Can it possibly be?
It is July 5th? At the
end of the week Dan and I keep asking each other where the days went. Our friend Henry chided a new comer to the
area when he declared he was going to buy a kayak and spend his days
fishing. Henry said he was going to do
the same thing when he moved here. Years later, he has been fishing twice. Life is too busy.
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| This beautiful table made with donated cedar scraps. |
Yesterday we had planned to participate in grilling and
serving a Fourth of July meal to at the men’s shelter. The meal was open to anyone in the community. We were sure we would wrap that up quickly and have
plenty of time to make it to the lake.
It was late afternoon before we returned home. Exhausted, emotionally and physically but so grateful to have a home to return to. We are forever reminded, "Oh but by the Grace of God there go we." We would take a quick nap and play. Three hours later we awoke to darkened
skies.
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| From a discarded chair. They painted the frame and rebuilt the chair from an old pallet. |
My husband works there full time. He loves it.
I am not so noble. It tugs at my
heart strings too much. I want to fix it
all. I did well yesterday. In the sense I did not cry this time. My heart
really breaks for the mentally and physically challenged. Dan and I spoke of how they managed to
survive on the streets. No doubt they are
easy prey to predators.
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| Residents proudly display their "Fellowship Garden:" |
The lady who started
and directs this ministry is a very special lady. She does a great job in the administration of
the ministry. Her gift of mercy is
exceptional. Her job is not an easy one. It is fraught with stress and
disappointment. Yet, fueled with love
for these men, she carries on with all she has.
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| Grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers! |
This year the residents planted a garden. In addition, they
are beginning a wood working shop. The
need for job skills and self esteem is vital in restoring these men. They are
so excited. They are working in a warehouse without electricity and plumbing.
Powered by a generator they have turned out beautiful pieces. All the tools and
scrap wood has been donated. A large
portion of their projects are made from discarded pallets!
One gentleman summoned it best. He said to Dan, “We are
taking reclaimed materials making them into something new, beautiful and
useful; just as God has reclaimed us making some of us beautiful and useful
again.”
You keep a dry eye. I
double dog dare you!
Samaritan Ministries of Hot Springs, Inc
(501) 321-2888
www.samaritanhs.org
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new. II Corinthians 5:17
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