Visiting a Local Homeless Shelter

Yesterday started just like every other day around here.

I woke up at 4:00 a.m. with glen (crazy right? I just love mornings) and Evan woke up around seven. We had breakfast together when Evan got up and then I went for a run in my driveway.

Our driveway is eight tenths of a mile long, which is pretty stinkin' cool. I don't need a gym membership and I am on my own property while running. I am training for a 5K on October 25th that I am running with my mom and some friends from church.

We did school in the morning. My sister-in-law called and her and I chatted for quite awhile about her recent trip to Ireland. Then we finished school up in the afternoon. After that I went and did my weekly job which is doing billing for a friend's trucking company.

We came home and I started cooking a dessert and spaghetti noodles to take to our local homeless shelter last night.

That's when our day went from ordinary to life changing and eye opening.

Let me start with the fact that I was not even aware that we had a homeless shelter in our community... which that's on me. My good friend Louise was aware of it and since we have been studying the book of James which states that faith without works is dead, we wanted to put our faith into action. Ms. Louise set it all up for us and all we had to do was cook food and bring it to them and serve them.

Folks, it was so easy to do this. It literally took me less than an hour to cook up a dessert and some spaghetti noodles.

Those folks at the homeless shelter look just like you and me. They are God's people too. Every one of them introduced themselves and talked about what a blessing the shelter has been for them. Some had some physical handicaps and some were just trying to get their feet back on the ground and looking for jobs and low income housing.

The woman who runs it is amazing. I sat down and had such a nice conversation with her and she is filled with the Spirit of God. She is making a difference in peoples lives! She does Bible studies with them and they go to church together. Her main goal is to get them a job and help them to find a permanent home. They take in women, men, and families.

Knowing that this was going on in our community and I was clueless to it makes me so sad. I truly live a life of luxury compared to most of the world...from homeless people in our community to the starving families across the globe... there is so much need!

Resources to help these people is not a problem. Most of the folks I know personally have more than enough to give away, my family included. We just have our priorities all mixed up. We are all going to have to answer for how we chose to use the resources that God gave us someday. My aim from here on out is to use them for his glory! I cannot experience things like I did last night and not have it change me as a person. I also refuse to turn a blind eye on it anymore.

I would encourage you to find some friends and search out some needs in your community. They are there but sometimes you have to look for them. I plan on making our homeless shelter a part of my giving from here on out, whether with my time or resources.

Pictures of the kitchen and dining area of the shelter

 
This is Regina. She was the sweetest lady and cried when talking about what the shelter has done for her and how it has helped her grow spiritually.

 
Us ladies who had children brought them with us. We felt is was important for them to realize that there are people in our community who need our help.

 
 
"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use it that?" James 2:14-16
 
 
Jenn

 

 

2 comments:

  1. That's awesome!! I didn't know there was a shelter there either. :/ So glad Evan got to go with you, I've always wanted to do that with mine when they got old enough.

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