Friday at the Women's Shelter

Edith -she is a strong believer who, along with her 26 year old daughter, is homeless, since her husband of 28 years left her earlier this year. Edith had a good job at a large Christian org. and her daughter works now but they had a bad record of paying their rent late (evicted?). They went to MN to visit family and left the daughter's 6 year old son with relatives for now. When Edith's husband left, she and her daughter "went loonie for a few weeks" and that's how they wound up homeless. They've gone loonie a couple other times, too, she said. She knew scripture well and her faith was evident. I prayed for them to be comforted and clear-minded, good stewards and that God would meet their needs, including getting them into a home. I also prayed they'd be delivered from looniness and mental illness, to which Edith had a great Amen. We hugged.

Dena-I've known Dena for a long time, perhaps 1.5 years. She is very responsible, works every time they have a job for her as a caregiver and always pays her bills. That's how she became homeless. She was paying off Dr and Dental bills and didn't have enough left to make the rent. I have talked to her about better options several times. Initially, she was insistent that she pay her bills and not tell them about her situation, but now she has softened on that. She had more dental work done a few months ago and this time, she told them she is homeless and they are "working with her." The very sad problem about her situation is that she makes too much money (she made $17000 last year, which she whispered to me, embarrassed because the other women were not so fortunate) to qualify for section 8 housing or DSHS assistance with medical and dental bills. I asked her what her dream was a few months ago and she told me, through tears and during a depression, that she just wants to live alone and not have to listen to or deal with other people around the clock. She craves peace and quiet. There is none at the shelters and in this lifestyle. Today, she is feeling a lot of anger because of how unfair it all is. She is clean, has never done drugs, she's not mentally ill and she works but she cannot seem to get out of this situation. I've prayed for her many times before but last night she told me it made her uncomfortable, so I just told her what I'd pray about, including that God would free her from this anger. We talked about taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. In your anger do not sin. He will meet her needs. He loves her more than she can imagine and He will take care of her.

Roxanne-is very sweet and smiley. Her husband is up in AK working with fish and she has two sons, one (26) whom lives in Ballard. She doesn't like staying with him because his place is such a mess and she likes a clean house. She says she has money in the bank and her goal is to have a place to live set up in time for when her husb. returns in a few weeks. She loves the Lord and attends church services daily. She is 48 years young and on SSI because of a bone disease and arthritis. I prayed for complete healing from these diseases and for success with getting into a home.

Althea-a very smiley and loving young woman. She told me her whole body ached. We prayed for a complete healing from pain and for a home and a job.

Sylvia-Her feet were sticking out as she sat on her bed and I asked if I could give her a foot rub. She got a little testy about that..."why would you want to do that?" I just casually moved to the next subject (no reason, it was there, I'm here...phew). She told me she was praying along with us when I prayed for Althea. God gave me some insight about Sylvia which I shared and her face lit up. I asked her how I could pray for her and she said she wanted to quit drugs. She knows and loves the Lord. I prayed hard for a complete deliverance for her and that her testimony would be that on October 10, 2008 she was freed from the bondage of addiction. Praise be to God. I told her I would hear her speak some time. She told me she has been a speaker before. I believe it. I reminded her that when temptation comes, and it will, that she must remember to call out to Jesus and He will give her strength to resist. Praise be to God. All His glory is to shine through Sylvia. Praise God.