July 22-29 Journal

Family Promise Journal by Beverly Storms

 

Sunday, July 22, 2007
Set-up began with prayer in Russ Funk's office/warehouse.  Melody Knudson recruited the teens to help us clear out the Youth Building.  Under the direction of Kim Murray, they reminded me of a colony of worker ants - you should have seen them!  Thus, much of the set-up was well under way when the rest of Kim and Walt Murray's team ( Craig Belcourt, Linda DeFelix, Diane Wolynia, Kimberly Elkins, Paul Rogers, Tonya & Claire Niblett, Margarita Collins, Cathy Williams, David Spaite) arrived at 1:00 to complete the finishing touches to the CrossRoads Hilton.  We finished by 2:40, which was record time!
Our guests arrived at 5:40p.m.  We had three families:  five adults, six children. 
We were served a delicious International cuisine prepared by Kelly Quek from Malaysia; Sharon Belles from Singapore; Anoop Pai Palimar from India; Erik Dirgaria from Indonesia; Ji Hye, Young Jae, & Tee Young from Korea; and David Belles from the U.S.  The families seemed adventuresome and enjoyed a taste from around the world! 
Aside: Almost exactly one year ago, David and I were in Seattle, WA for an International Students, Incorporated (ISI) convention.  David is now on staff with ISI ministering to International college students.  I remember a lady at that conference asking me about my ministry.  I told her ISI was really my husband's ministry, I was just supporting him. I told her the homeless ministry was my passion.  She asked me if I had considered combining the two.  I thought that was a pretty far-fetched suggestion!  Look what God did a year later!  Leaning on my own understanding, I would not have considered international food for a Family Promise meal.  When Kelly was so excited about organizing this meal, the Holy Spirit just told me to go with it!  To God be the glory!
Our evening hosts were Paul Rogers, Kathy, Matt, Elijah,& Joshua Burlend, David Storms.  Basketball was the big after dinner entertainment.  It's just not fair with tall Paul on someone else's team!  Our two year-old already figured out how to move a bar stool to the drinking fountain to get a drink! 
The nightly kitchen crew did a great job of assisting the cooks and cleaning up the dining room, north 1/3 of the gym, and kitchen.  Joseph Iler, Paula and Carl Smith are an invaluable team.  Along with the kitchen crew, Steve Rednour and I plan be here for the week serving our guests.
Tonya Niblett and Judy Appelt came in to pray on-site.  Judy made a prayer box for requests.  I noticed there are some slips of paper in it.
Sue and Jake Griffin spent the night.
 
Monday, July 23, 2007
We gained a new family today: a Mom with her three children, 7, 10, & 14.  We are now a full house with four families/15 guests.
Well, there was a bit of excitement in the air as I had told the families on Sun. that Dave Kofka would be here tonight to let them climb the rock wall.  In fact, the children had already told the new family.  WAIT:  first, we have to eat dinner!  Randy & Lori Hack and sons, Connor, Landon, and Carson provided baked chicken, potato salad, Caesar salad, fruit, and cake.  It was yummy!  Russ Funk joined us for dinner - he has a hard time staying away from Family Promise! 
Connor Hack was pushing a broom cleaning the dining room floor.  He told Joseph his Mom said he had to work, as he was watching all of the activity going on at the other end of the gym!
 Linda DeFelix spent the evening with us.  I think she has helped every time we have hosted.  She is a pro at bringing wonderful little activities for the children.  This time they were making little books.  One of the Moms even joined them.  At the other end of the gym, the basketballs were out before the big people were finished with dinner!  Then, the long-awaited event:  the rock wall was ready to go.  Dave had a line-up of chairs facing the wall with all of those little children patiently waiting their turn.  They each got at least two turns. Rusty Funk and David Spaite were busy assisting Dave with the climbing venture.  Several of the children made it to the top ringing the buzzer!  Dave was so blessed by their enthusiasm, he agreed to come back late Sat. afternoon for more climbing.  Thank you, Dave.
Some of the parents who had gone to their rooms after dinner last night were out playing basketball and watching the rock wall climbing.  It was good to see that they are feeling more comfortable here.
Jeri Albin and Jose Fernandez, Jr. were our on-site prayer warriors.  Each evening, when I see the prayer warriors come in, I just thank God.  Kathy Lehnerz prayed from home for us: we got a bonus!
Our overnight hosts were Jose Fernandez, Jr., Rusty Funk, & David Spaite.  I called Rusty this morning to see how things went.  Some of the children stayed up and played with them; he loved it!
I am convinced:  it is the ones serving who receive the biggest blessings!
 
Tidbits:  Kimberly Elkins ran a grocery errand early in the day for us.  Our two year-old's sandal broke.  Sherry Rednour and Lauren stopped by with a new pair - a perfect fit at that!

 

Tuesday, 7/24/07   

 Our guests arrived a little before 6:00.  Dinner is served at 6:30p.m., so we had a little prebasketball time!  I am so thankful for our nice big gym, the basketball goals, the rock wall, and the electric dividers:  it is so perfect for Family Promise.

I had a little private parent meeting before we had dinner.  The Youth have invited all of our guest children to their 'Christmas in July' party tomorrow night.  I wanted to make sure it was okay with the parents before announcing it to the children.  The parents were all smiles wondering what kind of a crazy question that was - I laughed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are having movie night on Fri., so I wanted to ask them if they minded what kind of junk their children have for movie snacks BEFORE I asked the children!  Friday overnight hosts may be up very late as 'sugar-is-the-limit' according to the parents!  It is pretty limited the rest of the week.
The "20 Something" Sunday School class organized by Stephanie Hatlestad provided a big- hit pizza dinner.  We were happy to have Jeremiah Bass, Jenn Bailey, Ashley Vandenberg, Rebecca Spaite, Rusty Funk, David Spaite, Jill Johnson, and Dustin Womack from the '20 Something Class."  After KP duty, they all played with the children.  Some of our group were playing kickball, some were making construction paper flowers Linda DeFelix brought, and Linda and our teen girl were signing to a gospel song.  One of the Moms was working on a crossword puzzle.  It was a beautiful picture, and during one hour of this, Chad and Kristen Langford were on-site praying for us. Joan McCormick prayed from home this evening.  Steve Rednour had already mopped the dining floor and ran around playing with kids enough to work up a good sweat, so, at this point, we were visiting on the sidelines with Lori Young soaking up the beauty of it all.  Lori, Hezekiah, and Nessa Young spent the evening.  Lori took family pictures of all of our families.  After spending all of last evening and this evening, Rusty Funk and David Spaite have been adopted by all of the children, but especially two who wanted them in their family picture! 
 
Rusty and David are so excited about buying presents for the children for the party tomorrow night.  They took me over to the dock to show me all of the presents they and Scott Shepherd had bought so far.  They wanted to know if I thought the children would like them, and what else they could get for each child because, you see, God multiplied $$.  Now, they have $100 more to spend!  I just wanted to cry!  I am looking forward to what God is going to do at that party tomorrow night, aren't you? 
Praise God:  We had a big donation of needed items delivered to the gym tonight.
Our new Mom told me there was something in their room that looked like a man, and it scared one of her sons about 3a.m.!.  Rusty and I went to check it out.  It was a silhouette of a man taped to the wall - no wonder it looked like a man!  Rusty took care of that in short order! 
One of the Dads was almost in tears tonight telling me how happy his children are here:  He can't believe it.  Life hasn't been easy for them in recent years.
Chad and Kristen Langford are holding down the fort tonight.  Sweet dreams!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Our guest children were looking for Rusty and Dave to play with them first thing off the bus! So, basketball began while we were waiting for dinner. Our little two year-old went pee-pee in the potty for the very first time at the CrossRoads Hilton!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, Andrew! He got lots of praises!
The kitchen was buzzing as Stephanie Hatlestad recruited her whole family including her 6 month-old nephew to make dinner for our Family Promise guests. Lynelle, Greg, Kristen Hatlestad, and Jen Campbell served a wonderful 'Jan Gentry's recipe' of chicken pasta, salad, green beans, biscuits, and a yummy chocolate dessert. Rusty Funk, Annalisa Munoz, and Dave Spaite, our evening hosts escorted the children to the Worship Center for a Christmas-in-July party. In our circle before dinner, we had already prepared by singing "Christmas in Arizona" to the tune of "Winter Wonderland." Carl Smith was the song leader:
Palm trees wave, are you listenin'?
In the pool, water's glistenin'
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Livin' in a desert wonderland.

Gone away is the blizzard,
Here to stay is the lizard,
A warm sunny day, we like it that way,
Livin' in a desert wonderland.

In the desert we will have a picnic,
Cactus, sand and rattlesnakes and sun.
Christmas dinner is an old tradition,
It's pinto beans and tacos by the ton.

Later on we'll perspire,
Temperatures rise even higher,
A warm sunny day, we like it that way,
Livin' in a desert wonderland.

At my special invitation Eric Elkins along with Kimberly and Isaac, and Scott Shepherd joined us for dinner. We are ministering to one of our male guests. It just made my heart melt to see Eric and Scott on each side of him during dinner.
A few minutes after the children left, I took the parents over to the see the Christmas room David Spaite and Rusty Funk had prepared just for their children. It was complete with Christmas tree, a sleigh, Christmas lights, and gifts galore. The parents were in awe. Steve Rednour's duty was to stay with the kids and watch "Elf." That is, after they decorated sugar cookies with lots of icing and ate lots of them! I understand some of the little ones were crawling under the chairs in the sanctuary with big kids racing them!
Meanwhile, I stayed with the adults in the Youth Building. The parents were just enjoying the silence in the gym! Actually, the guys just kind of disappeared snuggling in for a long summer night's rest! Andrew (2) led his charge back to the Youth Building to find Mom. Donna went back to the party with him. From what I observed, I think she had a good time! Evening host, Cathy Williams, Tonay Niblett, and I pampered the other two Moms with manicures and pedicures. None of us are professionals, nor can we see well, nor do we have steady hands, so it took all three of us! The water was really pretty cool for the foot soak. It felt so good to the Mom. I believe God made cool water feel warm to her.
About 8:30, it was announced that the children were going to the Christmas room, so a few of us went to watch. The children were greeted by Santa Dave sitting in the sleigh, Uncle Scott Shepherd with his Christmas tie and red capris ready with lots of batteries, and elf Rusty trying to keep the whole thing from being chaotic. It truly looked like Christmas morning with paper and boxes all over the floor, and happy excited children. Words cannot describe what I witnessed, but I will tell you one thing: those children know the love of Jesus.
Margaret Brandt and Judy Appelt prayed for us tonight.
Steve and I were beat by 9:05. Our overnight hosts, Russ and Rusty Funk, were present. We told Russ the children had eaten an undetermined amount of iced sugar cookies, and that we were leaving!


Thursday, July 26, 2007
Oh, I forgot to tell you each child received a stuffed animal, a ball, and remote control cars last night for Christmas, plus some other things personal to the children. Before the families arrived tonight, Rusty and Dave were busy placing more gifts on beds: shirts for the kids and overnight bags for the parents.
Tonight before dinner, we had remote-control cars all over the gym floor. Some were making pit stops at the stage as Rusty and Dave were replacing batteries. I even noticed that they had some wrenches!
Praise God for the 20 Something Sunday School Class. They were back again tonight providing our evening meal of Mexican food: soft or hard tacos, chicken enchiladas with all the trimmings, and some very good dessert. It was delicious. Pastor Dana joined us tonight. Jill Russell was a special guest. She is the host coordinator for Family Promise at University Presbyterian. Jill also serves on the Board for Family Promise, and she thanked all of our volunteers. She was very impressed with all of our volunteers - we're alive!
Chad, Pilar, Dominic, Candace, and Samuel Derenge were evening hosts. Jose Fernandez, Jr. brought some of his friends from the college class to hang out with us for a while. They were wheeling our two little guests on the basketball rack: Andrew and Briana were having a good time! Julie got a new skateboard for Christmas. Believe it or not, Chad Derenge was doing skateboard stunts!
I am convinced the praying saints who come in each evening and pray for us are making a huge difference. Tonight, there were three intercessors all sitting in different areas of the gym as God was raining down his blessings. Thanks to Rosemary Nunemacher, Cathy Williams, and Debbie Prigge. The prayer team is specific to our congregation as part of the hosting. Jill saw our three intercessors. I told her it didn't start that way. It started with my praying friend, Judy, there for one hour each night. Now Judy is the Prayer Team leader, and our goal is for at least two intercessors to pray each night for one hour each.
Lori Young and Hezekiah joined us tonight. Lori had all of the supplies for each family to make picture frames for their family photos. They all enjoyed that, and were so grateful for the family pictures.
One of our Dads is really searching. I noticed Pastor Dana visiting with him during dinner. Carl Smith had talked with him last night, and he was telling him about the ripple effect. Carl brought Ripples (?) in tonight to give our guest. He just kind of slipped over to sit by him after Pastor Dana left. Then my husband visited with him. David told me our guest told him that he had never seen so much love. Wow! And he is at the place where love surrounds you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dwayne and Amy Bryant came to spend the night. It didn't take Dwayne long to get in on a game of ball!
 

Friday, July 27, 2007
Jimmy and his children arrived in their car before the bus came. I was waiting outside for the families, so we sat at one of the picnic tables and visited. Jimmy wanted me to know that God is really working on him. He said he feels a wrenching in his gut. Jimmy is saved, but walked away from the Lord. I told him that reminded me of John 7:37 & 38: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." He also told me he hasn't seen his children so happy in a long time, and that Rusty and Dave have really made an impact on all of them.
When I arrived, the kitchen crew along with our cooks for the evening were already working hard. Karen Banaszek and Georgina prepared a wonderful lasagna, salad, bread, and dessert bar dinner. The homemade sweet potato pie was to die for!
Of course, the basketballs were bouncing before dinner, and remote control cars were driving everywhere. One had a fender-bender with my foot!
Our evening hosts: Howie & Rosemary Case, Ron & Barbara Eaton were snowed in with a dust storm, and couldn't come. Dave Spaite and Rusty Funk stayed for dinner. David Storms joined us, and Rosemary Nunemacher was our on-site prayer warrior. She also stayed for dinner. It was really a pretty quiet evening.
Eric Elkins and Scott Shepherd bought new speakers for a big screen TV that is in the Youth Building so we could use it for our movie night. Rusty and Dave made the coziest living room in one little corner of the gym. Moms and kids were snuggled together on mattresses, some were all comfy with lots of pillows on the couches, and some even had their blankets! I had taken snack orders earlier in the week. I shopped for everything from sunflower seeds to ice cream! While I was popping popcorn, Paula Smith was serving soda in cups with lids. They voted on the movie between "Finding Nemo" and "Chicken Run." "Chicken Run" was the movie of choice.
Sue Griffin and Jake are spending the night. When I left, the movie theater was still full. It's okay. They get to sleep in tomorrow. Breakfast isn't until 9a.m. These guys are used to being on the bus at 5:15a.m.! I cut an orange at the hospitality counter for little Anthony before I left. He was asking me when we are going to the museum tomorrow. I asked him if he was excited, and he told me he didn't want to go to that day center place! He likes to have his back rubbed. I told him I rubbed my son's back every night before he went to bed, but now he is grown up, and I miss rubbing his back. When Anthony comes up to me, I know what he wants.
Steve Rednour had a family get-together tonight. This was his only night off: that is probably why things were so quiet!

 

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Things were pretty quiet at the CrossRoads Hilton when I arrived at 7:30!  I'm glad our guests had a chance to sleep in a bit.  Sue Griffin was straightening up the big screen living room.

At 9a.m., we were served a delicious hot breakfast:  scrambled eggs, hash browns, pancakes, sausage, and bacon.  Lorenze Shirley-Hawes was the chef, and he was assisted by Sam and Sharon Parks, Bryan Herdt, and Monique.  Heidi Shirley-Hawes was our morning on-site prayer warrior.  She also stayed until after we left for the day so she could be the chocolates-on-the-pillow-distributor.
We were loaded in two church vans by 10:00a.m. Steve Rednour and Patti LaBorde were our drivers.  Haley, Brycellyn, and Jerram LaBorde were among the passengers in Van 2.  Anthony Jr. said Van 1 is the 'king van' because we were in the lead!  We were on our way to the Mesa Southwest Museum where our families split up and did the family thing.  They had so much fun.  After Steve and I met them in the lobby, we were tugged different directions so the children could show us their favorite displays.  Donna told me it was a good first museum experience for little Andrew.  The children all had little bags of gold they had panned.  Each child received a little bag of souvenirs from the museum gift shop.  After we left, we drove on each side of Main Street to look at the bronze sculptures.
Peter Piper - here we come!  Bill LaBorde and Rusty Funk met us there.  We only had three pieces of pizza left of eight pizzas.  Most of our guests played games, and they won some really wonderful prizes!!  After we got back to the church, some were playing Uno, others were coloring, and others were shooting hoops - always!  Then there was quite a while when things were very quiet: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Three of our families have vehicles, so we gave them $75 gas cards for which they were very appreciative.  We gave the other family bus passes.
Wayne and Wanda Sharpes bought and wrapped a new pair of roller skates for Brianna's parents to give her for her 5th birthday tomorrow.  I'm not sure how the parents decided to keep them hid until tomorrow!
Before dinner, we circled up as is our custom every night.  Usually it is me talking to make any announcements and share, but tonight it was an open floor.  Our guests had some very touching words thanking all who had helped with Family Promise:  lives have been touched by the love of Christ.  We ended our circle time with prayer.
David, Melanie, Eden, Leah, Luke, and Joel Kroeger served a home cooked meal of chicken in gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread, and sweet potato casserole.  Briana's favorite cake is strawberry cake.  Melanie made a beautiful decorated cake for her.  After we sang "Happy Birthday," the cake was served with ice cream.  Melanie didn't stop there, she also made carmelitas for dessert, and she made a little birthday princess gift basket for Briana.  By now, the kitchen crew could barely move, but, somehow, the dining room did get mopped and the kitchen got cleaned.  The mylar balloon centerpieces came down, except for Pooh Bear when David Storms accidentally let go of the string! 
Tonya Niblett, Judy Appelt, and Wayne and Wanda Sharpes prayed tonight.  We were really prayed up today:  5 intercessors on-site!  Praise God for the praying saints! 
Dave Spaite came after dinner to help Rusty with the rock wall.  The two of them are spending the night:  they wanted to as it is the last night for our guests.  Some heartstrings are going to be tugged at tomorrow:  all of our guest children love these two guys, and vice versa.
When Steve and I left about 8:30, children were still climbing the rock wall.
 

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Steve and I arrived at the CrossRoads Hilton about 6:15a.m.  All was quiet and all was dark!  Rusty and Dave spent the night.  Steve knew the arrangement of the gym for Sunday School, so they got that back together.  The guests helped us by putting sheets, towels, and blankets in separate totes.  The Family Promise bus arrived at 7:00 to take the guests to the Day Center.  We stopped to give hugs and best wishes to the families.  Tonya Niblett and Bryan Herdt arrived early, and helped us put Sunday School rooms back together.  Rusty and Dave were moving furniture.  By 7:20, we had finished.  That was really record time.  The take-down crew was scheduled for 7:30.  Paul Rogers, Margaret Brandt, Dara McKaig, Carl Smith, Walt and Kim Murray arrived to a pleasant surprise.  Walt and Rusty picked up the UHaul and loaded up the cots to take them to Mission Del Sol, where the guests will spend next week.  Tonya Niblett, Patti LaBorde, and Sharon Parks all took totes of laundry to wash for us.

Praise be to God!  This was our best hosting yet.  I  am thankful for all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make this hosting immeasurably more than all I imagined.  One of our guests and his two children attended church 7/29:  this was a first for any of our guests.
 
Our next hosting is scheduled Nov. 11 - Nov. 18.  I have some new goals and a wish list:
If you would like to be a part of Family Promise at CrossRoads, the sign-up will begin Oct. 21 - Nov.4 on Sundays in the courtyard.  If you can help with any of the items on the above wish list, please contact Beverly Storms 480-413-1651.

Notes we got on Sunday morning:

This note is from our 14 year-old guest:

To everyone who works here.

I wanted to say you feel like family to us, like Rusty is our older brother, and Steve is our uncle for pretend. But I wanted to thank you for all you have done! You have changed my life.

God bless you

from Joana

There was also another note of sincere thanks from a Mom written on the whiteboard in their room.

One family made us a card with these words:

The Hardiman family would like to extend a special thanks to all of you here at CrossRoads. We appreciate everything you have done to help us through this difficult time. We will never forget you. May God continue to bless you all.

(Hebrews 11:6)

Love, Kiana, Anthony Sr., Anthony Jr., Tyshon, Briana