PLEASE HELP ME KEEP THEM WARM.
Today we were blessed to spend our Sunday afternoon in Inner-City Jackson with the Lancasters and the rest of the WE WILL GO folks. But despite loving being there, it made me sad to see how many of them were shivering in the cold due to inadequate clothing. They were there sitting out in the open air, worshipping God and listening to His word in clothes better designed for summer...but they stayed anyway.
I'm going thru our closets this week and pulling out all we can spare. After all, the Bible says if you have two cloaks and your brother has none, to give one to him. Well, like most Americans, we've got WAY more than two cloaks. But despite our plenty, it's not enough to fill all the needs.
If you can spare some gently used coats, blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, thick socks, jackets, etc. would you please let me know?
One young man I met was wearing a basketball-type tank top. We managed to find a t-shirt for him to help a little bit during the service and he said he had a light jacket at home, but it's COLD and he needs more than that. If anyone has a gently used men's coat or very thick jacket in size L or XL, would you please be willing to give it to him? Or maybe you don't have one yourself but you're willing to actually go and buy one (either new or at a consignment/thrift store)? I told him I'd have him one by Wednesday. If you can get it to me, Jim will deliver it. OR, you can take it to the Lancasters' if that's more convenient. If you want to deliver it yourself, let me know and I'll give you his name so that you can let the Lancasters know who it's for.
Also, there is a mom with 4 small children. A girl about 4, a boy about 3, a toddler girl about 2, and an infant boy. We managed to find a few warm things for them (thanks, Rhonda!) but not enough. If you have warm things in those sizes, would you let me know? And WARM maternity clothes, too. The aunt who lives with them is 5 months pregnant.
These are two specific cases of need, but there are so many others and ANY size, gender, etc. will be appreciated. Many of these people have housing but their homes are often drafty, uninsulated, or poorly heated...or they simply can't afford to heat them. Others are living in abandoned buildings (one sweet lady lives in a closet of an old building), in the cemetary, or on the streets somewhere. Blankets and sleeping bags are a literal Godsend for them.
If you don't live in my area but still would like to help with this need, there are a few options:
1. If you're someone I might see over the holidays, bag 'em up and I'll get them then.
2. If you won't be seeing me anytime soon, ship them to us. Just email me and I'll send you a shipping address.
3. If neither of these options will work for you, consider either sending a donation to WE WILL GO or find a ministry or a needy individual/family in your own community. It's sad how many there really are out there that are desperately in need of adequate clothing and bedding as we enter the cold months of the year.
Thank you so much. Jesus loves these people tremendously. Many of them feel so terribly unloved and unworthy. When they see our love in action, it helps them see in a tangible way that God does love them and cares about them. They are not forgotten. They are precious to him, precious to us. And we are assured that whatever we do for the least of these, we are doing it as though unto the Lord.
Blessings on each of you,
Elysa
P.S. For more information on WE WILL GO, check out their website: http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html
I'm going thru our closets this week and pulling out all we can spare. After all, the Bible says if you have two cloaks and your brother has none, to give one to him. Well, like most Americans, we've got WAY more than two cloaks. But despite our plenty, it's not enough to fill all the needs.
If you can spare some gently used coats, blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, thick socks, jackets, etc. would you please let me know?
One young man I met was wearing a basketball-type tank top. We managed to find a t-shirt for him to help a little bit during the service and he said he had a light jacket at home, but it's COLD and he needs more than that. If anyone has a gently used men's coat or very thick jacket in size L or XL, would you please be willing to give it to him? Or maybe you don't have one yourself but you're willing to actually go and buy one (either new or at a consignment/thrift store)? I told him I'd have him one by Wednesday. If you can get it to me, Jim will deliver it. OR, you can take it to the Lancasters' if that's more convenient. If you want to deliver it yourself, let me know and I'll give you his name so that you can let the Lancasters know who it's for.
Also, there is a mom with 4 small children. A girl about 4, a boy about 3, a toddler girl about 2, and an infant boy. We managed to find a few warm things for them (thanks, Rhonda!) but not enough. If you have warm things in those sizes, would you let me know? And WARM maternity clothes, too. The aunt who lives with them is 5 months pregnant.
These are two specific cases of need, but there are so many others and ANY size, gender, etc. will be appreciated. Many of these people have housing but their homes are often drafty, uninsulated, or poorly heated...or they simply can't afford to heat them. Others are living in abandoned buildings (one sweet lady lives in a closet of an old building), in the cemetary, or on the streets somewhere. Blankets and sleeping bags are a literal Godsend for them.
If you don't live in my area but still would like to help with this need, there are a few options:
1. If you're someone I might see over the holidays, bag 'em up and I'll get them then.
2. If you won't be seeing me anytime soon, ship them to us. Just email me and I'll send you a shipping address.
3. If neither of these options will work for you, consider either sending a donation to WE WILL GO or find a ministry or a needy individual/family in your own community. It's sad how many there really are out there that are desperately in need of adequate clothing and bedding as we enter the cold months of the year.
Thank you so much. Jesus loves these people tremendously. Many of them feel so terribly unloved and unworthy. When they see our love in action, it helps them see in a tangible way that God does love them and cares about them. They are not forgotten. They are precious to him, precious to us. And we are assured that whatever we do for the least of these, we are doing it as though unto the Lord.
Blessings on each of you,
Elysa
P.S. For more information on WE WILL GO, check out their website: http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html
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