Blessings and Opportunities Part 2

Day 1 of shelter residents and volunteers painting the church introduced in the last post, told by one of the volunteers:

I've been telling everybody to pray for paint instead of rain. We started Saturday. It was the big slice of American pie that I thought it would be and we all agreed; that the rest of the world had been cheated out of this day and we had reaped the rewards. We got one side scraped and primered and it was a bigger deal than I thought. My legs were shaking up on the top of the ladder and I kept thinking “If I fall and die at least I was at church.” But Casey has nerves of steel he done the high stuff on the east end. Charlie and Johnny done the ground work and occasionally held chicken liver’s ladder whenever I gingerly moved up and down. Casey and Johnny fed us BBQ and Pastor was the gopher and provided the gospel channel on this little radia which we’d change to country when he'd disappear. It was funny when he'd reappear and change it back to his channel and never say a word. Kind of a like a gentle old grandfather, like family to my friends and it was like I say a spiritual eye opener and that day surely meant something different to all involved.
Anything I say that will help me, help that ol preacher and my friends you can repeat anytime you want. You might want to add that if there is someone out there that needs a recharge come to 12th and Logan and we'll let them experience what we found out while it lasts.
It was interesting that Casey and Charlie felt like the other residents had missed out on something great and how they felt blessed. I could go on and on; come see for yourselves.

Blessings and Opportunities

A very dear volunteer sent me this email the other day, and it blessed me so much I asked him if I could share it with you:

Hi and how are you? I wanted to tell you about the boys and me wanting to paint My Fathers House. I'm talking about some of the residents and the Peoples Bible Baptist Church.
The pastor of the church is Vern Bender and I like him and his congregation is as poor as church mice. I don't know them but I like them and if you went there Sunday or sometime you would understand the reason why I want to help them. I believe that GOD has given me the chance to serve him and I am grateful to get the chance to Paint My Fathers house.
Three of the residents go to church with me sometimes and once when we were church hopping, we went to the oldest church in Harvey County. It was one guy and I that day and it was a surreal feeling, as if we had stepped into the past. Little has changed in over a hundred years on the inside and it has been preserved right down to the antique fans circulating the hot from the open windows. It is the only church I've ever been to that didn't pass the plate. There, you put the offering in a wooden box - I could go on and on and ruin the whole thing for you but to make a long story short - There was nothing there that day but God, not A/C not money, nothing but hope.
The resident said to me "You know what? That place reminds me of me"
I am more of a cognitive theory guy and I believe since God is gonna let me paint his house maybe it would good for the down and out to help me to do it. I am grateful for the opportunity and would like to extend that blessing to you as well. I believe that this is gonna be so cool, that is if you’re into things that warm the cockles of your heart. There is a lot more to this than just painting a structure, this is a chance to let those that we've been helping, help themselves in way that we can't always do.
They want to paint My Fathers House as well and they’re looking forward to starting this Saturday. I’ve been praying for paint and scaffolds but at least we found scrapers and goggles upstairs in the shelter building. I told them that I'd try to feed them if I could and I would like to document this if we can and give them proof that they were once part of something bigger than the problems in their lives today. I think a pat on the back by the right hchs volunteers at the right time would do a lot of good during this mission and I'm sure I'll probably be asking for more help than that. But I'll try to do all I can without asking because I know ya'll do so much already. But I can't help feeling that this is an event
worthy of fellowship. Thank you and God Bless.

Training/Orientation Sessions

Our hour-long, non-committal Orientation Sessions (Trainings) are a good time to come and find out what the Homeless Shelter is all about. Feel free to stop by and/or advertise these dates to others!

Tues, Sept 7, 6:30pm
Thurs, Sept 16, 6:30pm
Wed, Sept 22, 10am

Tues, Oct 5, 6:30pm
Thurs, Oct 14, 6:30pm
Wed, Oct 20, 10am

Tues, Nov 9, 6:30pm
Thurs, Nov 18, 6:30pm
Wed, Nov 24, 10am

Thurs, Dec 2, 6:30pm
Tues, Dec 14, 6:30pm
Wed, Dec 21, 10am


Call if you need directions (316) 283-7711