Spring has sprung! It feels a little premature to make that declaration but the calendar says it’s time, the snow is melting, and sap is running and that’s good enough for me. We have had several days of warmer weather in the 50’s with the last few days cooling off a bit to highs in the 30’s. One of my colonies of honeybees survived the winter, while the other never built enough stores throughout the summer to sustain them. The colony that survived seems strong enough to make a productive summer of pollinating our shelter/pantry garden and gathering nectar. It feels a little cold and grey outside today but I know it won’t be long before we will smell the apple blossoms, taste the Juneberries, and hear the sounds of Little League in the ball field.
We have three single male residents staying with us right now. We had a family of three check out last week and another single man check out this week, some moving into apartments/houses of their own, while others not able to comply with our rules of absolute sobriety. The last two months we have seen a significant increase in calls from people looking for shelter. Spring is a transition time here where the harsh winter weather has abated but the summer work opportunities have not yet become available. We have one male participant in our Transitional Housing Program and he is doing well. Overall things are going smoothly here at the shelter. We have a Bible study on Tuesday morning’s here in the shelter office/library, a Wednesday night church Bible study, Friday morning men’s group, Friday afternoon ladies group, and church services on Sunday so there are many opportunities for our residents to hear the good news. Some of our residents are interested in the discussion and message while too many are not. All we can do is provide the opportunity.
The last 6 months have been both challenging and faith building. Going into December we had less than 2 months funding available to continue this ministry and were facing the very real possibility of major change here at the shelter. We were a little worried. God was not. Within the next three months we received over 24,000 dollars in small private donations, corporate donations, and community grants that seemingly came out of nowhere. A few days ago we received notice of a grant award from one of our annual grant program applications that will help sustain us through the end of the year. My prayer at that time was, and continues to be, that I have the courage to follow God’s plan for me with or without knowing what that plan looks like, ALWAYS trusting that God’s timing is perfect.
Lamentations 3:22-26 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. (KJV)
These words, written more than 2,500 years ago by the prophet Jeremiah, put to music as recently as the 1920’s, were the inspiration for my Grandmother’s favorite song. I can still hear her humming that tune as she busied about the kitchen, flour on her apron, licking icing from her fingers as she frosted a cake for someone’s wedding. I hear those words echo through time as I remember her singing that famous song in church with her distinctly beautiful voice, that once heard, is never forgotten. She passed away this January but leaves a legacy of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren raised to recognize God’s everlasting faithfulness. Never rich, she gave freely with everything she had; singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, cooking for neighbors, sewing, crocheting, quilting, spreading the gospel to everyone around her, sometimes even using words. Her trust was in God’s perfect timing for her life, her peace was in His faithfulness, and her willingness to do whatever she found in front of her was an inspiration to everyone she touched. She will be missed incredibly but I am so thankful for her influence in my life.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)
I used this verse in the last newsletter and you’ll forgive me for using it again. It encouraged me then, and it reassures me now, that we serve a living, everlasting, merciful God. It helps me understand that sometimes we will “soar on wings like eagles”, other times we will “run and not grow weary”, but even if all we can do today is walk, we will “walk and not be faint”, and that no matter what, “those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength”.
Thank you for your continued prayers. It is through your persevering faith in God’s ministry here that we are able to keep doing His work in our community. We are so thankful for your donations of time spent in prayer on our behalf, the gifts of day-to-day supplies, and your generosity of financial support that keeps us moving forward in HIS perfect timing.
In His Service,
Micah Dewing -Shelter Director
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)