July - August, 2000

WAYFARERS' HOUSE NEWS

Happy August Birthdays! to Anna, Susan, Christina, Laurie and Tonya.

WELCOME to new residents Laura and Neressa, Dawn, Lori, Becky, Cheryl, Bernetta, Christina, Brianna and Quentin, and Pat and Lorie.

FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES to the residents who have moved out of Wayfarers' since the June issue of Ups & Downs: Darlene, Christeen, Carla, Frances, beth, Jennifer and Zachary, Marilyn, Patty, Susan, Anna, Emma, Barbara; and Sherry, Mandy and Trevor.

Anna Reckenberger, one of those who has moved to her own apartment, continues to serve Meeting Ground as one of the night monitors at Wayfarers' House as well as in other capacities. Our thanks to Anna for continuing to help us.

Did you know . . .
. . . that 14 residents of Wayfarers' received afghans made for them by women from St. Georges, Delaware?

. . . that more work groups came to help with work projects at Meeting Ground (at Clairvaux Farm, Wayfarers' House and the George Porter House) and to learn more about what homeless people face in our country? That is not all that happens, of course. While the groups live and work at the Farm, they interact with the residents and their families and report that it changes opinions they have had and makes life seem permanently different in a very wonderful way. Often they report going home with a sense of our all - they and us - being one large family.

Groups have come in July from Immanuel Methodist, Townsend, Delaware; Federated Church, Sturbridge, Massachusetts; First Baptist, Hightstown, New Jersey; and Sixth Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In August came a group from First Congregational, Chatham, Massachusetts.

Nancy Matthews, a student at Union Seminary in New York, has been the summer intern at Meeting Ground who has been in charge of the work group program.

And did you know . . .
. . . that Wayfarers' has been having a complete rewiring this summer? This upgrading of electrical work has been funded by a $20,000 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAFT).

. . . that the Elkton Community Kitchen continues to serve Friday lunches from noon to 1 p.m. at Elkton Presbyterian Church on Main Street? Over a dozen churches and community groups support the project, each group providing a Friday meal. The Kitchen is considered to be beyond its trial period and may even be expanded in the future.

. . . and that there is a new pavilion for smoking in the back yard of Wayfarers'? Smoking on the porch of the House is no longer permitted, but the new area is roofed and has provided smokers a retreat even in rainy weather.

. . . that The Rev. Laurel Loveless, pastor of the Elkton Presbyterian Church, is the new moderator of the General Council of Meeting Ground?

. . . that the following activities are available each week at Wayfarers'?

Mon., 2-4 p.m. - Dr. Aaron sees uninsured patients

Tue., 10 a.m. - Art group with Leona

9 p.m. - Community Meeting

Wed., 10 a.m. - Communicating/Parenting group

Sun., 3 p.m. - Transportation to the Farm for Chapel and Dinner

Ups & Downs welcomes and encourages all residents to submit any of their writing they are willing to share for publication or in our house newsletter. Poems, stories, personal experiences, opinions are all welcome. What follows is a poem a recent resident wrote to her father and also submitted to U&D.

TO MY DADDY

WHO - ME!

It's killing him
it's plain to see
Everyone knows - he's getting thin
Who's worrying - ME!

I don't know what I would do
My sister too
If he would go
Who would feel so low - ME!

He is dying
But he keeps on lying
Denying the fact
Who won't see him work on his Mack - ME!

I love my daddy.
It's hard for him to see
I want him to walk me down to the altar
Who won't have that - ME!

I'll miss him
Wanting my Daddy
Remembering what we had
Who won't have him - ME!

Susan Elizabeth Crane