Wonder Club Field Day get's Goliath Again!

If your boss asked you to dress up as one of the baddest dudes in the Bible and told you to go outside and scare a bunch of kids, and oh by the way dodge water balloons while you’re at it, how could you say no? I know I sure couldn’t. So, for the last 2 out of 3 years I’ve gotten to be Goliath at the Wonder Club field day.

When I’m not playing Goliath I’m just Joel the “guy who brings us our snacks,” I have the pleasure of bringing the milk and snacks that God provides to these kids each week. It’s so awesome to hear stories throughout the year of how the kids were praying for a certain cereal or their favorite fruit to come in and then to see how God provides those things. It’s also such a neat thing to see how the kids grow throughout the year, kids who at the beginning of school were so shy turn into water balloon throwing maniacs.

That brings me back to field day, the one day a year I get to make a crazy costume and splatter it with fake blood and swing my sword and shield and dodge water balloons. As I’m doing that I get to see the faces of these kids and see them smile and laugh and forget about any troubles or cares that they have. For a few minutes at field day these kids get to feel like David, they get to experience what its like to conquer a giant and they get to learn the story of how God is always on our side even when the odds are not.

- Joel Henry, Food Services Truck Driver

We were out of sugar...

All week long we have been out of sugar. Whenever someone would complain, I would tell them that they need to pray and ask God for the sugar because that is something we were not going to be purchasing. Today, out of the blue God provided sugar. We just got 600 lbs donated this afternoon. What really delights me is that we really don’t need sugar, drinks can be drank without sweetener, but because it was the desire of a few faithful He chose to bless everyone. God is good.

George Eckman • Water Street Mission, Dining Service Manager

Turkeys, turkeys, TURKEYS....

Would you consider helping us provide meals for the poor and homeless this holiday season?Drop off your 12 lb. frozen turkey at the Water Street Mission Food Dock by Friday, Nov. 20 for Thanksgiving or by Friday, Dec. 18 for Christmas!

Drop off hours:

M-F: 6am-6pm
Sat: 6am-1pm, 3pm-6pm

Sun: 7am-9am, 3pm-6pm

Questions? Call (717) 393-7709

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!

Little Blessings

Working in the front office I get so see many of the residents throughout the week, there is one particular family I have gotten to know. This single mom is usually trying to control her rowdy four and five year old while caring for her other younger children. These two adorable kids like to wander the dining hall at lunch, sometimes getting into trouble. With other little ones to attend to Mom has a difficult job trying to keep everyone together.

In the past few months, since the birth of the newest child, the older daughter seems to be taking more responsibility. The other day Mindy* wasn’t running around the dining hall, instead I saw her carefully carrying a full tray to the table. Her sweet little face was focused in concentration as she walked cautiously as to not spill its contents. It was a big help to her mom who had a stroller to push and other lunch items to carry. It’s great to see that God is working in Mindy’s* life to bless her mom.

*name changed
- Emily Towers, Water Street Mission

Sharing life over lunch

As I sat discussing the day’s event with a co-worker during lunch a man placed his tray on the table and sat down next to me. We exchanged greetings at which time I found out his name was Geoff. Then he commented on the meal, saying “great food we have up here”. The phrase with the words up here made me question where this man may be from. Geoff said he was originally from Pennsylvania, but had been living in Alabama most recently.

The conversation continued with Geoff sharing how he was led to come to Pennsylvania in search of a job. In fact he had an interview that very afternoon. He spoke with such confidence about finding employment. It was somewhat surprising. Here was a man who had nothing. He was living in the emergency shelter at the mission after hitching a ride from Alabama. It was obvious he had not shaved, nor was he neatly groomed, but he knew he was going to impress the socks off of the person he would be speaking with about a job.

For the next 20 minutes I sat and listened to this man tell his story. A story of how he once lived the high life with a top level job, great house, nice cars and a family. How an addiction had caused him to throw all that away. How after seven years of drifting and doing whatever he could to survive he was ready to change. He had been broken and now he was looking to make amends.

He also revealed the true reason he had come to Pennsylvania. He was indeed looking to land a job, but before he could start a new life he needed to make restitution for his past. There were outstanding fines and other unpaid debt Geoff needed to tend to. This resulted in Geoff spending some time in jail. A price he was willing to pay for the Bible told him he could not be set free until he repaid his debt. Not unlike the price which was paid for our sins.

After serving his time Geoff tried to reconnect with his family and explained his new outlook on life. With nowhere to go Geoff came to Water Street and while staying in the emergency shelter he answered an ad for a job. Despite his disheveled look Geoff must have made a positive impression at his interview that day. Four days later Geoff was offered the job. A very long journey was about to end in peace for a man who had trusted his heart to the lord.

- Keith Shetter, Development Department

Football and Turkey

Things have been very busy at WSRM the last few weeks: The Great Thanksgiving Banquet, our Thanksgiving food box distribution (over 1000 families served in our community), the cold weather overflow shelter opening, and all our regular programs continuing to operate at or near capacity.


Thankfully, the staff and clients found time for a great Thanksgiving tradition... flag football in the snow. Perfect snowy weather, tons of fun, and no injuries... who could ask for anything more?

(Take note of Joel Henry stretching high for a touchdown grab and David P. Miller trying to impress a certain executive assistant with a dramatic leaping touchdown catch of his own.)

Special Thanks to Carrie Keagy for the excellent photos!

Mmmm... Steak

Last winter Molly Breitenfeld came to visit the Lydia Center. She spoke to us about Spark Ministry and how she planned to bring a group of ladies from the Texas based ministry to lead a retreat for everyone here at the Lydia Center.

Molly toured our beautiful facility and got more excited by the minute. She is a creative personality and she wove together all manner of dreams for our April time together. We spoke a great deal about food, of course. What is a women’s retreat without food? Molly promised a Texas style BBQ with steak for everyone, and an outdoor picnic with burgers cooked on our very used but still operational grills.

Months of planning and preparation brought the much anticipated event closer. Then in mid March we had a wind storm that blew heavy across Grace Plateau. Shingles blew off the cottage roofs and siding was pulled off several buildings. Our grills were blown off the loading dock and fell in ruin to the gravel (three feet) below.

It didn’t take our faithful maintenance crew long to repair the buildings but they could do nothing to repair our grills. I called the redistribution department and asked for a grill or two, but there were none available. Staff and residents together began to pray for the grills to be replaced in time for the Spark retreat which was fast approaching. The future looked bleak for our steak BBQ.

On April 3rd, just 8 days before the arrival of our Texas Gals, I was earnestly praying at my desk. When I opened my eyes I caught sight of a note taped to my desk reminding me to call a friend of the LYC. The note was months old but I heard God saying “Make the call.” I dialed the number intending to check in with this dear one and her husband. The automated message asked me to leave a message. I greeted the couple and then asked them if they could please keep their eyes open for a couple of used grills. I know that they have many contacts and I proposed that someone might be purchasing a new one for themselves and would want to donate their used one to the center. I ended the call with a hope that they would visit us here sometime soon.

We played ‘phone tag’ for the next 2 days. On Saturday morning I happened to drop by the center to get something from my office. My phone rang and although I wanted to ignore it I wondered who could be calling me at work on a Saturday morning. When I answered the call I was surprised to hear my friend saying that they were at Lowes picking up a grill and would like to deliver it that morning. We made the necessary arrangements for delivery.

Monday morning I was surprised to find not one but two very nice new grills waiting for me. It didn’t take long to spread the word of how tremendously God had answered our prayers, and He did so just 4 days before our retreat. An added blessing was a delivery of fresh meats organized by Spark Ministry, which we have enjoyed cooking on our new grills. With every juicy bite we are reminded of how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And we are thankful for those who respond when God calls them into service.

-Paula Sentgeorge, Lydia Center