|
We’re fortunate to have “braggin’ rights” on what the Morgan Foundation helped us do here at Wingard Home. Mr. Miller Reid and Mr. Miller David Reid were wonderful to work with. Their generosity has accomplished so much and helped so many. We could make a list a mile long of all the wonderful miracles we’ve see happen in this ministry as a result. We will be forever grateful.
We thank God for the opportunity to improve so much of this property and for the Morgan Foundation’s help in providing these homeless folks with all the things they need to be successful. By providing them with the physical things they need, we then qualify (in their thinking) to be trusted in spiritual and mental matters. Our whole purpose in being here is to teach and preach the good news of a risen Savior and His healing power. They can trust the plan of salvation because they have now been shown the love of God through the miracle of a “safe place to stay during the storms of life.”
Improvements to the property:
- Everything had to be removed from the kitchen, so the floor could be removed. As we removed the old vulcan stove, it began to fall apart. It already had one oven that did not work and two burners that could not be used, so we decided to replace it while we had the opportunity. We added several pieces of kitchen equipment...a commercial stove, grill and oven; a fryer with two baskets; some stainless steel shelving for the dishes and coffee service area; a five-pan hot food service table; and, a popcorn machine for the kids (big & little).
- We used solid wood heavy duty flooring to go over the dining room sub floor. Between the two woods was a heavy layer of plastic sheeting. In the kitchen and the laundry area, we used the commercial grade plastic tiles.
- In the bathrooms, we used the brick tiles sealed with heavy coats of sealer. These are just the high points of what was done. We all spent many long hours taking care of the labor and all the fine details. We did not stop until the job was done...laboring as unto the Lord.
- We could not have done anything without the materials and the tools...the Morgan Foundation provided those!
- Our walk-in cooler floor and walls had to be replaced. It is done!
- The half bath in the main house had a rotten floor and had to be replaced. It is done!
- The bathroom in the men’s dorm had to be totally reworked because of rotten floor and walls. It is also done!
- The two-story men’s dorm house had extensive roof damage from the high winds of Katrina. We were not aware of this until the rains of spring (06) caused the west wall in the dorm to mold. Roy and helpers fixed the roof and then fixed the wall in the men’s dorm (wood repair, sheet rock repair, and repainting). All done!
- On the women’s dorm, we had a company put up vinyl siding. They replaced all the rotten wood, insulated the whole house, and put in one back window where there wasn’t one. We then added french doors to the girl’s side of the house and built a deck for that entrance.
- We put a flower garden in front of the women’s porch.
- In the girl’s dorm, we caulked holes and cracks, painted the walls, bought sturdy bunk beds, put up wood doors for the mammas with the crying babies, sanded down and refinished wood floors, and walled-up and refinished an area where there was an opening that should not be there. Giving people a safe, clean, cheerful, secure place to live while they heal from the hurts in their life is all part of the testimony we give them about God’s desire to help them because He loves them.
- In the work shop area, Roy added a covered area so our donated large appliances and outside tool would be out of the weather. He also added a small, secure area for the tools inside the shop area.
- Most of our vehicles are donated and used: and, always in need of constant repair. Several major repairs were made while we were able to do so. The mini van we had was rear-ended one morning while I was coming back from the day care run. The repair shop fixed it, but it was never quite right and drove funny after the repairs. I finally decided to just use it as a trade in and get a new van under warranty so the children would be safe. We used ten thousand to pay down on the van to try to get the notes down so our budget would not suffer too badly. Our notes are $383.62 a month for 60 months.
- We also added a couple of things to the chapel area –drums for the service and because that is the kind the young people wanted. We also added some repair items to the electronic equipment.
- We started a playground, but other things more important over-took that project. So far, we have some bright colored benches, some play toy containers, and a small-child wooden play set. We also placed a small flower garden in that area.
Two examples of families we are now better able to help:
We have a 23 year old mother who came here pregnant and with two children. She had been on drugs and her husband was on drugs and making and selling drugs. She wanted to change but she did not know the steps. God brought her here to give her that opportunity.
Her husband did not want to change. She has learned how to love him enough to let God have him ... she prays for his salvation, but stays away from him. She is clean and sober, and has given her life to Jesus.
She has given birth to two beautiful, healthy baby boys and is fully recovered from that. She is now a mother of four and taking one day at a time and letting Jesus guide her. She wants to be a nurse and has filled out paperwork to go to school in the spring. Right now, she is looking for a job.
Her husband has been arrested for drugs and other charges, and when you ask her about it, she will be quick to tell you, “I gave him to God to work on...it is not my job to fix that!” She is a good mother and a firm believer in the mighty power of God. The generosity of the Morgan Foundation and our many other caring donors helped give her that opportunity change.
There is a father who came to live here with his five children. We are the only place in the city that will house a father with children. This man’s wife left the children and went to the streets and the drugs. He stepped in and insisted that he would never use again if he could keep his children together. He gathered them up from various relatives, and DHS allowed him to keep his children if he would come to us and “prove” to them he was sincere.
He gave his heart to Jesus, and has been very helpful and thankful to be here. His three boys are in the room with him and his two girls are in the girl’s dorm with our daughter Mandy. In chapel the other night, his 12-year-old son said the sinner’s prayer with his Dad standing by his side.
We called in some favors with JPS, and the father got the opportunity to apply for a good job with benefits with the school system. He just today started his new job and is giving God all the glory for his new life. Thank you, Morgan Foundation and all of our loving contributors, for making it possible for men like this one to have that opportunity to start over with his children.
Last, but certainly not least, we paid some of the huge utility bills that were overwhelming our budget. Roy used the credit card to purchase a lot of the building supplies, so we paid that also. We also helped several kids get straight in school, purchased teaching materials and computer wares for them.
If you would like to see what the Morgan Foundation’s Christian generosity has accomplished and meet some of the people who are being helped, please feel free to stop by for a visit.
Serving with a glad heart,
Revs. Roy & Charlotte Wingard Back to main News page
|
