This may seem awkward. A bit like reading someone else's mail. That may be because you are. A little over a month ago I sent out a letter that was very personal to me. Following a bit of prompting and a lot of foot dragging, I am posting that letter here to our website. The reason I have decided to post it is that it is a verbal snapshot of where we are in our lives at this moment and will be a good reminder in the future. This site serves as a type of journal for us and I want to be able to remember the stories and feelings that went into this letter. So, those of you who have already read this letter can take the day off from reading here and get back to the truly important things of life (like Facebook) and those who are reading it for the first time, I pray you will take some smidgen of encouragement from it. Here goes...
Hello Friends,
I wanted to share something with you that I have been thinking about for the past couple of days. Sunday night Zak, the kids and I went out to run a quick errand at Fred Meyer (a local Walmart-esque chain) and as we were headed in the store we were stopped by a young man. He politely asked us if we could spare any change. Zak reached for his wallet and handed him some cash. Since we had recently stocked our car with new socks, rain ponchos and hand warmers I asked him if there was something specific he needed. He said somewhat sheepishly, “Yeah, deodorant and a razor.” So, we invited him to come in the store with us. As we did, we learned that his name is Jason. He is living in the closet of a laundry room (for a few days until the maintenance guy loses patience) with his girlfriend, Tiffany. Their four year old daughter is living with Tiffany’s parents until Jason and Tiffany can get things together and get another apartment.
I know this story isn’t unfamiliar. You may run into it daily just like we do. In fact, it is becoming more common every day. The thing that has really struck me about that event is that every month Zak and I ask people like you to pay for our deodorant and razors and every month you continue to do so. We just don’t have to walk around a parking lot to do it. As awkward and weird as it is to ask your friends for money, I am so thankful that you are my friends and not perfect strangers! I am so thankful that I get to share this journey with you and not just see you for a one time hand-out. I am so very thankful that you are in this ministry WITH us!
When we initially started raising support, I thought we would find a handful of churches who would be willing to support the ministry and our long term goal of chaplaincy and they would have a business meeting and decide to write us a check each month and we would somehow be accountable to them about how our ministry was going. I expected a very business-like relationship. That is not how it turned out at all! While we do have a couple of churches who support us and we are very grateful for that. Most of our support comes from individuals and families just like you and I am SO thankful for that! One of the things this journey and ministry has taught me is that church is less about business and more about relationship. I thought I knew that…but I’m getting another beautiful lesson.
As we walked around Fred Meyer with Jason and found razors and deodorant, we also got him some dinner to take back to Tiffany and then we gave him some clean socks out of our car. He couldn’t stop thanking us and as we hugged him he had tears in his eyes. He said, “Why are you so nice?” And I stressed to him that it is the God who lives in us who allows us to do this. I gave him our card and told him to give us a call sometime.
As I have reflected on that experience and noticed the similarities to our own lives I have been so grateful for our relationship with you all. I know that it is Jesus living within you who allows you to be generous with your money and share in this ministry with us. I am so thankful for that! I also have a renewed commitment to pray for each of you daily by name, for your relationship with God and your personal ministry, and would love it if you would let me know any specific things for which I can pray. I also ask you to join me as I lift up Jason and Tiffany and their daughter to the Father.
Peace and joy today,
Kathy
