Recently, I pulled into a parking lot to search for directions from my GPS.  It was dark, I was late for a meeting, and I was so grateful to see the little circle of light that “found” me and directed me to my destination.

Every day women walk through our doors searching for direction through some overwhelming situations.  They are in the dark, lost, confused, and scared.  Here are some comments from a woman in our Day Shelter:

“I have had to look to the Lord to ask him to guide me.  Sometimes I do not see the signs or chose not to acknowledge it.  When I feel like I am losing faith in life I turn to my family who guide me back.  With issues with bipolar and anxiety, I sometimes get off track with my life and faith.

With the help of Safe Harbor I have grown closer to God which has helped me see my direction better and you have all helped me to see that in the situation I’m in that I’m not alone in this and that to get back on track again, you all are here for support.  Thank you.” 

We all need a light to guide us on the right path.  Safe Harbor staff, donors, board and volunteers are happy to be here to point the way to Christ, and to offer hope along the way.

Occasionally, fairy tales and dreams really do come true…

At Safe Harbor, we get to witness the dreams of the women we serve change from the nightmares of dealing with their past into the very real hope that their lives can be restored and their families reunited and healed.

This Christmas, as throughout the year, our community has partnered with us to help these dreams come true.  Christmas gifts, cards, food, and financial gifts have poured into our home, and our walls have echoed with the laughter and joy of love – both receiving and giving.

These two little “princesses” are wearing their Christmas gifts while their mother, a resident of Safe Harbor’s Whole Woman program, is beginning to understand what it means to be a daughter of the King herself.

Meanwhile, for every person out there who wants to know if you can truly impact someone else’s life for good….Yes!  If you’re looking for a place to start, Safe Harbor could use your help, and you can partner with a whole community that is already making a difference for women, children, and families.

There is nothing quite so warming as the feeling of being home.  Even if it’s a welcome into someone else’s home at this time of year.  I just attended a party this weekend where the host and hostess had a warm fire going, hugs as we came in the door, a bounty of food, and a variety of hot beverages.  There were festive lights in every corner – inside and out, and the sound of laughter was everywhere.

As we approach the International Day of the Homeless – which is December 21 – let us contrast the timing of this memorial day with the day that comes 4 days later:  Christmas!  The 21st was chosen because it is the darkest day of the year and many homeless struggle more in the winter than in any other season.  Even the celebration of Christmas in our culture can bring further disappointment.  But the hope of Christ shines brightly, and we have much to offer those who feel hopeless, no matter their station in life.

Christ, the beautiful Rose of Sharon, bids us bloom, grow, and spread the truth of His joy and peace to our world “amid the cold of winter.”

Many thanks to all who have poured out their love and compassion on the women and children of Safe Harbor during this season.  May we all be challenged to go into the darkest corners we can find this week to shine the light and warmth of our King, in honor of His birth.

Our annual Celebrate the Harvest banquet was a tremendous success on so many levels!  If you missed it, please click on the YouTube icon on the right to view the video presented that evening – stories and comments from the women in our programs as well as from those who have been involved behind the scenes.

I am always amazed at the true generosity of others that is revealed at Christmas time.  I think those of us who are indwelt by Christ come the closest to exhibiting His character of love and good will at ths season more than any other.  So many people call Safe Harbor and other organizations working with those walking through difficult times wanting to know how to bless others during the holidays.

I believe I speak for most non-profits when I say that one of the best ways to help those in need at Christmas is to make sure they have access to needed services all year long.

One way you can do this is to make a gift to the charity of your choice at Christmas, and if you prefer, do it in the name of someone you wish to remember in a special way.

For a donation of $10 or more, you can give us the name and address of the person you’d like to honor, and we will send a special Christmas greeting along with a hand-made dove who carries the message of Peace and Joy from the women of Safe Harbor in his beak.  The dove is made from old Christmas cards and pages from hymnals, and is three – dimensional.

Click on “donate now” and make a comment in the appropriate section, and we’ll take care of the rest.  Or, you can always contact our office in other ways to let us know what you’d like to do.  Call us at 828-326-7233, email at info@safeharborrescuemission.org, or drop by our main office at 210 2nd St. SE, Hickory.

May you be filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy as you seek to step out of the stream of our culture and endeavor to cherish the wonder of Emmanuel – God with Us.

Safe Harbor Rescue Mission would like to invite you to participate with Housing Visions of Catawba County in events surrounding National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.  During the week of Nov. 13-19, a special community focus will be placed on learning more about the daily plights of homelessness, and understanding how to combat this ongoing epidemic in our area and throughout the nation.

A list of the times and locations of these events is as follows:

Sunday, Nov. 13, 8am – Service on Union Square, Hickory.

Monday, Nov. 14, 7pm – Movie at Carolina Theatre, free for those who are homeless.

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1pm – Bingo at Hickory Soup Kitchen

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5:30pm – Homeless Forum, East Wing Auditorium, Hickory.  Keynote speaker is Mr. Hugh Hollowell.

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6pm – Hunger Banquet at First Presbyterian Church, Hickory, $6 (Reservations needed by 11/11, call Sean Jarmin at 695-2134)

Thursday, Nov. 17, 8am – iCare 4 Catawba Tour of Resources, $10 (call 695-5648 for questions)

Friday, Nov. 18, 8pm - Night Without A Home (Sleep Out), YMCA.  Call Darin Williams at 324-2858 to register.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 11am – Block Party at Grace House, 600 Highland Ave., Hickory.

These events will serve as a great resource for us to reacquaint ourselves with the dilemmas of the homeless, and will hopefully lead to greater community awareness.

If you think by meeting one of our guests at Safe Harbor’s Day Shelter that you’ve met them all… think again!

Since the Day Shelter reopened its doors two days a week in September, it has served anywhere between fifty and a hundred homeless women, giving them a place to spend their days out of the elements and an atmosphere conducive to improving their life skills, computer skills, and helping them find jobs and apartments.  Day Shelter Coordinator Amy Marie Coffey is excited about the things that are happening among the women she serves.

“Since our reopening, the Day Shelter has been flooded with many women and children of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.  It has been neat to see the interaction between everyone.  Our women help to teach and encourage our children, and our children respect  and lift the spirits of our women.  We have mothers with many years of experience that are advising our new mothers.  We are all one very big happy family!”

Experiencing the diversity with the guests at the Day Shelter, however, is not without its challenges.  Amy Marie currently serves two women with hearing impairment, three children under school age, and has had several visits from Hispanic women who could not speak English.

“Our biggest challenge has been overcoming stereotypical thinking.  I try to help the by organizing ‘get to know you’ games and team building exercises that helps us to learn a lot about each other and to see how well our stories relate to those around us,” Amy Marie states.

The very largest area of need in the Day Shelter, however, comes from needing individuals who can assist Amy Marie with language translation, particularly Spanish.  While she is proficient in sign language and is able to communicate well with the guests who are hearing impaired, those who come to the Day Shelter who cannot understand English pose difficulties in communication for both Amy Marie and the guest.  It is for this reason that Amy Marie would like to send a call for help out to any women who knows Spanish and would be interested in volunteering, or being a contact person as-needed, for Spanish-speaking Day Shelter women.

If you feel you are qualified and willing to answer this great need, please call Safe Harbor Rescue Mission at 828-326-7233 and ask for Dot Myers, our volunteer coordinator.  By volunteering in our Day Shelter, you will be a blessing to many, and you will open yourself up to receive a blessing as well.