Monday, January 26th, PADS night

Last night, our small group served our local homeless shelter. The way it works in Lake County is that there is a central location in Waukegan and the people are bused from one location to another every night of the week. That way, the burden isn't too great on any one area. It is a service available for the 7 cold months of the year and the other 5 months, the people are on the street. My heart broke last night as I know we only saw a small glimpse of what is actually a huge problem, not only in this county, but around our nation.
The Lutheran church in Grayslake has been a PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) location for a few years and Jean Hackbert in our small group has been active for quite some time.
Talk about a heart of compassion!!! We should all aspire to be a servant like Jean. She works at PADS 3-4 Monday nights per month on the 11pm-3am shift.
This is Ardy, the Shepherd of the Lakes site coordinator. She gave us a little orientation time.
Shepherd of the Lakes turns their sanctuary into a large dorm room on Monday nights.

They have a clothing closet, a nurse and physician on hand for medical concerns, a Bible study, an AA meeting, movies, games..you name it, they have tried to make these outcasts from society feel like they are taken care of and loved.

Last night our group purchased, prepared and cleaned up after dinner. It was quite an undertaking, but I have to tell you, it was just like a fine oiled machine.Angie, learning the finer points of Koolaid making. It was a totally new experience for her!!
There were quite a few teens there to serve the food and other tasks. While the meal was being served, there were about 5 of us continually doing dishes. We served Italian Beef, steamed vegetables, fruit salad, soup, tossed salad, pie and ice cream. The Italian Beef was donated to the Northern Illinois Food bank from Portillo's. Evidently they cut off the ends of the beef and give it to them and then we purchased 40 pounds of it for $7.20. Then Angie and Jean shopped for the rest last week.
My big roaster has come in handy on more than one occasion. Last night we served the Italian Beef out of it.Thank God for people who serve, like Jean, Ardy, Jon and Dave. They told us specifically that these people were our guests and to treat them as such. And with that in mind, our gals willingly became the hands and feet of Jesus. Above are the ladies that served last night...not pictured is Robin, who helped set up the sanctuary but left early because it was Erin's (gulp) 18th birthday. Marcy was also down with the flu.

Every time my judgemental nature welled up inside of me last night when I felt like someone was too demanding or came back for second and thirds on food, I remembered to whom Jesus specifically ministered. It was the outcasts, the downtrodden, the abused, and the misunderstood. Yes there are reasons that these people are homeless. They have substance abuse issues, they are ex-cons, they are mentally ill, or they have lost jobs, but it was an honor to have pruney hands for a night. It made me so thankful for what God has blessed our family with and to realize that in an instant, it could all be taken away.