Wonder Club - Learning and Laughter!

Here’s a fun glimpse of the learning fun that takes place in the classrooms of Wonder Club Early Learning Centers:

In one of the Pre K classes of Wonder Club, the children were learning about the days of creation and the teacher was telling the class that on the seventh day God rested. One child got a very puzzled and concerned look on his face and wanted to know why God got arrested. “No, God didn’t get arrested; he rested.” A little extra clarification was needed for understanding.

Lorraine Brandt • Wonder Club Administrator

God Provides at the Lydia Center

Saturday morning at the Lydia Center, we received 38 pounds of ground beef. On Sunday a lady at church gave me 3 homemade pies for our ladies, and on Monday we received 81 pounds of groceries from a visiting group!

But God still wasn't finished... Just this morning we received another 64 pounds of groceries!

We serve an awesome God. He provides exactly what we need when we need it.

Paula Sentgeorge • Lydia Center, Kitchen Manager

Salvation Stories at WSHS

On Fridays I have the great privilege of overseeing the Behavioral Health Clinic at Water Street Health Services. Gale asked me a week ago Friday if I thought we were making an impact on our patients. On that morning one of our patients had prayed to receive Christ as the volunteers faithfully present the gospel every week. No doubt this is the greatest impact that we can ever make in this ministry. Watching a person without hope receive Jesus as their Savior is one of the most awesome demonstrations of God’s hand at work. No doubt God is at working at Water Street to set the captives free and to bring His light and His love to our needy world.

Susan Wolfe, RN, Water Street Health Services, Staff Nurse

Partnering in Prayer for Teen Haven

Teen Haven is excited for another season to welcome urban youth to attend the city programs in Lancaster, Philadelphia, and York. We'd like to share some specific situations to lift up in your prayers for the youth who attend Teen Haven.

- Oddet Mears, Philadelphia Girls Program Coordinator, shares, It seems like each week I hear about a girl who has had to leave her home, because of behavioral issues. Four of my Teen Haven bible study girls will not be returning at this time because of these issues. Please join in prayer that these young women would feel the love and support of God, and understand their need for one another! Also pray, for parents and youth to believe in the authority of God’s Word.

- John Schleh, Philadelphia Boys Program Cooridinator, shares, My prayer request is regarding the beginnings of Bible study for the boys and girls in Philadelphia. It is very hectic picking up a very large number ( praise the Lord ) of youth from all over. Pray that they will be cooperative and desire to be discipled. Pray for wisdom on the part of me, Curt Saxton, Brian Mincer, Oddet and Joyce in dealing with many new teens and getting them going on quiet times and memory verses, being patient and encouraging. For their heart response to the Lord.

Ephesians 1:15-19
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Thank you for your PRAYERS, to remember the urban youth of Teen Haven!

Graduates Sharing about their Experiences - Part 1

October 9, 2009 was a powerful day for the lives of the residents who graduated from Water Street Mission! To learn more about the ceremony, and graduates, visit Lancaster Online to read the article called, Graduation offers a second chance at life: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/243346

RESIDENT REFLECTIONS - PART 1

Listen as the Water Street Mission graduates share about their experiences as they answer the question...

What were some of the challenges you faced working through the program?

Lonnie: Open accountability and knowing what the right thing to do was; what God wants me to be. I had to learn my own false beliefs. It is hard to stay on the path.

Leonard: It was time for a change. I had to stop running and experience brokenness. For me, the spirit of God is brokenness. I didn’t know that man, Jesus; and just going to church wasn’t working.

DC: What brought me here was dealing with the past and learning to yield to God. I knew there had to be something deeper; there is just something to make sense of all the adversity. Rejection, parents, and not being worthy to be in relationships.

Lonnie: God brought us here; the way we were living would just not have lasted.

Erik: [the hardest thing was] not wanting to change, clinging to, letting go; it was easy to self medicate.

Russell: I was Just scared; what am I going to do? I had no place to go, got thrown out, people gave me warnings, the police had to escort me off the property. They dropped me off at the Ephrata Hospital where I stayed for 3 days. A doctor recommended Water Street where they had a bed for me.

Russell: My counselor later asked me what I wanted and I said, “I want to find God again.” He responded, “You never lost him.”

Erik: I got completely stopped when I was trying to fast forward; I had to persevere through it, and not try to avoid it.

Leonard: This is not an overnight thing. It gets to a point where you have to want to change. For me, I changed when I got into relationships; that’s the key thing, when you know it’s not just you.

Russell: Most people can’t get what they are doing. I didn’t want to accept what the counselors were telling me.

Leonard: It’s important sometimes to be silent.

- Compiled by Jon, volunteer

Books donated through a Birthday!

Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from a person I talked to several weeks ago. In the busy-ness of the beginning of school, I forgot about this conversation until she called me again. She had called to inquire as to whether we could use books for our kids. Her 9-year-old daughter was having a birthday party and instead of buying gifts for her, she wanted to invite her guests to buy books for the Wonder Club children.

This mother called to tell me that through the Birthday party they had collected 69 books, using the list on our website (http://waterstreetministries.org/MakeADifference/WishLists/WonderClubWishList.aspx). Together, the Mother and daughter came to drop off the gifts last week. I had the opportunity to chat with the child and her mother. One of the questions that we asked was, “why did you want to do this instead of receiving gifts for yourself?” The child’s response was that she and her family like to read and have lots of books and she knows that many of our children do not have books of their own to read!” Already at age 9 this young girl is learning the blessing of giving.

Lorraine Brandt • Wonder Club Administrator

Provisions through Prayer

On Wednesday of this week there was a corporate time of prayer for everyone at Water Street Ministries. This was a time for reflection, seeking the Lord’s face, and meeting in community to pray and focus on God together. Listen as two staff members share about the hand of God providing in the midst, and following this prayer time…

While we (FS) were finishing up praying together for the finances of the Mission and the well being of the staff today, the back dock buzzer rang. I went to answer it and there was a man with 110 pounds of pork to donate. Is that some sort of sign? I don’t know, but it was really cool to experience that.
- George Eckman • Dining Service Manager, Water Street Mission

The evening after our prayer time I attended a small group. When we went to leave we found two large bags of groceries for the Lydia Center in the bed of our pick-up. Be watchful, for God’s hand is moving. Thank you Jehovah Jireh.
- Paula Sentgeorge • Kitchen Manager, Lydia Center

Be encouraged by these stories of God’s generosity which is demonstrated daily through the body of Christ!

BoxTops to support Wonder Club ELC

As we are at the beginning of a new school year, I want to remind all of you that we would love to have your help in collecting Box Tops for Education (found on most General Mills products and its subsidiary companies) and Campbell’s Labels. All you need to do is clip the little Box Tops coupons or the Campbell’s proof and send them to:
Wonder Club Early Learning Centers
PO Box 7267
Lancaster, PA 17604

The complete listing of products can be found at www.Boxtops4education.com and www.labelsforeducation.com

You can also support Wonder Club by participating in the Giant A+ rewards program. We appreciate the many of you who took the time last year to register your bonus card and designate Wonder Club to receive these funds. However, you must re-register your card each year. If you are a Giant shopper and have a bonus card, please take a few moments to log on to http://www.giantaplus.com/ and register your bonus card using the designation number 02287. That is all you need to do; after you designate our school every shopping trip to Giant using your bonus card earns cash for our school!

Or for more details on supporting Wonder Club visit our wish list at: http://waterstreetministries.org/MakeADifference/WishLists/WonderClubWishList.aspx

Thanks!
Lorraine Brandt • Wonder Club Administrator

Has God done your Grocery Shopping?

A juicy pot roast with potatoes, carrots and onions is mouth watering. Sizzling steak on the barbecue grill can almost make us drool. But there isn’t anything this cook loves to get more than ground beef. There are so many things you can do with ground beef. And with a little engenuity and some corn flake crumbs you can stretch a few pounds to feed a crowd.

That is what I did last week with the help of my volunteer. On Monday I took the last 5 pound package of ground beef from the walk-in freezer to thaw. It was a sad event for we had not gone without ground beef for over 2 years. Yet I was thankful knowing it would feed 25 people for two large meals later in the week. On Wednesday Miss Judy made her famous Sloppy Joe and on Thursday I used the second half of the meat for Tacos. I prayed often that week that God would bring in more beef. He owns the cattle, after all.

Then on Sunday morning a friend asked me if I would like to have some meat for the Lydia Center. They happened to have some ground beef in their freezer left over from the E-town fair. My inside voice was jumping up and down but since I was in church I calmly said, “Absolutely. Thanks you Jesus.” I will be picking it up over the weekend. I don’t know how much there will be but I do know my God will make it be just enough. You gotta love it when God does the grocery shopping!!

Paula Sentgeorge • Kitchen Manager, Lydia Center

Thru the life of Eugene

Eugene recently died from cancer, he was not a resident here for very long. But in his 6 months here Eugene touched all of us through how he dealt with life and his impending death! Granted he was blessed to come to a place that loved him and where he could not only be sober but also learn to accept God’s love and acceptance of him. I think we all really loved his attitude even as he knew he was dying.

I think God encouraged us all to live a little more like Eugene did and how Paul told us to in Phil 1:29a – WHATEVER happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The memorial we celebrated with Eugene’s sibling was indeed joyous, AND neat to see how God used us all to not only bless the family but be tremendously blessed ourselves, God is good!

Chuck Albrecht • Shelter Manager, Water Street Mission

Lunchtime with Don

I sat with Don at lunch on Wednesday. I was aware of his friendship with Eugene (a resident who recently passed away) and thought it may be a good opportunity to check in with him. Don and I have been involved in some solid conversations since realizing Don knew my father from his attending Grace Church at Willow Valley.

I inquired as to how he was dealing with Eugene's passing and Don was very open with his feelings in fact he went on to share with me how he really needed to get things right with his children. He had resolved his feelings toward his father and knew that would be a challenge, but now he felt this last hurdle would be the most difficult. In seeing his friend Eugene lying in a hospital bed unable to communicate with his family he knew the importance of at least attempting to establish contact with his children.

Don was sitting at the table by himself and while I often sit with the men on this day I was led by the spirit to take a seat across the table from Don. Don thanked me for asking about him and asked me to pray for him. I have been reminded of Don at various times since our conversation and I will hold Don up in prayer.

Keith Shetter • Director of Donor Relations, Water Street Ministries

EUGENE IS DYING

The following entry was shared at the memorial service of a resident whose life impacted many staff, residents and friends here at Water Street Mission...

Eugene is dying today.

I don’t know much about Eugene’s life. I don’t know how long he lived in Florida. Or the name of his girlfriend. I don’t know why he walked with a cane. I do know a little about his last days.

A week ago I stopped and talked to him as he waited for a ride to his radiation treatment. He wore a New England Seafood baseball cap and squinted in the sun. He told me he was feeling good and had determined to wake each morning remembering that this was the day the Lord had made and would rejoice and be glad in it. “I could just as easily have died on a sidewalk,” he said. “I have everything I need at the Mission.”

Several months earlier Eugene’s cancer had started in his lungs. Now it was in his brain. He smiled as he spoke. He spoke—almost gratefully—about having the opportunity to walk in the shoes of his girlfriend who had died of cancer many years earlier.

A few weeks before our conversation in the parking lot, Eugene was with a group of us gathered around a long Amish dinner table. We ate a hearty meal and shared our stories. We were joined by an Italian photographer and his family from New York. Retired missionaries from France. A basketball coach from Arizona. When I introduced myself, my voice cracked when I spoke of the honor of calling Eugene, Allen and Kenneth my friends. The sacredness of the moment had surprised me in the darkening farmhouse. We ended the evening singing “amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me”.

Today Eugene nears eternity. This is a sacred time. Eugene’s life has been redeemed by the Saviour who knew him in life and will greet him in death.

The last words Eugene said to me were, “Thank you for talking to me.”

Thank you for talking to me, Eugene.

-Debbi Miller, Executive Secretary