Leighton’s Blog

It almost fit on one cart. Making my way to New Orleans this week for outreach on Saturday. Have scoped out a few trails along the way. Maps downloaded. #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #givingback #helpingthehomeless #nola #neworleans 

We had a big team today for outreach in Dallas. Our team was passionate about blessing the poor today. We gave out 48 Beantown Blankets, 60 hygiene kits, 400 bottles of water, 12 cases of snacks, 80 breakfast tacos & Rainforest Cookies. The most touching part of the day was after 10 of us prayed with a gentleman named Robert, two of the children who helped us today hugged Robert. I was pretty moved by the compassion of these kids. Moments like this is what this mission trip is all about. Thank you my Dallas friends! Appreciate your hearts & compassion! 

Got a little emotional today on my way to Dallas after Ashlee told me how much stuff they have collected for outreach in Dallas on Saturday morning. Hard to believe I have been on the road 113 days, through 21 states & have driven close to 19,000 miles. We have done 21 homeless outreach stops and 6 of those weren’t planned. We have given out over 1,000 hygiene kits, 600 Beantown Blankets, cases & cases of water, boxes & boxes of snacks, clothing, fruit, dozens & dozens of baked goods, Bibles, prayer and hugs! I can’t thank everybody enough for the donations, encouragement and prayers. Even total strangers want to be part of this mission. I can’t count how many times people have blessed me at gas stations or in department store parking lots with donations. So thank you! Couldn’t do this without you! 15 more stops & 12 more states to go. Keep those prayers coming...please. 🚙 🙏 #takesavillage #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #offroaders #givingback #helpingthehomeless

Got to hang out with about 20 people at the Community Kitchen in Roswell, NM Thursday. Very nice folks! Gave out about 20 hygiene kits, socks, water, oranges, snacks and baked goods. Also prayed with them. Making my way to Dallas today for outreach on Saturday. Stayed in Abeline, TX last night. Interesting drive. Lots of windmills,fields and big white SUVs. #missionforhope 

Going to do some outreach today. Roswell isn’t one of my scheduled stops but I was “prompted” Stop #21 #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #givingback #helpingthehomeless 

Thanks Michael, Felix, Jess & Gary Big O Tires for getting my tires & Jeep ready for at least  another 5,000 miles. Big O Tires is a sister company of National Tire & Battery who are sponsors along with their parent company TBC Corporation. 

Awesome homeless outreach today in Albuquerque with a sister club... Wicked Jeeps New Mexico . We gave out blankets, hygiene kits, water, sandwiches & Rainforest Cookies. Thank you for your support, donations & hearts. Awesome to meet all of you. Can’t thank you enough. #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #givingback #helpingthehomeless #unitedwewheel 

“Houston… I hope we don’t have a problem.” Been sitting at a hotel for four days, hopefully it’s the cooler air. Although, I did top off four days ago. If it’s a slow leak… no big deal. Get it repaired and get them rotated after I get my windshield repaired this afternoon In Albuquerque. #rt66 #missionforhope #pressingforward #jeeps #jeepers #jeepfriends #givingback #albuquerque #nm #newmexico #unitedwewheel 

  #iamsostupid I got way too confident about my accommodations. Backpack strapped to my gas tank was stolen last night. I went out to take the backpack off last night. I was in sandals and didn’t want to step in a big puddle to take it off.  So I didn’t take it off. After all the guy at front desk said the parking lot was good. My backpack only had some cheap Walmart hiking boots but for some reason this upset me way more than my recovery box being stolen last month in San Diego. I bought the backpack in Virginia a week into my trip. The kid working at the department store went way out of his way to give me a great discount on the bag because he knew I was on a mission trip. Kind of feel like I’m was not being a good steward of what I was given.  #missionforhope #keepmovingforward 

My Jeep has a parking buddy in Grant, NM. A very good sign. This is my home for the next five days. Need to catch up on logistics for the next couple months as well as web stuff. Very clean room, real WiFi, no bugs so far, looks like a safe parking lot & I think there’s a Chinese buffet only five minutes away. Guy at the front desk even called to make sure my room was okay! That’s a first and 110 days.#lifeisgood #GodIsGood #AllTheTime #missionforhope #jeepfriends #jeeps #jeepers #unitedwewheel 

My accommodations were pretty sketchy in Phoenix so I checked out of my hotel a day early. Wasn’t really comfortable in the area so I cooked all my meals in my room for two days and checked my Jeep every 3 hours. Making my way towards Albuquerque for outreach on Saturday. I’m sure I’ll find some trails on the way there during the week. #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #givingback #helpingthehomeless #unitedwewheel 

I’ve been so inspired on this mission trip by people like Susan. She is the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at The Society of Vincent De Paul in Phoenix and she gave me a tour of one their facilities in Phoenix.  They have a huge warehouse, seven thrift stores, five dinning rooms and serve 4,600 hot meals a day and give out 6,000 sack lunches a day. One of their transnational shelters has sixty beds and their guests “ONLY” stay their an average of thirty-five days. Each guest is assigned their own intern who helps them with getting services such has counseling, healthcare, job training, job placement and housing.  Inspiring people and organizations like this are what drive me! (Excuse the pun.) My first mission trip, which was to Kolkata, India really drove me. Our team was able to serve for a couple days at homes for the poor in Kolkata that Mother Teresa created in 1950. Pastor Charles and I were able to serve at the Home for the Sick & Dying for two days. It was truly humblin

Yes I am happy inside because I have amazing volunteers back in Lynfield at Good Hope, Inc. & Calvary Christian Church! Thank you Kristin Klopotoski, Debby Seler & Veronica Lewis! Before I left on this mission trip I purchased 1,250 hygiene kits and moved them into a storage unit. These ladies send me at least 60 hygiene kits from the my storage unit every week to whatever city I’m in. Along with things for me...like treats! They also coordinate things that need to be delivered to me in each city as well as check my mail and handle my banking. I am so blessed to have such great friends like this who keep me rolling down the road with a very joyful smile! (Oh...If you want to send me anything...just get it to Kristin before Thursday any week.) #missionforhope #takesavillage #helpingthehomeless 

Amazing outreach in Phoenix today with Jeep Club Arizona & Dirty Mayhem Offroad. In the middle of us in the first photo is John. John severed our country for 20 years in the Army. Please keep John in prayer.Two years ago he was struck on his motorcycle by a drunk driver. The last couple years have been rough years for John.  Today we gave out Beantown Blankets, hygiene kits, water, fruit and breakfast bars. I feel so blessed to you have Jeep clubs partnering with me to show love and compassion to the poor. #missionforhope 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 #hope #missionforhope #dailydevotional #theword #thebible #romans 

Today marks the halfway point of my mission trip. I’ve driven close to 16,000 miles in the last three months. There have been 18 outreach stops and five of those weren’t even planned. We have given out hundreds of blankets and hygiene kits along with lots of clothing, water, snacks, fruit, baked goods and more. Three more months to go and 17 more outreach stops to go. Thank you for your donations, prayers, encouragement and comments on my social media. 

Another small but mighty team this morning. Just Ruben Uranga & myself (photo #3). Ruben lives in Las Vegas, works for a hospital and does some volunteer work for the county. He owns a 73 CJ but it’s on the bench right now. Ruben filled up his Highlander with water, fruit, baked goods & snacks. Thank you Ruben!  Photo #1 is Ed and I. Ed has had a rough couple of days. Please keep him in prayer. Photo #2 is of Jean. She didn’t want to be photographed because she thinks she looks too old in photos so I asked her to hide behind a umbrella. Very nice woman! Met so many wonderful people today. We gave out lots of @beantownblankets & hygiene kits.  I got to pray with a few people and gave out some Bibles. One of the Bibles I gave out today somebody gave to me in the Yukon in July. I was waiting for just the right person to give it to. It was an awesome day in Las Vegas! #missionforhope