Washing Dishes

I found out where the Roanoke Mission is yesterday. I've been meaning to get over there for a while now to learn about their volunteer opportunities. But I didn't go in. I pulled up to the curb, my passenger got out, thanked me and in she went.

In an hour and a half we would be under a Wind Chill Warning. The wind right now will take your breath away and it did as I was trying to ask a lady on the street if she was keeping warm (stupid question, I just wanted her to say yes to make me feel less guilty). She wanted directions to a local home that houses homeless people. She handed me her printed directions and I did a crappy job of giving her what little knowledge I have of Roanoke city while Ike was about to break the leash bursting to pee.

Then as I let Ike relieve himself I watched her walk in the wrong direction. Half of me thought, oh you did what you could Meg. It's freaking cold out here and you've got laundry to do. Plus Drew took your car to work today. Never-ending excuses. But something bigger weighed on me.

I ran Ike back upstairs hunted for Drew's keys and headed to the parking garage. I drove around crying frantically, afraid I wouldn't find her. Despite my horrible directions, when I found her she was a block away from where she wanted to go.

I flagged her down and drover her the rest of the way. I went in with her to make sure there was room only to find they don't take "emergency cases." My new friend informed me the Mission wouldn't let people in for another couple of hours.

I offered to take her to lunch, to coffee, to drive her around. But she assured me she'd be fine in the cold until she could return to the Mission. Then I just said it I could hear voices of several sensible family members in my head warning me not to but I said "Why don't you come home with me until time for you to go back to the mission?"

She stepped over the piles of laundry I had separated in the hallway and sat on the couch. She accepted coffee and I heated up leftover pizza. She wanted to know if she could help me with the dishes before I drover her back to the mission. We watched "The Talk" and talked a bit. She ate one piece of candy and said I could drive her back.

I prayed a lot, despite the fact that before me was a harmless old lady who called me ma'am constantly. I had to believe Jesus placed her in my path for a reason. I had nothing to be afraid of.


Unlike others I have met since moving here, she seemed quite capable of independence. She is seeking a mentor. She wants to find an apartment. And our little visit today did little in the way of helping her long term. I need to become more informed about people's options and how they can get help. I need to know where to send people when they express a need because today I was of little help to her. Prayers appreciated as I figure things out here.

Freely you have received, freely give

"I don't even know the last time I had a waffle." It was like a knife straight through my heart. The heart of a woman who fixes waffles for her little family (including her pooch) every Saturday morning.

When I asked one of them what they usually ate for breakfast he said "nothin'." I want to find them wherever they are this morning and fix them more warm waffles because that's all I know to do.

I don't know how to find them a job, to set them back up on their feet again so they can have a place to call their own. I don't have the ability to un-do whatever has happened to put them in this vulnerable situation.

They gave us marriage advice, told big tales, played cards, smoked, drank countless pots of coffee, and complained about the snorers in the group. Now a week later, after only one evening/night spent with them I wake up wondering if they're warm this morning. If someone maybe made them even a warm pop-tart. I wake up wishing for spring, because their lives will be simpler then. At least I hope so.

They impressed their faces upon my heart and I think of them often. But they've probably forgotten me. The lady whose husband hadn't bought her a Valentine's present which they all scolded him for. The lady who none of them could believe would stay all night with them. The lady who fixed them waffles. Maybe they don't remember me but hopefully they remember the waffles. Jesus was in those waffles. And I hope he stays with them, keeping them warm in this bitter cold today.