GEE, AM I HOMELESS?

Well things have been busy and hard. So I am very sorry that I have not blogged lately. It is hard to blog, when you are on dial up and then keep getting bumped off the connection! Last week I had $50.00 in phone charges just tyring to stay connected. Soooo much has happened though since we have been here. A nice lady has bought homes and rented them to us for 3 homeless each to rent; we are in phase I of buying a motel that is an extend a stay; Churchbuilders received approval for us to be fully under their group exempt 501(c)3; we are doing a walk-a-thon; we are broke; a certain agency has denied anyone under our ministry no help; I have come to the realization that we are now homeless (by choice I guess they would say.) The latter doesn't bother me because as long as we have friends still here in the motel, we will be here. A certain board I was on, I am no longer because God told a man to take my place. OK so that is fine because so far he has no clue. He is housing people in a church and has no regulations, which LOL, the 2 people there are ex-clients and there is a good reason they are ex. But, I shouldn't be so cold in that regard. I just keep thinking back to when he said "I hope God doesn't tell me to do what He has you do cuz I couldn't do it." Actually, he is a nice guy, yet he won't take any advice. Dida, our female Shih Tzu had 4 boys this week! They are great and so cute. SHARPE this semester is incredible, those I met from W&M. Hadyn is back from Christmas break and brought us tons of great stuff for motel living for all! Thank you to her sister and brother! Well gotta run cuz it is time to go under the bridge and in the woods for a count. Today is the day that they have a count. Avalon is in charge of it this year (PRAISE GOD!) City of Williamsburg and York County is being AWESOME! Oh yeah, my old landlords are suing me for $3700 and decided to charge me for the month of January, even though we were gone by Dec. 29th as they said. Funny, I thought they were Christians, but oh well. (If I sued everyone that technically I could have, I would be able to buy the motel, without a loan.) But, comes what may, we will see. About to be bumped once again so I better post this.

WHI NOT HELPTHE HOMELESS WALK-A-THON

Few of us in today's society wonder about those who have no place to sleep or no building to seek warmth in as we are dashing to our car from the store or hurrying into the house as the bitter wind cuts deep into our bones. But in Williamsburg, there are still people who have no choice but to hudle up against a brick wall in a thin blanket for the night or burrow themselves deep into a sleeping bag under some brush in the woods. Then in the morning, pack up their only form of warmth and walk a mile or two to work, knowing at the end of the day, they must face the unbearable weather once again. Since currently there is no shelter in Williamsburg, remembering that we and several homeless were evicted from our home at Christmas time, what hope of warmth at night is there for the homeless in Williamsburg? That can all change in our community during the winter months, with a few spare coins from your pockets.

Jan. 29th, Williamsburg's Homeless & Indigent are sponsoring a walk-a-thon to raise money for the homeless for housing and food. We have representatives from W&M walking, along with K-9 Connection, Wellspring United Methodist Church, York River Baptist Church, Laufer Insurance Agency, Mt. Pilgram Baptist Church to name a few. But what we need are people to pledge to help raise money. The walk-a-thon takes place at Williamsburg Shopping Center on Richmond Rd. We will meet at 2:00 PM and walk to Captain John Smith Inn on Richmond Rd., which is 1.5 miles. Our goal is $10,000.00, which would feed and house the homeless for the remaining winter months. Although many in the community think they are homeless by their own choice, they can't control the weather. Remember the ice storm a few years back in Williamsburg, when you had no heat, no electricity, couldn't cook and little warmth? If you remember how you felt, could you help us succeed in reaching our goal for the individuals and families locally who are in need of warmth, food and medical attention?

Pledged money is due the day of the walk-a-thon. Checks are acceptable and can be made out to WHI (Williamsburg's Homeless & Indigent). If you would like to pledge or find out more information, please contact me at 561-3255 or helpthehomeless@earthlink.net .

Happy New Year!

I pray everyone had a safe a happy new year! Ours was pretty quiet and different considering the circumstances. We are currently living in a weekly motel. At first I thought it would be hard and it was. I have a new respect for those who call a motel their home. Our room was so cramped, it took us days to get everything organized and in place (and still have a little more to go.) The first few nights for myself were extremely hard on me. I guess it is another way for God to humble me. My biggest concern was for my 2 dogs. Where were they going to run, how can they go out to play and how long could they handle this? But, they adjusted fine. We started off with 7 rooms at $180 each a week. Now we are at 6 rooms (2 people left because they couldn't save any money from paychecks to help with their cost.) Next week we have another room to be vacant because a family (father and his son) are getting an apartment! Praise God!) I will miss them dearly though. I know I will end up crying because I have become so attached to the son. Actually, many people thought he was my son because we look a lot alike.

Here are some things I have been thinking about since living in the motel:

What do I miss the most? A yard. Even though I didn't go out in it so much, it was mine and the doggies place to play.
What has been the hardest about living in the motel? Cooking meals for 16 people and not having a kitchen. And the small living quarters.
What has been my biggest regrets about the whole situation? Worrying and panicing about the move instead of leaving it up to God.
What has been the best part of living in the motel? Keeping all of us together and the new door God has opened! (to be continued tomorrow...)