Sarah Smith
May 17th, 2010, 02:13 PM
I posted yesterday how God blessed us at church. Shortly after the doorbell rang. It was "V".
To give you a short background: we live and reach out in a neighborhood rife with gangbangers, druggies, and dealers. "V" and her family used to live next door. They suffer a myriad of problems, but suffice it to say their kids are usually hungry (I mean as in for days), sometimes violent, and mom and dad seem to lack in the ambition department.
"V" and her husband (?) wanted to borrow some tools to fix the car. My dh loaned them to them. When they brought the tools back, they asked to borrow the tiller so they could PLANT A GARDEN.
They loaded the tiller in our truck and we went visiting. The kids were proud to show me two filled refridgerators. I almost lost it when the little girl proudly proclaimed "I won't be hungry tonight for sure." "V" proudly showed us the plants she has started indoors. Her husband spent time telling my husband that they have a plan: he thinks they can get the money together in about six months and move to another state where he has a much better chance of GETTING A JOB. Has a line on one there already, and sounds like it will be held for him. Picked that state so "V" can grow their food and for better schools.
While there we got to meet their neighbors. If his gang tats are authentic (they better be if he intends to stay alive!) he is in with some very bad dudes. His wife came over and we talked awhile. That young couple is very interested in "whatever is changing V and her old man." What is changing them is hanging around with people that hang around with Jesus. I'm hopeful we can reach out to "T" and her husband also.
There we sat: not so little old church lady me, dh about a month out of surgery, V and her family who still have so far to go and who, all but two, still need salvation, one very scarey looking gangbanger and his lady, sitting on the back steps while the two young guys took turns running the tiller and sharing canning recipes, gardening tips, a bit of Jesus, and just generally letting two very different worlds collide.
Ain't God good?!
To give you a short background: we live and reach out in a neighborhood rife with gangbangers, druggies, and dealers. "V" and her family used to live next door. They suffer a myriad of problems, but suffice it to say their kids are usually hungry (I mean as in for days), sometimes violent, and mom and dad seem to lack in the ambition department.
"V" and her husband (?) wanted to borrow some tools to fix the car. My dh loaned them to them. When they brought the tools back, they asked to borrow the tiller so they could PLANT A GARDEN.
They loaded the tiller in our truck and we went visiting. The kids were proud to show me two filled refridgerators. I almost lost it when the little girl proudly proclaimed "I won't be hungry tonight for sure." "V" proudly showed us the plants she has started indoors. Her husband spent time telling my husband that they have a plan: he thinks they can get the money together in about six months and move to another state where he has a much better chance of GETTING A JOB. Has a line on one there already, and sounds like it will be held for him. Picked that state so "V" can grow their food and for better schools.
While there we got to meet their neighbors. If his gang tats are authentic (they better be if he intends to stay alive!) he is in with some very bad dudes. His wife came over and we talked awhile. That young couple is very interested in "whatever is changing V and her old man." What is changing them is hanging around with people that hang around with Jesus. I'm hopeful we can reach out to "T" and her husband also.
There we sat: not so little old church lady me, dh about a month out of surgery, V and her family who still have so far to go and who, all but two, still need salvation, one very scarey looking gangbanger and his lady, sitting on the back steps while the two young guys took turns running the tiller and sharing canning recipes, gardening tips, a bit of Jesus, and just generally letting two very different worlds collide.
Ain't God good?!