Shelter News 13
By all accounts last Sunday night at The Phinney Ridge Men’s Winter Shelter was the best of the year so far. Sarah and friends served their usual friendship as if they were serving Jesus. It reminds me of that old chorus, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love. There is comfort in life’s darkest hour. There is light and life. There is help and power in the Spirit, in the Spirit, of the Lord.”
Later that night about 1am as Mitch did his rounds of the perimeter of the building he was met by police in front and police in back. They, eight police cars, were looking for car prowlers and of course were questioning everybody out walking at that time of night. Back inside the Shelter the men were unaware that anything was going on outside. That’s what shelters do. They allow people to get a good night’s sleep. The Lord gives to His beloved even in their sleep. Or The Lord gives His beloved, sleep. I hope you are sleeping well tonight.
We still have room for servers at the Shelter. This coming Tuesday and Wednesday the kids from Seattle Academy are coming to serve. You may pray that it is an enlightening experience for all. They did well last year.
We are beginning to think of how we will end the Winter Shelter this spring. It is a trying time for both men and UGM staff and volunteers. Friendships made throughout the winter are hard, if not impossible, to maintain. But the Lord is in control.
Ben Paul 3-1-15