Earlier this week, we shared about the friend we met, Greg*, who was still outside in the cold and too fearful to go into one of the emergency shelters… knowing that this decision could mean that he could freeze. We had hoped that a small, nearby emergency shelter would be an alternative that he would be comfortable with, but we soon learned from someone who knows him that he had again decided to stay outside. This friend of his, who got placed in a motel room, had also been trying to get Greg to come with them to the motel, but he had declined them as well—so they at least got him to stay in one of their tents while they were gone.
As she had promised, Elisabeth went back late Wednesday, to check on Greg. She found him alone in a tent that had practically deflated around him. After several attempts at trying to get him to agree to go to the motel, Elisabeth asked if he would at least open the tent so that he could see her face—hoping that he could see that she genuinely cared about him. Our friends often find it hard to believe that someone they don’t know… someone that might look very different from them, wants to genuinely help them and care for them, without expecting anything in return. They don’t believe they are “the one” whose life is worth saving or someone who is even worthy of a warm shower and bed. Greg opened the tent, and it became clear he was struggling. He revealed to Elisabeth that he had neuropathy in his legs, so it was difficult for him to even walk. He additionally revealed that he was too ashamed of his poor appearance and hygiene to leave his tent and let someone take him to the motel.
We all know that God works in mysterious ways, but sometimes they’re not mysterious at all… we find that God works quite often through a warm smile, a genuine hug, a gentle prodding and reminder that you're seen as made in the image of God—one of his beloved, valued children. We most often see God’s hand in those spaces where love is offered unconditionally, without judgment or expectation.
Greg finally agreed to go with Elisabeth, and he has spent the last two nights in a warm motel bed. He also has several new pairs of shirts, pants and some jackets that are exactly his size. What even Elisabeth didn’t know when she brought him to the motel, was that someone had donated some clothes to us earlier in the day that happened to be just Greg’s size. For someone who has experienced homelessness, like Greg, and has most likely had to wear donated clothes that are either too small or too big… having clothes that fit just right is a special blessing that is not taken for granted.
In all, we have moved 43 friends and 12 dogs into a nearby motel. We wish you could see and hear their joy and appreciation, their prayers of gratitude to God—and to those of you they may never meet but who they know made it possible for them to have the life-saving gift of a warm bed to sleep in. And we will continue to keep looking out for many of the “ones” that God has placed in our path long after the temperature warms up and the snow clears.
Комментарии