Saturday around the center has become a bee hive of activity. Some make their way around to the camps. Some help Ardis pack the bread away, picked up by the Ackermans. Some walk the streets picking up trash and visiting with our neighbors. Some attend Bible study. Some wash clothes. Some attended graduating ceremonies. All going on for the glory of God. Happening every week. Ya'll need to come.
Bernard(Turner) is doing fine. Icee Joe asked Turner, can we pray together before you leave. Turner put his bag down, and held our hands as Joe said a prayer! First time that has happened, praise God! Brad and Robert were hanging in there, haven't seen Dave and Travis lately? the Macaroni camps are busy. We are seeing Evelyn, ol'man Dave, Sodapop on a regular basis now, long time friends. Help me to remember to get Sodapop a 6 pack of Cokes for our Saturday visits this week. If I forget, Sodapop said it would cost me $1000! Evelyn and Dave have been in housing but now back on the streets, wonder why?
Matt and family members of Henry, Ms Abbie's grandson, attended ceremonies for Henry as he graduated from the National Guard's Boot camp. A packed house of family and friends from all over the state were there to cheer on their children. Henry is growing up before our eyes into a strong, courageous young man. Give him a hug when you see him and tell him how proud you are of him.
Following our visits we gathered at Richard's home and held a memorial service. Thanks to all who came, some old friends came and we got to visit with each other. It was a blessing to gather together and share scripture, sing a song, pray together and share our stories of a man who changed us all. I offered up a prayer to God, not sure God needs it, but I asked for prayers for God, because now He will be listening to all of Richard's stories! Smokey left a cross hanging on one of the walls at the gas station, as a reminder of our friend.
Our afternoon activities are going great. Gabrielle is quickly becoming a master in leading our aftermoon activities, getting the most out of them. The children come in, take a popsicle stick marked with an assigned table. That is where they will be for the afternoon. Our helpers take their stick and go to their assigned desk. The children get stars for doing good work. Treats for being respectful. Great afternoons. Took some pictures of the afternoon and will put them up on our web site this weekend.
Tuesday evening, the men gathered. The men were lead by Rickie, one of our community men, in reading from James chapter 3: 1-12. As Rickie began, he encouraged all of the men to sit in the circle to be close to the power of God. Almost all moved from the back of the chapel into the circle. What a blessing to see. It took courage for the young men to moved forward, to feel like they were a part of something, but they did and we were all blessed by the end of the night. Amazing things going on in that circle, God is at work!
We also had the privilege on Tuesday evening to see Matt receive a gift of lvoe from Ms Abbie and Peaches', Henry's mom for his support and encouragement during Henry's time at Camp Minden. A blessing.
I needed a ladder Wednesday for a job and stopped by the center to pick it up. Seeing Stephanie's car there reminded me of the commitment she has made to our community. For over 2 years now, she faithfully comes every week, along with Ms Abbie, missing Ms Dororthy, opens up all those big garage bags full of clothes and hangs up the clothes. The new clothing room is now organized and ready for business. There is no one at the center other than these ladies, not receiving any praise other than knowing God is watching and is well pleased. True servants.
Not sure what was in the water Thursday but something is going on?! Around 3pm, 4 of our young men from Tuesday showed up. They called Joey and Joey said, for them to come by and get some clothes. Abbey talked with them, thinking they wanted to wash clothes but they wanted clothes. Abbey, went out of her way, not really having the time, took them to the clothing room and dressed them for success. You should have seen these young men, from wearing baggy pants to wearing, dress pants, button down shirts and putting on blue blazers. The boys came into the chapel asking me to tie their ties for them. I asked Roy, you ever worn a tie? he said no. Wow! They wanted to look good so they could go out and look for jobs.
While that was going on, our longtime friend John Sacker was arranging a meeting with his pastor and another pastor from North Carolina with us. We walked around, showing our facility to them, telling them our story, sharing our dreams. As we were in the parking lot saying goodbye, I said to the pastor from North Carolina, we have been praying for 18 years for a black Christian role model for our young men. He said to me, your prayers have been answered! He said, he was doing fine in North Carolina but one day God said to him, you need to move back to Shreveport, I've got something planned for you! Wow!
Then after chapel, the young man who had been causing trouble, Rambo comes to Tim and says he wants to apologize. So Pastor Elbert and Rambo talk for an hour, sharing the lvoe of Christ with each other and getting things squared with each other. Amazing God we have!
Prayers for Scott Ferrell on Saturday. He is traveling to New Orleans to run in his first marathon and maybe his last! Prayers for William. He is at Brentwood, trying to get his demons under control. Prayers for Tim and he begins a new chapter in his life as the New Hope House opens up Monday. Prayers for Momma T as her and her family grieve over the passing of their daddy, husband and friend. Prayers for Joe Barefield. He had another seizure Wednesday at noon. He was taken to the hospital, spent the night. Ms Abbie said he was suppose to come home Thursday evening. Have not heard if he made it.
Seeing the young men, coming to us, wanting to change their lives hit me hard Thursday. Tuesday evening, during our time for prayer concerns, the young men have begun to speak up, asking for prayers for finding jobs. A young man, who weeks earlier was cussing and fighting, coming to us wanting to change his life. It is time for change! It is time for us to step out! It is time for acts of faith!
These young men, our young ladies have no shot at finding jobs. They are uneducated, most have criminal records, no job skills. Abbey shares her lvoe with them, in getting them to look good, but they don't know what to do next. They don't know how to shake hands, to fill out a job application, to look employable. Through Matt, Elbert, Rickie, Joey, Tim, these young men are being shown the light of Christ, but that does not put food on the table or get the bills paid.
Nobody is going to hire them, so what do they do? Where do they go? Who is going to help them?
God is through us. We have talked about a coop grocery store, let's do it. Let's put these young people to work, teaching them a skill, so they can get a job elsewhere. We have talked about a clothing store, let's do it. Teaching them to show up on time, learning how to smile, saying yes ma'am, no sir in a pleasing way. So when they go to get a job they will know what to do.
We have discussed starting a teaching kitchen. Let's do it. We have a kitchen, we have a chef, let's teach our young people how to work in environment together. Learning ways to better themselves. There is a building on Line Avenue that needs to be resurrected into a restaurant, selling our food, teaching our young people how to serve, learning a new way of life.
What we have accomplished so far through our relationships with God has been truly amazing. But we are just beginning. We don't need to become too comfortable in our ways. We need to be constantly moving forward, we need to call upon God, we need to be faithful, we need to become uncomfortable. If it feels "out there" than let's do it! God lvoes it when we are "out there" because we need Him to survive!
Begin praying, or I should say pray harder, for God's quiet voice and let's see what ideas we can come up with. No dream is too small, no idea is too unimportant. God is the architect of it all, nothing is too big for Him! Very exciting! Amen!
Hope your first week of the second month is a good one. Enjoy the many blessings He has in store for you!
No comments:
Post a Comment