The Newspaper of Wayfarer's House
March, 1998 Issue  /  Esther Smith, Editor

Welcome to new residents Tina and Carrie; Gayle; and Dawn. Farewell and good wishes to Shirley at her new job and to Laura.

Happy Birthday on March 30 to Pat Lyle.

Have you noticed freshly painted walls and woodwork in the living room of Wayfarers' House? Thanks are due to the work group from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY.

A date to put on your calendar: Sunday, June 7, is the annual meeting of Meeting Ground at Clairvaux Farm and will be preceded by open houses at Wayfarers' and the Farm. More news will follow in our next issue.

Congratulations to Denise and Maggie on their new jobs. Both women are at work, D. at Union Hospital and M. at the Marina in North East, MD. This month we interviewed Denise about her job. She started with four weeks of classes followed by a month of volunteer work at the hospital, where, D. says, she arrived on time every day and did everything they asked of her. On a Thursday she applied for employment there, and by March 5 she started work as a dietary aide in the food service department. "I wanted to work in food service," she said. Her work there includes hours in that department as well as in housekeeping at the hospital. "I like my work," says D. "When I was in the Job Corps in Old Dominion, VA, Back in 1983-4, I was in a culinary arts program. That was before my daughter was born." From 1987-1994 D. worked as both a baker and cashier for Mrs. Field's Cookies in North East, MD. (Her work history also includes two months on the assembly belt of Knob's Cakes.)

A Job Fair/Career Education program is being offered at Cecil Community College on April 8 from 3 to 7 p.m.

Congratulations to Debbie, who got her car on the road, to Tina, who started work at Elkton Diner and to Kristin for passing the first part of her computer course with flying colors and who is anticipating the next level. Computer instruction is also going on at Wayfarers' and the Farm thanks to volunteer Clarke Hair.

Volunteer Joan Morgan is responsible for the acquisition of the used computers.

Homeless Doesn't have to Mean Hopeless
by Kim
|On Sept. 16, 1997, a major event occurred in my life. After a two-year struggle to get out of a very undesirable situation, I found myself in it again. I was homeless. Then a blessing came into my life, a place named Wayfarers' House. On my arrival I was a beaten, broken woman. My dignity was, for all practical purposes, non-existent. I had endured some real tests of faith, and physically I was a wreck, just being released from the hospital with double pneumonia. I needed security, patience and kindness, and I found it at Wayfarers'.

Due to events in my life, my emotions were wreaking havoc with me. My nerves were shot, and I was showing it physically. I couldn't speak without stuttering and my voice raising and dropping. Every volunteer, residents, and the director would listen patiently as I tried to speak. Everyone was so kind to me. I joined in as soon as I could with housekeeping chores and working, as we're supposed to do, to show my appreciation. I had this horrible self-opinion, and I was being treated like a human being!

My gratitude continued to increase as people helped me in areas of my life that needed to get straightened out. It was seen to that I got to appointments I had to keep, like social services, mental health, and drug and alcohol classes. Because I had a safe, clean, stable environment I was able to fully devote myself to my commitments. I was making friends! Many different situations cause people to need the help of a shelter, and sharing this common bond we all respected one another. One lady in particular has been another blessing. While I'm here and trying to improve my life as a responsible person, she has been an enormous help, down to making me realize how casually swearing becomes a part of one's manner, and the need to stop it. Again, feeling more like a human being! A third blessing has been the donations we receive. I didn't have much in the way of a wardrobe, but thanks to the generosity of so many people I can now leave this house looking respectful. I can feel confident about applying for jobs! A fourth blessing (these aren't necessarily in order) is again, donations; this time food. If a person isn't eating healthy, it's hard to function properly. I don't have to worry about that today. If you find yourself in need of shelter, I hope that this article has helped you realize what a hand up it can be.

I have been in one shelter and you had to leave from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day regardless of the weather or if you had anywhere to go or not. It's not like that here; this almost feels like home. It makes you appreciate home and gives great incentive to work as hard as possible at attaining your own, and respecting it. I believe this is my chance of a lifetime. Skills for living that get lost in the everyday grind come back for a lesson. Things like sharing open-heartedly, being kind, being respectful, finding something simple that you can share a good laugh over, being grateful for being alive. All of which make you a better person.

If it weren't for Wayfarers' I'd have a real difficult time seeing my family reunited; but I have a home base to work from to obtain that goal, and my relief and gratitude are almost indescribable. Every night in my bed, protected from the elements, I thank God and pray that everyone respects one another and appreciates life. You don't have to become homeless to realize these things, but in its odd way, it's making me a better person in this world. I will be kinder and hope that someday I can help someone to feel they belong in this world and are valuable, as Wayfarers' has done for me.

CHANGE OF SEASON
by Gayle Bradshaw

I've gone thru a long
winter in my heart
Now it's finally spring
New life blossoms inside
And I find myself beginning to sing
Singing of the joy and peace
God has brought to me
It's more than overwhelming
More than I thought life
could be.

The winter has melted away into
A fresh breeze within my soul
It is time to celebrate life
As a gentle rain softly showers
healing
The words of my God become
Something tangible in the renewing
of my heart