Needed Items

Breakthrough has a "want list" posted on their website for both their men's and women's facilities. Some of these items are always in high demand. Among them:

• deodorant
• bar soap
• towels
• socks (for men)
• underwear (for men)
• travel size personal hygiene products
• toothbrushes
• toothpaste

We're working on possibly having a Shower or Drive of sorts to collect some of these items. If you already have some of the above listed items, remember to bring them with you the next time you volunteer at Breakthrough. You can also drop them off with Don and I to take with us the next time we go.

Otherwise, if it's in your budget, try to remember to pick some things up when you stop by the store. Great deals on deodorant and bar soap can be easy to find if you're looking for it. :)

More love... more power

Our first time having dinner with the women at the Joshua Center was good. The guests seemed to like the soup and bread bowls - and especially the cupcakes. (But who doesn't love Rachel's cupcakes?) There were eight of us volunteering - all women. Correction: all really great women! ;)

But this was a very different experience from serving at the men's facility. Not better. Not worse. But different. Not the same energy. And not as much energy.

This is the information that Breakthrough's website offers regarding the services they offer for women:

Breakthrough’s Women’s Services Program provides support for women in crisis. Programming focuses on both emergency and long-term needs and is designed to help women break the cycle of homelessness, abandonment, addictions, domestic violence and abuse.

The struggles that homeless women face are somewhat different than the struggles of their male counterparts. Most of that is based on their gender and the violence they can be and are subject to based only on their stereotypical gender weaknesses. Because of these struggles and experiences most - if not all - of these women have been deeply emotionally hurt as well. (For stats and more information check out http://new.vawnet.org/category/Main_Doc.php?docid=558)

Similar to serving our brothers at Breakthrough, our challenge as ambassadors of restoration and reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:11-21) involves making ourselves available emotionally to these women and obliterating in our minds any differences that may be between us. To reach out to these women with consistent caring and an honest attempt to restore wholeness. Perhaps eventually.

Understanding the extreme hurt and loss these women have experienced, there are many ways that we can make this honest attempt to restore wholeness. Our own dear Hannah suggests:

"I think it would be healing to see some men who interact in a loving way with women, whether married to them, dating them or just single guys interacting with their sisters. And us women, in turn, showing healthy interaction with men."

My prayer for these women is that they can find healing for the traumas they have been through and my prayer for our volunteers is that we can meet the needs of the women at Breakthrough in small and big ways.

2 Corinthians 5:18 (Amplified Bible)
"But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].

It's seriously the best green bean casserole...

Well, at least from what we heard. It was all gone before we had a chance to even taste the finished product! I'm happy to announce that the green bean casserole will become a regular side item on the 2nd Thursday meal rotation. :)

The six of us that trekked it out also served fish, pork chops, rustic potato salad, rolls and iced brownies. Like always, the food was a huge hit! After making the late plates, the only thing leftover was some potato salad and the very satisfied guests at Breakthrough.

Rainy Tours are still good... ;)

6 of us sludged it out to Breakthrough for the always-encouraging and amazing tour. There is so much vision and obedience in the leadership at Breakthrough that you can't help but to feel inspired.

We started at the women's facility at 3330 W Carrol that also houses the preschool the children's tutoring and coaching activities. Breakthrough has a great model for developing a network of people and opportunities for the otherwise under-resourced kids growing up in the community of Garfield Park. And we were able to catch a glimpse of the contagious and aggressive vision for growth in their community development in the next three years.

From that point we rode in the Street Outreach RV that's used to reach people, particularly women, where they're at. Keith and Bill were our tour guides and explained how two teams will go out every Friday night between 10pm and 3am. One team stays with the RV to provide hospitality and food to whoever enters. The other team actively goes out and seeks to meet people where they are. Though the ministry at one time was called Bridge of Hope and specifically targeted women caught up in prostitution, it has since broadened it's scope to include anyone that needs to experience the love of Christ through common decency and hospitality.

Next we arrived at the men's facility which also houses the job/skills training and mental/medical health facilities (the women have their own medical treatment room in the women's facility). After touring the men's facility, we were privileged to hear even more of the vision that Breakthrough leadership has for the future of their outreach to really reach out to the entire Garfield Park community.

If you'd like to get involved or check out a future tour, you'll be in for a real treat. Just let us know.

New Volunteer Night!

Willow Chicago has a new opportunity for serving dinner with Breakthrough Urban Ministries! On the third Monday of each month, Rebecca and Rachel will be heading up the kitchen efforts for the evening meal at the women's facility. :)

Our new night starts on Monday, September 15th and we're super excited to get started.

Please give Rebecca and Rachel encouragement as they get started in their new roles as the head cooks for our new additional volunteer night. Thanks everyone!

Blessings to you!
Amanda (&Don)