Last night, I visited a home that our Home Repair Team and others have been working on since last fall. It all started with Becci Pryor driving by the small house and noticing that the front window was badly cracked and broken. Each time she drove by, she felt all the more compelled to inquiry about the window. Finally, she got up the courage to knock on the stranger's door. A small woman less than 5 foot nothing answered the door. She had long silver hair and she couldn't have been much more than 90 pounds wet. Her name was Elsie.
Elise had lived there for too many years to remember and as she hesitantly introduced herself, Becci saw that Elsie's need was much greater than a new front window. Elsie's deceased husband was a "pack rat". He filled the house and the yard with his garage sale and flee market finds. There was a path from the door to the only chair which Elise has and which she uses to sit and sleep. The only heat she had was an old Kerosene heater that has turned the ceilings and walls black over the years. She cooked on a small stove outside, which was also where her refrigerator was. The font porch was severly damaged and pouring water into the house. Becci came to ask about a window and left seeing a fellow human being living in conditions that no one should and from there the journey began.
On our "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church Day," a team began the project by replacing the broken window and clearing the yard. The improvement was so noticeable that the Mayor caught wind of the transformation and stopped by along with neighbors to thank the team.
This month the project picked up a gain by removing the porch that was leaking into the house and full of mold. And then, Elise, invited us into her home (This shows hom much she has come to trust Dave and Becci. Our Home Repair team is no longer merely fixing a house they are building a relationship). Last night I watched as the team filled up the third large dumpster and a trailer of trash. Elsie no longer has to step over her deceased husbands "treasures". She will now have the space to even have a bed...after only God knows how many years, she will be able to sleep in a bed. Of course, as the trash went out, it uncovered more work to be done... the floor in desperate need of repair, walls need to be redone and the ceiling needs to be patched.
How far do we go, "Becci asked me?" In a project like this, that is no small question to ask. For now, we decided we would clean out the main living area and not even open the door to the two bedrooms which are filled with items from floor to ceiling. Instead, now that a good relationship has been built with Elise we'll see what she can afford and what she wants to do about making the main living area, clean and livable.
When I met Elsie last night, I saw a little, elderly lady with a bright smile and a good sense of humor. It would be easy to look at Elise and assume we have the right to judge her for the condition of her home, but I guess the more you follow Jesus the more you realize that the right to judge is something you and I are called upon to release to Jesus. After all, I can look at Elise and assume what and why, but only Jesus can look at Elise and know what and why. Instead of judging, I greatly respect our Home Repair Team's decision to see a need and go far!
How far do you go, Becci? I guess as far as your team will help you? How far do we go to help others see, touch, and hear the love of Jesus where they live? I think Jesus summed it up best..."If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."
To learn more about how you can go the extra mile for Elise contact Becci Pryor at BBCOVEFARM@msn.com and thank you to all of you who already have!
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