I just wanted to share some of my thoughts with everyone about today and how emotional it was. Not just for me, but I am sure for many. I cried most of the day and am still crying. I have some very fond good memories of feeding downtown. I am going to share many of my thoughts about the new center Grace Marketplace also known as the One Stop Center. At first when I visited the center, I had chills up and down me and felt so uncomfortable about it. Mainly because it still looked like a jail and it still has the constantine razor wire around it. Also because I have seen videos and stories of other States who are mobilizing the homeless into what looks and feels like fema camps to most of the homeless. I know it will be hard on some people to even go to the Market place in the beginning as they were incarcerated there and had some bad things happen to them in that place. I also know there are some Veterans who were either POW's are worked in POW camps in their war, and the thought of being surrounded by the constantine wire is too much on them. Being that I am a Veteran also and have severe PTSD from some of my experiences in war, I can so relate to how things can trigger us. That being said, it is up to me to find a balance and some healing in my life concerning those things, and to step out in faith and do some things I am not comfortable with. Unless I try, I will never know if I can do it or not. Sometimes we tend to stay in fear because of our brokenness and pain without even trying to give things in life a chance. Please understand, that I do get it. But we will never know until we give it a chance. At first I was set in my ways about Grace Marketplace. But the more I talked with Lamar Lee and Edith Lee, the more I started to feel a bit better. I know their heart. And just because we will no longer be feeding downtown, does not mean they have dropped the ball on the homeless or said ok, our work is done. After we were done feeding today, we went to Sweet Mel's to get a bite to eat and share. And I had questions I needed to ask. I feel so much better while talking with them and knowing their heart and what their intentions are and how they will be involved in Grace Marketplace. I am in tears now as I try to express myself as I have so many emotions. Although I have experienced homelessness on many occasions, starting at the age of 15, (not counting the times my parents had no where to live with us) But on my own since 15. I have also been homeless as a single parent. So I can really relate to the homeless people and the things that can cause a person to become homeless. And it is not always because of drugs, drinking, or being lazy. Sometimes you can get to know their stories if you just take the time to sit down and talk to them. A long time ago if I am not mistaken, this ministry was started by Jennifer Smith and I believe it was called Downtown Ministries. She can correct me if I am wrong. (And I am sure she will...LOL) Then as she got busier with House of Hope and then the kids, she turned it over to Lamar Lee and Edith Lee. They in turn changed the name to Raise Up. I think this is awesome. As they just do not want to meet the needs of the homeless, but to help them realize who they are in YHWH and have them raise up from their situation and make it better. My hope and prayer is that those who have issues with the way the Marketplace looks at this time, is that you give it some time for them to transform the place as it does not happen overnight. People are volunteering their services and trying to get it to look better. When my son was 5 years old, is when I started working with the homeless and it was his ideal when we were watching the news one night and saw a Postal lady who was feeding out of her van. I was amazed at his insight at such an early age. So been doing this for about 28 years off and on in between my own homelessness. I also feel sadness in that I am leaving Florida in Nov. to move to Kansas. I will miss the homeless here, but I know and feel good things will come out of Grace Marketplace. And I know that Lamar Lee and Edith Lee will see to it that they are not abandoned or forgotten. It has been a humbling experience working alongside of these two beautiful people as well as the others who have volunteered. Please consider reaching out to them and asking them how you can be of help and what services are needed to make Grace Marketplace successful. I love you all and truly look forward to working with you there until it is time for me to move on from this place. I want to leave you with this song as it reminds me of all of those who are involved in helping the homeless.
I also want to leave you with a verse to think about: (The Complete Jewish Bible) Matthew 25:31-46 - 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33 The ‘sheep’ he will place at his right hand and the ‘goats’ at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
41 “Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, ‘Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 a stranger and you did not welcome me, needing clothes and you did not give them to me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick or in prison, and not take care of you?’ 45 And he will answer them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you refused to do it for the least important of these people, you refused to do it for me!’ 46 They will go off to eternal punishment, but those who have done what God wants will go to eternal life.”
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