Weekend Story

This past weekend I was involved in processing the evacuees of hurricane Rita. The entire procedure was very stressful to them and to us. There were adults and children, families and singles. The majority of the people were here because they voluntarily left their home to flee to safety; but that was not the case for one woman. It is her story I want to share with you.
A young woman was sitting all alone, her head down, seemingly very sad. I sat down beside her and we began to talk. She told me of her life in Viet Nam, how she and her family were almost killed by the VC. She described her boat trip to the United States and how she and her parents almost died on that boat. She and her parents lived for a time in California and then settled in Houston. Along the way, she married and had three children. Another tragedy in this young woman’s life, her husband left her and the children and is not involved in their lives. They do not even know where he is. Her parents are elderly and not in good health. And we think we have problems!
As we sat and talked, she looked at me through eyes filled with tears and said, “I feel so alone. I have no other family here, my parents will not live much longer and then it will only be me and my children.” My heart was breaking for this beautiful spirit, this courageous but vulnerable woman.
As I thought later about our conversation, I thought about people like her right here at GCR. We have people that have the same lament; “I feel so alone.” In a sea of people, you can feel so very much alone. But there is good news; you do not have to be alone. She had to return to Houston, to a life without family, but that does not have to be your fate. We now have over 100 HOST’s and more signing up. It is very easy to experience belonging and family, join a group. Our groups are family; they are there to laugh with you, to share in your joys, and to cry with you in your sorrows; we truly are Better Together.
Ephesians 4:15-16 Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.