July 31st - the final day of the daily stranger connection challenge.
On July 9th, and at the prompting of the Lord, I began a journey of meeting at least one stranger a day for the remainder of the month of July. Here I am at the end of the month, and I've learned so much and had so much fun with this challenge. I've met more new friends than I can count and discovered there are truly fascinating folks all around us.
Today, I would like to introduce "Bethany" (not her real name). She is a beautiful young woman who is facing some significant life challenges right now. She has a sweet 11 month old baby girl and wonders if she's pregnant again. Her boyfriend and mother are pressuring her to abort the child if she's pregnant. The weight of the situation is almost more than she can bear. She listened intently as I shared with her the love of God and the peace He offers. Then she quietly cried as I prayed for her. She needs your prayers - and that's why I share her story with you in this blog post. She didn't surrender her life to the Lord today, but she confessed that her life is a mess and she needs something. Please pray that she find real LIFE in Jesus and that she shares that real LIFE with her baby.
I also met Anna and Glenn at a wedding today. They are both disabled and live in upstate New York 10 minutes away from the Canadian border. (near Messina) They live in a quiet, safe neighborhood and rarely get away...but this weekend is different. They got up at 4:30 this morning to begin their drive down state in order to get to this special occasion. They'll stay overnight tonight in Rochester and then tomorrow, they'll drive to Pavilion to visit with one of Glenn's daughters until Monday. THEN they'll drive back home and 'normal' life will begin again on Tuesday - that's when Anna's nurse aids come to their home to help care for Anna. I'm glad Glenn and Anna made the choice to come to the wedding today in spite of the fact that this trip required a great deal of planning and attention to detail. Lord - give them strength and health for this journey!! Thanks!
So that's that. There are no more days left in July, still there are SO MANY more stangers yet to be met! It is not my plan to blog on any more interactions unless I just can't help myself because. :) I do plan to blog tomorrow on this whole adventure - but it will serve more as postscript and include specific things I've learned throughout the past month. My hope is that others will also be encouraged to break down their own barriers, get out there, and connect. It's not nearly as difficult as it may seem - I am truly grateful for the grace and leading of the Holy Spirit! He makes connecting, so much easier and defiitely exciting!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Connections - Day 22 - Jessica
This interaction amused me.
I was on my way out to get the mail this morning, when I saw that there was a small garage sale being set up across the street. I typically don't have a lot of time for garage sales these days, but this particular sale had a cute bassinet, a matching swing and a little baby seat for sale and since I am eagerly anticipating the birth of a granddaughter any day now, I wanted to check it out. I walked to the sale and asked the woman there if she was the one selling those three particular items, but she told me she had just purchased them...for $1 each! Wow - what a sale! Then I noticed that the woman who bought them was great with child, AND had a toddler in tow. Because of her "condition" I found it a little bit easier to release the fact that I had just missed an amazing deal!
Jessica, the purchaser of these three items is two weeks past her due date. She's having a baby boy and planning to be induced in two days at Wyoming County Community Hospital. Her first son (the toddler with her) was born after an extremely short labor so I was surprised her doctor would let her go two whole weeks past her due date without inducing her earlier.
Jessica works at the McDonald's in Batavia, so the plan, as she described it to me, is to have her mother watch her two children while Jessica's working. That's why she was purchasing these particular items from the garage sale - so her mom would have a few necessary baby items that could be kept at her house. I told Jessica I was happy to have met her, and told her I'd be praying for a soon and safe delivery.
Later this afternoon, I drove to Varysburg to pick up my boys from working at summer camp when I saw a very small yard sale of baby items. In fact, there was a cute bassinet, a matching baby swing and a little baby seat. So I pulled over to check out these items but couldn't locate any prices so I looked up to see if I could find the seller and there she was: Jessica! Then I recalled she told me she was from Varysburg earlier, but I never expected to run into her later on the same day. She seemed to act like she was "caught" reselling items she had purchased earlier today. She felt the need to explain to me that she was rethinking her plan to go back to work and have grandma watch the kids - and was thinking perhaps she should be a stay-at-home mom. She also seemed to want me to believe that the items she was selling at her sale, were not the very same items she purchased earlier today. She said she kept those newly acquired items, and was now selling very similar baby furniture at her sale. When I asked her how much she was selling her baby furniture for I was surprised to hear her answer in light of the fact that I knew she'd spent $1 on each item. Her prices were $30 for the bassinet, $20 for the baby swing and I believe $20 for the little baby seat. Wow - that's quite a profit!
Throughout this experience of connecting with strangers, I have found that sometimes it has been worth a few dollars investment to purchase someone's fruits, vegetables or yard sale items in order to facilitate a stranger interaction, however I draw the limit at spending $70 for items that were valued at $3 just hours earlier! :) It was definitely an interesting, slightly awkward but completely amusing stranger interaction!
Lord Jesus, bless Jessica and her little baby waiting to be born this weekend. Please keep them safe, but more than that, reveal Your love to Jessica so that she might be drawn into relationship with YOU!
I was on my way out to get the mail this morning, when I saw that there was a small garage sale being set up across the street. I typically don't have a lot of time for garage sales these days, but this particular sale had a cute bassinet, a matching swing and a little baby seat for sale and since I am eagerly anticipating the birth of a granddaughter any day now, I wanted to check it out. I walked to the sale and asked the woman there if she was the one selling those three particular items, but she told me she had just purchased them...for $1 each! Wow - what a sale! Then I noticed that the woman who bought them was great with child, AND had a toddler in tow. Because of her "condition" I found it a little bit easier to release the fact that I had just missed an amazing deal!
Jessica, the purchaser of these three items is two weeks past her due date. She's having a baby boy and planning to be induced in two days at Wyoming County Community Hospital. Her first son (the toddler with her) was born after an extremely short labor so I was surprised her doctor would let her go two whole weeks past her due date without inducing her earlier.
Jessica works at the McDonald's in Batavia, so the plan, as she described it to me, is to have her mother watch her two children while Jessica's working. That's why she was purchasing these particular items from the garage sale - so her mom would have a few necessary baby items that could be kept at her house. I told Jessica I was happy to have met her, and told her I'd be praying for a soon and safe delivery.
Later this afternoon, I drove to Varysburg to pick up my boys from working at summer camp when I saw a very small yard sale of baby items. In fact, there was a cute bassinet, a matching baby swing and a little baby seat. So I pulled over to check out these items but couldn't locate any prices so I looked up to see if I could find the seller and there she was: Jessica! Then I recalled she told me she was from Varysburg earlier, but I never expected to run into her later on the same day. She seemed to act like she was "caught" reselling items she had purchased earlier today. She felt the need to explain to me that she was rethinking her plan to go back to work and have grandma watch the kids - and was thinking perhaps she should be a stay-at-home mom. She also seemed to want me to believe that the items she was selling at her sale, were not the very same items she purchased earlier today. She said she kept those newly acquired items, and was now selling very similar baby furniture at her sale. When I asked her how much she was selling her baby furniture for I was surprised to hear her answer in light of the fact that I knew she'd spent $1 on each item. Her prices were $30 for the bassinet, $20 for the baby swing and I believe $20 for the little baby seat. Wow - that's quite a profit!
Throughout this experience of connecting with strangers, I have found that sometimes it has been worth a few dollars investment to purchase someone's fruits, vegetables or yard sale items in order to facilitate a stranger interaction, however I draw the limit at spending $70 for items that were valued at $3 just hours earlier! :) It was definitely an interesting, slightly awkward but completely amusing stranger interaction!
Lord Jesus, bless Jessica and her little baby waiting to be born this weekend. Please keep them safe, but more than that, reveal Your love to Jessica so that she might be drawn into relationship with YOU!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Connections - Day 21 - Jessie
They say it takes 21 days to make a new habit. This is my day 21 of attempting to meet a new stranger each day and initiate conversation, remember their name and have a somewhat meaningful conversation with them. (Beyond the "Hi, how are yous we're so used to.") I'm not sure I've made a new habit yet, but I can say it feels easier to meet and greet a stranger than it was before I began this adventure. I'm not so concerned that people will think I'm weird - I go in assuming they'll think I'm weird. :)
Today I met another nurse - this one is young, around 25 years old. Her name is Jessie and I learned she graduated from the same college as I did, but she graduated last May. She took a job right out of college at Strong Memorial Hospital and has since worked in the Observation Unit there. She likes it because of the variety of patients she sees and cares for. She has no interest in leaving any time soon.
Jessie grew up in Bath, NY before going to school at Roberts Wesleyan College. After graduation and once she obtained her job at Strong, she moved to Elmwood Avenue near the hospital. She actually will be moving from her apartment on Elmwood this weekend, but she's just moving a few miles away, across from MCC. She misses the quietness of the country, but is able to go back to Bath and visit since her brother still lives there and her parents own 80 acres of property in the Southern Tier. Her sister, Jennifer, lives on Keuka Lake which is also a nice place for Jessie to get away and relax.
For now, Jessie has plans to stay in the city and keep her hospital job, but she confesses her heart is still in the country and I suppose someday she may choose to return to the quiet countryside and raise a family. God, bless Jessie. Keep her close to You.
Today I met another nurse - this one is young, around 25 years old. Her name is Jessie and I learned she graduated from the same college as I did, but she graduated last May. She took a job right out of college at Strong Memorial Hospital and has since worked in the Observation Unit there. She likes it because of the variety of patients she sees and cares for. She has no interest in leaving any time soon.
Jessie grew up in Bath, NY before going to school at Roberts Wesleyan College. After graduation and once she obtained her job at Strong, she moved to Elmwood Avenue near the hospital. She actually will be moving from her apartment on Elmwood this weekend, but she's just moving a few miles away, across from MCC. She misses the quietness of the country, but is able to go back to Bath and visit since her brother still lives there and her parents own 80 acres of property in the Southern Tier. Her sister, Jennifer, lives on Keuka Lake which is also a nice place for Jessie to get away and relax.
For now, Jessie has plans to stay in the city and keep her hospital job, but she confesses her heart is still in the country and I suppose someday she may choose to return to the quiet countryside and raise a family. God, bless Jessie. Keep her close to You.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Connections - Day 20 - Trish
I had a challenging stranger connection today when I met Trish. She is a lovely woman from Ontario, NY and a total delight to talk with. What made this connection so challenging? She's one of those seasoned natural connectors who is able to turn a conversation around so the focus is off of her and on to the individual she's talking with - in this case that was me. I found myself thinking, "Wait, how did I end up talking about my life again? Tricky woman knows how to ask the right questions!" It was almost humorous, the two of us trying to redirect the conversation back to the other.
In spite of the challenge I was able to learn that Trish is a mother of two boys, Matthew and Nathan. She and her husband had another boy - their first - Joshua, but he was born with a heart defect that took his life after only 29 days. They hadn't realized there was a problem until shortly after birth - it was an extremely difficult season in their lives, but her testimony is that the grace of God carried them through. She is grateful for the gift of her two healthy boys.
Trish suffered another more recent loss: the death of her father, Art. He was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago, but this past winter he contracted pneumonia and died in February. She said she still struggles some with grief related to this recent loss. Her 75 year old mom is still alive, but in need of care as she is losing her memory. For now, Trish's younger sister, Donna is caring for their mom, but it has been challenging.
One other little tidbit of interesting information: Trish knows my mother in law as they attend the same church in the Rochester area. Trish works part time for their children's ministry, and my mother in law has served many, many years in that same program. Wow - it's a small world!!
In the midst of our conversation, I invited Trish to attend a special worship night at our church tonight and I'm happy to say that she accepted! :) I spoke with her afterwards and she said she was so grateful she came because she felt so refreshed from being in God's presence.
Thank you, Lord for the opportunity You provided for me to meet one of my sisters today! You're amazing and I love this family of Yours! (and I love You too!)
In spite of the challenge I was able to learn that Trish is a mother of two boys, Matthew and Nathan. She and her husband had another boy - their first - Joshua, but he was born with a heart defect that took his life after only 29 days. They hadn't realized there was a problem until shortly after birth - it was an extremely difficult season in their lives, but her testimony is that the grace of God carried them through. She is grateful for the gift of her two healthy boys.
Trish suffered another more recent loss: the death of her father, Art. He was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago, but this past winter he contracted pneumonia and died in February. She said she still struggles some with grief related to this recent loss. Her 75 year old mom is still alive, but in need of care as she is losing her memory. For now, Trish's younger sister, Donna is caring for their mom, but it has been challenging.
One other little tidbit of interesting information: Trish knows my mother in law as they attend the same church in the Rochester area. Trish works part time for their children's ministry, and my mother in law has served many, many years in that same program. Wow - it's a small world!!
In the midst of our conversation, I invited Trish to attend a special worship night at our church tonight and I'm happy to say that she accepted! :) I spoke with her afterwards and she said she was so grateful she came because she felt so refreshed from being in God's presence.
Thank you, Lord for the opportunity You provided for me to meet one of my sisters today! You're amazing and I love this family of Yours! (and I love You too!)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Connections - Day 19 - Tina
Walking through this adventure is kind of like Christmas morning - wondering what will be revealed behind the smiles (or scowls) of the strangers I meet each day. I love the discovery of these lives, even though sometimes, the discovery breaks my heart.
"Tina's" story breaks my heart. Her fear and anxiety are very evident as she fidgets and confesses her extreme unsettledness with life. She's struggling with some personal decisions, the weight of being alone raising two children, and the uncertain prospect of the future. "Tina" isn't her real name, but the truth is, I don't even know what her real name is. She is so consumed with fear that she would not tell me her real name, nonetheless she was desperate for help as could be seen in her pleading tear-filled eyes.
I shared with Tina about the only hope I know when pressed on all sides by fear. I told her I knew what it felt like to be irrationally terrified by absolutely nothing and want to recoil from life to avoid the agony of fear. Tina nodded in agreement - she was a prisoner of anxiety behind bars of self protection and secrecy. I shared with her about the reality of God's love, and the promise of His Spirit that will deal to the core with what's really at work in her heart, and pour in the missing hope and freedom she longs for. We talked about forgiveness and mercy, about a Way named Jesus - who brings the lost and lonely home to their Daddy. Tina cried - and let me hold her hand as we prayed and asked the Lord for what is so abundantly available. Love. Truth. Forgiveness. & Peace.
If you think of it - please pray with me for "Tina".
"Tina's" story breaks my heart. Her fear and anxiety are very evident as she fidgets and confesses her extreme unsettledness with life. She's struggling with some personal decisions, the weight of being alone raising two children, and the uncertain prospect of the future. "Tina" isn't her real name, but the truth is, I don't even know what her real name is. She is so consumed with fear that she would not tell me her real name, nonetheless she was desperate for help as could be seen in her pleading tear-filled eyes.
I shared with Tina about the only hope I know when pressed on all sides by fear. I told her I knew what it felt like to be irrationally terrified by absolutely nothing and want to recoil from life to avoid the agony of fear. Tina nodded in agreement - she was a prisoner of anxiety behind bars of self protection and secrecy. I shared with her about the reality of God's love, and the promise of His Spirit that will deal to the core with what's really at work in her heart, and pour in the missing hope and freedom she longs for. We talked about forgiveness and mercy, about a Way named Jesus - who brings the lost and lonely home to their Daddy. Tina cried - and let me hold her hand as we prayed and asked the Lord for what is so abundantly available. Love. Truth. Forgiveness. & Peace.
If you think of it - please pray with me for "Tina".
Monday, July 26, 2010
Connections - Day 18 - Jake
So who is my new friend of the day? JAKE!
Jake is a pleasant young man, with a nice smile and a quieter personality. He grew up with an older brother in Hamburg, NY. Jake has a heart for young people and is happiest when he can interact with them. He pursued youth ministry right out of high school, but is currently planning to attend Erie Community College to prepare to become a police officer. He hopes to receive an associates degree in two years and then go on to Police Academy. He will have to pay for his own education, which is why he chose to go to the more economical ECC. He said he had always hoped to stay in New York to work and raise a family, but now that he's older, he said he's open to moving any where that he can find work. Jake talks like he's about 30 but he's actually just a 20 year old, who feels all grown up. :)
Jake is a pleasant young man, with a nice smile and a quieter personality. He grew up with an older brother in Hamburg, NY. Jake has a heart for young people and is happiest when he can interact with them. He pursued youth ministry right out of high school, but is currently planning to attend Erie Community College to prepare to become a police officer. He hopes to receive an associates degree in two years and then go on to Police Academy. He will have to pay for his own education, which is why he chose to go to the more economical ECC. He said he had always hoped to stay in New York to work and raise a family, but now that he's older, he said he's open to moving any where that he can find work. Jake talks like he's about 30 but he's actually just a 20 year old, who feels all grown up. :)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Connections - Day 17 - Henrietta
I met a dear 67 year old grandmother today. Her name is Henrietta and she has sole guardianship of her young grandson, Tyler. She had a twin sister at one time - unfortunately that sister died unexpectedly following a routine surgery. Henrietta told me her twin simply did not wake up.
Grandma Henrietta is scheduled for a relatively simple surgery on Tuesday, but she's terrified she won't wake up. She knows she needs the surgery - as it will repair some issues from a past surgery but she's having difficulty finding peace regarding this upcoming operation. She's afraid she'll leave Tyler alone in the world.
I asked Henrietta if it would be alright if I prayed for her. She agreed and took my hand. I prayed peace for her soul and assurance that God holds her life in His hands. I prayed that she would have confidence in His care for her and I prayed for her health. After the short prayer I said, "Amen" at which time she said to Tyler, "You see? Saved people pray for grandma."
Father God - heal her body, grant her peace, and help her surrender her life to You completely.
Thank you, Lord, for Grandma Henrietta.
Grandma Henrietta is scheduled for a relatively simple surgery on Tuesday, but she's terrified she won't wake up. She knows she needs the surgery - as it will repair some issues from a past surgery but she's having difficulty finding peace regarding this upcoming operation. She's afraid she'll leave Tyler alone in the world.
I asked Henrietta if it would be alright if I prayed for her. She agreed and took my hand. I prayed peace for her soul and assurance that God holds her life in His hands. I prayed that she would have confidence in His care for her and I prayed for her health. After the short prayer I said, "Amen" at which time she said to Tyler, "You see? Saved people pray for grandma."
Father God - heal her body, grant her peace, and help her surrender her life to You completely.
Thank you, Lord, for Grandma Henrietta.
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