New Life for Girls

A few weeks ago we went to New Life for Girls in Westminster. It was me, Tricia, Chrissy, Carol Davis, and Elizabeth Anglin.
I really didn't know what to expect! I was a little nervous...and was so glad when Tricia told me she was too!
We cooked dinner and brought it to them and sat around talking and making some cards. We sang together. It was awesome!
They each have amazing stories of how they got there, the things they have gone through in their lives, etc. It felt so good to be there just as an encouragement to them on their journey!
Ann talked about how she was kicked out of AA and told to go to the hospital and tell them she was going to kill herself. She didn't want to lie and so when she got to the hospital she asked them where the closest liquor store was. They wouldn't tell her. The security guard overheard her and after she called herself a cab, he asked her if she would like a bed and a warm breakfast in the morning. She didn't know if she should go with him, so he said if she wanted to go, to sit on the curb and he'd pick her up in about 15 minutes when his shift was over.
The cab came and asked her who the cab was for, and she said she didn't know why, but she told him she didn't know! She sat on the curb and waited...and waited...and finally the security guard pulled up and took her to his house, where his wife and children were waiting for her at home. She was there with them for 2 weeks! They took her out to eat, treated her so nicely, had the in-laws stay with her for a few days while the family went on a short vacation, etc. One day he told Ann that he had made a few calls and found a place for her...and wanted her to call them if she was ready to go. She called New Life, and not only went, but that security guard paid in full for her...everything...all the fees, all the evaluations, everything!
Lori said she had been an alcoholic for 20 years or so. She was clean for 5 years and thought she could handle anything. But then her son died, and 8 months later, her husband was murdered. She fell right back into it and is now back in rehab. She has a 9 and 11 year old.
She spoke of a time in college before she was a believer when a man would walk down the street everyday, evangilizing door to door. She said she told him he was not allowed to enter her property, not even her driveway. But each day he came by and stopped at her sidewalk and went on. One day he heard her listening to rock music. The next day she found a Christian Rock cd in her mailbox. She finally listened to it because she liked the beat...then the words started sinking in. Then, one day, she met that man by her mailbox...he led her to Christ and then married her! What an amazing heart for God he had!
We're going back on August 21, so more then!

Shepard's Hands

This past weekend I went to Baltimore City to hand out clothes and food to the homeless. It was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but oddly enough I was not uncomfortable there at all! There were so many people there to help and lots of people there helping them!
I got to spend the whole time handing out Bibles and Jesus bracelets to individuals...which I had never done before. It was such a special time though! People were so grateful and were mostly excited to listen!
We met a woman who said she was just baptized 4 weeks ago. She was shining when she talked about how she hadn't missed a Sunday church service yet since then! She got sad and started to tear up though when she told us how she didn't know how to pray so instead she just would remain silent. She said when she gets angry now she just tries to be still and wait for God to calm her down. I told her how great that was because most of us are still spewing all of our thoughts at God while He's trying to say "Shush girl I'm trying to talk to you!"...
We met a man who, after telling him the story and offering him a bracelet, showed us his warn bracelet on his arm and said he should be telling us the story! He was so nice, and I offered him a second bracelet and Bible to hand out to someone he knows. I then helped him look for some clothes for his "full figured" wife (she wasn't there) and when he picked up a pair of jeans and said "this might fit her" I said, "You know what, it doesn't even matter! Women don't care if things you pick out fit...she'll just be so glad you thought of her!" His face just lit up!
Heather was telling the Jesus story and I was just handing out the Bibles all day...and then I was given the bracelets to hand out. I was very nervous and stalled for a long time. But I'm glad I stepped out and got out of my comfort zone before I left and handed out the last bracelet to an older woman. She got all teary eyed when I told her and thanked me so much.
One of the women we talked to came back before I left just to thank me for taking the time to talk with her, and how special that was!
I love what Heather said about the beads, so I am going to share that, so I remember!
She would walk up to people and say "When you have a minute, I have a story that I'd love to share with you if you'd like to hear it." When they would come over, she would show them the bracelet and say,
"This story probably isn't new to you, but this was a new way of remembering it for me...This bracelet is to remind us of God's love and plan for us. This gold bead represents when God made us. We were perfect, made in His image...but then this black bead represents sin. Everyone sins...we might show it differently, but we all do it. But then this middle bead, the red, one, this is the most special one! It reminds us that Christ shed his blood on the cross for us! To make us clean, the white bead! He took all that sin away from us! Then this last bead, the green one, it represents us growing. Growing closer and closer to Him."
Then we would ask if they would like to wear it and would tie it on for them.