You know, it's one of the best things in the world when you get to see real change happening in the lives of real people. And that is exactly what we are starting to see over time at the Laundry Love Project. We are seeing those we set out to serve become our friends, become servants of others, and start to step into the love and work of Christ.
A prime example of this is our friend Dale. Dale has been to every laundry love project and when we first met him, he was just coming out of homelessness and starting to get back on his feet. Since then, dale has begun to bring other homeless folks he knows to the project to get their laundry done. He is living proof of how God's love changes lives.
Not only that, but we are getting a chance to meet people that have real need, and we are getting to love and take care of them right where there are at, showing them that there is a God in heaven who cares deeply for them.
As those of us who live in the Dueber missions house were walking around our neighborhood, we met up with a woman as she was handwashing towels in basins in her house because her family had no washer or dryer. We told her about the Laundry Love Project, and at this last LLP Cheryl brought loads and loads of laundry to do for her family that they would not have been able to do had we not met them.
And probably the biggest blessing for myself is watching those who have been called by Christ have an opportunity to be with those who are struggling and use their gifts to love those cast out by society. This project is as much for those who volunteer as it is for those we serve, and all are learning what a life lived for the kingdom of heaven looks like.
At this last project we also met Jerry. Jerry has been 12 years sober (praise God!) but unfortunately his girlfriend is dying. Jerry acknowledges how much God has rescued him from, and I know that in this time of distress God will rescue both Jerry and his girlfriend.
Lastly, we met Charlie. Charlie lives right next door to the laundromat, and because of this project we were able to find out about other needs she has for repair around her house. Which is a huge deal because she is very old and disabled, making even small things hard to do.
I praise God for how he is letting us meet people and draw together as a community. We got to spend $250 dollars and help over 50 people do over 75 loads of laundry at this last project. And also had a cookout where we got rid of over 100 hot dogs.
God is working in Canton my friends, bringing light to dark places through the hands and feet of his followers.
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