On Thanksgiving Day, the food was cooked to perfection, loaded into “cambros” (insulated tubs that keep food hot); we broke up into teams and set out to visit each household. This morning, at our devotional meeting, each team shared stories of their time with our new friends. Some ate together with them; some visited and left plenty of food to be enjoyed for days to come; some food was dropped off at the door because friends and family had unexpectedly shown up at the house. Most everyone was prayed with and for. The team members listened as our guests talked. We heard heartbreaking stories of sickness, hard breaks, self-sacrifice, incarceration, the inability to get work, fear and perhaps most of all, loneliness, the feeling they are forgotten. Audrina was reminded of the quote attributed to Mother Theresa, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” As they listened, the Lord gave them words of encouragement and comfort to share. One woman cried most all of the visit as she told of the heartbreak and abuse she had endured. She talked of the son she had but she knew that he wouldn’t be visiting, she said. The team prayed with her and as the prayer ended came a knock on the door. It was her son! Thank you Jesus!! One of our young men who were assigned to visit a woman who was probably in her 90’s was impressed and blessed at the wisdom born of experience she shared as they visited. When the team arrived to the people living in the woods, they were amazed to see how the camp had been made ready to receive them-given the circumstances, it was so clean and neat, those they visited so very hospitable and gracious. A crew member who had actually been homeless herself years ago said she knew the feeling of hopelessness that grows the longer one is in that situation and she was able to encourage them that she was living proof that the Lord can absolutely change and bless your circumstances! Some of the young people commented on how seeing and hearing what little these people have and how much they have endured, put their own lives into a new perspective. Even though their situation was tough, many who knew the Lord were so joyous and full of Jesus, so grateful for the food and most of all the visit and the prayers. When our team visited with children who lived in high risk areas and were recognized from when we minister in the parks, the Sea Hawks realized that the children we see on routine outreaches are often returning home to dire circumstances, the work we do there taking on new significance. It was a blessing all around and we are so grateful the Lord allowed us to share our Thanksgiving with people in need and live out Luke14: 13-14 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Thank you for your prayers, help and gifts. You helped us reach out to these wonderful people and demonstrate the love of our great Lord and Savior Jesus.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 17:50:38 +0000
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