“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Sarah writing here:
Hi, thanks for checking back in with us to read about what God's up to here in Wilmington, NC!
Yesterday Mike and I were planning to go to the YMCA to exercise in the late afternoon so I decided to make dinner earlier in the day so we could just reheat it when we got home. Mike has been going out each day doing various things to continue pursuing God's direction in the plans for this ministry. He's been volunteering with various ministries that already serve food to people who are homeless, meeting with fellow ministers and meeting many people who currently roam the streets with no place to call home.
For some reason I decided to make extra pasta - just in case he met someone he wanted to invite for dinner. Well he didn't end up having any guests to bring home with him. We also ended up not feeling too into the idea of going to the YMCA. Mike suggested he take the boys outside to ride bikes in the parking area for our building. Abby's diaper supply was pretty low and we were low on milk and had a couple of WIC checks that would need to be used within a day or two, so I decided to take Abby with me to Walmart while the boys hung with Daddy.
Now, it is really hard for me to get in and out of Walmart quickly - no matter how few items may be on my list! Our Walmart happens to be in the middle of a remodel and the place was swamped! I felt like it was Christmas shopping season! Scary, I know! Anyway, Abby and I did pretty well on time for getting the few items needed and making our way to a check out aisle. I sent a text message to Mike letting him know I was in line. There were 2 customers ahead of us. One of which already was in the process of being checked out, and the second didn't have that many items in their cart. I have no idea why, but this process took F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!!! Luckily Abby fell asleep and God kept me patient. The cashier was fairly new but honestly there was no explanation for this - with only two people ahead of me it was 35 minutes from the time I sent the text to Mike to the time I was walking away from the register with my few items. I took the extra few moments to very politely mention it to the supervisor who had been to my register to help the cashier with my WIC checks.
So, I head outside and as I approach our van I see a man walking around the parking lot with a backpack on. I make eye contact and smile and continue to my van. Well the man walks up and from a few feet away very politely asks if I might happen to have some change so he can get himself a rotisserie chicken. I told him that my husband and I do not give out money but that I would be glad to go in and buy him a chicken. He seemed almost shocked and very appreciative that I would offer that to him and accepted my offer. So, we began to talk and I said to him that I would do him one better and that I had a nice pasta, broccoli and chicken dinner waiting at home and invited him to join us. We talked a while and he hesitated and so I persisted by introducing myself and sharing with him about this mission we are now on in life and a little bit about Mike's background.
A few of the statements he made during our conversation:
"Well, I wouldn't want to impose like that"
"I don't really feel comfortable"
"I'm dirty, you're not"
A few of the statements I made during our conversation:
"You are made in the image of God and you look just like Jesus to me"
"You're a human being, I'm a human being, I don't see any difference between us"
"I have a place at my table for you if you want it"
He said he was out here with a friend he was supposed to meet back up with and he wasn't sure where he was. I let him know his friend was welcome to join us too. I said it would take me a few minutes to load my groceries if he wanted to look for his friend.
Well, back and forth for several minutes, he said he would take a rain check and that he would just take the chicken for now. So I said, well, come on then, let's go in and get your chicken. Well he said he can't go into Walmart because he had been kicked out for stealing. So as I agreed to go in and buy the chicken I mentioned several times that if I go inside and buy this he better not leave. He assured me he would not and so I went in and got the chicken.
Finally getting back to my van I did see him walking the parking lot and heading towards the bus stop where he said he would be waiting for me. So, I load everything up and drive across the lot and pull up in the spot behind him. I give him the chicken and a soda for him and one for his friend. And he has a look on his face like as though he has been contemplating this dinner invitation and looks around the parking lot like he's looking for his friend. I asked if he had found his friend and he looked up and said "oh, here he comes now!".
So, the first gentleman, "K" introduces me to "S" letting him know that I've invited them to dinner. "S" doesn't even hesitate a bit, though sounding very surprised he immediately accepted the invitation! How exciting!!! This is what we live for! I had to move a carseat but they both got in and we talked and drove home. They were quite friendly and spoke very nicely.
They helped me carry in my boxes of diapers and baby wipes as well as some of the grocery bags and introductions are made and food is served. Mike got to share with them over dinner. I figured I would have to nurse Abby before getting to have my own dinner, which is normal of course and no problem. Unfortunately, poor Mikey wasn't feeling well and wound up getting sick so I had to tend to him and get him in the shower and deal with laundry (he was on his bed when he got sick). So, although I wasn't able to sit and enjoy their company much it was nice though that they got to hear some of Mike's story too. The kids also enjoyed entertaining them, running around and handing them toys all throughout the evening!
They said they enjoyed themselves, thanked us multiple times and said it was a rare occurrence to be in a family setting. As Mike prepared to drive them out to the area they would spend the night, our kids asked why they were not going to stay the night and offered up their beds so they could stay here. --Oh, those boys!!!! They drive their mama nuts daily, but oh how beautiful their compassionate spirits can be!!!!
Ahhhh!!!! These are the stories that get me so excited! There are hurting people out there, lonely, hungry, dirty and feeling less than the rest of us. Oh, how I wish we had a place to let them call home! This is why we are doing what we do. God loves them. God wants them. And God has put a compassionate desire within our family to help people in some rough situations.
Dear Lord, Thank you so much for yesterday. Thank you for letting yesterday's plans completely flip flop from what we expected. Thank you for my 35 minute check out time. I would not have crossed paths with these men if it weren't for your ways being higher than my ways! Lord, please help K & S overcome their situations. They both indicated a belief in you. Please help them come to a place of living in complete surrender to you. Continue to use our family as you see fit. Direct our steps. Put the right people in our paths. Provide whatever resources you want us to use. And keep our eyes fixed on you through it all. All for your glory Jesus!! Amen!
*I abbreviate their names for privacy, as local people may at some point recognize names given.
Thanks for reading, please continue to pray and make donations as you feel compelled of the Lord. He is working and if He wants you to be a part of this, please don't miss out!!!
God bless you,
~Sarah <3
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