Mass is a great way to begin the day. Today we had school Mass and a dedication for the new Activity Center that was once the old church. As I sat among the students and other parishioners watching my boys sing in the choir before me I felt an overwhelming sense of love for those around me. I’ve written about this before and maybe it’s because I’ve been through so much with my parish praying for me all along the way but I LOVE my parish family. Even if I don’t know everyone’s name, or where they come from, or where they’ve been I know that they stand beside me in faith and that is all that matters.
I met one of my long time parishioners for the first time in person today at the Goodwill Industries downtown. Bill Sala is the VP of Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of Houston and he had also been in the prison ministry at the parish. We have been conversing over the past few months about what I could do to help him in the prison ministry (via Hopeful Hearts) and he mentioned his interest in my help with a program Goodwill has under their Veteran Services. He is no longer in the prison ministry but was very interested in showing me what Goodwill has to offer and how we could collaborate.
Three hours we spent together today talking about the origin of Goodwill and the multitude of Job Connection and Rehabilitation Services they offer. I was under the misconception that Goodwill was a store that resold donated clothing, I had no idea of the concept behind the store nor the ministry that is offered due to the minimal profit that is received from the store. The store is a means in which to employ disabled and reintegrate the once incarcerated. But there is so much more than just ‘the store’.
Bill and I toured the warehouse where they employ the mentally, physically and emotionally handicapped that are not able to handle a job but are capable to do minimal tasks in order to feel worth and accomplishment. They were all mentally handicapped in some fashion but some were also blind, deaf or in a wheelchair as well. Companies outsource work to them and it offers the opportunity for these women and men to make a little money and it gives them something to do instead of sitting in a home all day.
We drove from that location to another in the center of downtown Houston where they help homeless Veterans find employment. This is where I met Zeljka Mijic (from Baghdad) who is the Program Manager for the FHVRP (Female Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program) and she runs the WOW (Women of Worth) program that they offer to veterans. Every first Thursday of the month they have a speaker come in and speak to the women on various topics such as dealing with PTSD and other emotional trauma, Interviewing, and Beauty tips, etc. This is where I come in. She has asked that I come speak with them in March, so I am very blessed to have this upcoming opportunity.
After a nice lunch and conversation with Bill downtown I left Goodwill Industries of Houston educated and enlightened. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post about ‘The Pain’ and not ‘my pain’… a great example is to go down and be in the midst of the mentally challenged who are smiling despite their setbacks because they have something to do which gives them a sense of worth. Or witness the men and women who have fought for our freedom who can’t find employment because the Post Traumatic Stress they suffer is so intense it has disabled them (and or they are also physically impaired because of their service for our country) and see the smiles on their faces because there is a place they belong that believes in them and want to see them succeed so all is not in vain.
And it all began from an idea to help serve others. Awesome God. I am grateful He didn’t just give me the message yesterday, but showed it to me today.
Blessings
Shannon