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New Life

Today was a full day of work.  We began the day with breakfast at the shelter and then were fortunate enough to be able to get a tour of the tiny home village that CASS has been building.  The concept is pretty awesome and along with everything else they are doing to help combat the problems of poverty and homelessness, is helping people in the path to home ownership.  Not only are the tiny homes practical but they are cute and homey too.  If you want to learn more about what happens here at CASS and also about the tiny homes, check out the link here:   https://casscommunity.org/ After our tour we then headed to the apartments that are being renovated and got to work. There is much to do to get these to the point where they can be lived in, painting, cleaning, tile work, electrical, plumbing and so much more, but they have come along way and are getting there.  Today we did a lot of painting, changing out door hardware, electrical, light fixtures and c...
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Don’t Quit

Today was a day filled with blessings. We started our day eating at one of the CASS buildings a few miles away.  We met other missioners but the best part of it was being able to sit and be in conversation with some of the local homeless people.  This is the place where they come to be fed and we joined them in their meal.  Our group spent time talking with people and getting to know who was here and sometimes why.  We met one gentleman who had been cleaning gutters and he fell off the ladder and shattered his ankle and foot.  He was in a cast and had been all summer and had one more month to go.  In all the time we chatted with him, he did not complain.  He just kept saying it could have been a whole lot worse, and as soon as he can work again he will be.  I loved listening to him and his positive way of thinking.  I’m sure given his situation, it’s not always like that but he at least for the time being seemed like he would not give u...
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Travel Blessings

Travel Blessings Today we started our journey to Detroit for our mission trip to CASS.   A total of 7 of us will end up in Detroit together to serve the underserved.  We don’t know exactly what we are doing, but we have some idea.  Flexibility is key!  We had a good time chatting in the car about all kinds of topics and talked about what we might experience this week.   The few that are arriving Saturday, decided it would be fun to see a little of Detroit’s history before settling into CASS for the next few days.  There’s a museum called the Motown museum and that’s what we decided to visit.  Unfortunately upon arrival to the museum, we discovered that it was sold out for the day.  So we were disappointed but reminded that not everything is within our control.  We regrouped and decided an early dinner and then checking into CASS would be our next move.  After dinner and settling into the church basement - our home for t...
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JUDGEMENT HAS NO HOME HERE

A Son A Father A brother A Sister A Mother A Daughter A Friend Our friends, our community, ours to love.   Homeless populations are often tossed aside as if they are somehow “lesser than,” as if they are somehow not as human as you or I. Homeless individuals are also often judged as though they must possess some fundamentally flawed character traits.  But in truth, you and I are not immune to the things that can lead to homelessness.  You and I are no better than the brothers and sisters living on the streets.  You and I in God’s eyes are the same as those people considered lesser human beings by “non” homeless people. All of us are God’s children and he loves all of us the same.  No matter our circumstances.  On our route tonight I notice more tents popping up in new places, and we meet new folks on the street.  Some just released from prison, some struggling to get housing because they are not “homeless enough”.  (Work on ...
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Compassion & Forgiveness.

Tonight I was bound and determined to get to StreetLife.  It has been challenging this summer with our crazy schedules and I have been trying to make it a priority but its just been hard.  Life happens and sometimes gets in our way.  I finally made it out of the house. On my way to StreetLife the traffic was crazy driving down Capitol Drive due to a procession for a fallen Milwaukee police officer.  To add to the chaos the lights were out most of the way down Capitol Dr., due to the crazy storm we had just had!  So there were officers directing traffic at each intersection.  At one intersection, the officer stopped us I come to a complete stop only to realize the gal behind me had not come to a complete stop.  My very first thought - I don’t think I am going to make it to StreetLife!  Ugh.  Instead, I had a different opportunity to practice some of the things I talk about all the time.  Compassion, kindness, understanding and forgiveness...
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Transitions and Adapting

a·dapt make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify. become adjusted to new conditions. Life is a series of changes, some good and some bad, but regardless we all have to learn to adapt to these changes.  We sink or swim, and we hope that we mostly swim!  We also know that it’s okay to sink a little in order to grow and learn, so a healthy mix of both is good.  Our family is going through a transition time with our oldest child going off to college and while it is exciting for her and we can’t wait for her to learn about her life and who she is, it also comes with fears and a lot of uncertainty.   There are always things we have to adapt to in life and today at Streetlife I saw how the the community adapted to the new location that they have had to move to.  Streetlife had to move from the location it had been at for a long time and set up somewhere else.  With our community being any where from 150 to 250 friends with needs, the ...
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I See You.

One of our regular north side stops on the Wedneday evening route, and she’s standing there with a sign and wearing no shoes.   She does not stand still and moves like her feet are hurting her.   I wonder what happened to her shoes.   Sometimes we carry shoes in the vehicles, but not tonight.   She comes over and we give her a bag of food and some cold lemonade.   It’s a warm evening and the lemonade is refreshing to her.   She does not talk much, but she asks if we have any shoes.   We dont’ but I give her an extra pair of socks to help cushion her feet a little.   She walks back to her spot, grateful for what we have been able to offer her.   Mostly we offer her love and support.   Hopefully we will have some shoes for her if she is still here next week.   As we wait for other members of our crew who have walked over to a different intersection, I stand back and observe.  The traffic is heavy under this particular over p...
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