We had something like a Matthew 17, mountain top and valley experience here last week. I hope my inadequate words can tell you in such a way that you understand.
Tuesday and Wednesday we had a group of young people from University of St. Thomas. They were a part of 'club,group' ministry' called SHINE, taken from Matthew 5:16. They took their Spring Break to serve others, not party and indulge the flesh. They chose to serve in an Urban Ministry here in Denver and we were one of the fortunate ones. They didn't come to be served, they came to serve. They came to serve, not build us up, however, they encouraged us and strengthened us. Their love of the Lord, servant attitude, joy, enthusiasm, and desire to do whatever we asked, made an impression on us. I had one chop 2 bags onions, and he did it willingly! Maggie fixed a large pan of enchiladas for lunch and they were eaten in half an hour. Paige, Christina, Zack, Joe, Joel, Katie, Sarah. Who did I miss? Sorry ya'll, you made an impression on us and I remember you but name calling is just short of my ability.
Thursday morning, Doyle and I, said that we were sorry that they weren't going to be there anymore. Little did we know that the Lord used them to build us up for something that was going to happen.
It started Thursday with a young woman with a spirit of sexual perversion, a strong spiritual presence. Friday we had one guy trying to start a fight with a mentally challenged young man. Another was trying to control those around him. Other similar goings on so that Doyle made the decision to close early on Friday, 1:30, and not open on Saturday. Satan sent his messengers to create strife and havoc here, but he cannot. We have taken authority over him and will not cave into his attacks. Thank you for all who sent encouraging words.
The Lord is doing a mighty work here and there is more coming! Of course, satan doesn't like it and will fight us tooth and nail. WE HAVE VICTORY IN JESUS!! We truly appreciate all that are standing with us in prayer, financial support and when you can, presence support. It does help to know that you are praying for us.
Ya'll come see us when you can.
Troy
For those who didn't get the word, I was hit with Bell's Palsey Monday. No medication, and no real understanding of how it happens. It is not serious, doctor said it was a mild case and should be gone in 2 to 4 weeks. It sure is annoying. Kind of like when the dentist puts deadner in your gums and later you try to drink or eat and it runs out one side of your mouth. Just the left half. Like my sister Cheryl said, Keep your chin up.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
TINA'S STORY and friends from back home
I just fixed 5lbs of pinto beans and some cornbread. Doesn't get much better than that!!
This past week has been interesting and encouraging. I'll get to all that but I want to tell Tina's story first. Remember, these stories are written by each person of their personal experiences. I do not edit them at all.
Christina (Tina) Akins
My life on the streets started when I was 12 years old. I ran away from home and came to downtown Denver. Through the years I ended up being raped by 4 men. But at home there were narcotics and a lot of alcohol, mixed with fighting people. So I found my escape. Through the years I got into a lot of trouble, got into drugs and drinking. While sleeping in train cars, parks, even the Light Rail when I didn't get caught. The whole time not knowing what I was looking for.
At 15 I had a child, while still on the streets. Then at 17 I had another one. The state (Department of Human Services) caught up with me. The whole time Doyle Robinson, Executive Director of Sox Place, knew my kids. I leaned on him a lot. I finally had someone in my life to say, "Hey, you're messing up. What's the problem?" That's when I learned what I had been in search of: a dad! Someone who cared unconditionally, a place to go when I was warm, cold, hungry, angry, happy or if I just had good news and no one to tell! I finally had a caring Dad and almost a brother with Josh Robinson (Assistant Director of Sox Place).
Now I have all of my kids, a roof over my head, love and everything I need and even through the death of my fourth child, I even still have my "light at the end of the tunnel" along with warm open arms with Doyle and Sox Place!"
This past week we had a college group in from Schreiner College in Kerrville, Texas. Helped with cleaning, cooking (dozens of pancakes), moving boxes, etc. While they were here another group came in unannounced. They were from a church in Kansas with their youth group and pastor Mike Gooder. In the course of the conversation with the pastor's wife, Cassie, I found that they were from Arkansas, when I said I came from Bentonville, they said they did also! In fact, they were at New Life Christian Center in Centerton, AR, the same time Jeanne and I were. I didn't recognize them but he said that when he came in he was sure he knew me from somewhere. Good time with them.
Last Monday I was able to spend several hours with Hal and Shauna Douglas and their two lovely daughters, Ali and Grace. We know each other from New Life Christian Center. They had come to Colorado for a vacation and took some of their time to come visit me. It was a refreshing and encouraging time for me. Thank ya'll so much!
I visited the Museum of Natural History and Science with my daughter Chelley this past week also. Very interesting, and took over 5 hours and didn't see everything. There was one display of gold nuggets in a vault. All kinds of shapes and sizes of nuggets, but the amazing thing was the nugget that weight over 7pounds. Not a picture of it but the nugget itself. Glad now I kept my sluice and gold panning equipment.
Spring is in the air and my fancy is turning to fishing.
Continue to pray for the ministry here at Sox Place. We have lost one staff member and another is moving to Tulsa the end of this month. Being short-handed we left will be filling in for the others and will be very busy. We do appreciate your prayers for our safety and well-being.
Love ya'll
Troy
Think on this: People see what you do, God sees why you do it. From Tracy Schauwecker.
This past week has been interesting and encouraging. I'll get to all that but I want to tell Tina's story first. Remember, these stories are written by each person of their personal experiences. I do not edit them at all.
Christina (Tina) Akins
My life on the streets started when I was 12 years old. I ran away from home and came to downtown Denver. Through the years I ended up being raped by 4 men. But at home there were narcotics and a lot of alcohol, mixed with fighting people. So I found my escape. Through the years I got into a lot of trouble, got into drugs and drinking. While sleeping in train cars, parks, even the Light Rail when I didn't get caught. The whole time not knowing what I was looking for.
At 15 I had a child, while still on the streets. Then at 17 I had another one. The state (Department of Human Services) caught up with me. The whole time Doyle Robinson, Executive Director of Sox Place, knew my kids. I leaned on him a lot. I finally had someone in my life to say, "Hey, you're messing up. What's the problem?" That's when I learned what I had been in search of: a dad! Someone who cared unconditionally, a place to go when I was warm, cold, hungry, angry, happy or if I just had good news and no one to tell! I finally had a caring Dad and almost a brother with Josh Robinson (Assistant Director of Sox Place).
Now I have all of my kids, a roof over my head, love and everything I need and even through the death of my fourth child, I even still have my "light at the end of the tunnel" along with warm open arms with Doyle and Sox Place!"
This past week we had a college group in from Schreiner College in Kerrville, Texas. Helped with cleaning, cooking (dozens of pancakes), moving boxes, etc. While they were here another group came in unannounced. They were from a church in Kansas with their youth group and pastor Mike Gooder. In the course of the conversation with the pastor's wife, Cassie, I found that they were from Arkansas, when I said I came from Bentonville, they said they did also! In fact, they were at New Life Christian Center in Centerton, AR, the same time Jeanne and I were. I didn't recognize them but he said that when he came in he was sure he knew me from somewhere. Good time with them.
Last Monday I was able to spend several hours with Hal and Shauna Douglas and their two lovely daughters, Ali and Grace. We know each other from New Life Christian Center. They had come to Colorado for a vacation and took some of their time to come visit me. It was a refreshing and encouraging time for me. Thank ya'll so much!
I visited the Museum of Natural History and Science with my daughter Chelley this past week also. Very interesting, and took over 5 hours and didn't see everything. There was one display of gold nuggets in a vault. All kinds of shapes and sizes of nuggets, but the amazing thing was the nugget that weight over 7pounds. Not a picture of it but the nugget itself. Glad now I kept my sluice and gold panning equipment.
Spring is in the air and my fancy is turning to fishing.
Continue to pray for the ministry here at Sox Place. We have lost one staff member and another is moving to Tulsa the end of this month. Being short-handed we left will be filling in for the others and will be very busy. We do appreciate your prayers for our safety and well-being.
Love ya'll
Troy
Think on this: People see what you do, God sees why you do it. From Tracy Schauwecker.
Monday, March 14, 2011
BLACK'S STORY and others
Before I tell you Black's story, I want to share a few short stories that came to my attention this week.
On Tuesday, Jacob, one of our staff members had to take his 3 yr old son Caleb to the doctor to have two abscesses drained. It was painful for little Caleb. Jacob texted Doyle this: "As Calebs father I sat and held his hand and tried to comfort him. The kids downtown don't have that like yours and Caleb has. No comfort, no father, no hand to hold." No father to comfort or hold their hands and tell them it's ok.
This past week a 15 year old girl was telling Doyle about her past. Her mother is a heroin addict, her father is a meth addict, and when she was 9, she held her older brother in her arms as he died from gunshots. No father to hold her hand, to comfort her, to tell her she was loved and cared for. I thought, and how can I or anyone else expect her to act like a "normal" 15 year old?
I found out about another young man who, when he turned 16, was given a present by his parents - they taught him how to shoot up heroin the right way.
One of our regulars came in Friday with a Kevlar vest on! He said he had been shot at.
Now for Black's story. Black or Davon Gray, is a big African American man that I have become friends with, and his street name is Black. Here is his story in his own words.
"My life at home was pretty different from most people. My father was an alcoholic and addicted to crack cocaine; my mother was prone to physical abuse and believing any negative thought about me. So at the age of fifteenn I became homeless.
Being a homeless teen was simple, you had no one but the police to tell you what to do and you only had to listen to them if you wanted to or they caught you. However, I found it hard to eat and buy things. Being a 6ft black guy makes it hard for people to want to just give you money. Yet it is real easy to get drugs like weed, heroin, cocaine, meth, mushrooms, and even acid. Oh, and alcohol is practically on tap! I lived the life of a slut, partying and robbing people.
I lived this life for about 6 years before it got boring. However I did not realize it was my lifestyle that needed to change. Doyle Robinson and the staff at Sox Place helped me figure that out. I spent the next 4 years of my life trying to change my ways. With Sox Place and their love, like a light guiding me more than I think they even knew. They helped me with getting housing, learning better people skills, even finding work when I needed it. Without Sox Place I have no idea where I would be today.
My name is Davon Gray and now thanks to Sox Place I have a goal in my life, I know how to live and I feel loved!"
On the upside, this last week we had a group from Harvest Time church in Ft. Smith, AR, come in to serve us for two days. A delightful group of young people they were too. Going through the Master's Commission and learning how to serve. They can come back anytime.
And just had a great family from my church in Centerton, AR, New Life Christian Church, stop and visit for 4 hours. Hal and Shauna Douglas and their two daughters and their daughters can't wait to get back again and help us here at the center. Talk about making me feel loved, they did! Thanks Hal and Shauna for the prayers over me and Sox Place.
The rest of ya'll come visit when you can.
Troy
On Tuesday, Jacob, one of our staff members had to take his 3 yr old son Caleb to the doctor to have two abscesses drained. It was painful for little Caleb. Jacob texted Doyle this: "As Calebs father I sat and held his hand and tried to comfort him. The kids downtown don't have that like yours and Caleb has. No comfort, no father, no hand to hold." No father to comfort or hold their hands and tell them it's ok.
This past week a 15 year old girl was telling Doyle about her past. Her mother is a heroin addict, her father is a meth addict, and when she was 9, she held her older brother in her arms as he died from gunshots. No father to hold her hand, to comfort her, to tell her she was loved and cared for. I thought, and how can I or anyone else expect her to act like a "normal" 15 year old?
I found out about another young man who, when he turned 16, was given a present by his parents - they taught him how to shoot up heroin the right way.
One of our regulars came in Friday with a Kevlar vest on! He said he had been shot at.
Now for Black's story. Black or Davon Gray, is a big African American man that I have become friends with, and his street name is Black. Here is his story in his own words.
"My life at home was pretty different from most people. My father was an alcoholic and addicted to crack cocaine; my mother was prone to physical abuse and believing any negative thought about me. So at the age of fifteenn I became homeless.
Being a homeless teen was simple, you had no one but the police to tell you what to do and you only had to listen to them if you wanted to or they caught you. However, I found it hard to eat and buy things. Being a 6ft black guy makes it hard for people to want to just give you money. Yet it is real easy to get drugs like weed, heroin, cocaine, meth, mushrooms, and even acid. Oh, and alcohol is practically on tap! I lived the life of a slut, partying and robbing people.
I lived this life for about 6 years before it got boring. However I did not realize it was my lifestyle that needed to change. Doyle Robinson and the staff at Sox Place helped me figure that out. I spent the next 4 years of my life trying to change my ways. With Sox Place and their love, like a light guiding me more than I think they even knew. They helped me with getting housing, learning better people skills, even finding work when I needed it. Without Sox Place I have no idea where I would be today.
My name is Davon Gray and now thanks to Sox Place I have a goal in my life, I know how to live and I feel loved!"
On the upside, this last week we had a group from Harvest Time church in Ft. Smith, AR, come in to serve us for two days. A delightful group of young people they were too. Going through the Master's Commission and learning how to serve. They can come back anytime.
And just had a great family from my church in Centerton, AR, New Life Christian Church, stop and visit for 4 hours. Hal and Shauna Douglas and their two daughters and their daughters can't wait to get back again and help us here at the center. Talk about making me feel loved, they did! Thanks Hal and Shauna for the prayers over me and Sox Place.
The rest of ya'll come visit when you can.
Troy
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