Many of you know that Logan, Faith Anna, and I volunteer in south Dallas at a soup kitchen for the homeless. We partner with Cornerstone Baptist Church and serve at the Women's Ministry on Thursday mornings in the clothes closet....and afterward help serve the meal to over 150 friends in need. This has been the highlight of our homeschooling adventure this year. Teaching my children what it means to have a servant's heart....there's no pricetag on that.So! Early this spring, we felt like the Lord was leading us to take these women that we serve each Thursday away on a "retreat". Just the thought of it brought smiles to our faces.... Retreats tend to be for the "privileged folks" who can take a leisurely weekend away. But these women...most don't have a place to live and they only own what's on their backs. So the more we prayed about it, the more God began to open the doors for an amazing thing to take place. Basically, He decided to show off a little bit...
God brought 20 women from south Dallas....He provided through volunteers an overnight bag for each women complete with everything you or I would take on a retreat: a change of clothes, pajamas, undergarments, socks, shoes, flip flops, a toiletry bag, a bible, journal, tote bag, and bedding with sheets, blanket, pillow or sleeping bag. We took the sizes of all the women that we were able to get ahead of time, so that their bags would be individualized for each one. Of course, we had lots of swopping once we got there...things that didn't fit, etc. But you should have seen the looks on each face as they opened up their bags! It was like Christmas morning on steroids. I will never ever forget the hoots and hollers, the smiles, the screams of joy, as these women dug into their gifts. They had never experienced anything like this. A free gift. No cost. Just because we love them. Sound familiar? :)
Our theme verse for the weekend was this:
"To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." Revelation 21:6
This is Denise Joiner. She works with a ministry through Cornerstone called From Bondage to Freedom: Women in Transition Re-entry Program. Basically, Denise helps women who are exiting prison, to get back on their feet again. She is an amazing woman!
Anita, Bonita, and Emma
Halee, Maribeth, and Amanda. (We even had cigarettes donated for the weekend. Makes me laugh remembering kids at YoungLife camp sitting outside in the "smoking area". Anyway, Amanda is showing off the cigs.)
Halee, Maribeth, and Amanda. (We even had cigarettes donated for the weekend. Makes me laugh remembering kids at YoungLife camp sitting outside in the "smoking area". Anyway, Amanda is showing off the cigs.)
Sarah, Neesey, and India. Sarah is 53 and has 2 great grandchildren. Yes, you do the math. These women are born into a cycle, that unless broken continues on to their kids and grandkids. I had the privilege of driving Sarah and Neesey home on Sunday, so I got to know them even better. And getting a glimpse into their living situations as I dropped each off....this too is a sight that I will not soon forget.
Shirley, Shereena, Marilyn, Mary, and Laurie... several of these ladies I had not met before. They live at a homeless shelter called The Bridge...and just heard about the retreat and wanted to come. As I was getting to know them, I thought they were saying they lived under "a bridge" somewhere downtown. Then they explained about the name of the shelter and how it "bridges the gap" between homelessness and community re-entry. See how clueless I am? Man, my eyes were opened WIDE this weekend. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about cocaine and all it's forms....crack, the pipe, powder. I learned about cheese, formaldehyde, marijuana. I learned about how they get it, how addictive it is, and how badly they want out. I learned more than I wanted to know about prostitution and abuse. My heart basically broke into a million pieces....and then I felt my Savior picking them all up again. He is the healer of broken things...broken hearts....broken lives. He created each one of these women with a purpose....to praise Him. It was truly a privilege to be a small part of what God is doing in and among these women in south Dallas. He has tied my heart to theirs...
2 friends that volunteer from Watermark Church, Kim and Jennifer, with Sarah.
Our dinner Sat night was provided from one of the Bible study groups at our church. It was wonderful!
This is Haylee and Amanda...they brought the music to us this weekend...plus lots of other entertainment. They are wonderful college girls who have such a heart for worship. Check them out at www.hayleeandamanda.com
Sporting their new pj's.
Tammy and Diane with one of our fearless leaders, Shelley.
Michelle and I
Laurie and Marilyn
Bev and Shelley... our two leaders. These are such amazing women that I am privileged to sit under and learn from. Plus they're a whole lot of fun!
Amanda gave pedicures to these women. Talk about serving. Here she is loving on Shereena.
I gave facials... Tammy and I are enjoying a mud mask.
Haylee has an art degree from UTD....and boy howdy is she talented. She did sketches for several of the ladies.
This is Haylee with Keshawn. Keshawn is only 29...and since the age of 9 has been addicted to drugs. She is an amazing young woman who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life. As she shared her story with me, my heart began to yearn for hope, for justice, for truth, for a break in the cycle. I loved getting to know her.
Deborah meditating on the Word.
Diane snoring on the couch. :)
Here are some of the ladies watching The Secret Life of Bees. I forget what a luxery it is to just kick back and watch a movie.
Bev and Keshawn... indulging me in my facial offerings.
Diane was so funny. She took a ribbon and tied herself to the front porch. She said she never wanted to leave this place...
Another sweet friend of mine, Carolyn, with Anita.
Neesey and Miss Rose...or "Sister Rose" as she likes to go by.
Mary and Pat. Pat is always quiet... but I got a few words and smiles out of her this weekend. I wish I could hear all those thoughts that are going on in her head.
Shereena wanted me to take a "full-length" picture of her out on the grounds. Again, I forget the luxery of having photographs of our journey through life. Many of these women have no pictures of themselves.
Diane giving Jennifer some braids.
And Tammy fixing up Miss Bev.
Boxed lunches and snacks for the weekend were provided by McCallister's Deli. I couldn't believe the kindness of so many to pitch in for this weekend.
Sarah, Neesey, Anita, and I. What a glorious time loving on some new friends. The pastor of Cornerstone, Chris Simmons, had this to say after the weekend:
"This weekend transformed women whose lives have been shattered by sexual and physical abuse, instability, homelessness, and despair into women who felt dignity, worth, and HOPE!!! Thank you for partnering with Cornerstone and loving.... THE LEAST OF THESE...just like our God....where they are and as they are to bring them to the Cross."
