Beauty Under The Bridge



I finally have a moment to collectively write down the things I loved about last night under the bridge....I know your probably tired of reading them but I want to remember....

1. I LOVE the volunteers and the relationships that have formed.
There are so many new friendships that have formed between volunteers under that bridge. People that I would have never met any other way and even if I did it would be highly unlikely that I would know them the same way I do now. For the volunteers that I have "known" for a while- I now feel like I KNOW you. It is different than seeing each other in passing weekly at church- it is deeper. For both these sets of volunteers- that are out serving each week alongside me, I am honored that you would open your heart and share it with others.. and that I am able to be there with you. When you are not there, I truly miss you. You aren't only blessing our guest, you bless me.

2. I LOVE our guest. I know I say this all the time!!! It is SO true. I love the updates on their week. I love that they make fun of my driving. I love the hugs. I love the smiles. I love their gratitude. I love the actuality that they allow me to see. I love the tears...that they trust our volunteers with. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

3. I LOVE that Steve introduced me to Nicole and Billy months ago. They camp way out so we don't get to see them each week. When they do come in it is such a blessing. They are the sweetest people. They came to the foot washing section and I was blessed to get to spend some time with them. I am so thankful for our core team and the decision to place the tarps (donated from many of you a couple months ago) and donated blankets (from Dr. Jerry Freed's office) on the van this week. We were able to give them tarps, blankets, essential items, socks....all donated from many of you and many that I don't know. When I asked if they needed anything else, Billy said, "do you happen to have any pots or pans?" ...Ok, last week when I asked for pots and pans it wasn't for Billy and Nicole. But God had other plans. Rufas did not show up this week so those pots and pans that were sitting in the back of my vehicle (donated by Mandi Ramsey) went straight to this sweet couple. People!!! I LOVE you guys for making a difference and LOVING this couple.

4. I LOVE Pete and Jeff...the "dog guys". Those 2 are amazing! I am so glad that I got to listen to their stories of how they actually paid to get one of our guest dogs out of the pound. They work there!  Country had trusted his dog with others while he went into the shelter on one of the really cold nights this winter. They came in and there was Dog (that's actually the dogs name lol). They have worked with Country and taught him tricks to train Dog and work with him to make sure he is cared for. They understand that Dog is Country's family. They are awesome.

5. I LOVE watching new volunteers and guest be changed!

6. I LOVE watching Mike and Monika with guest at the foot washing station. Those 2 are amazing and are my replacements!!! Soon they will be training and releasing the area to otheres :) They are SO good. Last night Monika washed the feet of a guy in great need of love and dignity. Afterwards he wanted to use the basin and warm water to wash off a little. Mike and Monika helped him with warm water and rags. They did amazing at loving him right in that moment. He is a Air Force Vet and what a memory that burned in my mind.

7. I LOVE that after 3 MONTHS! 3 MONTHS! 12 long weeks! Cindy FINALLY smiled at me, gave me a little side hug, accepted socks, and said that one day she is going to let me wash her feet!. I have been pretty sure she hated me for a while now. :) LOL.

8. I LOVE our Night Light core staff. I could go on and on about this but let me just say that these "Sisters of Thunder", and men of God, are truly amazing, and encouraging, and just awesome.

9. I LOVE that the port-a-potty was clean for our volunteers...even though that was the WORSE. JOB. EVER.

10. I am slightly disappointed I didn't get to see the issue with the ice cream vender/cart-guy pushing it through the bridge, bells and all. BTW, we totally have great stories from the bridge which I LOVE! You HAVE to be able to laugh!

11. I LOVE that the grill worked...and that we have amazing people each week that bless others by running it!...and that Randy fixed it after it didn't work last week. :)

Goodness, I know that there is a lot more. I am just so grateful to get to be apart of this each week. There is no way it could happen without all the support. You guys are SO good. It blows me away and I laugh and say..."I hope God knows what he is doing". Never did I dream that this is where I would be or what I would be doing- or that it would grow like this. I am so thankful that I am not in charge of my future and that I share this journey with a great group of people. What I have learned, experienced, and am still learning each week will stay with me always. I pray that each of you are able to see the impact you have through the stories I share because none of this would happen without you. The support and prayer that you offer on behalf of that beautiful bridge and all that goes on under it is beyond amazing. I am so very thankful and God is so good.

P.S. I forgot that I LOVE that "my" girls from the neighborhood still come and get there feet washed and pick out fun socks. ....I know there is so much more but I will stop for your sake :)