Flexibility, hospitality, generosity, and letting go of expectations were the spiritual practices at work last week (Sept. 6-13) as we had the joy of welcoming five families experiencing homelessness into a safe place to stay at our church. Hundreds of volunteers sprang into action to turn classrooms into bedrooms, to prepare and host meals, provide evening activities, fund our supplies, and spend the night with our guests. Infants, children, and teenagers – along with their parents – made our social hall and classrooms their home. We hosted a birthday party, made arts and crafts, and had a Labor Day picnic and barbecue. After our guests left on Sunday, we found this note:

We were truly blessed by this experience, and we can’t wait to do it again. Keep an eye out for information on our next Families Moving Forward hosting week and how you and your family can get involved.