Every now and then I come across an article that perfectly articulates my own thoughts and I like sharing it “as is.” Robert Lupton’s “The Lord Needs Your Donkey” (February 2009) is one of those articles because it clearly illustrates how Granny’s House has, not only survived over these nearly eight years, but flourished and became a real “oasis” for the hundreds of public housing kids who have crossed our threshold since we opened in the Spring of 2001. Too-many-to-count have come forward to offer their best to the children who make up the Granny’s House family:
• About seven years ago, our friend Warren approached me at the end of a church service inquiring ‘Do you guys have a website? I’d like to build one for you…’” You’re reading this blog because of Warren’s huge talent, kindness, and incredible generosity.
• And then there was Sue, the attorney from Fulton, “I grew up on a farm with horses and would love to get the Granny’s House kids involved in horseback riding…” Now we have “The Spirit Riders” who traveled to Fort Worth, Texas last summer to compete with kids from all over the nation in the “Extreme Mustang Makeover."
• And Marty, the University of Missouri English professor after my husband and I finished speaking to the group of scholars she mentors, ‘Can we come every Friday as you’re closing and clean Granny’s House for you?...” She arrived every Friday evening for years, donned a pair of rubber gloves, grabbed the mop bucket , and cleaned both apartments… all while thanking us for “letting” her do it. For more than five years, the Granny’s House weekly cleaning budget was $0 because Marty rushed over to Granny’s House every Friday night after a full week of teaching and mentoring Mizzou students.
Amazingly, these activities were all way outside of our monetary budget at the time, but
not outside of God's vast reservoir of resources that He makes available to those who
seek to share His heart and make Him famous in the projects. What so many have done to
unveil God's heart with these precious children is priceless!
Do you, perhaps, have a donkey we could borrow? -Granny Pam
