Testimonies


Comfort At the Breaking Point by Greenhouse Volunteer Nathan Leavitt

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2 Comments by admin

A woman came in today, skinny, and with a very disturbed youngster.  As she sat down across from me, struggling to keep her two-year-old in one spot, she began to share her story.  Her husband had just abandoned her and their child for a mistress.  This literally took place the day previous to when she came in.   He even went as far as to take the child’s toys and offered it to the mistress’ little children. Trying to endure the constant “I want daddy!” of her son, she proceeded to inform me of her various health problems that were all rather serious. That’s in addition to the natural depression she’d battled her whole life. I grabbed a sucker for the child and left to fetch the woman some food and diapers. I had to have a time-out with God so as not to get too involved, otherwise I’d be taking on more than I could handle. After gathering the food and praying in the Spirit a bit, I began my walk back to her, determined to impart whatever I could pull down from Heaven.  If nothing else, I believe our Father is full of compassion.  He simply would not turn these broken ones away without some hope.  Now, as anybody that knows me will tell you, if I am moved with compassion for somebody, I am the last person the devil wants to mess with at that moment. I prayed a storm down for this woman, and I could feel God’s heart was touched by this mother’s desperation. To my amazement, the young woman stood up after prayer with an indescribable glow.  With a different type of tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said “I don’t know what just happened, but I feel like God is holding me in his arms and, there, everything is going to be okay.” She thanked me for the prayer and left. I don’t believe she left as alone as when she came in.

 

A Little Food and a Prayer by Kayla Henry

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 1 Comment by admin

Being a social work intern, every client has been a learning experience for me.  I learned many things that related to my college curriculum, but the most important lesson was the power of prayer.  I met with a young lady who wasn’t much older than I.  She was living in her car with her boyfriend, while her three-year-old daughter was staying with her grandmother.  They had been looking for employment with no luck, and without employment, finding housing was impossible.  I gave her food they could easily eat in the car and some toiletries, and then prayed with her.  I prayed they would find the solution they needed and to give them the strength to get through the struggles they were currently facing.  She thanked me and left.  The very next day, she came in again and asked for me.  I wasn’t sure what she needed, but I gladly met with her.  As she sat down with me, she began to tell me the good news.  After she left the day before, her boyfriend had gotten a call about a job offer, which he, of course, accepted.  They then found someone who was willing to work with them on a security deposit and first month’s rent until they could get back on their feet.  She was glowing with joy as she was telling me this, and the feeling I had as I sat and listened was indescribable.  She thanked me for praying with her over and over again, and was so grateful for the new opportunity they had been given.  I collected some household items for her and asked her if she wanted some food she could cook.  She looked back and me and said, “Oh yeah, I have a stove now.  I can actually cook.”  After she left, I thought back on what a phenomenal experience I had just witnessed.  It’s the kind of thing a future social worker loves to see; to really make a difference in someone’s life.  I did all that with a little food and a prayer.