Amazed by people...

People constantly amaze me!

Several (probably 6) years ago, our congregation (Community of Joy) met a lady who lived in a house that had recently been sold for taxes. Not only that, but she had lived in this house for 3 years without water and electricity. It had been given to her by her parents and she was not able to pay all her bills to keep the place up. She lived with two dogs and living in the stench and clutter were almost worse than living without water and electricity. Long story short, we helped her get out of the house into a rent assisted apartment for seniors which was lovely. We supplied her all the furniture she needed... what she had in the house was not fit to move. We drove her to Dr. visits, the grocery store, etc. We even paid her security deposit and the additional cost of having one of her dogs live with her. The other one, we helped her find a home for.

Then an offer came from someone to purchase her house. But before she could accept that offer, she had to redeem the house from the tax sale. So, our congregation voted to loan her up to $10,000 from our building fund to redeem the house so that she could sell it. Long story short, we were able to help her realize a profit from selling the house and she paid off all her debts and set up an annuity to supplement her monthly income. In addition we helped her use some of the money to buy some new furniture items and helped her pre-pay her funeral arrangements (which was the first thing she wanted to do when the money came). She was set up in as good a situation as she had been in for years!

Then her health took a turn for the worse. And after a valiant battle, she died. Upon her death a long lost cousin showed up and moved in for whatever she could get. I received a phone call yesterday from this cousin's attorney because they were asking the housing manager to return the security deposit to them. But the manager told them that the church had paid the deposit and the total amount had been used to restore the apartment to a livable place again. (which was necessary!)

This whole experience has amazed me! Where was this cousin when our her cousin was living in the house for 3 years without water or electricity? Where was this cousin when she needed rides to the doctor? Where was this cousin when the home was sold and her cousin had no place to live? Where was this cousin for all these years and why did she come on the scene now?

Greed has a terrible way of making us into monsters!

But seeing someone in need has a way of making us a blessing to others!

People constantly amaze me! What an amazing group of people at Community of Joy! They are a real blessing to so many! And I am blessed to be part of such a spectacular group!