UPS & DOWNS November 2001
WAYFARERS' HOUSE
WELCOME to new residents April, Dalton, and Feather; Terri, Hannah, Cayce and Darlene.
FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES to Stefanie, Dawn, Frances, Susan, Kennett, Tracy and Elizabeth, who have moved to their own housing, and to
Araina, Xandria and Xavion, who have moved to the Farm.
HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS to Erika Nafzinger, Meeting Ground secretary, and to Feather, Lori and Louisa.
CONGRATULATIONS to Araina on the birth of her daughter and to Xandria and Xavion on the arrival of their new baby sister, Alonna, with a November birthday.
Dr. Simonson's December schedule for seeing Meeting Ground patients:
Dec. 6 8:30 - noon
Dec. 18 1-4 p.m.
If you wish to see the doctor, put your name on the sign-up sheet the day before Dr. Simonson is scheduled to see Meeting Ground patients.
Our condolences to The Rev. Elizabeth Dick and to The rEv. Ron Serino on the recent death of Elizabeth's father.
Our thanks to the work group from the Presbyterian Church in Lewes, DE, on
November 10 and to the 60 students from Friends School in Wilmington, DE, who come to Meeting Ground for an Immersion Day experience on
November 27. On November 7 Meeting Ground workers met at the George Porter House, and on November 13 Meeting Ground Volunteers had their
quarterly meeting there. Welcome to Becky Munch, new day staff worker at Wayfarers' House! On November 17 the Arts Council held a special event for
high school juniors and seniors on the Community College campus in North East. If you are interested in learning more about their activities in Elkton, see
Mary Jo Williams.
Reminders:
Tues. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Nutrition Class (omitting Dec. 4)
Wed. 10:00 - 11 a.m. Parenting/communication
Thur., Nov 20, 10:00 a.m. Sketching Class
THANKSGIVING DINNER
Noon - 1 p.m., November 22
Elkton Methodist Church - East Main Street, Elkton, MD
Everyone welcome!
No charge, no reservation needed
Sponsored by Settlement House, Elkton Community Kitchen,
Meeting Ground, Elkton United Methodist Church
Raven's Rolling Readers, the program and the van, will be introduced at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. They have received sufficient donations of
used books for the present. Should anyone wish to give new books to the program at this season, please call Wayfarers' House, 410-398-4381.
Herbs of MG are being packaged for the holiday sales. Loaves and Fishes, Nov. - Dec. 2001 issue, contains an order blank and prices for all the varieties
available along with directions for ordering.
TO MY CHILDREN
Araina Burqette
This is the one true letter that you will read for the rest of your life,
Day after day and night after night.
This is the loving poem I write to you both with all my love and heart.
To my children with the love of gold
From the mountains of pure love not ever told.
Giving you the life you lead, by the grace of God and the love from me,
I fill your heads with peace and joy, a gift from up above
With the strength and way of God and the powerful love.
Feeling the hurt and pain you feel not only affects me,
But at times I wish the pain wasn't real.
But I do thank the Lord above that you are mine.
No one else knows that I do often think of the future we seek,
But given by time and patience and God's will to live in peace,
I strive to be the best mother I could be.
Through only God it is that task I do. The way will be open like the sea.
Ever so kind and ever so true
Will I live the life so peaceful and joyful with both of you.
To my loving children ever so gentle and sweet
With the angels of heaven watching you while you sleep.
More precious than air, you are the key
To the unopened doors we will come upon to see.
I shall give my vow that one day to see.
Both my babies are as bright and as wonderful,
And how precious they are to me.
Every day I look into their faces and see
the look of dreamers and the travels to a better place,
A place only angels go.
And protect those that don't even have a clue
or those that don't even know ... about God.
What follows are excerpts from a letter to members of the Meeting Ground Community from its founder, The Rev. Carl Mazza:
". . . I try to begin my day with a recollection of gratefulness for the work that we do together. Even though Meeting Ground is about to enter its 20th year of
service, I am still so thankful that our work continues each day, for yet another day. It is still impossible to take it for granted, and I know we must ask each
day for the necessary faith and strength to meet the challenges, problems, pitfalls, and enormous unseen difficulties that will arise. For me the visions of
Thanksgiving are these:
The children at Clairvaux Farm, walking together to the school bus stop in the morning . . .
A homeless older veteran, with a cane, slowly making his way into the dining hall at suppertime . . .
A middle-aged woman, homeless and mentally ill, singing as she works in the garden in the early morning light . . .
Homeless families, who never knew each other, laughing and joking with one another at Sunday dinner in the dining hall at Clairvaux Farm . . .
Homeless women, young and old, sitting together in a group at Wayfarers' House talking about their lives and futures - praying and laughing at the same time . . .
College students on spring break and homeless children playing "zoo" and jumping around like monkeys in our community building . . .
Beautiful and moving discussions and prayers which occur weekly in our Sunday chapel service . . .
Dedicated and committed volunteers meeting for lunch at George Porter House and discussing together the problems and rewards of their service . . .
A family coming at Christmas, in an ancient run-down car, to pick up clothing, Christmas food and presents for their children - driving away all excited . . .
Hundreds of friends, neighbors, and strangers from all walks of life who gather together for our Thanksgiving dinners . . .
". . . the privilege of keeping the dream, the hope, and the reality of our work and mission alive!"