Practical Lovin

It's strange to be on the last leg of our journey in the U.S.  Ben returned from Argentina about two weeks ago and has just 3 more weeks of school before graduation.  All our regular groups are finishing up for the summer and it seems as though there are endless people we need to catch up with before we leave for Australia in June.  We are excited about going home and seeing family and friends, even if it is just for 8 weeks.

Ben applied for and has been accepted into BSSM 2nd. year.  We will be coming back to Redding mid August.  Thankfully this time the transition into American culture will not be too difficult.   We are not looking forward to the long haul flights again though.  This time around, my carry on bag will be heavily stocked with hard drugs and alcohol.  Just kidding about the alcohol.  

I'll let Ben write his own report about his trip.   Even then, I'm sure it will be hard to capture the experience with words.  I know he learnt so much about ministry, himself and the Lord.  All on very little sleep.  He made it safely home though and boy, were we glad to see him.  While he was away, I had the pleasure of having my parents come and stay to help me remain sane whilst on solo parent duty.  I was only expecting Mum, as that had been the plan but when we met her flight at Redding airport, there was Dad too!  It was a lovely surprise and the kids were so excited to see their Grandad.  

While Ben was away, the rest of us continued on with the everyday life routine.  It was wonderful to have Mum and Dad here helping out.  True to past form, Mum once again got my washing and folding under control and Dad went around the house fixing anything that squeaked or wobbled.  I was able to go out to my mum's group and continue training for the half marathon I am doing in May.  I was so blessed by their presence and their practical ways of helping.  

One afternoon I was able to join my friend in feeding the homeless around Redding.  This amazing woman began feeding her family's left overs to people in need after seeing them begging on street corners here in town.  At first it was just a few plates of food.  Now, she feeds up to about 25 people 2-3 times a week.  She simply packs the take away packs of home cooked food into the back of her car, along with bottles of water and sometimes items she knows people need from previous encounters.  Her three kids happily go along for the ride.  The day I went with her, we were serving chicken and rice.  It smelt delicious!  We drove around Redding, to a few of the places she knows people tend to be.  We would drive up along side them, wind down the window, ask them if they were hungry and if so, hand them some food and water.  It was an amazing experience.  Every person who received food was clearly thankful.  Most of them knew my friend from past meals they had received.  She greeted each person with such love, it was beautiful to watch.  A lot of people asked if we were from Bethel Church, even though we didn't mention anything about God or church.  Interesting.  I had such a good time.  There was a genuineness about all the people we came across, which I appreciated.  Sure, some were so strung out on drugs they could barely put a sentence together but the rest were simply grateful to be receiving food and happy to have a chat about whatever.  I am definitely going to go along again.  Practical love speaks the words these people need to hear.  

Mum and Dad left a week ago and already my washing mountain has reformed in the spare room, one of Lachie's drawers in his bedroom fell apart and the couch is wobbly again. *sigh*

Sam received a very special award  from school.