Norm's Notes 10-20-17 - Fairview Missionary Church

Norm’s Notes October 20, 2017

More People Stories

Some of the people God brought across my path this week – just Monday and Tuesday.

1. Domestic violence victim who got off I-69 and called the church. She had already called all the area domestic violence places from Fort Wayne north and into Michigan. She insisted on keeping her very oversized dog (loving as he was) with her and therefore no shelter, homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter, would take her in. She made it to the church and all I could do was give her some Wal-Mart cards for food and a tank of gas to get her to her next stop up the road, wherever that may be.

2. Young couple who worked at church for gas money to get to the doctor in Fort Wayne. We pay $7 an hour and the two of them worked for an hour for a $15 card. They cleaned all the big gray trash cans at church.

3. A lady had called the church four times over the weekend starting late Friday. She called a fifth time Monday morning; she was desperate. I was not able to take the phone call. She lives in one of the pay by the week hotels. The manager called me at 1:30 Monday afternoon telling me this one is in need of help. I honestly like it when the manager calls me, then I know it is a real need. The story is a mom and dad and four kids in two hotel rooms – their two kids plus the dad’s sister’s two kids. He just got laid off at temp services and is trying to get back in as direct hire at the factory. His sister took the food stamps meant to help feed her kids and the kids were going hungry. Long story here but this one touched me. I will need grace and mercy to the uttermost if I ever find this mother who abandoned her kids.

4. The person working at church from our area transition house. They know they will not pass the drug test to get a job and if they fail the test it is six months before they get another chance to take it. They are working to pay their rent at the transition house. Very good worker who can see dirt. The big kitchen has not looked this good in a long time. The whole church will sparkle by Sunday.

5. A lady who needed gas money to get back and forth to work. She lives in Orland and works in Angola. Very appreciative!!

6. The young man from central Michigan. He’s worked on a farm for five years. He just showed up at church. He got to us from the Pilot truck stop – not sure how. Says he is Jewish with a Catholic background. I gave him a Revive Bible and a bus ticket to Huntsville, Alabama. There is a seminary there he needed to get to. A couple from FMC took him to the bus station in Ft. Wayne. It cost FMC $163 to get the sanctuary swept with this. I learned you can buy a bus ticket online with any name you want and you do not need any proper photo ID to get on a bus. This young man had no ID of any kind except a wrist band from his stay in a Michigan hospital last week.