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Tiny Steps Into A New Day

By Robin Walters

 

 

 

 

Paul Ohlson, Founder Of Care-A-Van Ministry and Elder Ron discuss challenges of the day at one of our trips out.

 

 

What a glorious day God provided for Care-A-Van today! The sun was shining brightly as we headed out.  There was a bustle of activity outside the bus. As I was walking back up from one apartment, a mom was walking back down the still icy driveway. I helped her back to her home. Her son was going to come back up and get the groceries.

 

As we entered the home, I gathered up her precious daughter into my arms. Jalisa (mother’s permission given to use her name) smiled brightly up at me. She was so precious! Her son was busy getting on his boots to come back to the bus with me.

I asked if Jalisa could walk yet. She said she takes tiny steps. I set her down on the floor and took her hands. The sight below me was stunning. Her tiny little bare pudgy feet began to take tiny little steps across the floor. As each step was taken she would topple from one side to the other. It then dawned on me! This is how it is when we begin our walk with Jesus. We start our walk and belief with small tiny steps. With not quite sure what is happening in our hearts and souls, we topple from side to side. However, just as I was there to hold Jalisa’s hands, Jesus is there holding us up. He never lets go of us. He is our comforter and provider.

 

Provision and comfort was in great need today at the apartment complex. As the economic tide is turning, there are more and more needs in the community. We prayed with families for God to provide employment. A young mom needed a mattress for a bed for her young child. We called RAP and got a listing of where places that the mom might find this need met. We prayed with a young mom who had just moved out on her own with her young son to start a new life for the two of them.

 

Comfort and hope was given to a young couple who were struggling with so many challenges and issues in their life. The ministry team shared of God’s love with this beautiful young couple. We shared of the hope and life there is with having Jesus in your heart and life. Paul offered prayer and support to the young man as Sue and I prayed and comforted with the young woman. We encouraged them to find a church. God showed them hope with that allowing Christ in their hearts and taking those tiny steps one at a time that there is peace for them in their future life together.

 

We are thankful for all of you that continue to partner with us. We are thankful for the steps that are being taken by all of us to walk one step at a time with each other to bring hope to the city of Batavia.  We saw so many issues that were discussed at the Interagency meeting this past week. I felt so much hope within knowing now who the contacts are for the needs of these people. I am thankful for the time that Vicki from Domestic Violence has taken with us. We are thankful for the offer of training from this organization. We are thankful for RAP. We are thankful to all you churches who are waiting with open arms to receive these hurting souls. We are just thankful that with Jesus as our pilot, we can all walk one tiny step together to truly make a difference!

 

As the sun comes up each new day, may we all step into the day with the reminder of the peace and hope that comes from our Lord! Praises to our Lord for another blessed day on the streets!

 

God Bless

Robin Walters

Care-A-Van Ministries

 

Jim Rosenbeck

Paul is my neighbor. I don't really know him other than to wave as I drive by his home. Still, I have the utmost respect for the street ministry that he runs. Paul brings the message of Christ to the people who are most disenfranchised in our community. So many of us "Christians" (myself included) often sit in smug judgement about our neighbors. We attend church on Sunday with people from the same socio-economic and cultural backgrounds as we have. How comfortable that is for us. We don't have to deal with those people less fortunate than us. Not Paul, he takes the message of Christ's love to the people in the streets. People who often don't share our same values or culture. He understands the message of Christ (love each other). He is a great role model for the rest of us. I am humbled by his efforts.

Feb 22, 2009, 8:55am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I agree Jim.
I know they posted this article not to get things but to let everyone know that there are people that can help you. Sometimes the religion, embarrasment, or even political issues of going somewhere for "a helping hand" get in the way of people accepting help.
I have been in desperate need before and Paul, his wife, the VAN and even the rocking church helped me in so many ways. In these dark economic times I cherish to know that they are there for me right down the street. To have them networking with other agencies in our community is truley worthy of some exposure. Thank God for people like them.

Feb 22, 2009, 2:02pm Permalink
Robin Walters

Hi Jim, Gabor and Charlie,

I am a volunteer with Care-A-Van Ministries and God has given me a special gift of writing. I will be sharing time to time the activities of Care-Van. I love being where God led me .. to the streets of Batavia. I am new to town and when I started volunteering with this wonderful organization, I have never looked back.

You are so right. We take Christ to the streets. We are blessed by being God's vessels to the lost souls. As the times get worse for all, we all need to pull together and love one another. We all need to help support each other in any way we can. I write and share these stories for awareness and as a way of thanking those that support the ministry in whatever way that may be, by prayer, financially or any other way.

Jim, I had just heard a sermon about learning to live as
"dangerous Christians". The Pastor challenged the folks to think of the "hell holes" of the city and it is not so much even about that.. we are all "street" people, we alive on a street. Any given day any one of us may need hhelp from any agency here in town.

Gaboro you are so right that many things get in the way of folks asking for help. I think the biggest difference for the true Christians who really know God, is that we do not judge anyone. God is the true judge of all.

Care-A-Van Ministry is a 24/7 ministry. Paul and Bridget gave given their whole lives and beings to serve God and the city of Batavia. From day one of meeting them on a pouring down rain storm on State street, my first day of vvolunteering, they have loved me just as one of their own family members.

As we go foreward in 2009 our vision and hope is to partner with more agencies and churches. As I continue to learn about the Care-A-Van Ministry, I am amazed at how God provides. Yes we need financial support as all churches and organizations do. But Paul knows God will provide that.

I was most recently thinking , just think if God touched some billionaire's heart and they poured financial blessings into a ministry such as Care-A-Van, can you just imagine the God work that could be done in this city? God continues to provide for the minsistry through donations from indidivuals and churches.

Thanks for your wonderful commnents! I typically write aout twice a week, I will be sure to include them here on a regular basis just to keep all informed of the wonderful things God is doing.. it is not us, not Care-A-Van that is doing these things, but God, we just represent him and bring him to the hurting.

Have a great week!

Robin

Feb 23, 2009, 12:46am Permalink
Douglas Poole

If we lived in a perfect world we would not need the
Care-A-Van. We Christians now where the perfect world
exists.I pray to go there eventually (I'm not in a real hurry to get there!). Until then we have to help each other. No matter what labels we wear.

And I am sure we are coming into a period where I need to help one another will dramatically increase. Keep up the good work Paul and crew!

Feb 23, 2009, 7:02pm Permalink

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