Gayla's Magazine

My dirty hands

Sometimes tiredness makes one weary in well doing... this happened to me last week. It was the end of a physically hard day and I was still going through bags looking for clothing, shoes, household items to help people in need.  I opened another bag and found it full of men's shoes.  Several were dirty, smelly and generally awful.  But there were pairs that worthy of being given to others.  As I lifted them out, my hands were dirty and  I was struck with the thought.... "I used to do 'important' stuff, like lead worship, or teach classes or be a pastor's wife.... now I'm doing this.  Is this really what you have for me Lord? Touching old shoes?  The many  things people discard? "  My strength gave way and tears begin to fall on the worn and smelly shoes....I was tired and it was easy to get discouraged.... soon I was feeling defeated remembering the various guests that have come through on tours here - how they looked like this would be beneath them... and then how I would be embarrassed to show them around. How the 'ministry' wouldn't be caught dead doing such awful work. How they wouldn't touch anything around here.

Swallowing tears I doggedly kept working, but my mind was far away.... when I had a pretty suit on... when I had my hair fixed and my heels on.  When my nails were manicured and clean. When I was singing my heart out.... when inspiration was carrying me like a river of anointing! This was anything but beautiful work now. I cried and worked, and worked  and cried till it was done then went home and set down to pray.  I did all the talking.... He said nothing back to me....

After a while I pulled myself together and wiped my tears away and tried to forget about the past and my understanding of the present.

Next day....

I'm back helping at the RMA store and a tall soft spoken man approaches me and asked me if he could set down and try on a pair of shoes.  I said sure and led him to a seat.  He sets down and with a smile told me he had been homeless for 3 months and had been living behind a store nearby.  Someone had finally given him a job and he got paid for his first week of work.  He lifted his foot and I was shocked to see the condition of his shoes. How was the poor guy even walking!!!

He said, "today's my birthday and I'm going to spend my first dollars on a pair of decent shoes. I need some solid shoes so I can work!"

He said, "Do you think these shoes here might fit me?"

He holds up one of the pair of shoes that I had dripped tears on yesterday.

I swallowed hard and said I believe that those shoes are going to be a perfect fit for you sir.

He took off his old shoes and socks and while he tried the 'new' shoes on... I was frozen watching him and praying that the shoes that I didn't appreciate yesterday would work for him. He had no idea he was preaching to me!!!

Suddenly those shoes took on a whole new meaning for me... they were like precious gold. It was all I could do to keep my eyes smiling and not fill with tears AGAIN.

As soon as I saw that they were going to fit well... I slipped away from him.  I found a birthday card and wrote him a note, told him that Jesus loved him and that the shoes were free to him today. I had the clerk gave the card to him when he was ready to check out. He never saw me again...

From a corner  in the room  I watched him stand up tall, a big smile on his face and his expression said it all.  "I feel like a man again, I'm going to make it, life's going to be good for me, these shoes are exactly what a man needs to work in!"

I am humbled and feel like God gave me a personal hug to show me what I am doing is important... possibly more important than singing another song....or teaching another lesson... or wearing another title.

Later at home I wrote in my journal,

Sometimes it's not what you know... it's not in your talents... it's not even in your strengths that God uses you. It's in the unthinkable weakness and lack that God uses one.  When I am weak then I am strong.  Ministry is raw, dirty hands, simple work, work no one wants to do, smelly, awful at times.  Ministry like this - leaves marks.  Marks on the one doing it, but blessing to the one receiving it.

I am crucified with Christ. Painful shameful, shaming, makes me shy, ugly and demeaning at times. Does nothing for my ego.  Yet it blesses, comforts, encourages, speaks volumes to the receiver.  They know this is something unusual being done for them.

Let mercy run through me Lord... and touch the untouchables.  Not with words then, but with actions of love from You to each one.

The Lord didn't have to say anything to me.... He showed me.  My dirty hands were more valuable than I could understand yesterday. Leadership means servanthood to Jesus.

 

 

 

Role Models of America Store gets a new look

 I love the Role Models of America store.... we have helped thousands of families over the years here, had a innumerable amount of ministry opportunities happen right here in the store, have regular prayer for people who shop here, seen provision come through for NL, it's  a missions base for supplies for shipments to the needy (in the millions now) Everything  here is neat, organized and clean.... just need more space for our workers and the people.

It's my favorite place of ministry!  I am known as Pastor Gayla to everyone who comes here - shoppers, our Community Service workers, and families in need. It's 'church' on a whole different scale.

This week I have been enjoying time spent in the store making upgrades. It takes pre-planning, measuring, crews scheduled, and staff outlined to all smoothly make a big transition while not disturbing our shoppers.  A challenge I am up for!

I have prayed for a new shoe system store wide for women's, men's boys and girls depts. And the day has arrived and I have what I have prayed for. My new fixtures will triple my space - it's a good thing.  My  crews arrive..... I start with the inside isles while it's early and quiet we will work from the inside to the outside isles.I didn't take many shots.... just too busy!

My new fixtures look great! Out with the old black iron ones and in with the new updated look.

Can you see behind the rack at the back wall.... these are the new shoe racks in the ladies dept.

Old display....

New display with a crackle finish, each area can hold triple stock now.

In one day the entire store is transformed....

The shoppers will feel greater love....  our family clients will have a more enhanced view of what is given to them..... our CS will take greater pride in their work.... the employees enjoy a more update and professional workplace. And I get to enjoy the beauty, the fun of it all!!

Now what's next..... it's been a dream day...... joy job!

This isn't just a regular thrift store..... it's ministry on a awesome level! If you are in Houston Tx... come by and support this incredible place.

 

Lively Hope Children's Home

Yesterday was pure joy!  It was time to fill the baskets with toys and stuffed animals.... books and goodies for the Orphanage in Mexico.  Missionaries Billie and Willeta Boren were here and my oh my it ws fun.  The Lively Hope Children's Home is going to be blessed today.

 

Games and puzzles, art projects and dolls are sure to thrill the hearts of lonely children without their parents.

 

It fills my heart with joy to know that little children's eyes that are full of suffering are going to light up when a darling stuffed animal is put in their arms.  I can see them now hugging
'theirs'. And their little arms holding tightly to something that is truly theirs.

 

Leave this basket here and let's go fill another one! I explained to the customers waiting to check out their purchases, 'this is what you are supporting when you shop here'. Everyone was happy to wait a moment, and it was good to let them see RMA in action for themselves.  No one got in a hurry - there were 5 people lined up to check out - and they were thrilled to actually witness the gifts going out the door to the Orphanage. 

 

Perfect!  Looking for ways to help them learn English, we find 'Hooked on Phonics'.  A complete set of books and videos to teach children with. 

 

Garbage bags are filled with delights for kids.  And wrapping paper to complete the surprises on Christmas for each child.

 

Last time they were here, they needed 9 toilets for the new wing built on the Orphanage.  Now here are the toilet seats needed!  Perfect completion. Take an extra one just in case.

 

The truck is loaded down with blessings aplenty!  With  hugs and smiles we said goodbye.  To tell you the truth..... I would rather do this than anything else in life! It's so much fun.

RMA West Coast

I am so very proud today!!

Surprise!  It's now ready to show you what has been happening in one of our churches on the West Coast.  Role Models of America now has a thrift store in Los Banos California under Pastors Doug and Susan Young. And together we will begin to touch lives here as well.

You have to see this. To God be the Glory, may many souls be ministered to and won for Christ as a result.  Today my thoughts and prayers all all with Pastor Susan and Doug Young. www.pastorsusan.net

CBC Instructors - you can be one!

My prayers today are for the men and women enrolled in our Community Bible College.  Each of them from 43+ States send us their exams from the different  studies  we provide in the Bible.  Every day letters flow in, awaiting our Instructors to grade their papers and return them.  Men and women who are incarcerated are being taught  day by day, one by one. 

It's an wonderful ministry that many believers from different states serve as Instructors along with us.  We email the inmates exam to an Instructor - it gets graded and emailed back to us.  It then is printed off in the CBC offices by the staff and mailed back to the student.

It's such an important ministry... would you like to be a Instructor?  Email me today!!!

Really..... why not pray about ministering to someone who really could use your help!

Have you every wondered how you could use your talents for God?  Here is your chance to really help change a life.   Email me and I will give you all the details about how to be a part of this most valuable school.  

One 10 hour day....

A phone call comes...... we have a container headed your way.  It's arriving in the morning... and we hope you can make use of it. So it changes our day around instantly!

A container was involved in a accident.... it's damaged.... and not sure of the condition of the items inside.  The semi rig  flipped over an overpass... and crashed some 40 feet below.  The driver was ejected and miraculously lived. 

 

The the rig was mangled and destroyed.  And the load was donated to our Foundation for charity. It came so fast that it was all hands on deck to receive it. 

 

Carefully it's backed into the docks and propped up gingerly.

 

This container violently rolled over the overpass and smashed  40 feet below! Every corner is destroyed on it.

Eugene wrangles and twists the back doors open.

Bales of clothing are all tumbled inside.  Each one weighs 100 pounds.  Some are dirty, some are soggy and wet, and some are completely ruined.

 

Each one gets stacked on pallets as they come out.

 

Halfway into the trailer the bales are in stacks, but now stuck and jammed so it gets harder to release them without an avalanche tumbling down.  This would not be good as each one is very heavy and we need no accidents!

 

In one 10 hour day it's all unloaded, the container is removed, all ruined bales loaded for rubbish, and the good ones put away to deal with another day.  And those who will ultimately receive the clothing will never know the price that was paid for them to be given clothing for their use. 

 

 

The Next Post Office Experience!

It's time to go again to the Post Office, and after my last experience it's a little stressful to think what might occur this time.  Talk about wondering if the Post Office staff is going to go 'postal' on me..... it brings back some bad memories! 

So dutifully I weigh each packet carefully  for CBC like I was told too.  What will they do this time?!? Am I doing this right?  The staff has to allow me to personally do this, as to eliminate any issues that might arise at the Post Office at my next interrigation.  

Praying for these men and women while weighing each one, I feel like I know some of them after reading so many letters. Enrolled in CBC are ex-cops, professional men and women with money issues, many many people caught in the web of addictions, broken hearted moms and dads with terrible regrets, young and old alike, so many mistakes caused by drugs and alcohol.  Some with life sentences never to get out, who depend upon this lifeline of encouragement.   And some of the inmates are straining ahead counting the days till parole dates materialize.  So many lives all ruined by sin, yet God loves them and His grace is extended to them. Each packet is going to a life and it is the mission of CBC to reach each one for Christ.   

Each packet is weighed and  each one of these souls are prayed for. Memories come of a recent phone call to a mother of an inmate who begged me to call his mom for him.  She is dying of cancer and it was an honor to pray with her and for her son.  She wants to live until he gets out and back home to her.  He wants her to live till he can see her again.  Time is ticking.... he still has 3 years to serve if all goes well .... Truly CBC is a ministry to the hurting both inside institutions and outside to the hurting families now alone without their loved one.

And when they are all done, I go to my husband and tell him my concerns.  I am glad I am married to such an awesome guy!  He picked up the phone right then and called the Postal Services and ask for the 'top man' - the Post Master. Of course he gets right straight through to him, no waiting, no message taking, no excuses - straight to the top man!  That's my man.... that's my man!!

And after explaining what had happened to me in the Pasadena Post Office with the 'head woman' - D Gonzalez, who had demanded that I not come back 'with all that mail'.  To make a long story short, he got instant support, instant service and instantly things jumped into place for my trip to the LaPorte Postal service to mail all of these packets! 

And when I arrived at this Post Office I was met with cordial reception and great customer service!  "Yes by all means we want your business.... and we will help you mail as many packets as you can bring to us"! We have been awaiting your arrival and welcome you! 

She informed me I did not need to weigh each one (thanks for this - I spent 2 hours weighing everything) and that I just needed to let them do their job!  Wow - who knew this is what the Post Office really does!

Stacks and stacks of packets were done by this great worker.  And the Post Master himself took stacks to another station to weigh for me!   This is the first time I have not spent hours putting stamps on each one at the Post Office.  I did not put ONE stamp on here, it was all done automatically.  Now this is more like it! My what a help this is to  me!

The only bad news about the whole experience was paying the postage.  On the average each packet costs different depending upon the number of Bibles mailed, and or certificates for course completions.  And the total is climbing each time.... more concerns for me to pray about.  I can see I am going to need partners to join with me in postage costs. 

This is today's receipt minus 45 other packet costs. Ok Lord thank you for solving the Postal problem.  I believe You also have a plan to help provide finanaces for all these souls too.

I leave with a light step and a joy knowing that 149 prisoners  will soon open 149 packets, and begin to study their next lessons about God through His Word!!

What a joy  this is!  

Today's Focus

Today I will focus upon our Community Bible College and the details that are required of me here.  Some things the staff can do without me, but there are other functions of this most important Bible School that I must do. 

When I read the many many letters addressed to me and get a glimpse inside each person' s life, it touches my heart and I know this ministry is so very important to so many behind bars. Yesterday a inmate sent a picture of himself - in his late 50's, just got his GED and so proud.  Their small worlds are greatly encouraged by their studies in the Bible. 

I read so many  letters about drugs and abuse, alcoholic reactions to stresses, broken marriages and families.  Often these men and women are abandoned by their entire families.  All regret the choices that they made, and have many sins in their pasts that haunt them daily.   Addictions and crime all led to their downfall, yet Jesus loves them and He is reaching for them through every lesson we mail out.

Some are going to be released next year, some will never be released.  They will serve the rest of their lives.  One letter tells me of a ruined childhood and the horrible things that were done to him as a little boy by drug addicted parents, that created such an rage inside he could not control.  Now he is thankful for being put in prison (he is serving a life sentence) so he can be in our Bible school.  He is free of the rage and learning so much.

Online Instructors are needed - would you consider being one?  If so please email me..... 

I am looking forward to a day of pure ministry and the many souls that we will impact. I know these lives are being changed by our efforts all over America. I love my job!  

My Prayer Requests.

The prayer requests and projects that are in my heart to fulfill, requires some answers for the future.  Looking back at all the food shipments  that have been made through the course of our lives, have taken personal great sacrifices on my family's part to do.  Spending years of my life in African nations have imprinted me deeply with the basic needs of humanity that can never be forgotten, nor will the nations be ignored while living the 'American Dream' in the USA.  South American nations still prove to me that people even in this hemisphere are starving, living in absolute squalor and misery. I am compelled to do something to help.  It's not looking at the massive problems that require impossibilities to do, but rather seeing small villages, and pueblos and kraals that together with partners, we  can truly help in.  

The current issues that are projects in my heart are listed here as a reminder to all who visit my site - YOU can join in and together we can add value to thousands of lives.  Have you ever said in your mind, " I wish I could do something about this need....... "  Here is your chance….

·         Moms Against Hunger Food Shipment to Zimbabwe - One container is shipped, and it's on the water now.  Distribution funds are needed once it gets there.  Trucks take fuel to carry the food to faraway kraals – so drivers, and helpers and security must be paid so that it truly reaches the people.  Also travel funds to go and make sure all supplies  gets to the people. 

·         Ghana Moms Against Hunger is in ongoing distribution right now….. I pray all food gets to the hurting there and all government agencies work together to see this happen. 

·         Kenya is now asking for Moms Against Hunger food shipments to feed her people.

·         Romania - Eastern Europe also has requested Moms Against Hunger food shipments.  The past shipments we have sent to various orphanages in this country made an impact and they have never forgotten us, and now are reaching out to us for aid again.

·         The Appalachian Mission needs our help as well…. right here in America.   

·         Role Models of America - thrift store.  This store offers food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and furniture to needy families.  This project helps to take care of American families. There is a billboard here, but it's blank at the moment.  All available funds go to underwrite the purpose of the store itself. A sign is  needed here.   

·         Ministry Projects that would bring funds constantly to help. The completion of these communication tools would help to raise ministry funds.  For instance, one project/CD  is recorded about my African childhood in a  African Liberian  village. Funds are needed to complete this for future sales to help.  Personally I have 100+ songs that are written and arranged –just needs to be professionally recorded - this would provide funds endlessly through our online sites. Plus the materials written for The ABC’s of Thrift Stores, Kids Kingdom children’s ministry curriculum, the Manuel for Worship Leader, The Love Scrapbook….. etc. The list goes on and on after 34+ years of ministry now.

·         Community Bible College - which is a correspondence Bible school for prisoners in America. There have been over 5,000 men and women come through this school, and currently there are inmates from 34 states enrolled.  This form of education, is the format by which criminals truly turn their lives around and become law abiding citizens.  As the President of this school, I believe this helps to change the crime rates of America, and provide support to inmates who truly enlist for personal change. With  help we can continue to budget for the staff, materials, postage and ever increasing enrollment.  Role Models International fully supports this cause and underwrites the complete costs of this school.  It's a heavy burden that others can join with me in ministry to help with this ongoing project.

·         Time …. Provision …..Partners …and  Uncommon Favor - with these 4 things – my prayer requests are made known.     

Moms Against Hunger - Zimbabwe Shipment

Moms Against Hunger

Today I am writing thank you notes to everyone who supported Moms Against Hunger - the Zimbabwe food shipment. I am happy to tell you that the jam packed container is now loaded on board the ship, and it is ready to depart the Houston Port for Durban South Africa on August 18th.
I am grateful to all my supporters who also care about hurting humanity and want to help somehow.  Together we are all working together to make this happen. 

I will certainly keep you informed as to it's progress and arrival in Bulawayo Zimbabwe.  Now the next leg of the journey will happen....

I do want to feed the hungry....  and now a huge load of food is headed there by all of us working together.