January Blog part 2
19th January 2010
What have we been doing? We hit the ground running after Christmas. We had a call regarding two food parcels in Sandy, one in Fairfield and two in Stotfold. All delivered with love! I don’t know how, but I’ve still got that Bosch Freezer on the van. I know someone needs it!
I rang the ‘Franciscan’ Monks in Canning Town regarding mens clothes, as they do a soup kitchen four days a week. They deal mainly with men who are squatters and some live on the streets. They need warm clothing in this weather, especially coats, jumpers, trousers etc. So I said we would take a few boxes down to them. (Actually we took about seven, plus a few blankets and sleeping bags.)
Anyway we have a very good contact that is in Hitchin. He gives us all the left over bread he has made and sometimes pastries and cakes for nothing, we have hand them on with his blessing. I got a call from Heather saying she had some bread from the baker and did I want to take it to London. I was, to be honest, not that keen, as I knew they did soup kitchens four days a week. Surely they made provision for bread? I was concentrating on taking clothes! Well, suffice to say, the bread was placed in the van and travelled to London with Tom, myself and the clothes.
As we travelled to the ‘Friary’, it was clear that this was a sad part of the city. Our clothes were greatly received by Father Emmanuelle and Brother John Bosco and we were asked if we wanted to help with the soup kitchen.
John Bosco was busy making the barrel of soup and barrel of stew, when he said that they normally always get bread and left over sandwiches from a baker. They use them to feed the fifty or so who regularly come to the kitchen, but it hadn’t been delivered today. The bread we took down was perfect and at the close of play, fifty men and women had been fed and there was half a loaf left. We had several people say how beautiful the Italian bread was!! God doesn’t waste anything!!
One of the men at the soup kitchen broke his trousers and had asked for a belt, but they didn’t have one, so had given him string. I then remembered that in one of the boxes we brought, there were 2 pairs of trousers with belts. I went upstairs and brought one pair down and gave them to the man. It was perfect for him (it wouldn’t have fitted me), but God knew it wasn’t me who needed them.
It was a great day and an amazing experience just to see these servants serve everyday of their lives and to share a few hours with them. They changed my life from the very first day I encountered them. I knew they were men of Jesus.
Father Emmanuelle gave me the number of a contact in Luton who needs mother and baby clothes and I rang them. The organisation is a prolife ministry called ‘Luton Good Counsel’. I asked them if they needed any clothes etc. and they said that they were fine at the moment, but thanked us for the contact and would keep us in mind.
Four hours later, I got a call from a lady called Katherine. She worked for ‘Luton Good Counsel’ and she asked if I had some baby clothes, as they had an emergency. A muslim lady who was in desperate need. She said she needed 0-3 month clothes, as she was just about to give birth. She also had a handicapped child of 14 and one of 5, who wet the bed and she needed new duvets.
I said we had all she needed and that Katherine could come and get it when she was ready. As we finished the conversation, I asked her by chance if she had a cot, as I had had two calls that week, both for cots. They didn’t. One hour later, she called me back and said she had sourced one and would bring it when she got the clothes etc. Praise God.
Previous to this, we had a call from an agency in Hertfordshire about a lady who was a size 12 or 14, but was wearing size 20 clothes. We gave our contact some clothes for her, size 12 and 14. God is opening doors, and due to this contact I am going to a meeting on the 21st January 2010, at the offices of Adult Care Services, North Herts locality.
We have a link with a church in Hitchin (Christchurch). I spoke to Steph there and she said she knew I needed a cot, so had put out an appeal. Guess what? We got our other cot! One cot was being delivered by Mick in Biggleswade. Praise God.
Tom and I met the incoming and outgoing pastors of The New Life Church in Biggleswade. They have both been so prayerful and supportive. Scott is leaving to go to Leicester and Guy is staying to take over at Biggleswade. They needed a microwave, guess what? We had one at the unit.
I had a call from a friend at Fairfield Park, who we give support to. She needed food, so we took her a parcel. She is exploring her faith and I said if she wanted to go to the Fairfield Church, I would meet her and go in with her. We pray that she makes the decision to ask. I won’t push her. She is a single mum and is questioning her self-worth.
I’ve just been told that the unit food store shelves are full and I am going to take a picture to show you all how they look. Thank you to the people who shopped and stacked. Most of all, we thank the Lord, for his amazing generosity, because without him, it would be a pointless, rudderless and potless ministry.
I just had another call, from a young lady, who we met via a support agency. She is only 17 and living by herself. She needed food. I rang Kate at Shefford Catholic Church. She will deliver the food parcel tomorrow. Praise God always, for he knocks down strongholds and barriers that hold the gospel of Jesus back.
Angela’s cd launch on Saturday 16th January was a truly great, happy and brilliant night. But you know, even on that night, at that venue, we met a very sad lady. She desperately needed encouragement and food. I was introduced to her and we said we would help her with food, which she tearfully accepted. I’m not telling you this to big us up, it’s just to help us understand how close to the sadness and despair we are. We only have to scratch the surface, like with Angela’s friend. The barriers come down because she knew we cared. That lady, I don’t remember her name or where she lives, has received a gift of food, knowing that it was delivered with love. More than that, she got one of June Lee’s cakes as well!
We thank God for everyone we are put in contact with and praise God for his unbelievable resources and blessings.
Update - 22nd January 2010
The meeting in Stevenage went well and I feel the agency will use The Need Project. The Social Worker whose client was wearing the size 20 clothes was very grateful and the lady herself was thrilled. Praise God.
I got a call from our contact Tracy at Cranfield Baptist Church. She had some bits and pieces and wanted a chat. Previous to her call (about 3 hours), I got a request from a Social Worker for a parcel to go to Cardington. Our contact for delivery to Cardington is Cranfield. On the way to the unit, I got another call regarding two more food parcels - one in Stotfold and one in Biggleswade. Tracy and I made up 3 food parcels from the food filled shelves at the unit. Tracy delivered one, I delivered one and Mick delivered the last one. Next a three piece suite needed delivering to Flitwick Baptist Church.
We were asked today for a cooker, desperately needed for a lady on the run from a domestic situation. We didn’t have one, so I asked at Preen. They showed me two good ones and said take any one we wanted for free. I asked Matt to test it.
Also last night, I had an email regarding a family whose young children use a computer for study and theirs is broken. I asked Clare about the capability of the computers that were offered by her and Ray, she showed as much remarkable knowledge about computer science as I did (not much!). So it was time to ring Michael Down and he is on the case (work in progress).
I went street walking last night, loaded with drink and food and met no one. Nice walk though, got a bit wet, but obedience is a wonderful thing.
Monday 25th January PM
The freezer has gone to a good home! And amazingly, I had a call from Flitwick Baptist Church regarding TV dinners going spare. I obviously said yes. I asked the new owners of the freezer if they could spare a bit of space and they were only too happy to oblige.
Mick is in charge of the food store and stock check at the unit and getting the food from the church basket to the unit. Tracy from Cranfield is chasing up funding etc., so we are making progress. We just need plenty of help to sort clothes at the unit (hint, hint!)
Guess what I just got rid of 1500 mugs with marker pens that don’t mark and it didn’t cost me anything. Thank you Shefford Baptist Church. I hope they aren’t having crockery smashing events, as they are practically indestructible! (Not Really.)
This week, we delivered two food parcels, one in Biggleswade and one in Sandy, delivered by Mick and Joan. Also food parcels were needed in Leighton Buzzard (sorry Pastor). Picked up one cooker, given to us by Preen for free, delivered and fitted by myself and Doug and tested by Matt.
Also there was a call from Adult Services for two food parcels in Hitchin. I asked Joy to come with me on Saturday afternoon. The two parcels in Hitchin were gratefully received. With one we also delivered a bag of kindling and a bag of logs from Tom, because the lady had no heating or food. The next day, she left a message on my phone, thanking us for it all and she had made a casserole and was sitting eating it in front of a blazing log fire. Thank you Lord for the privilege. The other lady was older and frailer, but received our gift with thanks. She couldn’t get her head around the fact that she didn’t have to pay. All in all it was a very blessed Saturday afternoon for Joy and myself.
Doug and I delivered two food parcels at Fairfield Park, which blessed us both, as one of the families I have become very fond of. They are travellers and find it hard to fit in and be accepted, but I love them. We delivered another food parcel to Stotfold this week, but it’s not about numbers, it’s about being available and praising God for his amazing provision.
I preached at Cotton End Baptist on Sunday and spoke on James 5. I managed to get onto the Project. They paid me for preaching and so I used the money I received to buy food for more parcels.
Thanks to all the kids in church who gave food to the project this week. I’m sure this is going to cost me a lot in chocolate, but who cares. Sorry to the parents whose cupboards were robbed.
Time to close with this quote. Saint Augustine, when asked ‘what does love look like?’ answered...
‘It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.’
We are called to love as Jesus loved.
Amen
