Refrigerator Rights!

If you have been following us through this journey you know it has definitely been an up and down one.
After talking with our attorney and working through what is the safest and best thing for our family, we have to move. It's not something we wanted or needed to do right now. I will say I am looking forward to living in a house that has a working refrigerator and air conditioning though.

We are asking those that follow what we are doing and have been praying for us,  we need your prayers this week. After talking with the attorney yesterday, they feel it is best if we move out before another month of rent is due on the 5th. We don't have all the necessary resources to make the move but as has always been and will always be.....God is faithful.

We have found a house and it is ready for us to move in and is absolutely perfect for our family. Pray that God provides what we need to do this by the deadline of Sunday.

Even more important, please pray that this move is not a distraction for us and that we can stay focused on why we are here and the people God has put in our lives and that no matter what there is not a disruption in our meetings at the park on Saturdays. This time that we spend there is very important and consistency is crucial.

We can't tell all of you how much we appreciate your support, concern and prayers!

Bernie's Big Announcement!

We pulled into the parking lot at the park, pulled out all the tables and chairs, set up all the food, when Bernie walked over to the group and said, "I have an announcement to make. Do you know what tithe is?"  As we acknowledged him, he proceeded to tell us that he was reminded the night before of a lady with quite a few kids who came to church when he was younger. He said she would come every week and give what she could. He knew she did not have much but he remembered her putting something in the offering every single week. So he handed us some money and said here is my tithe.

 Bernie has been part of our group longer than most. He's been homeless for a long time. He's been very sick and in and out of the hospital and certainly does not have the money to give to ReMerge or anyone else for that matter. He gave out of obedience!

Almost 2 years ago we packed up everything we owned and put it in storage and with $100 in our pockets we stepped out in faith and obeyed what we felt God calling us to do. God provided and within a few days we were on our way. These past 2 years have been the hardest of my life. I wouldn't change it for anything but there have been many times that I wanted to give up. I know we can't. We can't because we know God wants us here. Like Bernie, when we know God is telling us to do something, we must be obedient.

On August 1st we need to be in a new home. We don't have the ability to do that right now. Please pray that God provides what we need by the time we need it and that we stay faithful to what and who God has called us too!

A Shocking Experience

So about a month ago we started having trouble with our appliances, mainly our

refrigerator. One day I woke up and it just wasn't running right. So we immediately notified our landlord who brought in another- not working so right-refrigerator. This one came with the added bonus of shocking you every time you touched it. Although it may be a good way to lose weight,  not so good with a house full of kids. So we notified the landlord again, who brought in yet another refrigerator. After a few days it wasn't running right either. It turns out we live in a house that is not grounded well nor does it have enough power to run any real major appliances which would explain the lack of air conditioning. We have been very thankful for our house and have absolutley no desire to move, but after the power company, the electrician and the city tried to convince the owner the best thing to do was make the home safe and habitable, it seems the owner may not be interested in doing that.

So it looks like we will have to move. This is not something we want to do or for that matter can really afford at all to do, but looks like we may not have any choice. Today we looked at a house that was perfect for us. It is the house that I have been looking for since we moved here. We need far more money than we have right now to get into it.

We had just now started to really get back on track after Jeff'''s surgery and finally starting to equalize when this started to happen. We have been pouring everything we have into ReMerge and its growth.

We have to raise around $4000 to make this move. Please pray that God provides what we need, whether it is this house or another house.  If you have ever thought about supporting ReMerge and the work God is doing in South Florida email us. There is so much going on and so many people being touched by God's love for them. Please pray this is not a distraction or something that sidetracks us from what God wants us to be doing.

More Than A Meal To Go

 

Ripped off!

Mike and Tracy were very excited about the new venture they were diving into. The life long dream of leaving the daily rat race and opening a business of their own was finally going to happen. Their new partner had great ideas and a confidence that was contagious. They went ahead and signed the papers at the bank for a second mortgage to finance the new I.T. company that was sure to be a huge success. They took the loan proceeds and bought all the equipment they needed to not only build and maintain business networks, but, to host web pages and provide internet services. Just imagine their horror when a couple weeks later they walked into their newly leased office and everything, including their partner, was gone without a trace. With no income, product or capital, it didn’t take long for them to lose everything.

　

Death of Compassion

With stories like this, we’ve found that many homeless people are in the situation they are in because of reasons other than addictions. Regardless of the situation, the homeless are stuck with the stigma that they are less than human. This attitude makes the road to recovery amazingly hard and often results in a further decent mentally and physically into the gutter. In today’s information age where everything is automated and little to no real human interaction happens, compassion seems to be a thing of the past.

　

More than a Meal To-Go

Although a meal is what many of the homeless need, ReMerge is much more than a meal in a to-go box. Merge means water and water is life. To bring new life to those who are dead to society is our mission. It only take 30 minutes to feed breakfast in the park, so why are we in the park for nearly 2 hours? We are building relationships with people hungry for community and compassion, we are re-building hope.

　

Will work for beer

The homeless are known for flying signs at intersections, begging for money. However, the ones you see are a small representation of the homeless population. Mike and Tracy never panhandled. Mike took what ever work he could find. Many times he helped me move people, deliver couches or other furniture and helped me assemble IKEA furniture. His work ethic and attitude were always good despite his situation. About 6 months ago, they were able to leave their tent and move into a small apartment after living on the streets for over a year.

　

New growth

ReMerge’s outreach is growing and we need the equipment to handle the new growth. Not only do we need the food service equipment, we need a larger vehicle to transport it. The vehicle will double as a source of income for those willing to work and learn a new trade. Following is a list of the items we need and the costs of the items. Now is your chance to offer hope in an age of hopelessness, to be the light in a dark world.

ReMerge’s goal - $10,000

Items needed Item cost
Food Service Equipment - $ 240
Generator - 450
4 folding tables - 240
20 folding chairs - 220
4 portable canopies - 320
Truck - 6,500
Misc. tools - 400
Licenses, permits & Insurance 1,230
Administrative 400

TOTAL $10,000

To be a part, small or large, of this opportunity, you can either click on the donate button in the upper right hand area of this blog or if you do not want to use the paypal option you can email us at remerge@hotmail.com or you can mail a check to "ReMerge, Inc." 31 SW 7th Street, Hallandale, FL 33009. Please give today and please help us spread the word by sharing this blog! 

out of time

Dwayne is a guy that has been coming to breakfast at the park for over a year now. He's lived back behind the Tri-Rail station in squaller conditions with Mark, Rick, Bernie, Andy, Jerry, Greg and a handfull of others. He's been working on and off at anything that comes along. He's had a problem with gout flair-ups so bad at times that he can't walk without a cane.

Dwayne has a family, but, nobody knows where they are. He has a last name, but, nobody knows what it is. He has been hurt before and does not let anyone in. It took him 6 months just to come to breakfast because he sure doesn't trust anyone who says they are doing something because God told them to do it.

Lately Dwayne has been coming more frequently and even opened up a little, asking how Ruthie is doing in her swim, giving the twins a hard time in good sport. A little while back, he looked me in the eye and shook my hand and said, "thanks Jeff, it's a really good thing you're doing hear, it helps a lot of people."

Friday night around mid-night, Dwayne was hit by a train and died on the scene, 50 years old.

You gotta love 'em while you got 'em.

I would have loved to have more time with Dwayne. Please pray that we can reach them, before God calls them home.

Empty Hands

We had just put the last of the chairs into the van. There was only a snack bag left which we had just handed to Bernie because he was late arriving and there was nothing else to give him.

Within a few minutes a pickup pulled into the park. It was a family we had seen before. They were curious but had always kept their distance. The door opened and out came 2 younger kids with their pregnant big sister, their mom and their grandma. The sisters boyfriend had gone off to work and dropped them off at the park.  They walked over to the benches and just sat for a few minutes before the mother got up enough courage to walk over and talk with me. She asked me if we were giving anything away. My heart sank in my chest as I told her that we had given away everything. Even the jelly was all gone. All I had left was about a half a gallon of water. As I grabbed the jug and some cups she walked away to give her family a drink. I was trying to hold back the tears as I walked back over to Jeff devasted that we had nothing to offer. I had $1.00 in quarters to my name when I arrived at the park and had already handed that to somone else.

This past Saturday was a chilling reminder of why we are here. It was also a chilling reminder of how much there is to do and how far we have to go.

Our vision is to someday have a facility to prepare and serve out of so that we never have to turn anyone away empty handed. Please pray that God provides in big ways! Please pray for Bernie who is very sick. Please pray that God provides that right amount of what we need every week. Please pray that we don't get discouraged  when it feels like that all that we are left with is empty hands.

Tomorrow night we are planning a BBQ meal at the park. Right now we do not have everything we need to make this happen. Please pray God provides for everything and everyone who comes!

pouring rain

Last week the twins and I loaded up the van with food, utensils, coffee, juice and everything else we need to serve a hot meal in a park. It started raining when we were placing the last items in the van. So we hurriedly got into the vehicle when dreaded words rang out, one of the twins said, "Dad, we have a flat......."

In a little disbelief I said "WHAT?!?!?" and ran around to the back side of the passenger side and looked for myself. Yep, it was flat as a pancake. I told the boys to go wait in the house while I got it changed. Ten minutes later I had the spare donut on and I was all soak-n-wet. I called the boys back out to get in the van. We were late to the park and there were a dozen hungry people waiting for us. The good thing was there were a dozen people there to help set up.

After getting everyone served, I sat down and someone asked me how the new job was going. I replied, "great! until they laid me off yesterday." They were a little shocked, but, understood completely. It sparked a conversation or should I say competition about the shortest jobs they ever held.

A few minutes later one of them said, "Jeff, it looks like your van tire is going flat". I snapped my sore neck around and looked and sure enough, the spare donut was pretty low and within 20 minutes, it was flat.

Anna, one of the ladies that has been coming regularly leaned over to me and motioned me close. I leaned over a little, a little cautious, as you never can tell what someone will say, and she handed me $1. She said, "here, it's not much, but, it's to help with the tire". I didn't want to take it, but, the sincerity in her eyes made me take it. That $1 was probably all she had and she could have bought something to eat later, but, she wanted to be a blessing and I could not deny her that.

Anna gave everything and she didn't have to. In fact nobody in the world would ever expect her to and the only thing that could ever explain her compulsion would be that compassion is being renewed inside her.

Regardless of the daily battles that rage all around us and captivate our every thought. Compassion and generosity can come in the most unusual forms and circumstances and when it does, it reminds me that God is working and the little that we do, when exemplified by God, can make a huge and significant difference in peoples lives.

Please pray for the ladies living on the streets here in South Florida, that God will provide shelter, food and clothing and that he will restore love in their hearts.

chain gang hot!

Now that it's hurricane season and not tourist season, the majority of the homeless we have gotten to know and built relationships with are not being swept off to jail. The police have relaxed thier efforts of "cleaning up the streets". However a new problem has risen and that's the heat index. No, not the Miami Heat, they are hot, but, not what I'm talking about.

It seams that our homeless people have been suffering from the heat and it's landing them in the hospitals. In fact, Wendy is headed to the hospital right now to visit a lady who has been admited for a couple days now. She is just one of at least five that have had to go to the E.R. in the past week.

We've seen an increase lately of not only hospital admissions, but, in our Saturday morning breakfast attendance, in fact it's doubled in size and it's a very diverse group, ladies, youth, old guys, black, white, hispanic. All very greatful for a hot breakfast, coffee, juice, a snack bag and most of all companionship. They show up in droves, some take the bus, some drive the car they are living in, some ride bikes, but, most walk.

We had so many show up today that we ran out of everything and even had to turn some away without any food at all. It breaks my heart knowing they are going away hungry and I'm going home to my kitchen, family, roof, bed, etc.

Please pray for us, that we can handle this surge in new growth.

Please pray for those in the hospital that they will recover quickly.

Please pray for those on the streets with nothing, that they'll come to the realization that God really does love them.

Do you have the Audacity?

"The tragedy of our time is that we've taken what was meant to be ordinary and made it exceptional. We've declared audacity off limits." Stephen Furtick/Sun Stand Still

Some of you have heard me talk about this book. Here is an excerpt: 

"From every angle this story showcases the kind of audacity we're after.  And it all hinges on a preposterous prayer.  As the chapter opens, we read that five opposing Amorite armies were planning to attack. Having decided to strike first, Joshua led his entire army toward the Amorites on an all-night march.  Sometime during that march, God spoke to Joshua.  He told him 'Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand.  Not one of them will be able to withstand you.'

At dawn, the Israelites unleashed a surprise attack, and right from the beginning the battle went well.  When the enemy lines broke, and the Amorites started to flee into the valley, Joshua's men chased them down.  And God got personally involved.  'As they fled before Israel,' the account reads, 'the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky.'  Then, as the sun sank toward the horizon, Joshua faced a decision.  The victory wasn't complete, and once it got dark, the rest of the Amorites would slip away.  But Joshua was determined to fight on.  Perhaps he realized that if he didn't destroy the enemy now, Israel's conquest of Canaan would grind to a halt.  Maybe he knew that anything less than total victory would conceal God's presence and glory.  Besides, he remembered God's promise in the night.  

Most of us would have called it a day.  I've done all I can do.  I've exhausted every option.  I've given it all I've got.  But Joshua wasn't most people.  He refused to go out like that. That wasn't the way it was supposed to end.  This was where his audacious faith began.  Joshua sized up the situation, summoned all his available courage, and delivered one of the most gloriously unorthodox prayers in the entire Bible: " O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." (verse 12)

Joshua had the audacity to ask God to make the sun stop in the sky.  To freeze time on behalf of His people.  According to scripture, God gave Joshua exactly what he ordered.  Just when the Amorites were hanging on for the cover of darkness, darkness never came.  Just when they thought the curtains were about to drop on their day from hell, God came out for an encore.  

"The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.  There has never been a day like before or since...surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!" (verses 13-14)

If you know me then you know I am pretty skeptical person. I would say that I am a realist although my husband would just say that I am not very optimistic. This passage of scripture always gets me. The thing is, I do believe in the power of prayer. I believe the Bible when it says we have not because we ask not.  I just don't know how to get it from my head to my heart!

When I read scripture I see example after example of people who prayed prayers and seas were parted, people were healed, dead were raised, teenagers took out giants with pebbles. What I see in scripture is that "radical, audacious" prayers were not the exception, they were the norm. Today I received a daily prayer request from Verve. A church that was planted in Las Vegas, NV. A church very near and dear to our hearts. Their prayer request for today was this: Please pray that God inspires someone to give us a building or land for a building on Las Vegas Boulevard. When I first read it I thought, WOW. That was bold. audacious even, then I remembered this story about Joshua and and all the other stories like his and realized how small I can make God sometimes.

When I look at the broken world around us, the magitude of the problems and issues can seem huge and impenetrable, but here's the deal. God didn't just put us here to survive. He put us here to transform the world around us. That transformation comes when we come to trust and believe in the very nature of who God is. It compels us to walk in deeper faith, praying audacious prayers, and expecting God to show up and do what He says he is going to do. Joshua was nothing special. He just knew and trusted in who God was.

So there is a lot of work for us to do. We are going to pray bold, risky audaciouis prayers and we know that God is going to do what he says He will do. We will be sending out regular prayer requests again starting tomorrow. If you want to get on board praying with us. You can sign up at remerge@hotmail.com

More to come tomorrow!

Light rises!

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

"And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

There is a young man that has been coming for breakfast on Saturday morning. He is very quiet. I don't even know his name. I am not sure he has quite gotten comfortable enough to tell us what it is. He usually comes, grabs a plate and sits waaay on the other side of the park at another table. One time while getting his food he complimented Jeff on his gravy, but that is about the extent of any conversation we have had with him. He really keeps to himself.

Honestly it is a pretty typical situation for most of them when they start coming. It is very hard for them to trust. They take a very arms folded approach in the beginning. It's o.k. We don't push them in any way, we know time is what they need to feel assured.

But, this last week, this young man brought a friend! To me that is one of the biggest steps and he probably does not even know it. To feel comfortable enough with us and the situation to invite another person into it.

I think that is what Isaiah is talking about in the verse above, that is what he means when he says that our light will rise in the darkness.

Please pray that as each new person comes that they feel welcomed, loved and assured that they are accepted and needed. Please pray that God's light would be what they see.

Love like that

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

Isaiah 42:6-7

“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. 7.You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons. Isaiah 42:6-7

Brian comes every Saturday to the breakfast we provide for the homeless. He is almost always waiting for us. We can barely get the van parked and there he is ready to open the door, unload everything and to talk. I know he comes every week to eat, but more than anything else he comes to just unload about his week and in some ways I think to make sure we are still there. I think it is a way to reorient their week. They crave the consistency of the community. Brian puts on a tough guy front. There are times when you can tell he is really afraid. We like to talk about movies and the West Coast. He dreams someday of living in Montana.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was helping serve up plates I looked at how many were there. Every week it seems that there are 2-3 new faces. It is getting harder to remember every ones name. We did not have enough table space and chairs for every one. We barely had enough food and we are now taking three big thermoses of coffee. I almost cried. I felt very overwhelmed by how great their needs are and how little we have to offer.

I have been reading in Isaiah and I love this scripture in Chapter 42. I ask God all the time, How can we we do this? How can we set captives free and release people from the dark dungeons. We just have nothing to give right now. A few days ago I read this passage in Ephesians:1-2,Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

I was thinking about this the other night when I was up late, praying that night that Brian would not be afriad, no matter where he was. I think I caught a glimpse of what the world might look like if all of us who say we follow God would really do this. Really follow God, into the unknown, into the pain, into the love that brings hope and freedom.

Please pray that we would love courageously, and that God's outrageous love would be poured into other people's lives through us.

http://youtu.be/GfosSggwQS0

Falling Apart

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

We live in a dark world. Rain falls. Storms come. Lightening strikes. Your life can shatter. The roof can fall in. You can be damaged. As long as you live, you will have something to lose - little pieces of yourself. The people you love, the life choices you cherish - there is always something at risk, something dear. Some cause for fear. We can choose to surrender to that fear and let it rule our lives, or we can surrender to God all of those things we love and fear to lose, and then love fearlessly - undaunted.”

Christine Caine

What in the world do we do with disappointment? What do we do with a heartbreak so deep that it threatens to swallow us whole. What do we do when it seems like our dreams are dying? What do we do with our fears? What do we do when it feels like our life may be shattering into a million pieces? I have spent the last month in the doctor's office. Mine and Jeff's both and at every appointment I start asking myself all of these questions. It seems at every turn there has been disappointment or fear.

I have been reading in Isaiah and I came across this passage today. ¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Through all the tears, the hurt, and the heartache, this is what I have come to. We as human beings are frail creatures. We hurt, We have been hurt. We fail, We cause others to fail. But, none of this changes who God is or what His heart is towards us. At the end of the day isn't that what matters most! That even on the most excruciating days, through completely unexpected disappointments, we are loved by the ONE who matters most! God is saying, that even if everything falls to pieces My love won't walk away from you.

In 2 days I will be walking into a doctor's office to have a biopsy of a cyst they found in my breast. My whole mind has been consumed by the thoughts of fear and helplessness. I want to scream at the thought that I have to do this. No one can really tell me what to expect. No one has really been able to calm my fears, until today. I woke up this morning and headed out to the swimming pool where our youngest daughter, Ruth, was competing. It was a nice morning and we usually have to be there pretty early. While she was warming up, I read this: Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

This struck me pretty hard. God hurts because we hurt. He doesn't have to, He's God, but He does because He loves us so much. But, not only does he hurt, In His love and mercy He redeems us. I realize that with all that is going on in our lives right now, the one thing we can count on is that God is present and he will lift us up and carry us. If we can rest in His presence then none of this seems as daunting as before.

No matter what is going on in your life today. No matter what dreams are unrealized, what fears you have, what disappointments have come, know that God loves you so much and He wants to carry it for you, all we have to do is let go!

blaster

We are kicking off a new fund raising event and could use your help!

Please click on the donate button to the right and donate $10 to partner with ReMerge and help feed homeless people in South Florida.

Also, please share this event with all your friends.

If you are on facebook, click here to invite all your facebook friends to help out!

If you don't want to use the paypal donate option, you can mail a check to:

Remerge, Inc.
31 SW 7th Street
Hallandale, FL 33009

knock out

If you have been following ReMerge regularly, you already know that due to an auto accident and subsequent neck surgery, I've been out of work since mid-February. This has put a great strain on ReMerge's operations, however, God has so far provided miraculously! We are at a point where we need him to provide miraculously again. With my no-working restriction extended for an additional 6 weeks, a whole new cycle of bills have come in and we need to raise $600 immediately and $4000 within the next couple weeks.

To help, you can partner with ReMerge to keep us operating during this time of great need by clicking on the donate button on the right. If you prefer a different means of giving, please email me for other options. Your help today will mean that homeless people get to eat tomorrow!

big chicken

I've been reading through the book of Joshua in the old testament of the bible. Joshua was the second leader of the Israelites after being the spokesman for Moses for over 40 years. Joshua was the mouthpiece when Moses confronted Pharo about letting the Israelites go. He was there during the plagues, he was there when they crossed over dry ground in the midst of the Red Sea. He was there to witness God leading them as a pillar of fire at night and a cloud of smoke during the day. He was there as God miraculously provided food and water every day for a multitude of people decade after decade. The jaw dropping amazing things Joshua saw while wondering the wilderness with Moses for all those years would have been enough to make the staunchest of atheists believe.

So why is it that when Joshua took the helm as leader of the Israelites God had to tell him "be strong and courageous"? Do you think it might just have been some sort of ceremonial pep talk God gave him as part of receiving the mantle? After all, they had just spent 40 years wondering back and forth through the desert living on the promise of entering the promised land. It would seem to me that actually surviving that long in an uninhabitable place would have molded and shaped them into super warriors. I'm sure their very souls ached to leave the desert and enter a land flowing with abundant natural resources. I would think the last thing they needed was encouragement to leave the wilderness behind.

Apparently, Joshua had grown accustomed to desert life and was afraid of the change that was about to take place. He lived comfortably in the groove that had been etched and the new challenge was more than he really wanted to deal with, which is probably why God told him not once, not twice but three times to be strong and courageous. God definitely wanted him to move out of the status quo and advance into new territory. God also knew Joshua was afraid because there were going to be many battles against great armies.

It's easy to sit in my living room  drinking coffee and reading about the adventures of Joshua, wondering how in the world he could ever doubt God. But, the truth is, I'm no different, I doubt God all the time. Even though I can tell you story after story of the amazing victories and provisions that God has given us, I still manage to allow fear to creep into my mind and my heart and doubt that God will help me get through the battles of today. Despite my fears and doubts, God always shows up, he is always faithful, he always provides. Sometimes he gives me an indication of how he is going to take care of us, sometimes it's a total surprise. Never the less, he always shows up.

What about you? What is God encouraging you to trust him with? Well, all I can say is, be strong and courageous!

almost

They say "almost" doesn't count for anything but horseshoes and hand grenades.

 I think "almost" can be pretty amazing, like when Ryan Lochte won the 400 meter individual medley in the 2012 Olympics last summer. He won the event and "almost" beat Michael Phelps world record set in 2008. To me, that's pretty amazing!

Or that time when the chocolate guy and the peanut butter guy "almost" didn't collide, Recess peanut butter cups "almost" never got invented! To me, that's pretty amazing!

Before I had neck surgery, on February 19th, we figured out how much it was going to take to keep ReMerge going and pay all our bills while I was healing and unable to work. The amount seemed staggering, especially since we didn't have any money. I "almost" didn't go through with the surgery. Miraculously, people from all over the country started sending us money. We "almost" have enough now and to me, that's pretty amazing!

I had my 6 week post operation checkup last week, I went fully expecting to be healed and released by the doctor to go back to work. He said, "almost".......unfortunately, I was disappointed and have an additional 6 week extended sentence to wear the neck brace with a 5 pound lifting restriction. I have to say, I got depressed, I am very ready to get back to normal life.

However, when I look back and see the fires God has taken us through and how many times we "almost" gave up, I can rest assured knowing we are "almost" through this and in John 14:18 Jesus says "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you..." and I think that's pretty amazing!

Every time he has come to us, every time God is faithful. Please keep praying for us and for  ReMerge, that when we "almost" quit, something else pretty amazing happens.

Vicious Cycle

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

These last few weeks have been very difficult for me. Not a day has gone by where I wish I could just leave this place. I don't know if my doubts are normal, o.k., or just part of what we are doing. I doubt everyday that I can do this. That I can get through all of this mentally. There have been many days where I just wanted to stay in bed. Hidden from all the ugliness that exists outside my door.  I confessed to my husband on Saturday that I am finding myself not liking people very much at all right now. That this whole process of loving those cast out by society has made me not like most other people I come in contact with. I know it is not right, but that is where I am many days.

Tonight on my way to work I pulled up to one of the intersections close to the park where we serve breakfast every Saturday morning. One of our regulars was walking up the street, panhandling, as many of them do. As he got closer, I rolled down my window to say hi, as we always do. I tried to hand him a dollar, he turned me down as they normally do if they know us. After we chatted a few minutes waiting for the light to turn green, A police officer walked up behind him, grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pulled him over to the side of the road. The officer continued to shove him up the road until they returned to the patrol car, where he pushed him up against the car and cuffed him. He never identified himself before grabbing my friend, and he was far more rough than what he needed to be with a homeless guy who barely has the strength to walk, let alone fight this officer.

I was very upset! I wanted to get out of my car and tell him what for. I mean all they are going to do is take this guy to jail, keep him for 3 days, take all the money he has to house him in the county jail until they release him back to the streets to start over. A vicious cycle!

What I really wanted to know was why his heart was so bitter towards this man that he needed to handle him that way. Why couldn't he show love and compassion. Then it hit me tonight.

Maybe he does not know what love and compassion is? Maybe no one has ever showed that to him.

I surely didn't in that moment. I wanted to jump out of my car and treat that police officer the same way he was treating my friend. I didn't because I have kids and don't really fancy spending any amount of time in the county jail, but that is what I felt in my heart.

The reality is that my resentment to that officer was no different than his resentment for the homeless man! So how do I change it? What can I do to make a difference? If the cycle is going to change, is it possible that it needs to start with me? I have been spending a lot of time talking to God about this and asking Him to give me his eyes for people. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be! God did that for me tonight and honestly it hurts. Now to go and turn the tide!

Please pray for us! Pray that we will see each person we meet with the Love God has for them and that we will not  become bitter and hurt by what we see but that God uses it for good!

spring break

The long dreadful winter is over and spring break has arrived! This is when the South Florida locals receed inland and willingly give the beach to the un-numerable hords of college students that decend upon us from the North. It is especially hard to get around town, as traffic to the beach is so backed up it affects the normal flow of traffic everywhere.

It is also the time when the homeless are "shewed away" from the beach so as not to bother the visiting tourists. This can end very badly for the homeless, since the police can sometimes be overzealous in their efforts to clean up the beach.

Please pray for the safety of the homeless for the next couple of weeks as the breakers show up in force. Pray that those who are displaced will find safe new places to sleep.