Seeing Change at the Lydia Center

Change can be good or bad. Either way, it can “rock” our world. It makes us unsteady and off kilter, at least for a little while.

The ladies at the Lydia Center face constant challenges to their thinking and behavior. It has been my privilege over the past few weeks to watch one young lady deal with the struggle of change in her life. The changes are healthy changes, but they are ripping out everything that she has believed about herself and her life. The struggle is evident and painful to watch. However, there is great encouragement in watching this struggle.

Jesus promises to “make all things new.” Birthing new beliefs and attitudes is just as arduous as the birth of a baby. There is usually discomfort and pain, which is necessary to the birthing process. But, oh the joy that comes to all involved when that “new creature” enters this world. Be thankful for the pain that comes with change.

Donna Doutrich • Lydia Center, Ministry Assistant

Feed the homeless AND support your health!

In need of a chiropractic examination? Here's a perfect way you can support your health and help share meals with the homeless this Thanksgiving.

Learn how you can support...

• Anyone may receive a complete chiropractic examination from Family Chiropractic of Lancaster County for a donation of $47.20. The chiropractic examination will include a computerized spinal screening, complete chiropractic examination, X-rays (if needed), and a report of findings.


• Each $47.20 donation to the Water Street Mission will provide a Thanksgiving meal for 20 people.


• Stop by the office on Old Philadelphia pike or make an appointment by calling Family Chiropractic of Lancaster County, Ltd: 717-393-9955 between now and November 24, 2010.


• Thanks for your support of Water Street Mission!

“Our goal is to help feed over 1,000 people in Lancaster County,” said Dr. Martin Rodgers, President of Family Chiropractic of Lancaster County, Ltd.

“Sharing the gift of good health while helping those in our community who are desperate to get off the street and make a change in their lives is a double blessing.”
Keith Shetter, Family Chiropractic of Lancaster patient

From the Family:
More than 95% of Water Street Ministries' work of changing lives is made possible through private donations. That's why we're so thankful for the creative ideas organized on our behalf by businesses, churches, organizations and individuals -- our family!

Life Lessons from Emma

I recently spent a long weekend in the presence of my granddaughter, Emma. My most frequent thought when Emma comes to my mind, is her spontaneous affections. Emma is a very busy 19 month old that finds pleasure in almost anything. Often Emma will disengage from an activity, run to me and give me a hug and/or a kiss and then run back to her toy, food, etc. I don’t know what her little mind is processing in those moments but I find an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance from her in those spontaneous moments. My spirit is lifted to another level of joy.
As I ponder this, the thought comes to me that this is something I should be offering to God each day: spontaneous moments of affection. To take moments away from the distractions of the day to just say to Him

“I love you Lord, I am glad to be in your presence. I know you love me and cherish me as your daughter. I’m glad you will always be there for me."Because Christ, Emma will one day know this same love. Thank you, Father that we can run to you with spontaneous affection and you find joy in us. I want to be filled to overflowing with your love, Father. Let it splash out of me and onto the women of the Lydia Center. Father, I pray that they will come to the realization of, and learn to receive your love for them and know the joy of spontaneous affection with you. Amen."

- "Emma’s Grammy" Paula Sentgeorge, Lydia Center Kitchen Manager

Part 2 - Seeing God Moving - Men's Ministry

Here's the second collection of quotes from the Men's Ministry team at Water Street Mission about the question, “Where did you see the hand of God moving in your life in the past month at WSM?” Take a look at these short testimonies in response.

Andrew Onguka – A man is getting a glimpse of his brokenness and is learning to be OK with God’s love.

Intern Bob- During my night time duty with CARPE NOCTEM! Changing my perception of people.

Jim Stanton – I had the opportunity to just sit and listen to a brokenhearted young man share his story, and then share God’s love with him.

Intern Howard – I’m learning to live and understand the men here in the mission, good and bad.

Seeing God Moving - Men's Ministry

The Men's Ministry team at Water Street Mission has put together a compilation of their reflections around the question, “Where did you see the hand of God moving in your life in the past month at WSM?” Take a look at these short testimonies in response to this question.

Intern Tom – I have had God open doors for me through an internship. Everything is opening up for my higher education.

Phil Wrightstone – I see his hand of protection over me as I work in the Community Emergency Shelter.


Mark Noel- God provided mentors to 2 of my clients in unusual ways that caused them to praise God.

Jon Shacklett- Seeing lightbulbs go as I teach class.

Michael Kerrigone- During a recent conversation with a Community Emergency Shelter (CES) guest I witnessed a profession of faith in action.

New Seasons and Celebrations

I love nature and the way God brings changes to us through the seasons. We can expect good things out of every season because every season has its set purpose. Without one season the other seasons would not be complete. So, it is in our own journey of life. We go through various seasons in our lives so that God’s purposes can be established.

This week at the Lydia Center we are celebrating a new season for one of our residents who has completed the program, found a job, and is now moving into her own apartment with another former resident of Lydia Center. We celebrate this new season in their lives and pray that God will continue to lead them through the seasons of life.

Lisa Good • Lydia Center Program Counselor

Watching 'Seeds' Grow at the Lydia Center

Last week I spoke to a client who after being with us for 9 months had left our program without completing it. When she left, we prayed she would do well; and since grace always provides a way back, told her that she could reapply as early as the following week. We were all praying she would.

This client relapsed shortly after going back home and having to face some of the temptations she had previously succumbed to, but got up and continued her recovery. As we talked, she told me that she had not realized all the tools she had received at Lydia Center until she had to use them out in the world.

This client is a success story in that when she relapsed, she knew exactly how to get back up and rely on God to continue her journey of recovery. She is working part-time now, planning to attend Christian college in the winter, and making preparations for her future. What a great reminder that our role is to plant seeds and water and then trust that the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance those things that each client needs as she goes forward in her recovery.

I thank God that He is always at work – that He pursues the residents that leave Lydia Center just as He pursues each of us because He wants to set us free from ourselves and our destructive patterns. Phil 1:6 – “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work will perfect until the day of Christ Jesus.” This client experienced His mercy and grace in fresh ways and she knows that if she does relapse again, His grace is sufficient to get her through and put her back on the road He has for her because grace always has a way back – that real hope!

Melissa Alcorn • Lydia Center Executive Director

Words From The Lord

Each summer as I am preparing for the new school year, I spend time asking the Lord for a verse or a passage of Scripture for our staff to use as a theme verse for the new school year. As I was praying this summer, I did not hearing any particular direction. So at staff meeting last week, I gave the teachers the following assignment. “For our devotions on Friday, I would like each of you to come with a verse that you feel God is speaking to you for Wonder Club for this year. It may be for you personally, for your classroom, or for the team as a whole.” In my mind I thought that perhaps God would speak to us by having two or three persons come with the same verse or verses.

As we went around the table and shared our verses and why we had chosen each one, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, God! These are great verses, but what does it mean for us as a team?” As you can guess, no two persons had chosen the same verses. As I shared with the teachers that part of what I was hoping would come from this exercise was a “theme” for the year, Miss Nikki spoke up, “Here is what I heard as we were going around the table.” And just like that, Nikki allowed God to use her to put it all together for us. Out of nine passages of Scripture, Nikki summarized our time with the following thoughts (I have included the references of each thought):

Wait
(Psalm 37:7)
I will cause the growth
(I Cor. 3:5-9)
I will give you a new heart
(Ezekiel 36:25-26)
I will give you a new mind
(Romans 8:5-8)
Forget the things of the past
(Isaiah 43:18-19a)
If you are obedient
(Ephesians 6:1-3)
I will make you an imitator of me
(Ephesians 5:1-2)
I will teach you all things
(Isaiah 50: 4 & 7)
Nothing is impossible with God!
(Luke 1:37)

As a staff we were astounded at the way God had spoken to us as a team through the individual verses and how He had given Nikki the words to put it altogether so concisely. So while we may not have a “theme verse” we do have some precious words that we felt God was giving us through our individual seeking of the Lord for direction. Words that we wanted to share in the hopes so that you too would be encouraged. We are so excited we can’t wait to see what else God is going to do this year!

- Lorraine Brandt, Wonder Club Administrator, Wonder Club Early Learning Centers

Refreshing More than Just the Streets!

This summer we hosted a large number of groups who served our community by cleaning up litter. So far they have cleaned up more than 1,000 lbs of litter from the blocks surrounding the mission!

Before a group goes out I attempt to give them a bigger picture of their work than simply picking up litter. I believe that an area littered with trash is often a sign of a depressed hopeless community where people’s lives are weighed down with the cares of this world and feelings of hopelessness. I encourage them to walk with their eyes open for these signs and to pray over the houses and families that God would restore hope in our neighborhoods.

Last week a group came back reporting a conversation that started when a young man thanked them for cleaning up. They engaged this man in conversation and the talk led to spiritual things, they ended up addressing some of this man’s resistance to God and praying with him to trust Jesus with his life! They were an encouragement with the joy that comes form being alert to what God is wanting to do in the moment.

Dean Wenger • Redistribution Manager, Water Street Ministries

Interruptions and God-Moments at Wonder Club

Last week I went into work to get a couple of things done before I "officially" go back to work. Well, I walked in the door and the maintenance man from the church asked me whether a particular shelf unit was Wonder Club's. I immediately recognized the unit, and told him that yes it was ours. He said that the church was cleaning house and accidentally put it in the give-away pile.

So, this was my opportunity to depend upon God... He is the one who let this interaction happen at this moment. Therefore I needed to deal with them before getting to the things I had on my to-do list. I went to the basement to talk with the youth minister about the cabinet. It was neat... she has been around for about a year and I have not had much time to interact with her, and now God ordained the moment.

We talked about the revisions she is doing to their space and how the job is going and also about the cabinet. She didn't know it was ours and apologized and we were able to figure out what stuff belonged to Wonder Club and what stuff belonged to the church.

As I was bringing up our items to our floor, I was glancing through them. Wow! I have seen these letter people (see picture) for a few years now, but for some reason this time it stuck out to me. When I brought everything upstairs, I cleaned the posters and I really liked them! It seems like fun ways to incorporate letters into the classroom. I had left the storage box downstairs and was about to throw it away, but then I remembered that another teacher was looking for a place to store big books and I thought this may just work. That teacher came in later in the day (as I was still going through the letter people items) and I showed her the box. Wow! She said it would work wonderfully!

As I left for the day, I realized that I did not even touch anything that I had planned on doing, but since I depended on God's moments instead of mine, much more happened, and not just for me. Through following God's "interruptions", 1) I was able to build a relationship with one of the ministers of the church, 2) I found a fun way to talk about letters with my students, 3) another teacher was able to be blessed with an item she has been wanting, and 4) Wonder Club ended up cleaning house a little too! God's "interruption" was not an interruption but an opportunity to depend upon Him with the next steps. Thanks, God!!!

Nicole Imhof – Wonder Club Teacher/Site Supervisor

Prayer Jars

Prayer is something that has been heavy on my heart lately. Something I know is important but I need to do more of. Janae and I were given the opportunity to have a devotional session with the women in the Women’s Shelter this morning. We weren’t sure what to focus on, but prayer kept coming up. I had a bunch of leftover pint sized mason jars from my wedding, so after some brainstorming we decided it would be neat to make Prayer Jars. We knew the women were very creative and enjoyed decoupage so we gathered supplies, asked staff to donate old magazines and got some tissue paper.

It was an amazing morning. Janae shared about the power of prayer. How we can pray in times of brokenness and loss – which she recently experienced after her grandfather passed away. She shared how prayer can overcome situations that seem hopeless; like she saw in her friend who was healed of a brain tumor. And about how we need to be careful to not let prayer become routine, but remember how sacred it is. I shared the story of the hummingbird my mother saw during a weekend full of a lot of heavy and heartbreaking stories (the kind you just don’t know how to pray for) – it was a reminder to her that not only is God completely engaged with the hard things, but he’s also there in all the little details too. He cares and wants to be in relationship and conversation with us!

Right before the class, a counselor came in with a few of her magazines to donate to the project. As we started to make our jars, I picked up one of her editions and it was full of hummingbirds! I asked the ladies if any of them wanted one on their prayer jar and they were gone in seconds.

The women- there were about 30 of us - dove right into making their jars. It represents a place for them to keep prayers and praises but also a place for them to keep verses or other things they hear from God – a two-way conversation!

We had an hour but we could have actually used more time! The jars were turning out beautifully! We had a brief sharing time at the end and most of the images and colors on the jars carried so much meaning. A picture of a path, representing prayer as the road to God, a picture of a little dog, much like the one someone had as a child, tissue paper as stained glass, words that represented challenges and hopes in someone’s life (life-change – what she wants, married – she wants to keep this, honesty – needs to work on this with her husband, lies - needs to stop the lies she tells).

Janae and I even got to make our very own prayer jars. It was a really encouraging time and the ladies were all really excited about their jars and some placed them immediately by their beds. There were even three teenage boys who participated and just diligently worked on their jars the whole time.

Carrie King • Graphic and Publication Design Specialist

GOD IS OMNISCIENT...SO WHY DID TODAY SURPRISE ME?

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

How did the all-knowing Creator know that I would be declaring His praise today with a group of adult men on a hanging rock? Was this scene just an accident of time and place? No, my God foreknew all things before they were even created and is not limited to time or space. He planned for me to speak out loud these words today. I expressed the desire of my heart in this passage to be pleasing to Almighty God. My voice and meditations were aloud, and intentional, to guys, many with life-controlling issues, and challenges. These were men, like me, who all need the Rock and Redeemer.

This steamy August day was a planned trip to Pinnacle Overlook – hundreds of feet above the river. Fifteen men all gathered to check out the beauty of nature and spend the day together off campus from Water Street Mission's LifeRecovery Program in Lancaster city. Birds sang praise to the Creator, the wind tickled my hair, and the humidity saturated my shoes in the grass as I walked down the trail. Many times I had been to the big rock alone, or with close friends and family. Today, I was with a group of men that had never experienced time at this rock. Did God know and plan for me to be with these other guys and see a new view, a higher view, of the Susquehanna River at the Pinnacle Overlook, and of Himself?

My prayer – “Lord, I know that You did plan today and I give You the praise for that beautiful snapshot of time and place in Your grace...at the rock... with some men that needed to experience You personally. You surprise me, Lord. You are the all-knowing Rock.”

James W. Stanton, Water Street Mission, Program Counselor

WSHS's Medicine Inventory Day!

A few weeks ago I was preparing for the medicines inventory count. The day was getting closer when we would once again count every, YES EVERY, prescription pill in the med room. I began to wonder how things would go. Did I have the prep work done thoroughly? Would we have enough help? What if everyone came at once and we didn’t have enough pill counters to use? Would there be unforeseen problems with the computer system when we made a change to entering by the National Drug Code numbers? Would we be here all day and all night???? I hoped for the best but must admit I had some anxiety as I occasionally imagined the worst!

As the day came, I was amazed by God. He literally provided just the right people for the right tasks at the right times to make the day go very smoothly! It was like a puzzle that fit together perfectly! And…we were even finished by 6:00pm with meds counted, entered into the computer, and back on their shelves neatly! Thank you, God, for being in control and knowing our every need…even in something as little as the med count.

Water Street Health Services is a division of Water Street Ministries that provides Christian medical, dental and behavioral health services to over 2,000 individuals who would otherwise be without access to health care.

By Jean Benedict, RN & Nurse Administrator, Water Street Health Services

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

An Invitation

You’re invited.

Isn’t that exciting?

You feel accepted, loved, and understood. An invitation has the power to transform an outcast into a member; one who belongs. But in my life, God always has a way of flipping things on their heads.

Let’s start at the beginning of the story. I am an amateur photographer. I mean amateur. Thanks to an extremely generous co-worker, I even have a camera and a small array of accessories. Through this gift, photography has become my mainstay hobby of personal exploration. But who has time for hobbies, really? If it’s not for some hope of profit, it’s obviously a worthless endeavor, at least that’s what my checkbook keeps telling me.

A few weeks ago, a group of artists at a local church decided to ‘share’ their creative talents with the rest of the congregation at an ‘art retreat.’ What a great idea, a forum to discuss the importance of a creative outlet. I thought this was a fantastic idea. Everyone needs to be able to express themselves creatively, even if their work isn’t hung in a museum. They even asked me to submit some work for the show. I jumped at the invitation. The members of the group, without question, are very talented individuals. I could not believe I had been admitted into the inner circle. Desired, loved, accepted, and needed. I could have run for days on the emotional adrenaline.

I worked diligently to prepare. I printed a few select photos, mounted them to a piece of leftover foam core and proudly placed my work on the shelf at church. To my disbelief, everything had a price tag. Instead of an open forum to discuss the importance of a creative outlet, I was smack between ‘buy one get one free’ and $25 ‘specials’. The ‘art retreat’ had turned into a promotion for profit. The group of artists had traded an opportunity for deep spiritual growth and outreach; for personal wealth. Seriously, where is Jesus with a whip when you need him? I could have used some over-turned tables to mirror the pieces of my broken heart. I felt so betrayed. I wanted so desperately to be a part of a group to reach out and encourage others creatively.

But God knew my heart, he knew what I desired most of all. A week later I heard Water Street Ministries needed paint supplies for its art program. I had recently cleaned out my old college art supplies including a bag full of acrylic paints. Was this a coincidence? As a result, there is such a joy when I stroll through the mission and see all the meaningful artwork adorning the halls. When I see a client working on a sketch during his break at the Learning Center, there is a feeling of deep connection. This was the real invitation I had been longing for. This was the membership of significance, the acceptance and community I had desired. I was finally able to help others discover themselves through artistic expression. I feel so blessed to have been able to participate.

- Written By: Jon Sullenberger, Learning Center Volunteer

Getting my car inspected...

A friend of mine has a blog where he discusses faith, life, God, etc... yesterday he randomly asked me for a "word" to spark his thought process for a new blog. This is what immediately popped into my mind:

"Inspection - I gotta take my car in to the garage later today...

Now with the new one, it's a very different experience, but with our old cars, the day I dropped off the car for inspection was nerve racking one... how much will it cost this time? Is this the end of the road for this car?

How does (or should) inspection play a role in our walk with Christ... does self-examination make me squirm the same way that car inspection day does? How do you feel knowing that God can see "under your hood" all the time?"

Here at Water Street and Teen Haven, "self inspection" is part of our growth process - as individuals being transformed by Christ (both staff and clients) and as an organization. Honestly, some days it feels like I'm taking the old '77 Chevy Caprice Classic into the shop and I know the mechanic is going to give me a laundry list of repairs needed... other days are like yesterday (my car passed with flying colors - although I had them rotate the tires for good measure).

The good news is we have a mechanic who is more than willing to work with us... he knows our vehicle better than we ever will... he can find the beauty in in the most beat up old hoopty (or jalopy)... and he already paid the price for all the repairs we need.

Knowing the mechanic makes "inspection" day a lot less nerve-wracking.

Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

PS - my friend ended up just using my thoughts for his blog... so I thought it would be OK to steal it back - you can check out some of his other thought provoking posts at http://radaph.blogspot.com

God's Provision in the Heat!

The Lebanon Free Clinic (Satellite of Water Street Health Services) is located in a row house in Lebanon city and has wall unit air conditioners. Guess what – last week in the heat of course, the AC’s were not working well, freezing up, not able to keep up and the staff, volunteers and patients were suffering from the heat and poor ventilation. Difficult for one of our staff in Lebanon who has asthma and couldn’t breathe!

A call for help was sent out to the Lebanon community donors and we now have a new AC unit in the treatment area and a gently used one for the front waiting room! God, as always, meets our every need!!

Gale Thomason • Executive Director, Water Street Health Services

Refreshing Treats at Teen Haven Camp!

This Monday at Teen Haven Camp, Vinny Mikusow was waiting for the campers to arrive and praying for wisdom and discernment about the schedule of camp. On a week with such record breaking high temperatures he wanted to be creative about how to keep the campers cool, and refreshed, so that the boys could have a really positive time at camp. Just about this time... up pulls a vehicle that is literally brimming with food donations for the Camp. From fresh sweet corn, ripe tomatoes, pastries, and fruit to 6 gallons of ice cream!

I was , one of the people that happened to be praying for camp, and for God’s grace to guide the staff and camp counselors as they welcomed the 9-11 yr. old boys to camp! And if you know me well, you’ll know I happen to be a bit of an ice cream fanatic. This donor’s willingness to give so generously reflected God’s perfect timing to meet Vinny and the campers with a very real and tangible need. Afterall, what tastes better than ice cream on a really hot day??

As Vinny helped unload the donations, he watched as slowly the countertops of the kitchen were filled. One of the many delicious blessings of this donation was that the camp staff decided to use the ice cream to bless the campers with a surprise ice cream sundae party, to conclude one of their evening activities!

God's faithfulness, in using his people is a beautiful thing. In this story, he was answering Vinny's prayers before the campers even pulled in to camp.

Janae Dagen

Teen Haven Secretary

Serving in the City - Answered prayers at Teen Haven

Often times, people outside the city are reluctant to come in and volunteer in the city. But as God's Word tells us where two or three are gathered in my name there am I.

For a long time I had been praying about starting a Girls Bible study which has been non-existent for over a decade, at Teen Haven in the city of York, PA.

And as those prayers were whispered…. a dear sister in the Lord, who herself is battling Lupus, felt the Lord leading her to reach out with her life to young girls. She heard about this ministry opportunity and our need to have someone come and lead the girls program and Teen Haven. She contacted a friend about volunteering with us, and that's where their journey began alongside our ministry.

After our first Bible study, one of the women shared that she was definitely "outside her comfort zone," but the other day after Bible study she told me how much she enjoyed being with the girls and getting to know them personally. She shared that through these growing relationships that she is falling in love with them.

I'm thankful for the power of prayer and the divine timing of our heavenly Father. So if you have never volunteered to help those in need you have missed out on a blessing. Consider giving of your time, talent, and treasure; you won't be disappointed.

Alex Mikusow, Teen Haven, York Field Director

Prayers from Wonder Club

The faith of the children at Wonder Club often reveal aspects of God to us. Listen to this story that was shared with by one of the teachers at Wonder Club:

Near the end of the school year a student came in and right away showed us his cut on his finger. For most of the day he complained that he could not do an activity because his finger was hurt. Eventually (should have done this much earlier), I offered to pray for him. I prayed that he would still be capable to do activities despite his cut and that God would be with him. After I was done, he asked me to pray for God to heal him. I did then ask for healing. It took a child to remind me of what’s important – healing. How cool that the child grasps healing!

Also, please join us in praying for the precious children over the summer; some as they prepare for starting Kindergarten in the fall, and others as they will move on to first grade!

Lorraine Brandt • Wonder Club Administrator