Friday 4 April 2008

Mama and I - Friday morning volunteers

The past couple of months mama and I have been getting up early and going to the Path. The Path is a shelter for the homeless with facilities for both men and women. Recently, Ed & Darla, blogging friends asked how it was going.

We arrive at about 8AM. We meet with staff briefly and then take Path residents, men & women, job hunting! We are not enablers! We do not go in with them, we are transportation volunteers. As soon as we loaded up, today we had three, mama prays out loud for us as I drive. Bill one of the residents thanked mama for praying and thanked me for not closing my eyes and bowing my head! :o) We drove a total of 90 miles today. Today was a mixed blessing day.

We had to get Sean to an assisted Living Facility between 9AM and 10AM for an interview he had lined up yesterday. He was excited but very nervous, they need a cook and that was his background. While Sean was in having his interview the rest of us waited, and prayed. Bill, Tom & I sat on a bench outside of the Assisted Living facility and talked while waiting for Sean. We talked about Tom being delivered from smoking and his recent total commitment to Jesus.

After about 30 minutes Sean came out excited. His interview he felt went well. The lady manager was pleased with his honesty, he openly admitted that he had felony convictions on his record and that he had a history of drug use. She said that was not necessarily a problem. She would present that to the board tonight - so pray for Sean.

Tom has heavy equipment maintenance background so we checked several places for him. Bill has a background in construction so we checked a few places for him. The job market is slow so pray for these individuals.

Next Friday is our last day to volunteer. We head back to Michigan soon after that. So pray for the Path and the residents.

God bless! Mama & Papa

29 comments:

Robin said...

What a gift you are giving on so many levels...

God is smiling :) and so am I :)

CrossView said...

I don't think the link is right. =/
Is it...
http://www.pathofcitrus.org/
??
It's gotta be! =D
I love what they're doing! I so wish we had something like that here. Then again, maybe it's a good thing we don't. I don't think we have a very large homeless population so that may be why we don't have a homeless shelter??!!

Robin said...

Did you get the email I sent you the other day?

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - I don't think I did get your email. I got a couple about the blog questions I had.

Crossview - I think my link is okay now. There Are many homeless in this area. There are lots of resources out there in this area.

Anonymous said...

You and Mama don't just talk about being good Christians, it is the way you lead your life.

I did get a chuckle out of:

"mama prays out loud for us as I drive. Bill one of the residents thanked mama for praying and thanked me for not closing my eyes and bowing my head!"

Praying is a very reverent act, but it is perhaps one that is not best practised while driving on the highway. :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed - ALL of my prayers are based on common sense! HA! Especially when I am driving!!! We all chuckled in the van!! Mama may have had one eye open too!

Robin said...

Papa, those were the emails I was referencing, did they make sense?

Ed, I got a chuckle out of that same section.

Carol said...

I am glad that you two found such a worthy outlet for your love of people. May you both be greatly blessed for your service. They will miss you while you are up north for the summer. We anticipate your arrival!

Many others have already started trickling back home. We have a work team of about 40 volunteers showing up today for the work day. Paul will be keeping them busy. I have a funeral to attend...another aunt passed away. So glad she is safe at home!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - the emails were fine. I sent you a response the same day.

CDC - WE really love our church here and our community involvement.

Tanya said...

What a wonderful witness you two are being for others. Thank you for sharing that. Love Tanya

Robin said...

Papa, I never got your response...did it work?

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tanya, mama and I feel we are the ones being blessed!

Robin, I just sent you an email.

Tam said...

I wonder how many timed Mama prays under her breath while Papa is driving other times???

Anyways...my Father and Mother in Law were just hired on at our church to lead the Senior Ministry. My FIL preached on Palm Sunday about leaving a legacy. That is actually what they've named the Ministry, Legacy Ministries. But while he was teaching that weekend I kept thinking of you and Mama. How you have kept on and never stopped. You still LIVE. You still SERVE. We can't stop doing those things ever. And how we do thpse things will determine the kind of Legacy we leave behind.

Papa, you and Mama are going to leave one of the most tremendous legacies any of us will probably ever have the pleasure of recounting!

You continually blow me away. And I know you serve and live and love for HIS glory, not your own, which makes it that much more special and meaningful!

I love you both so much! you truly inspire all things good!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tam I hesitate w/this comment. We are not special. We are ordinary Christian folk yaw! We try to be obedient as God requires. If we are not obedient we disappoint our Heavenly Father. A legacy? God requires it. Too many senior Christians use Monistat1, 3, or 7. They think now that they are older, "being on fire" needs to be put out! (See Tam's recent post to get the drift!)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Oh yes Tam, mama prays when I drive - sometimes out loud. You need to ask her about her "Oh Honey! Honey! Honey! Honey! Honey! Honey! Honey! Thank you Jesus!" prayer she prayed one day when I was driving! That was her exact prayer!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful ministry. Bless you both!
Safe travels on your trip back to Michigan.

Darla said...

Papa sent you an email...let me know if you got it. I am on IM yahoo and also AIM but I do not have a Mac so I can't ichat...bummer, well I can't have everything. Thanks for always being so very patient and kind (yea and funny too), I will check back shortly..love your wisdom!

Indian Lake Papa said...

HisLife: Thanks for your comments! We really try to serve Christ the best we can. Mama has to keep me in check! We are anxious to get "home" to Michigan!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - try again - I have not got your email yet!

Anonymous said...

This touched me so much papa...I should have been the people you help, only by the grace of God did I not end up on the road of so many, with "records". I have my own record, it's just not official. No one should be discounted because of bad choices...we are all guilty. i thank God for you and Mama and your ministry. Love you both! Debs

Indian Lake Papa said...

GG - we all have "records" buy when we give our lives to Christ He wipes them clean.

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful that is true Papa. Honestly there are times when is it difficult for me to see past the flesh and minister to the spirit. I'm thankful that you and Mama have that gift. You both are so special, and a testimony of who I want to be when I grow up~

Indian Lake Papa said...

GG - with words like that its hard for me to keep mama so humble. Me, my humility is my strength!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - did you get my email ??? Sunday is a busy day for me. So bear with me!

Darla said...

I got it and replied, and forwarded the one from yesterday...no problem..today is a busy day for me too!

Tam said...

only you could bring monistat into this conversation.

OK Mama, DO TELL about that prayer?!

Indian Lake Papa said...

This is Mama, and the prayer was about a bad intersection ( 4 lanes) in the Detroit area and it was icy. Papa couldn't stop when the light turned red because of the ice. We went through sliding every which way between other cars without hitting anyone or anyone hitting us. It had to be GOD'S hand that kept us safe!!! I made it with dry pants too. :) Thank you Jesus!!

Carol said...

Hey Papa....we missed you at the first campfire of the season. There were 13 people and we had a hot dog roast. It was a nice balmy evening...no need for a jacket. Everyone said to tell you hurry home.

Had 45 people out from across the district for last Saturday's work day. Lots of sprucing up took place...then the camp fire that night with the locals.

Have fun these next few days as you wrap up on that end.

Heather said...

I will be praying for these men and the ministry. Thank you for serving the Lord with all your heart:)

Love and Blessings.....