Just wanted to give ya'll a quick shout out from CT!! I think summer may be here...after the unusually long winter (I'm so glad I happened to be here for that) Weather predictions are never quite right here, but when people who have lived in CT all their life say that summer has most likely arrived... I choose to believe them (because weather.com hasn't proven to be too reliable :) We actually went to the beach after work one day and I was wearing a tank top!! My thoughts...I can definitley get used to LIVING on the beach!!
On Wednesday, I spent most of my day with a social work intern named Sheralyn. She asked me to join her in looking for a couple of men who had been regulars at the LHCC center for the homeless. These men had been given some money by LHCC to travel to get some government papers so that they could begin a job that had been secured for them by a LHCC staff member. Unfortunately on the way, one of the men bought booze for a friend, then felt so guilty about what he'd done that he used the rest on alcohol for himself. These 2 men felt a lot of guilt for what they had done and did not want to come back to LHCC because of the deep shame they felt. We were searching to tell them that they we want them to come back to LHCC, and they will be accepted there.
We searched for a couple of hours, going to all the different beaches and liquor stores that the homeless hang out at. I just want you to know that there are homeless people EVERYWHERE here (they are drunk, high, bored, and unemployed). It seems like quite the hopeless situation. As we searched and asked around all I could think about was the prodigal son and the one lost sheep that was sought out by the shepherd. Also, I had just read in Neh. 9 an account of God's faithfulness to Isreal despite their repeated pattern of disobedience. What a picture of God's people (Sheralyn and LHCC) extending His love, mercy, and grace to someone who has made a mistake and gone astray- but inviting him back in. Then I thought, "That's me...I'm the one who has taken what has been given (grace), squandered it, and made a complete mess of things...yet God in His great mercy has sought me out and found me in my sin." Praise the Lord for His great love...we can't keep Him from pursuing us!!
The stories that I hear here are absolutely astounding and humbling. Like the Health Care Center patient that I talked to today that has just found out last month that she is HIV positive. The only way she can figure she got it is from her "naughty" husband, who never told her of his HIV status. He hung himself on Christmas day 3 years ago. She knows that he did this because he had just learned his HIV status, but didn't tell her...his wife! And when I asked her how she felt about this, she said, "What can I do...I can't talk to him...only the Lord can." Wow!! I'm not sure that I'd react in the same way...humbling...
Yesterday I left the lights on in Katie, she died, and I had to call a mechanic. I felt pretty stupid. Let's hope I don't make a mistake like that again. Then, I had a haircut...and I'll just say that I should have known better than to get my haircut in a foreign country. We are happily washing our dishes in the kitchen sink now! Monday is another public holiday (what adventures await!!) I love The Office, we are in the middle of Season 2 and all three of us LOVE Jim!! I was told that I was "fat" today...which is acutally a compliment here...talk about a cultural difference :)
I'm so excited because my mom and aunt are coming to visit next week!! I can hardly wait!!! They'll be here in 8 days!! Pray for a safe journey and jet lag mercies :)
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