Reaching Out to the Needy

This morning we got up and out of the house early. All bundled up, the girls wearing warm jackets with hoods, Rachel in her new rain boots and made our way to the location of the local City Mission.

There we were joined with seven other families from our church and together we loaded up six vehicles and headed in separate directions to deliver food and toys to the needy. We have never done anything like this before, so we stayed with our friends Cindy and Charlie who have done this numerous times. They knew exactly what they were doing and it was great to be able to experience a morning like this morning with them.Between our car and theirs we loaded food and toys for thirteen families. Cindy was in charge of the navigating and making and making sure we made good usage of our gas and time so that we weren't back and forth all over. One of the very first stops we made was to an old woman's apartment. She had the burners of her stove on in order to provide heat in her small little home. Another stop that was a tough one was to the home of a couple that appeared to be mentally challenged. I left that home with tears welled up in my eyes. The stops got easier as the morning went on, but still very humbling.

It rained all morning long and by the end of our thirteen stops we were pretty wet and soggy.It was rather cold too, it was in the mid 50s. But it was a morning that we probably won't soon forget.

We took our girls with us. We've been struggling with ungrateful attitudes and thought this might wake them up a little bit. I think it might take a few days for it all to sink in. We saw some pretty poor folks and not clean or nice living arrangements. We have so very much to be thankful for and really have no need for anything. We prayed with all but one of the households we delivered to. All the people were very receptive of our offering to pray with them and through our prayers (Steven and Charlie did the praying) the gospel was shared.

It was a good and very humbling morning. We have the opportunity next Saturday to take hot meals to senior citizens. I'm not sure if we'll do that, but just might. Our church plans to continues to reach out to the homeless and to the needy and this is one ministry we hope to do together as a family.