Trials and Thanksgiving

As part of a Mission Southside site team, many of the volunteers who make a commitment to GO and make disciples put their whole heart and life into this local investment of their time.   It is more than just planning an event.  It is about relationship.  We begin to form amazing relationships with people who may be struggling with things we can't begin to appreciate or understand.      

Sometimes while we sit in our warm homes in one of the most affluent counties in the state, we just can't even wrap our minds around what trials others may be dealing with....others being our neighbors right here in Johnson County.

Over a year ago, Miranda found herself in a difficult situation.  Some technical issues arose with her husband's visa, and he was deported for several months until they could get it all corrected.  The challenging thing about that time was that Miranda was pregnant with their second child.  Miranda soon ended up on bed rest and had to take a leave of absence from her job.  With her husband out of the country trying to fix the legal issues, she found herself with a 3rd grade son, no income, and no help.

This was a hard position for Miranda.  She is usually someone who was helping others.  Asking for help didn't come easily. 

When she ended up in the hospital facing the birth of her sweet baby girl, she had nowhere for her son to go.  It was a complete blessing to welcome him into our home as part of our family.  He stayed with us several days until his mom and sister could come home.  Mission Southside and Olathe Christian Church and many others came alongside her and were the hands of feet of Jesus.

Miranda and her husband were reunited several months after the birth of their second child and they are doing well now.

Last month she created three personal cards and delivered them to me, Mission Southside and my church.  The cards featured artwork, photos, a heartfelt thank you and scripture.  The scripture was James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Miranda and her family persevered through this trial and are now giving back.  She has donated items for events, brought lunch but this hand made thank you note was priceless.  The photos represent family, and that is what a site team can become because WE are all part of the family of God.

Sharing our Lives

Last week a friend of mine sent me this verse.  "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."  1 Thessalonians 2:8.

Tonight I reflected on how that looks in the context of Mission Southside. 

Nearly 3 years ago I met a woman named Tina.  She is a single mom who's husband was deported shortly before her second child was born.  They didn't keep up with his visa, and once deported, couldn't afford the legal fees to get him back. 

Meanwhile, Tina is raising her girls on her own as a single mom.  She does everything for her girls always putting them before everything else.  She loves the Lord, and that shows in her girls.

The last few weeks I have been trying to help her with a budget to get back on track financially.  There is no wiggle room in her budget what so ever. 

One thing I knew we could take out of her budget was haircuts.  I called my friend, Amy, and she agreed cut the girl's hair for free.

Last night we met at the new Ministry Center.  I brought pizza and we were able to sit at the dining room table in the kitchen and share a meal.  Tina's 4th grade daughter prayed for our meal.  We had a sweet time of finding out what was happening at school. 

After the girls got hair cuts, my friend asked if mom wanted a haircut, too?  Reluctantly she agreed.

This single mom has been stressed by the challenges of life.  Not knowing if she would get enough hours each week to pay her bills and paying for day care regardless.  Helping the girls with homework, potty training, putting a meal on the table. 

For a brief time last night, I hope she felt taken care of.  She could relax and feel like someone did something for her.  I pray she felt genuine care for her and what is happening in her life. 

Look around you.  Is there someone that even a few hours of your time could benefit?  Even more, is there someone you can do LIFE with?  Not just telling about the Gospel, but living it out and being an example?  There are so many friends who need a caring compassionate ear and perhaps someone to share a meal with.  What time, treasure or talent can you lend to someone else?

This is just the beginning of what kinds of relationship building activities can take place at our new Ministry Center.  I can't wait to see what God is going to do!

What's Mine is Yours

Tonight as I get ready to land on my soft comfortable bed in my own bedroom, I reflect on the evening's events....  Let me start by telling you about Pilar.  Pilar lives in a community where there are actually people sleeping on the floor.  She lives in a community where many families own one car, if any.  She lives in a community where neighbors never used to come out and definitely didn't LOVE each other.

    Almost a year ago she asked me if we could study the bible.  When I showed up expecting to meet a few ladies, it was actually 9.  Nearly all of those ladies today still come to the picnic table every Wednesday to study God's Word.

So here is the thing about Pilar.  She truly LOVES HER NEIGHBORS.  She is still inviting people to our bible study.  She invited a woman to our study about 4-5 months ago.  Her name is Imelda.  Pilar not only wants to meet their physical needs, which are numerous, but she wants to meet their spiritual needs with the hope found in Jesus.

 Imelda and her husband and two sons were homeless and doubled up with another family.  This week, her family moved into the apartment complex where we spend a lot of time and where she attends our weekly bible study.  Pilar asked if she could bring her to Mission Southside because she needed some things.  When she came out we discovered they owned a twin mattress......yup.  that is all they had to their names.  All she wanted was a bed for her boys.  She was even so embarrassed to take anything else we offered and with tears in her eyes kept saying we had already given her so much.  At that point it was some dishes and Jesus.  Well, because of the many generous donations we receive at Mission Southside, we were able to give her so much more. She left that day with some pots, pans, dishes, cooking utensils and some blankets,  My husband delivered a couch, a table, a bunk bed, a beautiful queen mattress and box springs donated by a friend from church.  Pilar's husband was there to help, and Juan, a gentleman whose family we have helped in the past came to help.  As people watched a few other fellows came out to assist in moving this heavy couch to the second floor.  They, too, were Loving their Neighbor in action.

When we went into the apartment there was literally nothing.  Nothing to sit on, nothing on the walls, and in the boys room, no toys except for 4 tiny carnival or gumball machine trinkets that rested on the window sill.  As I looked at the rooms it appeared that there were actually two twin size mattresses.  One in mom and dad's room with a bible simply resting on it.  The other in the boys room.  When we went to move the mattress in the boy's room we discovered it was in fact the box spring. These two little boys had been sleeping on a hard box spring just so they wouldn't lay on the cold tile floor.

Accidentally the awesome Leaders in Training crew had loaded a love seat and an extra twin mattress on the truck.  Of course we could take it back to Mission Southside, but, what if there was still a need here?  When I asked Pilar if there was anyone else she could think of that perhaps had a need, she immediately thought of a woman who recently moved into the complex the week prior.  Pilar's daughter, Litzi, ran over to her apartment and asked if she might like to come look at these two items.
A young woman, probably not more than 25, came over with two little children.  The look on her face was one of distrust.  Why would these strangers be offering me furniture?  Why would these strangers just want to give this to me?  As Pilar and Imelda began talking to her and caring for her needs, with tears in her eyes, she conceded.

My husband drove the truck around to her apartment and all of the gentleman followed.  They took a twin mattress and a beautiful love seat up to her apartment.  As my husband and Juan and Litzi emerged from the apartment, they all started telling me that she was going to need some more stuff.  Pilar started chatting with her about her needs.  She was just like Imelda, so beyond grateful for these few things, she didn't want to take advantage of our kindness.  Pilar invited her to bible study and offered to bring her out to Mission Southside to get some pots and pans, blankets, etc.

As we walked away, Imelda was grinning ear to ear.  she just kept saying thank you and thanks to God.  And I turned to her and said, "What's mine is yours.  Everything belongs to God".  We all hugged and left.

When I got home I opened up my bible to the scripture pictured above.  Acts 4:32-35  No one claimed that ANY of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were NO NEEDY PERSONS among them.

What if we shared what we had?  I'm not just talking about physically.  What if we shared our time?  What if we got to actually know our neighbors down the street instead of making assumptions and judging them because of how little they had or the bad decisions that put them in the place they are today?  What if we took an hour a week to study God's word with a group of people who have perhaps NEVER studied God's word?

 The book of Acts really emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s Word and the transformation that occurs as a result of knowing Christ.  Is that what is happening here? 
 And isn't the book of Acts a history of the early church?  What if our church today looked a little more like what the early church did?  What if we were like Jesus' apostles and continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's grace was so powerfully at work in all of us that there were no "needy" persons among us.

School's Out for Summer.....Yea?

Thinking back to my childhood....I couldn't wait to get out of school for the summer.  Church camp.  Girl Scout Camp.  Vacations.  Royal's games.  Late night games of hide and seek, cops and robbers and baseball under the lights.

  Flash forward 30 years to now.  My kids are filled with the anticipation of our week long family vacation, soccer try-outs, hours at the softball field, sleeping late.  The pantry and fridge are full with fun summertime snacks.  The neighborhood pool is about to open, and they will spend hours there.  Life is good.

2 miles down the road the feelings are not the same.  When 5 kids were asked on the last day of school if they were excited to be out of school, the answer was a resounding "NO".

Come again???  What kids aren't excited about summer vacation?  When asked why they weren't excited it was because they were going to miss their teachers.  One guy even said that he cried four times that day!  You see, the teachers at their school are the most caring, compassionate teachers some of our friends will ever meet.  They go above and beyond.  They become family to many of our friends.

The other reason summer is not necessarily looked forward to, is because of food.  As noted above, it takes a lot more to stock the pantry at my house during the summer.  Three teenagers who normally eat lunch at school, are all of a sudden home for 3 meals a day.  Here is the difference for our friends.  Many of them receive free breakfast and lunch at school.  When summer hits, it becomes a little more expensive to stock the cupboard when your kids are home now for three meals a day.

Yesterday a soon to be 7th grade boy called me.  He called to chat about something we are doing this summer, but during the conversation I could tell something was bugging him.  I told him I would always listen.  About an hour later, he texted me to tell me that he did want to tell me what was wrong.  You see, his single mom lost her job this week.  The cable was already shut off and they received a 3 day notice for the gas and electricity.  He said his mom wouldn't want anyone to know.  She would "handle" it.  I asked if they had food.  He said, no, because his mom needed to save money for the bills.  UGH!  3 kids times 3 meals, and no food equals 3 very hungry kids.

So, while we are enjoying our summer vacations, some of us traveling to multiple locations.  While our kids are playing multiple summer sports, and we are complaining a bit about our teenagers eating us out of house and home, please remember these kids.  Some bored, some missing some very significant teachers/mentors/friends, some facing homelessness and many eating their rationed food for the week.  Many not playing sports, many not going swimming when it costs $5-$6 a person, and most longing for the day that school will begin again.