Leighton’s Blog

Been enjoying Florida for the last three weeks. Time to heads towards Atlanta for outreach Saturday. Hopefully I’ll hit Osceola National Forest Thursday night. Thank you Florida for all your support and hospitality! #missionforhope 

  Tuesday morning I stopped off at Good Samaritan Ministries in Port St. Lucie, FL to give out some stuff. In 2011 Pastor Vino Bitetto started this ministry by housing seven men who needed a place to stay after being released from prison. A year later he opened a second house for men and opened a thrift store to help support the ministry. Now they have 24 homes for men, women, children and families as well as programs and services for their clients. They support there ministries by owning and operating six for profit service related businesses. Their businesses include landscaping, tree removal, moving and storage, a cleaning service and automotive repair. After their clients graduate from their training program they are hired by one of the businesses they operate. Kind of a win-win situation for everybody.   As I was driving away I noticed one of the men I meet, Rick, sitting outside enjoying a small package of cookies that I had given him. (Rick is the furthest on the right in the ph

Outreach Stop #30. This morning I left Doral, Fl and headed for Fort Lauderdale to do outreach. It took me a few stops to find some folks but it was a blessed stop for sure. Dan on the left was a Navy brat while his Dad was in the Navy. Dan lost his job and apartment a month ago and is living in his suburban. I have had two magnetic back window screens in my Jeep since I left in June. I really wasn’t using them and I was waiting for just the right person to give them too. I found the right person today. Noble on the right was born in St Croix and was stationed in Puerto Rico as a Marine for four years. He is also without housing. I gave them water, socks, snacks, oranges and Bibles and then we prayed together. Please keep Dan and Noble in your prayers.  When I planned this mission trip last fall I planned on doing 30 stops in 200 days. Because of your support, donations, encouragement and prayers it looks like I’m going to do a total of at least 40 stops. I can’t thank you all enough!

Thanks Frank at Tire Kingdom in Doral, FL for getting my Jeep ready for the final leg of my mission trip back home up the east coast. Tire Kingdom is a sister company of NTB - National Tire & Battery who are sponsors along with their parent company TBC Corporation. #thankyou #takesavillage 

I knew God had a plan for Miami. I ended up setting up shop outside of Missionaries of Charity which is one of Mother Teresa’s  homes. My first mission trip five years ago was to Kolkata and our team got to serve at two of Mother Teresa’s homes. We actually got to go into the Mother’s House and see the tiny room she lived in for 40 years. We were hosted in Kolkata by the Calcutta Mercy which is a ministry the Buntains created around the same time Mother Tersesa started caring for the poor and dying.  This morning I gave out blankets, hygiene kits, food, water, socks and oranges close to 75 people. The gentleman in the blue T-shirt in front of my Jeep is Raul. Raul was born in Cuba, went to school in New York and served our country in the Marines for 10 years.  One of the photos is of a woman sleeping on the sidewalk. It’s a bit disturbing but she was able to find some comfort and protection from the rain with a Beantown Blankets I just give her. After spending time with folks at the

Wow! I can’t even believe I’ve gone this far since June. 22,820 miles, 25 states & 28 outreach stops. 2,000 miles, 14 states & at least 10 outreach stops to go. #epicroadtrip #missionforhope (The light green tracks are my four test trips last winter.)

60 hygiene kits, 48 Beantown Blankets, 40 oranges, 48 waters, 36 breakfast bars, 36 packages of cookies, 48 packages of crackers, 48 pairs of socks & 10 Bibles in a 2015 2dr Jeep Wrangler. Flying solo for outreach in Miami today. Please keep me in prayer. Not feeling at the top of my game this morning. #thankyou #missionforhope #jeeps #jeepers #givingback #helpingthehomeless 🙏 🚙