Day 125

It just so happened that I was up very late last night and I had a little grandson wake me up this morning at 6:40. So this morning's activities seem as if they were some sort of dream. We watched a movie that we've watched dozens of times and then headed out to Golden Corral for breakfast. For me it was a money maker for the people there. I only had some scrambled eggs and grits. The kids however love the idea of returning to the food over and over again - which I'm glad for. 
Our church has an Outreach House Ministry. The actual building is an old house that is located across the street from the church. Two Saturdays every month the Outreach House is open to individuals in need of food, clothing, referrals, advice, and prayer. They serve a wonderful purpose especially in times like this when so many are in need of help. Now 4 or 5 times each year, as the congregation leaves Sunday worship, they are handed large paper grocery sacks with the following note attached:
Thank you for generously providing the following non-perishable food items for the Maiden Lane Ministries Food Pantry (Springfield Campus)

• 1 can tuna
• 1 can Vienna sausage
• 1 can pork and beans
• 1 - 1 pound box of spaghetti
• 1 can spaghetti sauce
• 2 cans vegetables (any kind)
• 1 can ravioli
• 1 can soup (any kind)
• 1 box jello (any flavor)
• 1 box macaroni and cheese
• 1 jar peanut butter

Additional quantities from the list above are always welcome.
Optional items you may want to include: canned juices, vitamins, baby food, baby formula, cereal, boxed cookies or crackers, fruit snacks. 
Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you.
The collection starts tomorrow. The nice thing is I don't even need to carry the bag(s) in from the car. We just need to leave the bags on the ground right outside the car trunk and the youth will come and pick them all up.  

My 'helpers' came to the store with me and helped me choose all the items on the list.

When we arrived home, we unloaded and sorted everything so we could fill up the bags. 
And now the bags are ready to be dropped off tomorrow morning. 

I appreciate the help I got this morning and I also appreciate all the people that invest their time and energy into the Outreach House and serving those people that are so desperately in need. It's just one way of showing the neighborhood the hands of Jesus. One expression that I have heard many times before but it still sticks in my head:

You may be the only Bible

that some people read in their lifetime. 

Share that good news with as many as you can.

Wade has been looking for an easy chair for his hootch so that he can watch television in a little bit of comfort. He asked one of his interpreters to look for something that he might be able to buy. So this is what was delivered to Wade for his room. Doesn't exactly look comfortable to me, but Wade said he will look for some blankets and/or pillows to 'soften' it up. Plus he will be able to disassemble it and ship it home when he is done. 

This afternoon I took a nice nap and now I'm just enjoying a quiet Saturday evening. The weather is beautiful and it's very peaceful here.