Restarting with Faith & Gratitude

When Interfaith Shelter Network (ISN) approached us about hosting the rotational shelter again, I wasn’t sure. Personally, I had never been involved with a hosting. While St. Bart’s had experience, it was in the old parish hall. How would we manage with what we have now? Did we have enough space? What about shower facilities, all those meals and overnight chaperones?

When God calls us forward to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world, it sometimes means we will need to step ahead in faith, knowing we will be provided with what we need. I believe that no one had greater faith than our facilities manager, Mike Jewett. It was because of Mike’s work, using PVC piping, tablecloths, tarps, and old banners, that our MPR was transformed into a shelter space. He also retrofitted our bathrooms into shower spaces. (A social worker called his temporary modifications “ingenious.”)

With the infrastructure in place, what about the helpers? They came from all over! Overnight chaperones and providers of dinners, continental breakfasts, and bag lunches included those from St. Bart’s and from other faith communities. We give thanks to the 15 volunteers from our church and to the generous parishioners from Grace San Marcos, Trinity Escondido, St. Tim’s, St. Mark’s, Temple Adat Shalom, and Poway Community Church.

Through hard work, ingenuity, and a lot of good friends, St. Bart’s housed 5-10 guests for two weeks. Bravo and thank you! Come be a part of the rotational shelter when we host again next winter.

Blessings,

Mother Nina+