Spending time with the grand children last weekend, so was not around for Saturday's activities. I just know the basketball team practiced and was fed, the camps and friends were visited, garden work continued, so much to do, so little time to get it all done! God is good!
We have settled into a rhythm with our afternoon activities. Our blessing is sung, snacks are eaten, games are played, then the learning begins. Great to see so many helpers with the children. Great relationships are being formed. Smiles all around!
Tuesday evening, Brother George shared the Word with the men of the community. We read from James 1, we didn't read very far, but shared a lot of what God is doing in our lives. Talked about patience, perseverance, endurance, faith, trials, temptations. We all face trials, we all have temptations, how do we handle them?
Thursday was a packed house of lvoe, joy and understanding. Our friends from St Luke's medical van visited with us. Brother Chester and Ms Abbie got us started off in chapel with music and God's Words. Z prepared a feast, while old and new friends helped us serve and clean up. The Market continued to be a busy place, while our clothing room helped our community find just the right clothes. A blessed night.
Karl asked for continued prayers for his daughter in New Hampshire suffering the loss of her husband and father of their two children. Prayers for peace and understanding for the tragic loss of life in our community and across the country.
This Saturday, Bryce is hosting a garden party! Come early, around 7am to begin working in the new garden creating flower beds. Then around 9:30 of so Z and Joey will be preparing breakfast for the community. Following the meal work will be done around the center. Come and enjoy!
Don't let Satan fool you! Don't get discouraged! Don't think what you do doesn't matter! You are important to God and to our community!
Last Thursday, as I was leaving early from our meal, I noticed one of our community members beginning their walk home. They don't live around the corner, they leave almost 10 blocks away! I was talking to one of our community members in chapel last week, they said they live on 85th street and walk here every week, over 15 blocks! Community waiting for the bus on the corner to get home after arriving by bus earlier. Babies being pushed in strollers to the center. Family members being dropped off by others. You make a difference in the lives of our community whether you know it or not! God knows! Thank you for all you do in case you need to hear it from someone, Thank you.
Ginellen, my wife, has been struggling with health problems going on for almost 3 years. We had a doctor's appointment Monday and we did not hear what we wanted to hear. She is scheduled for another procedure on October 14th. The doctor is being very cautious, which is good, but also frustrating to us all as we continue to deal with this problem. As I was preparing the words for chapel Thursday, one of our community members come into chapel and said mr brian, your wife has been on my heart this week! They didn't know anything about what we had gone through at the doctor, they just knew we needed to pray. They wanted others to pray with us, so we held hands and each one of the community said a prayer for healing for Ginellen. We are important to our community!
Thursday evening, as we were finishing up our meal, a lady walks up to me, who I had not seen in several years. She came by because, this community represents a happy time in her life and the life of her family. There are pictures of her children in the collage of photos in the hallway, all having a great time with us. Her children are no longer with her, some are in jail, some are missing, some don't want anything to do with her, sad times. She wanted to come by and see us, to remember those times of joy and happiness when her children were young and innocent. We have been a part of our community lives, through the trials and through the triumphs.
Please know, you are making a difference. Many of you will never hear a thank you. We may never see a smile or get a hug. We might not hear a kind word or see good manners but you are all making a difference. Life is hard for our community, the darkness is bright, the light is dim. You are the light, maybe the only light they get to see in their daily lives. Some of us have been around for so long, we get to see how the community is affected by all of you. We see the moms coming back remembering the good times. We get to see our young children all grown up, some are struggling, some are prospering, but they come back to see you because you made a difference in their lives. You are making a difference. Thank You! Amen!
See you Saturday in the garden! God is so good!
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