freeze to death.

Note: This same homeless man refused anything from me, after seeing the shield.

     He said his church was praying for these guys, and he was a believer. My guard immediately dropped and we began to fellowship. What a way to end the year in the streets. That church was praying for me too--and I didn't know it-- and this brother has been praying while patrolling the lot.

Note:  I didn't tell him about the camp--he still doesn't know.   {:-)