Thanksgiving Update

Jubilee REACH Center has been bustling with activity above and beyond our normal programs. Our staff prepared and served a traditional Thanksgiving meal to 75 of the “English as a Second Language” (ESL) students. For many, it was their very first Thanksgiving experience. What an experience it was…there was lots of laughter and oh so much food!

My main goal at Jubilee REACH Center is to solicit foundations, companies, private individuals, businesses, and city, county, state and federal agencies for grants or donations of money that do not need to be repaid. I attended a conference in June in Florida to learn how to do this. The process is time consuming and sometimes you won’t receive a response to your request for money for months. I sent off my first grant application this week to Build A Bear Hug Foundation for a $10,000 request for a kindergarten readiness program called Story Time/Play & Learn here at Jubilee. Please pray it would be reviewed with excitement and acceptance and awarded to us.

Last Saturday, the Hebron medical team from Christ Church of Kirkland put on a free medical clinic. They do this once a month at Jubilee. They are an amazing group of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, a pharmacist and a receptionist. They transformed the “big room” into an area for taking medical histories and vital signs and three small classrooms into exam rooms, and set up a pharmacy in about half an hour. Joined by four translators, I witnessed an amazing day as they entered with a look of concern and left with a smile on their face because of the professional treatment, medications, advice, prayer and encouragement given. Many of our local residents have no health care insurance and this is their only health care. Like this medical clinic, our building is filled with so any different ministries and programs that synergize with JRC to make some life–changing differences in many of our neighbors.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Your support is making life-changing differences to many.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

This last week has been extraordinary as I see resources, connections, and people come together to provide answers. At our house, we are hosting one Japanese exchange student (Hiroki) and one Chinese exchange student (Richard) while they attend Bellevue College studying English and Business. They are such a blessing. On Friday our Chinese student was so very helpful by coming to JRC and translating for a Chinese homeless man. As soon as they started talking, I saw a huge smile appear on the man’s face. The shelter director at Congregations for the Homeless is working to find a spot for him. They have had up to a four-week wait recently. There is great need for shelter on the Eastside. The only other Eastside option other than sleeping in their car (if they have one) is Tent City. God used my past volunteering with CFH (Congregations for the Homeless) and those relationships along with our Chinese student to start working on a solution for this man.

Also, there is a family at JRC in need of a rental house and, because of some poor choices in the past, the father will not pass a background check with the typical process required by property management screening. He has experienced God’s mercy and forgiveness and is a changed, new person. Again, I see one volunteer’s real estate connections and relationships being used to bring this to a human dialog, as opposed to a background check process to come along side this family. We are hopeful to work something out for a rental.

The needs in the community could be overwhelming, but my faith in our Father is greater. He has shown his faithfulness in so many ways at so many times in my life. It allows me by His grace to stand in the gap with some. My faith continues to build, as I see God provide faithfully to so many. I am so pleased to see our Father care for His children through the volunteers and staff at Jubilee REACH Center. They are some of the most passionate people I have ever known.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

May your week be filled with confidence as you step out of your personal comfort zone and be the hands and feet of Jesus to someone in need.

Experience Jubilee Reach

Dear friends thank you for supporting me in prayer and financially. A lot has happened since I first told you about my mission at Jubilee REACH Center. Remember how I told you that they are great at stepping into the gap for people? If you live in the area and haven’t visited JRC, you have to make time to go there. It is the most amazing place. Even as I approach the driveway, I have such a sense of excitement. Every day I walk into a building that is filled with so much activity by such an incredibly diverse group of many cultures represented in those who both serve and who are served at JRC. But it’s much more than that. I see children – oh, so many children busy with before and after school activities. Little girls wrapped in each others’ arms whispering and giggling…older boys playing football…bodies sprawled out on the floor intently studying. Then there are the many languages being spoken – what a chorus God has created. Oh, and did I mention the wonderful aroma always coming from the kitchen? One afternoon I was truly blessed with helping Mayra prepare a Mexican Fiesta she had donated for the Jubilee auction, making homemade tortillas, salsa, taquitos, and sharing her recipes and techniques. What a fun time in the kitchen with her and others.

There are many rooms full of ESL classes and I always see people sitting at tables being assisted with an amazing group of volunteers with such a heart for God’s people. Walking into this building is like being wrapped in love. It is a safe haven, a place of comfort and a place of great care.

This first month I have been meeting many of the people involved and the programs offered at Jubilee REACH Center. It would be easy to be overwhelmed with the huge need for so much. But then I see the incredible gifts, people and resources God has so generously supplied in so many areas at JRC. I know He has great and mighty works planned for this ministry. My key will be to stay focused and diligently seek out every resource I can dig up. One donor made a huge impact last year, but is unable to grant money this year. I am pulling together those who have a similar passion to myself for helping people with housing and use the power of this synergy to collaborate and obtain services and funds. The initial contacts and steps for doing this are in place. There is a lot of work to do. If you are aware of any businesses or foundations offering grants, please inform me. I am currently working on one to Windermere.

I am in need of both your prayers and financial support to work on your behalf in this ministry and answer my calling. If you could lift me up in prayer and send even $30 a month, with 100 supporters doing this, I could meet my $3,000 per month expenses. I am a long way from meeting this challenge. If any of you have services you would be willing to donate to me to help me reduce my monthly expenses, I would also be very thankful. Thank you so much.

As always, it is an honor to serve alongside you. May your days be blessed, as we enter this season of giving thanks.

My First Blog

Follow Joy on this journey. Aimee, her daughter will be updating this blog as we go along. Contact Joy at joyroof@comcast.net or Aimee at aimeerof@gmail.com. Thanks for your love and support!