I’m waiting to pick up my ten year old granddaughter (that’s her picture at right) as we’re going to Hollywood for 3 days and then taking the train back to Corvallis. I’m thinking about what a wonderful trip this is! When each grandchild turns ten I take them on a trip with just me. It’s a way to keep connected with grandchildren who all live 3,000 miles away.

It’s a privilege to be able to do this and I love it. But, while I’m sitting here waiting, I’m also thinking about the 18 year old boy who has 28 days of school left and his family kicked him out because “at 18 you should be on your own”. He’s a senior – how will he finish high school? I’ve called several people to ask if they’d be interested in housing him for the month and am waiting to hear.

I’m thinking about the farm family whose dad is injured and whose mom is sick. Some of our wonderful volunteers have been helping with some of the chores. But, how will they keep it all up?

I’m thinking about the mom who fled her abusive husband and came from across the country, is living in a shelter with her children and has already found a job. It’s not the best paying or most fun job – but, it’s a job.

I’m thinking about our volunteer who has been addicted to drugs for years but now has been clean for 24 months and hopes to get back into an apartment and regain custody of her children. She works hard to give back to the community that has helped her. She comes and cleans our toilet, vacuums our carpets and brings out our trash. She is regularly attending a local church and is an example to young women who are just beginning the sobriety program.

Thank you God for my family and friends and the love they show me and I pray that all the others I’m thinking of will also receive the love I do and that I always remember to think of them and pray for them.

Wilma

What a shock! To come home from church and find your home of 50
years burning down – and even a greater shock – apparently it’s started by a 9
year old neighbor boy.

 
But what a quick response from so many of you – some brought linens,
some a coat and pants for the wife, one brought home made soup – all within
24 hours of being asked. This was an incredible encouragement to a couple
who never asked for help. I had gone there and simply noticed that they might
need these items.

 
And then the husband became ill and needed to move out of the motor
home into an apartment while the investigation continues and the house is
rebuilt. We received a phone call asking if we by any chance could have a lift
chair – she knew it was unlikely but just perhaps we might. I started to laugh.
It wasn’t even 5 minutes earlier that someone had told us they were bringing
one to our office and I had been whining about where we were going to store
it. God sure has a sense of humor.

 
Two strong men were willing to deliver it to the new apartment. Even
before the couple moved in, the lift chair was there. Within an hour I could call
and let a happy wife know that the lift chair was already in the new apartment.
She said, “that’s a miracle”. “Yes, indeed!” was my response.

 
Isn’t it fun to watch God work!!

It’s Spring – beautiful, sunny, warm weather one day and snow and sleet the next. Or should I say, beautiful, sunny, warm weather one hour and snow and sleet the next?

It’s a lot like us and some of the people we work with. One day, we are moving forward. The next day, we’re moving backwards.

One of the women we worked with a few years ago at the women’s shelter had an addiction issue. But, she is a Christian and wanted to live a better life. She got help and got into her own apartment. She was doing well. But, she felt horrible not letting some of her friends crash there and making them sleep outside in the cold. So, she let them in.

Now, she has no apartment anymore and is back into her addictions. Do we cut her off? Do we say, “You’ve had your chance” or do we work with her again and if she wants to try again, do we give her another opportunity?

Some of the people we help, will need help for the rest of their lives. Some are disabled, some are elderly, some have severe mental illnesses and cannot think clearly. Do we help them for the rest of their lives?

But, other people are able to help themselves. They are able to work and get their own place but for whatever reason–generational poverty, poverty thinking, laziness, addictions–whatever; they don’t take care of themselves or their families and want others to continue to help them. How do we truly help them and not enable them? Does just saying “no” really help them?

Just a few of the struggles that we deal with on a regular basis at Love In the Name of Christ. We want to show love. How do we best do it? We don’t have all the answers. But, on a day by day basis, we try to figure out, with God’s help and that of others, what is the better way to go for each individual.