LESSONS FROM THE HOMELESS

I wish I were more committed to blogging each day. Every day I hear a story or experience something at ACCESS that teaches me something. Here are a few:

We recently had a group of student leaders from University of Akron come to ACCESS and put on a carnival. The kids loved the games, food and yes...the gum. A few of our elementary age boys thought it would be fun to stick as much gum as they could in their mouths, chew the gum and then...ugh..swallow the gum. One of the U of A students had a brilliant idea. He had one of the boys sit with him and showed him how to properly chew gum. They unwrapped the gum...placed it in their mouths...chewed...and did not swallow. The cool thing was words were never spoken. He just modeled the behavior. He demonstrated what I believe was a powerful lesson to us all. Sometimes words go unheard and actions speak louder. He also demonstrated the importance of giving someone your undivided attention and what a difference it can make in their lives.

Last night we had another amazing group from Kent State come to ACCESS and fix dinner. I noticed that one student really engaged with the clients. After I gave them a tour he pulled me aside and said thank you! Not thank you for allowing them to come...but thank you for the work at ACCESS. He shared with me that when he was a younger teen his family was homeless. He shared with me how hard it was to be a homeless teen and thanked us for making ACCESS a place where teens can feel loved and not alone.

There are more stories....

My Memorial Day Tribute With A Twist

If you know what the following means...I honor you on this memorial day weekend.

TDY, PCS, BDU, Sponsor's ID,

If you know what it means to live in a different place every one to three years...this is for you.

If you know what it means to maintain a houssehold while your spouse is thousands of miles across the world...this is for you.

If you know what it feels like to be away from family and friends on holidays, birthdays and weddings...this is for you.

If you know what it means to be part of a community with bonds stronger than some families...this is for you.

If you are a military wife...this is for you!

When we watch the news and see units and soldiers being deployed overseas, lets not forget the strong men and women who are being left behind. Men and women who now become single parents for as long as a year or more. Men and women who have to be mom and dad, who have to juggle extreme responsibilites and who have to be ready to answer the question "When is mom or dad coming home."

Eventually this season ends and life returns to normal except for the wives who receive the visit that no one wants or expects. The visit that their soldier is not returning home. I was visiting with my aunt recently and she shared with me the day that she received that visit. The day that a uniformed officer knocked on her door and gave her news that her soldier had been wounded and was coming home. She was one of the lucky ones who had to make arrangements for medical care and not a funeral.

I had the honor of recently spending time with a group of military wives in Italy. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was in the precense of some amazing women. Strong women who loved their husbands and embraced their role of military wife with passion and zeal. They truly taught me more that weekend then they will ever know. They showed me how important it was to surround yourself with women who will love you, support you and be there whenever you need them the most. Their community was stronger then some families. Their support for one another is what I believe God has commanded of us all.

So on this memorial day weekend...I honor all of those who are serving and who have served...but I also want to honor the wives of those sailors and soldiers.

I truly believe when someone joins the military...the whole family is serving. So the next time you see a military person...thank them and their family.

THE GREAT COVER UP #3

I remember growing up in the neighborhood and how there was always a family that everyone felt sorry for. The mom was mentally unstable and it seemed that the children had to take care of themselves. They never played with the other neighborhood kids and were always seen as "different." One might even say that they were loners and primarily kept to themselves. What a terrible thing it must have been for them to be raised under these conditions. Possibly feeling neglected and isolated. As the children became teens and young adults it seemed that they found acceptance in diverse groups and made choices that were reckless and dangerous.

Fast forward 25 years....

After making numerous visits to my dad's bedside this week, my mom realizes that one of the children from this family is in the room five doors down from my dad. The son, lying in ICU, suffering from AIDS. Something inside of me felt like we should go in and visit with him. An inner struggle began to take place. Why should I go I asked myself? He won't rememeber us...we could just keep walking by like we have been doing so far. Possibly the embarassment of not reaching out to him in all of our years growing up sunk in. How does one walk into his room and suddenly care about him? God was now prompting me again to face the brokenness in someone. God was leading me to put aside my fear, pride, shame...and just go.

As we walked towards his room I was already rehearsing what we would say. We would be nice and re-introduce ourselves to him and before we left...offer to pray. As we entered his room...he smiled...and said that he remembered us. After a few moments of small talk I asked if we could pray for him. He immediately said yes. My next thought is one that I am very ashamed of. I have heard many talks on AIDS and I am very familiar with how it is contracted and shared. I know that it is not spread through hand to hand contact...but in my selfish mind I thought to myself...do not touch me. You see...I have been stretched by God to "look" upon brokenness...but to touch it...no...not yet not now. Before I could bow my head and close my eyes...I felt a grip on my hand. He grabbed mine without even asking...it seemed to be natural to him...and now...it felt natural to me. I prayed for him and held hands with him. After we prayed we had a very brief conversation about Jesus and he shared with us about his faith in Christ.

I left the room wondering if he often feels lonely because of our ignorance to his disease. I doubt it! It seems that even though he is probably often judged by his past mistakes and choices...he really ministered to us. We walked into his room expecting to do him a favor by our visit and our prayers...but he actually did us a favor. He reached out to us...he showed us that God continues to use us in spite of our brokenness, our ignorance and our pride. He helped to break down a barrier that is often there between AIDS patients and us. We often give to their cause and will even wear a badge or walk in a walk-a-thon...but when do we ever stop and just touch them. Let them know that the only difference between us and them...is possibly a bad decision. We all have brokenness in our lives!

THE GREAT COVER UP PART 2

God continues to do a work within me as He softens my heart for brokenness. He continues to open my eyes a little wider and to not be afraid. Conviction continues in this area as He used a sermon yesterday to remind me of sin. In James it says that if we know what we are to do and yet we don't do it...it is sin. Ouch. In other words...when God nudges us to move, reach out, give, serve and we say no...it is sin.

I want to share with you two stories I have heard regarding this very thing:

STORY 1- A lady is sitting in church and according to the clock there is still about fifteen minutes left. God nudged her to leave at that time. In obedience she leaves and as she enters the foyer she is alone...except...for a woman who is stuggling to open the bathroom door. This woman suffers with MS and walks with the aid of a walker. She then knew why God led her to leave the service...to help this lady. In further obedience, she waits inside the bathroom so she can open the door for the lady as she leaves. How simple was that...listen...leave...open...open again...obedience.

He calls some to leave home for the mission field in far away lands...He calls some to leave their seat and just open a door.

STORY 2 - My friend Sandi was engaged in a conversation with a bagger at a grocery store. Through this conversation she realized he is struggling with selling a home and needs help decluttering and cleaning. God nudged Sandi...she obeyed and offered to help this family clean and declutter. WOW! He calls some to go into the inner city and help drug addicts and others clean up their lives. He calls some to help clean a house.

He calls all of us to something...what is your story? Send it to me and I'll post it on the blog.

THE GREAT COVER-UP PART 1

Conviction can come in a suttle way or a huge slap in the face. Lately I feel like conviction has come to me like a 2x4 to the head.

Here is what I am feeling right now. My name is Joy Trachsel and I have a fear of brokenness. (Hello Joy) Let me explain.

I think of myself as a somewhat compassionate person...but who have I been fooling. Yes...I will listen to your story...shake my head as I am saddened by your words and then offer you a lazy..."I am sorry to hear that...but I'll pray for you." I realize that sometimes brokenness in others scares me. I think it is because I am afraid that one...I can't help you...two...you may want me to help you and I am either too busy...too afraid or not confident in my abilities. Or three...I just don't want to have to take time to get involved in something that may stretch me, sadden me or make me realize the hurts in others. Sometimes it is much easier for me to donate to a cause then to be part of the cause. I truly believe this is why God has me at ACCESS.

I have heard stories from clients that make you want to shout out to God WHY? Sometimes I hear their stories and I want to go to my office...shut the door and escape. No...this can't be my response. I know that I can't save any of them. I know that only He has the power to change their lives...but I know one thing. (remember that 2x4 I mentioned) He has called each of us to be His hands, feet and voice.

What am I trying to say....I..We...need to uncover the brokeness in our world, our city, and yes...ourselves.

Funding is needed for many causes...but I do believe that we can do more. I believe we can put aside our to do lists...and make time for the broken people of our lives.

I am reminded that scripture tells us to go to Judea, Samaria and Jerusaleum. Where is your Judea?

Here is my challenge to myself. Someone has come into my life that I know struggles...this person loves a yellow purse that I carry. We joke about my purse all the time. Problem....I love my purse as well. I feel like I need to do something as small as give her my purse. Why do I struggle with this? Pride...materialism...the list goes on.

Okay...this week...Purse needs to be gone.

I'll let you know how the purse saga goes. In the end...I know that God always wins

Lessons from a Five Year Old

The Bible tell us that the older shall teach the young...but I believe it is also true in the reverse.

I have written and yelled from the mountain tops how much I love my new job at ACCESS. I look forward to going to the shelter each day to truly see what God has in store. He never fails to amaze me at His goodness and His provision.

The other day I was busy completing an unordinary amount of paperwork when a young five year tugged on my leg and said "would you play with me." I had a choice. I could continue in the busyness of my day or stop and play with a child who spends her days in a shelter. I chose the latter and grabbed her little pudgy hand and skipped off to play.

When we entered the playroom I suggested that we do a puzzle. How hard could that be? I mean I could quickly do the puzzle, satisfy her want to play and quickly return to work. I thought I was really smart when I chose a new one assuring that all the pieces would be there and would speed up our play time.

We began the process and soon fifteen minutes had passed and our Barney puzzle was still very much incomplete. I looked at my darling little friend and suggested that we quit and play again later. What happened next left me speechless and in tears. This precious child looked me square in the eye and said "never quit Miss Joy...never quit." A child who at this time in her life is homeless and living in a shelter is telling me not to quit. She is telling a grown woman, who knows where she will be sleeping tonight, knows what she will be eating tonight...to never quit.

We began working again on our puzzle and fifteen minutes later we were finished.

We celebrated our victory with high fives and loud cheers. What a lesson I learned that day from a pre-schooler?

QUICK UPDATES

WOW!!!God has exceeded what I could have ever imagined in such huge ways. I find myself going to this blog and beginning to write...and then stopping. It is almost hard to find words to describe His goodness and faithfulness this year.

Here is a quick update and details will follow soon!

- January 2010 I found myself questioning if I was to continue speaking. God affirmed this calling my sending me to ITALY to speak to some of the strongest women I have ever met. (details tomorrow)

- I was praying for a flexible part time job so I could stop subbing. God blew me away. I am now working from home and coordinating service projects and social events for this company Foresters. I even had a chance to spend 4 days in Toronto training.

- God continued to show me His faithfulness by opening up doors for me to speak here and 4 other places this year.

- Our son asked us if he could go to school here next year...so I prayed for another part time job that would be rewarding, flexible and provide enough money for us to pay tuition. Today...I start working here.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!! I will post pics soon and details...I now need to shower and pick out my first day of work outfit.


Did I tell you how good GOD is!