Eric Thierman

Beard. 5'5. Skinny. Cowboy boots. Imitation Subway "One Way" Jesus hat. 65. No children. Wife (deceased) Deborah. From Wyoming. Grew up with Jesus. Loves Clint Eastwood. And Garth Brooks. And George Strait. And Tim McGraw. Favorite Food: Lasagna. Favorite Author: Louis L'Amour. Loves snow. Went to Vietnam. Got shot. Tried marijuana once there and said no thank you. Went sailing to the Bahamas and worked on a boat. Rodeo man. Saddle bronc riding. Smokes (but he knows it's bad for him). Writes in cursive. Says Yippee Yi Yo Cow Patty. Likes to do finger hugs (you know, like when you hook fingers).

Eric Thierman is lonely. He walks around dirty downtown Los Angeles all day trying to find work or money. He has no friends. He has no family. He lost the love of his life 5 years ago. His heart has been devastated since then. Deborah was his biggest fan. His best friend. She was his encourager the 38 years they were married and loved him more than anyone he has ever known.

Eric talked to me mostly about loss. About how is feels to loose someone. He has hope and purpose in Jesus but the one person he had to live this physical life with is gone. His sweet eyes and soft voice drew me to him the first night we were on skid row. He heard my name was Erica and said "Well how about that. Yippee Yi Yo Cow Patty." (that's just his thing he says...) He wouldn't talk much that night so I just kept cleaning up the street and smiled and told him there was free coffee if he needed it.

The next night we went back and he was not inside so I figured he probably was out among the masses on Skid Row in a sleeping bag or make-shift box/tent. I was in a small group picking up street trash and looked up to see Eric! He was so shocked and just smiled and said, "Well how about this." That started a night of talking. and talking. and more talking. He kept asking when I would be back..but we were leaving the next day and his little eyes just got so sad. It was all I could do to keep smiling and tell him about the great people who will still be around the area. He didn't seem to be encouraged by that at all...

When we got in the van to drive back to the center I just hit my breaking point. My heart hurt so much for this sweet man..all I could do was sob. To just leave him there, knowing how lonely and sad he was, didn't feel right. There was nothing I could do.

The next morning we had one more outreach project called "Adopt A Block". Groups are randomly assigned to neighborhoods to go help clean up/pass out food. Out of all of the groups there...WE GOT SKID ROW! I literally ran into the building to look for Eric and there I found my sweet old man sitting alone and eating a very gross lunch. His eyes lit up when he saw me. He got up and gave me his seat like the sweet gentleman that he is...even with his cane. We spent the morning listening to my ipod and singing together. I never knew why I felt the need to put country songs on my ipod because I do not listen to them...well now I know why. Eric LOVES country music and had the best time jamming out to Garth and Tim and George. I know I left him in good hands and he promised to write me letters (so long that I provide the stamps and paper and envelopes and probably pencils). I set up place for him to stay at a center so he won't be out on the streets at night anymore. His little body just doesn't need that. He knows he is loved by his God and now his Erica. That is all that I could ask for.