Beauty: It has been a long time since I have sat down to write a prayer for Wednesday morning. A time where we can gather (in person or through this email) and pray together. The words are meant to be inspiring and inviting.   Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting the Hope Street staff, a volunteer, and Dr. Dan Green at my house. Dr. Green led us in a day where we walked through grief; what it is, what it looks like and sounds like. The day was beautiful and insightful. But the thing that was the most beautiful was being in a room with that staff and that team. There is so much beauty, wisdom, compassion, care, understanding, and oneness amongst that team; Ash, Brian, Hannah, Brooke, and Thomas. To be in their presence was fulfilling and life giving. If any of their names ever pop into your head, pray for them.   Dear Heavenly Father, Wow, long time no talk in this capacity. Thank you so much for Ash, Brian, Hannah, Brooke, and Thomas. Lord, you have woven their lives together for such a time as this. They love unconditionally, they bring wisdom, compassion and oneness to the building and to the lives of so many people. They have also experienced great love and great loss while immersing themselves in the GFP. Allow them to feel your peace, your presence and your love in all areas of their lives. Thank you for the shepherds that they are.   Amen, Rachael.   Hope Street Transplant: Hi, my name is Robie King. I came to Hope Street in 2018 with plans to fix my broken life. At that time I came from a treatment center, with a job and $60. I had $10,000 in debt and an eviction unpaid. I needed a clean and safe environment to live in in order to fulfill a plan to be free of brokenness. During my time at Hope Street I continued to get better jobs until I found one that makes life comfortable (Quad Graphic). I had medical issues that were addressed and I began to feel healthier. Then I had a stroke after being at Hope Street for 19 months. The services Hope Street has offered me has strengthened me to pay $6,500 of my $10,000 in debt all the while still paying my monthly membership to live here. They helped me with a dental problem I had been suffering with on a daily basis. The computer services from the volunteers in The Vine were most welcomed and I really learned how to use the computer well. I also enjoyed all of the spiritual classes and outings I was able to attend. I am so grateful for a place like Hope Street for now I am able to move out into my own apartment with a job to take care of myself better. Another thing I am so very grateful for is the help furnishing my new home to give me a jump start in continuing to be free of brokenness. I want to thank Hope Street so much for having me. _________________________________________________________________________   How long do people stay?   That is a common question we are asked followed up by how do you know someone is ready to go?   Robie King moved into Hope Street on February 5, 2018. She came to us with an all too familiar past of addiction, unhealthy relationships and a distorted view of herself. From the beginning she has been a hard worker. She is determined to do the right thing and put in the time and energy it takes to be successful. Robie is a talker, she is known to pop her head into the office and sit in a chair and share what is new with her, what she is struggling with and how we can support her. The thing I admire most about her is she advocates for herself. She doesn’t sit back and wait for things to come to her. One defining moment that sticks out is the morning of Amanda’s passing. Robie without hesitation took Amanda’s girls under her wing. She brought them to her apartment, prepared breakfast and comforted the girls. Her all too familiar hard exterior was let down in a moment when people in her community needed her strength and presence. She took the love she has experienced and lavishly poured it out onto others in a time of need.   Has it always been easy during Robie’s stay - nope. On more than one occasion I ran upstairs into an apartment where I heard female voices screaming. Arguments over seemingly insignificant things like toilet paper - but at the core a desire to be heard, to be seen and to be loved. Being in community is tricky. Being put with a random roommate can be nearly impossible for some. Yet, Robie willingly leaned into the mess and has become a better person because of it.   Robie has learned what it looks like to be in community.   We are proud of who she is becoming and we look forward to celebrating her transplant from Hope Street.   Our promise to our members on the front end is if they do the work and stay the minimum requirement of 6 months - complete the phases of the Flourishing Metric and leave without a balance - we will furnish their new home. This is where you have the opportunity to join us. Robie has put together a list of items she will need for her new home. We accept monetary donations - we will take Robie shopping for the items she needs or else you can donate new or gently used (items you would still use) of the items that are on her list below.   Hannah, our Social Worker (hannah@hopestreetministry.org) is the main point of contact. You can send her questions, picture of items you have etc.   Thank you for helping us celebrate flourishing members! We are proud of you Robie!   Ashley Thomas Executive Director   Items needed: -bedroom set -couch -2 chairs -small kitchen table -towels -comforter -sheets -pots and pans -dishes   Build Community. When you think of the word community a lot of different things could come to mind. You could think of your church community, your school community, your neighborhood community, and many others.   At Hope Street we value what it means to build community. Some of the questions often asked to those applying to become a member are what does community mean to you?, do you currently have support from a community? Or even do you think you could be a part of the community here at Hope Street? That last one to me is a big one because yes, Hope Street is housing for men, women, and children, but that’s not ALL that it entails. Entering into Hope Street’s doors means entering into a community and not just the community of individuals physically living within Hope Street’s walls. Our community stretches far beyond this.   Last night we were fortunate enough to celebrate the birth and life of an individual who has truly become an important part of our Hope Street community and that is our former Executive Director, Perry Brown. As I took a look around the room where current members, staff members, former members, volunteers, and friends joined to celebrate, it reminded me of how beautiful our community really is. That members who transplanted years ago could enter back into these doors and be greeted with joy to see them return. That we could all come together as one, all individuals with our own “stuff”, our own “mess”, and from very different backgrounds and locations. This to me was a perfect and beautiful example of what it means to build community.   Lord thank you for last night. Thank you for the time we were able to share with one another and in doing so celebrate Perry. I’m so thankful that Hope Street is a place where individuals can truly feel welcome and have a yearning to return. Thank you for our Hope Street community and for all those who have willing embraced it. I ask that anyone who steps foot into this place to simply know that they are loved and that there is a place for them here at the greenhouse for people.   Amen, Brooke.   Just What We Needed. Each month I am blessed with the opportunity to welcome volunteers for our Serve Saturday event. A chance to invite others into our community, to learn more about The Greenhouse for People, meet & interact with our members, and help take care of our facilities. Some are regulars, but this month we had quite a few new faces…which is always exciting.   Before everyone arrives, I gather the mops, brooms, buckets, and other cleaning supplies and equipment that we’ll need for the day. As I prepared for our event last Saturday, I noticed we were getting low on some of cleaning supplies and would need to order more soon. However, to my surprise and delight, some of the volunteers, including a new one, brought an assortment of needed supplies with them. How did they know? Who told them? It was just what we needed, and at the right time. Just like our Father in Heaven.   2 Corinthians 9:8 says “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”.   Our Heavenly Father, the Great Provider, knows what and how much we need…delivering it in His perfect timeliness. At Hope Street, He brings us countless volunteers with humble & compassionate hearts, equipped with an abundance of skills and talents. He fills our storehouses, multiplies financial resources, removes obstacles, and paves the way for His kingdom work to be done. For each of us, when we cry out to Him, even in those times when we don’t know what to ask for…there He is with us...ready with an ample supply of what only He knows we need.   Thank You Father! For being who you say you are. The Great, I Am. We’re thankful you know us inside and out, and what we need. And when we need it, You deliver. Quiet our hearts, bring rest to our souls, replenish us with your goodness, and fill us with your Spirit…so you can do a great work in us…for Your Glory and Honor. In Jesus’ name…Amen!   Thomas. For more information click on this link : https://www.hopestreetministry.org/blog