Unexpected Guests
Jurin’s arrival to our Supportive Housing Program came quit unexpected.
While I was at Bible Study and social, I received a call on my cell phone.
Jurin was needing a place to stay at ten in the evening! He had just arrived in
town on the bus after being released from prison. The prison staff had given him
just an hours’ notice to pack all his belongings before leaving! It was the
first of the month and he had originally been told he was to be released on the
tenth. Jurin was ever so grateful to us to have a warm bed to sleep in that
night!
The day after he checked in we were able to help him with a variety of
services. We coached him to write his resume and gave him a haircut so he can be
job ready. He wrote some career, finances, spiritual, and health goals he wants
to accomplish while in the housing program. He signed up for and received free
groceries from another non profit agency in our office building. We also drove
him to our clothing pantry supported by our donors so he could get a winter coat
and casual clothes to wear.
Before he had even reported to the parole office, we had him sign up for the
college Pell grant and encouraged him to talk to a career guidance counselor.
(With the slow economy and jobs being very hard to come by for a person with a
record, we advise our residents to wait out the recession and to get some
education that will be of life time help to them.) We told him he was eligible
to get a food card at the job center and that he would go early to beat the
crowd. I suggested hi obtain some job applications so he could compete them
while going through the 3-4 hour process. He would need to remind the case
worker to get him a bus pass so he could look for work.
I reminded him of Good Shepherd’s weekly Bible Study at the apartments. I
gave him a Life Recovery Bible donated by a supporter after hearing of our
constant need for them. In it, I showed him the excellent side bars that
hightlight the AA 12 steps using the Scriptures.pture references. There are also
sections referring to Recovery character profiles, serenity prayer devotionals,
recovery reflections and a topical index.
As part of the Supportive Housing Program he would be required to weekly read
one of the side bars and write a reflection on it. (Men without chemical
addictions are required to read a chapter per week of the Purpose Driven Life
and write a one page summary and reflection of it.)
And before his left our office, we gave him lunch from the donated food we
have receieved from friends. Again Jurin showed such gratitude to receive such
kindness. Jurnin told me it renews his faith to know there are still kind people
who still care for others. In fact, the hygiene items of underwear, bus tokens
and a Kroger gift card he had received had all been provided by our caring
supporters from last Christmas. The Father already knew Jurin’s needs before he
would and sent his angels on earth to help Jurin on the road of a second chance
at hope and success All this in one day after just being relased from prison.
Great job Jurin!
So you can see from just one man, your in-kind and financial donations are
very much needed to empower men to live for the Lord. Now multiply that by the
expected 26 to come to us for this year!