At home, Our two children are generally grateful and content children. Recently, our 6 yr old daughter has been feeling less than content and has been focussing on things that others may have or what others may be allowed to do. We want her to feel blessed, because she is! I also want her to know that the rules that we have are to keep her safe and healthy. I know that is a lofty goal, I vividly recall thinking that some choices made by my parents were arbitrary and even mean. Now i see that those boundaries were for my well being.
I talked to John about this recent increase in "that's not fair" and "how come SHE gets to?" and "when can I have that?". It was really wearing on me, not that I was going to compromise on the rules but I hoped that we could work on her perspective. John suggested that we try to get her involved in some volunteer work so that she could see how blessed she is.
My new friend, Liz, recently shared that she is very affected by seeing the homeless. I share her feelings of helplessness and have often felt that the problem is so big that I couldn't ever make a dent. Over lunch, we talked about ways that we could help, some big and some small.
I have been reading through the bible, cover to cover, in 90 days. It is the most dedicated that I have been to a bible reading plan. I have avoided watching tv or reading magazines, etc until I have completed by bible reading for the day. I have an application on my blackberry (also available on iphone) that has been a big help. (Check out youversion.com if you want to see the reading plans) I always have my phone so I use little bits of time during the day to read, at the bus stop, waiting for an appointment. Through out the Old Testament (days 1-70 of the plan), God reminds us to help the poor. Failing in this regard is often listed as a reason for God's wrath. This theme is repeated again and again and continues in the New Testament as well. As Christians, we are to provide for those who need help. We read in Matthew that Jesus challenges us when we fail to see the needs of others and provide for them. Matthew 25:40 ..."I tell you the truth , whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." That passage really hit me...hit me in the stomach. When I feel helpless and then fail to care for someone, it is as if I walked past Jesus, my savior and did not help. I shared that passage with the children. When we help someone, it is like we are helping Jesus. He wants us to care for each other.
I talked to my daughter in the morning about helping people who don't have homes and we began to think of things that they would need. She was full of ideas, that need pillows, sleeping bags, coats, food, water...she was shouting out the things that they would need. I wondered if she would understand that we would not be able to provide all those things. Then she decided that we needed to make a list to get organized. (That's my girl!) She was rushing off for paper while I got ready for the day. She sat down with her note pad and announced that she has thought of the most important thing that we could give. She showed me her paper, a single item was listed. Bible. I could hardly reply to her, i was so proud of her and it humbled me. I was thinking of toothbrushes, tissues, a poncho, food. I am not sure that the bible would have made my list. Indeed, I need faith like a little child, like my little child.
We decided that we would go on tuesday to DC and look for homeless people and give them each a bag of items that we collected. We gathered bibles, snacks, toothbrushes, tissues, hand wipes, rain ponchos and collected tote bags of every description to carry the goodies in to the city. Driving in the van, Melanie and I were dicussing what we had purchased and what else we could get. We picked up one small tent at Walmart and several small items of food and personal hygiene items. Melanie was very excited about helping and announced, "You know Mommy, we are really saving their lives. I mean, we are giving them the Bible." (WOW!)
Today was the big day. We rode up to the metro station with a close girlfriend of mine and met up with Liz and her kids. She had several other items to add to the bags so we sorted the items and started for the station. We were a group of 3 adults, 4 kids and 2 wagons FULL of bags.
I feel like I always see homeless people in and around the city. Now that I felt equiped to help, we couldn't see any homeless people. We arrived at the Natural History Museum and got tickets for the butterfly exhibit. (free tickets on tuesdays) Then we headed out in search of those that might need our goodies.
We walked and walked and looked and really struggled to see anyone on the streets. I doubt that there are so few homeless people around, but I just didn't know where to look. Eventually, we spotted a man at a corner. He was sitting and writing and he had some bags around him. He didn't have a sign or a cup for change but it seemed apparent that he was living on the street. He was writing on a file folder and seemed hesitant to look up at us. I was very anxious about what his reaction to us might be. I had told Melanie that not everyone would want our help. (I had consulted a friend with a lot of homeless ministry experience about what to expect) Melanie was not concerned, maybe because she is not aware of the risk or because she was SO excited to help someone. She and I approached the man and offered him a bag and a sandwich. He asked our names and thanked us both. He confirmed the spelling of both names and thanked us again. I shook his hand and he seemed surprised and grateful. Melanie picked up the tent and offered it to him. He wished us a good day and said, "God bless you." It is hard to express how I felt at that. This man has so little and he is asking God to bless me. I know that people say that often but I felt that he truly meant it. We continued down the street, tearful, humbled and relieved.
Throughout the course of our day, we met about 14 homeless people. Some politely declined our offers, but most responded like the first man. They were thankful and asked God to bless us. Many were thanking us before they opened the bags to see what we were giving them. Several were surprised that we wanted them to keep the bags. Some were funny and joked with us. One man saw us coming up the street, Owen scrambled to get a bag to give to him. He laughed, "That's right. Get Mommy's purse and bring me the money." All in fun and very light hearted. He was happy to learn that we really did have something for him. Again, God Bless you.
We passed Franklin Park and noticed a group of people gathered together. As we passed, I saw a sign on an old shopping cart "Street Church Tues 1pm." There were about 20 homeless people gathered to hear the message. They had food and cases of water stacked near the service. Once we were a respectful distance, I stopped to explain to Melanie about what they were doing.
(I found a website that describes the ministry and how to support them, visit www.epiphanydc.org/downloads/St_church.pdf to learn more)
We were returning to the Smithsonian just in time for our timed tickets to the butterfly exhibit and saw another man asked tourists for change so that he could purchase a meal. He seemed frustrated that people were ignoring him. We stopped and got a bag for him. He took it and looked up to the sky and said, "God is good!" He didn't know what he was being given but accepted it and was truly thankful.
After we viewed the amazing butterflies in the Smithsonian, we headed home on the metro. We arrived at the van and said goodbye to Liz and her children. I started the van and was shocked to see the time. I was supposed to be at Chick fil a in Laplata to prepare for our spirit night fundraiser. As we headed home, I called everyone I could think of to see who could get over to Chick fil a to get things started and hold the fort until we could arrive. Again, so blessed with a community group who could help me out. When we made it to chick fil a, we saw a number of "carpenter for christ" shirts and many other familiar faces in attendance. We had 43 customers who requested for John's missions trip to be credited with the proceeds.
-Thanks Elizabeth Prinkey for designing our tee shirts!!After 7pm, the event was officially over and I sat with a few friends talking about our amazing trip into DC. A man who was ordering at the counter noticed my shirt, with the details of the chick fila night and asked me, "Where is John Hall going on his mission trip?" I answered, "John is my husband and he is in Indonesia now helping to build a house for missionaries." The man indicated that he knew that I was John's wife (it says so on my shirt) and handed me a cash donation. I don't know who he was or if he knew John or just saw the shirt.
Today was a powerful day for me. I went to DC with the intention of teaching my children about gratitude and to be a blessing to those living on the street. However, I was the one who was blessed. I am overwhelmed and it more than I could have expected or deserve. I am thankful to serve a God who has blessed me with a savior that I desperately need and could never earn or deserve.
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