Time Goes By...

So much has happened since I last entered anything (it's almost shaming if the reason weren't because we were so busy :) The Maplewood Center is fully renovated and almost fully operational. I say almost because we're still in the development stages of our women's Life Transformation Program, which will be similar to our current men's program at Michigan Avenue.

At Michigan Avenue, the kitchen has undergone a complete rebuilding of the floor, a necessary renovation which couldn't wait for (hopefully) the full renovations coming in the next few years. As our meals have increased, the need has outgrown our current kitchen. Also, the need for shelter for men has outgrown our men's dorm. We hope to expand both.

This is only to say that, while much has been accomplished in the past few months, there is so much more coming, so much more that needs to be done, so many more opportunities to reach a hand of rescue to those in need in our community.

But as we remain busy and looking forward to these changes, we also recognize that the foundation for our plans rest firmly in the Lord and in the faithful compassion of our supporters. As we celebrate 100 years of service, we look back with humility and gratitude at the legacy of generosity that has allowed the Mission to grow from a rented portion of a building to a ministry able to provide support and shelter to hundreds of men, women, and children every day. Because of you. Thank you for being a rescuer. Thank you for helping us help others.

Yum and Yummier

If I had the time, I would create a blog dedicated to making the entire capital city area aware of the fact that our public dining room provides more than just food...it provides good food. Our cooks work very hard to use the variety of donations that come in the door, and sometimes that requires some creativity.

Tuesday, Abby made mention of an overabundance of jello that had been donated. "I think I'll make up some jello." Wednesday dessert was jello, with angel food cake, whipped topping, and maraschino cherries. Tuesday afternoon, a young man came to the door hefting grocery bags fulls of apples and bananas left over from an event. The gift was thoughtful but the bananas were past their prime. The answer: banana pudding topped with real bananas.

There are meatball dishes, chicken dishes, rice or pasta cooked one million and one ways... I could go on but nothing I could ever write could fully describe the effort, creativity, and compassion that goes into a meal at the Mission. From the base ingredients (donations all), to the hard work of our cooks, to the hands of volunteers who serve the meal (cafeteria style) to our guests, love truly is in every bite.

Even after the meal is finished, labor goes into keeping the facility one of the cleanest restaurants in Lansing (as we are required to meet the same health codes as a restaurant). All of this is because of the generosity of our supporters. It is their efforts that helped put over 95,000 meals on the table for men, women, and children in need in Michigan's capital area.

Volunteer Opportunity--Daytime Desk Clerk

If you call into our offices, you might hear the friendly voice of a Mission staff member or the cheerful tones of our volunteer receptionists. At our administrative offices, two of our most faithful volunteers are Laura (not to be confused with CRM Employee, i.e. the other Laura) and Joyce. Laura has been faithfully coming for over a year, and Joyce has been with us for four. We are so grateful to our many volunteers for meals, etc.; however, as we transition the administrative offices to our Maplewood Center, we're hoping to be able to "clone" Laura and Joyce by finding other volunteers, with daytime availability, willing to serve in the same capacity. We need friendly people who can 1) help people bringing donations or needing information on our services and 2) work in our personal needs room. Some phone use will be involved, but we are willing to train anyone interested. Please call Cheryl or "the other Laura" at 517.485.0145 or email cheryl@lcrm.org or laura@lcrm.org if you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity.

Lost in Transition

Ever had one of those kind of days? The kind of days where you have so much stuff piled on your desk that you're in a blank haze as to which project to tackle next? Well, today is one of those days. (My mom would blame the weather, and, seeing the gray blah outside the window, I tend to agree with her.) The solution, of course, is to thank God for our blessings. Of which there are many. Today, I'm still smiling in the afterglow of a special blessing from yesterday.

Gina, a staff member, was charged with the seemingly herculean task of tracking down an old scrapbook that had disappeared during one of the most recent changes to the reception area. The photos and this scrapbook had lived for some time in an old credenza that no longer fit in the front office when cubicles were added for much needed office space. Upon realizing the scrapbook had disappeared, a small feeling of panic settled over me. This orange scrapbook, unattractive and mostly unused, holds a treasure trove of Mission memorabilia which Leon Kellogg had accumulated. Leon, grandson of the Mission founders, had included newspaper articles and photos dating back to the late '20s.

The photos were family photos and irreplaceable. My searches proved fruitless, and, with the chaos of the upcoming office move, it seemed the task of finding this treasure would have to wait until we were settled in Maplewood.

We came back from taking pictures at Maplewood to find that Gina had been successful. What was lost had been found. Lovely old photos, yellowed newspaper clippings, and that beautiful orange cover.

It was very reminiscent of Christ's parables in Luke 15, which culminates with the story of the prodigal son. Very reminiscent of the purpose of the City Rescue Mission. Matthew 18:11 tells us that "the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." Sometimes, we may desperately try to "find" someone and to bring him/her to our Savior. But that is, thankfully, in God's hands. In His perfect timing, He will bring them to Himself. What a blessing that we are able to play just a small part in this wonderful plan.

When we all get to Maplewood...

Around the Mission administrative offices, we have a song phrase we sing from time to time, "When we all get to Maplewood," sung to the tune of "When we all get to heaven." It's really difficult not to talk about Maplewood all the time because, for what seems like an eternity, we've been preparing for this move. But, as with all things, the timing truly is in the Lord's hands, and we've all been learning a lesson about patience (harder, it seems, for some of us).

In some cases, the upcoming (as in the sense of some distant future) move had become a coping mechanism. Sure, it wasn't the most convenient to trudge up and down 23 steps every time a copy needed to be made, but "when we all get to Maplewood" it would be so much better... I'm putting on some "Mission muscle," but when we all get to Maplewood, we'll be away from the temptation of a kitchen right next door. With our cooks eager to try out recipes on even more eager office guinea pigs (us :).

Now, the day is rapidly approaching when the offices vacate and leave space for the men's shelter and public dining room to expand. It's hard to hold back the excitement, tinged as it is with a small sense of remorse. Because, in spite of the joy of a new "home," we'll miss the old familiarity of Michigan Avenue, the rich sense of history that is an integral part of these old buildings.

Waiting on the brink of a new direction in the "life" of the City Rescue Mission, it's an exciting and humbling opportunity to stand with one foot anchored in a rich history of service and another stepping on the building block of new opportunities to make a difference. Thank you for standing with us, to meet the physical and spiritual needs of men, women, and children in Michigan's capital area. Thank you for being a rescuer!

Special Gifts from the Heart

We've received several donations of hand knit scarves, gloves, mittens, and hats. All are appreciated but one especially touching gift was delivered to the office door during the "chaos" that is Christmas week. When a Mission staff person went to answer the ringing bell, a woman was waiting outside with a small bag of knit hats in assorted colors. The woman was crying and barely managed to speak the words, "These are from a very special person." She went on to say that the person who made them had recently passed away. Before she did so, she charged the woman at our door with the responsibility of making sure the gift came to us. They were indeed made by a special person, someone who knit them with compassion and sincere concern for those in need. It is always humbling to be reminded, in the midst of the bustle and busyness, how precious it is to stand, as another supporter put it, as a vessel, carrying your gifts of compassion and placing them in the hands of those in need.

Thank you to the many, many of you who have been so generous this holiday season. God bless you and may you have a very, Merry Christmas!

Little Boy Blue

Yesterday, there were some rather excited noises coming from the chapel...not excited in a good way. A young boy, there with his mom and two other siblings, had come in for the noon meal. As is our policy, guests sign up for lunch between 11 a.m. and noon, have a short chapel service, then come through the public dining room for a hot meal. As we serve 2 meals a day to the public (not including breakfast to our guests), 365 days a year, staff has the routine down to a near science. Not that there aren't the occassional interruptions. Like yesterday.

The little guy was crying because, as he told a staff person while his family was signing in, he was hungry. How do you help a little, three year old boy, understand that food is coming? Bryan bustled the whole family into the dining room, so they could get some food into those hungry little bellies.

It's tragic that a mother with three small children has to look for a free meal...but it's good to know that those in need do have a place where they can go to get help. Whether they are three or eighty three. The generous donations of our faithful supporters make meals and our other services available to those in need. So that the thousands of people who come to the Mission find the lights on, the buildings warm, and the food delicious :) Thank you for helping us help others!