HELPERS

It has been 6 years since Ed and I said good-bye to New England and began our journey west to Colorado to establish Soaring Wings Ministries.  We knew that we were called to serve the homeless in Northern Colorado  and we also knew that we would not be able to do it alone.  We would need help in order to succeed but we had no idea where this help would come from.   Not knowing anyone in Colorado we wondered who these helpers would be.  With each mile that we traveled further west into the unknown, we wondered "How in the world is all this going to work out"?  

As I look back now I wonder not "How in the world is it all going to work out?" but "How in the world could we have not have trusted God more"!  We have had  so many wonderful, hard working helpers over the past 6 years and just this summer alone we had 49 helpers serving here at Soaring Wings Ministries with a grand total of 716 volunteer hours!!!! The helpers ranged in ages from 14 years of age to 67 years of age.   So much was accomplished! The flooring in the addition is almost done as is the beautiful exterior siding.  A lot of weeds were pulled or weed whacked and a lot of new plants were planted along with one tree.  Five beautiful new outdoor benches were built along with a side table for each bench and all the benches and side tables were painted a bright apple red.  Old falling down boards were ripped off of outdoor sheds and fences and replaced with new sturdy boards.  Siding and windows were washed and a new coat of paint was put on outdoor steps, sheds and planters.   I wish that all of you reading this could come and see all the work that has been accomplished and how the work has improved the grounds of Soaring Wings Ministries and the addition to house a homeless family.   We would love to show you the work that has been done and how the helpers have truly made a difference!!! 

Some of our helpers were local volunteers and some of them traveled here from other parts of the country to serve for one week through Week of Hope.  With our Week of Hope helpers we would have them take a break from their work here at Soaring Wings Ministries and put together Blessing Bags for the homeless.  Each Blessing Bag contained socks, toiletry items, food, water, pen, paper and Bible or Bible tract.  Every Wednesday afternoon we would travel to downtown Fort Collins and give out the Blessing Bags to the homeless.  All total this summer the Week of Hope helpers gave out 90 Blessing Bags to the homeless.   Before we traveled to Fort Collins to give out the Blessing Bags, Ed and I would have a devotion time with the Week of Hope helpers.  We looked at verses in the Bible that address the poor, needy and what God commands us to do to help them.  There are a lot of verses that address this issue but one that always stands out to me is from Deuteronomy 5:42 which says "For there will never cease to be poor in the land.  Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land'."  That verse tells me several things. 1) Our work at Soaring Wings Ministries will never be done since there will never cease to be poor in the land.  2) It is not a choice to help the needy but a command and 3) We are to be generous in helping the poor.     The finish line is in sight as far as the completion of the addition, but there is no finish line when it comes to serving the homeless.  There is always work to be done.   The addition is not yet completed, even with the finish line in sight.  A workday is scheduled for Saturday, August 24th.  We'd love to have you become one of the helpers for Soaring Wings Ministries so join us on the 24th if you can.   Of course, lunch is always provided for our helpers.  

Someday I would like to calculate how many total numbers of volunteers we have had here at Soaring Wings Ministries over the years and the total number of volunteer hours.  I know the numbers would be well into the hundreds for volunteers and thousands for volunteer hours.  It isn't really about the numbers but about each one of the individual volunteers who has served.  Each one of the volunteers has been an answer to our prayers for help and each volunteer that served has been part of the process to make Soaring Wings Ministries a home for someone who does not have a home.  I truly believe that each volunteer has served here according to God's plan and that their service here did not happen by accident.  I am so very very thankful for each and every one.   As I think back on 6 years ago when we wondered who our helpers would be, I know now that 6 years ago God already knew.  

With much gratitude,
Anita Rennells
Soaring Wings Ministries
499 Trinity Lane
Wellington, Colorado 80549