By Emily M.
We got one of the walls up today! Praise the Lord. That is a huge milestone on the journey for Soaring Wings Ministries to build a house for a homeless family to call "home." Today we were also able to pass out more Blessing Bags before dinner with Faith Family Hospitality. We prepared a meal for three families who are in between housing situations and staying in a local church through FFH.
The whole crew worked tirelessly since Monday to get a flat subfloor built over the foundation that was poured earlier in the summer at Soaring Wings Ministries ranch. The toughest part of this project so far has been building the right foundation. Everything had to be leveled and square, or it would create problems down the road. Sounds like a familiar song... something about Christ and a solid rock...
Once the sill was lined and leveled out, the subfloor could be built. Then from there we could begin framing out the walls. Today's was complicated because of the windows that are framed in. This wall faces the Rocky Mountains, so the windows are merited, though they made things go slower than a plain ole windowless wall.
Once the sill was lined and leveled out, the subfloor could be built. Then from there we could begin framing out the walls. Today's was complicated because of the windows that are framed in. This wall faces the Rocky Mountains, so the windows are merited, though they made things go slower than a plain ole windowless wall.
It is hard to believe it's already Thursday. We only have one more full day of construction left at the ranch, and we're feeling like we could keep going. Tomorrow morning the construction-focused part of the team is going in early, with a 5:45am departure. Hopefully they'll make lots of progress and get the other walls up.
As an aside, Chris built a great "trap door"-style entrance to the crawl space underneath the subfloor. This came in handy today because Dan had to crawl under there to search for the room key I requested prayers for yesterday. And he found it! Praise God, and thank you for praying!
As an aside, Chris built a great "trap door"-style entrance to the crawl space underneath the subfloor. This came in handy today because Dan had to crawl under there to search for the room key I requested prayers for yesterday. And he found it! Praise God, and thank you for praying!
While that part of the team worked construction, Dianna continued her crusade to clean up the Soaring Wings property and Emily, Emily, and Tricia worked with Meredith to sew blankets and pillows, bake cakes, and prepare salads for the FFH dinner. We also prepped a few more Blessing Bags. We are planning to go shopping tomorrow to restock the supplies for Blessing Bags tomorrow morning.
The work at the ranch wrapped up a bit early today so that we could shower before dinner. We took a brief walk around Fort Collins again to shop for souvenirs and to share Blessing Bags. We got to Our Savior Lutheran Church around 5:30 for dinner prep with FFH. There are almost 30 churches who are partnered in Fort Collins to meet a need for housing and training for homeless families with children.
These families stay at one church for a week at a time. This is helpful to have a "home base" to go job hunting from, but moving so frequently is a challenge for the kids who are in the program. And there is an eight week limit on each family. This is an area Soaring Wings Ministries is hoping to address, to be able to provide a longer-term home for a family after their time with FFH.
Dinner consisted of hot dogs, broccoli and pasta salads, corn on the cob, and cake for dessert. We dined with three families, with six kids aged 18 months through about 15 years old. Several members of the CO:Mission team got to chat with these families over a meal. This is another critical part of the Soaring Wings vision - dining together allows us to share an experience and grow closer together.
These families stay at one church for a week at a time. This is helpful to have a "home base" to go job hunting from, but moving so frequently is a challenge for the kids who are in the program. And there is an eight week limit on each family. This is an area Soaring Wings Ministries is hoping to address, to be able to provide a longer-term home for a family after their time with FFH.
Dinner consisted of hot dogs, broccoli and pasta salads, corn on the cob, and cake for dessert. We dined with three families, with six kids aged 18 months through about 15 years old. Several members of the CO:Mission team got to chat with these families over a meal. This is another critical part of the Soaring Wings vision - dining together allows us to share an experience and grow closer together.
Over the meal we got to know these families, one of whom has moved from California since the summer started. The kids were up for playing Gaga, a game familiar to Camp Berea and Camp Maranatha alumni but new to most of the rest of us here. We had a blast and it was a great reminder that homelessness affects all ages, and kids might be the most "invisible" of the homeless. We rarely see them on the street. Yet they are so deeply affected by the disruption and instability of homelessness. They have to wake up much earlier than other students so they can get to class from wherever they are staying that night. They probably won't get a shower or breakfast, and it's hard to keep track of books when they pack up their belongings so frequently.
Tonight, though, they just got to be kids.
Tonight, though, they just got to be kids.
As I reflected on the day, I feel compelled to cling to hope through Christ. There are so many ways in my life that I have messed up when relating to and caring for God's people, especially "the least of these." Without Christ, there is no true hope for change or redemption in this world. Through Christ, we are a new creation and we are given a new chance each day to love others well. Today I was reminded that when I feel overwhelmed by the hurt in this world, by the small dent I have made in fixing this broken situation, I must turn to Christ. "He must become greater and greater, I must become less and less."
The title of the lunchtime devotions for today was "Your Hurt in My Heart". We frequently find ourselves qualifying our compassion for people. I know I've thought it before: "I would give that panhandler a dollar, but he'll probably just buy drugs." Or, "That guy has a cell phone. Why is he in the line at the rescue mission?" I've passed a judgment on the person in need, and in doing so I placed conditions on my compassion. Jesus did not operate that way. In Mark 8:2 Jesus said:
The title of the lunchtime devotions for today was "Your Hurt in My Heart". We frequently find ourselves qualifying our compassion for people. I know I've thought it before: "I would give that panhandler a dollar, but he'll probably just buy drugs." Or, "That guy has a cell phone. Why is he in the line at the rescue mission?" I've passed a judgment on the person in need, and in doing so I placed conditions on my compassion. Jesus did not operate that way. In Mark 8:2 Jesus said:
I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.
Ed and Anita coached us that Jesus saw the need of those who were following Him. He felt their hunger and hurt as if it was His own. His compassion drove Him to help the poor and the hurting, without condition. The results of this open-handed, compassionate desire to help the hurting was miraculous - feeding 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish.
The Rennells felt called to start Soaring Wings Ministries. Anita said today that their strategy is simple: They see the need and they respond to the need. "It's not complicated!" Their mantra is to give like Jesus did, with an open hand and a compassionate heart. I will share the prayer we prayed at the end of the devotion, and I encourage you to pray it with me:
"Lord, You are such a caring and compassionate Savior! Forgive me for my self-centered thoughts and actions. Let me grow to be more like You and to see the opportunities You give me to be caring and helpful to the people in my life. Amen."
The Rennells felt called to start Soaring Wings Ministries. Anita said today that their strategy is simple: They see the need and they respond to the need. "It's not complicated!" Their mantra is to give like Jesus did, with an open hand and a compassionate heart. I will share the prayer we prayed at the end of the devotion, and I encourage you to pray it with me:
"Lord, You are such a caring and compassionate Savior! Forgive me for my self-centered thoughts and actions. Let me grow to be more like You and to see the opportunities You give me to be caring and helpful to the people in my life. Amen."