Fellowship Memphis

She didn’t really understand the severity of her situation; a single mom of 8, French speaking, no husband, no job and by the end of the week-homeless. This family had obviously dire needs. But after all, weren’t there people in Memphis who were ministering to them? Weren’t there people who were going to be there when she was going to be evicted? Surely, someone ‘up there’ knew her situation and would help.

We met in January before she was supposed to be evicted, to talk, pray and let her know we’d be there if she needed us. Engage – to participate, to carry-on, to be involved. Hmmm, alright, we’d be there early the next morning and help her get packed up in case ‘officials’ showed up to evict her. We’d also heard a child service representative was coming, so she might need an interpreter or some help.

Much transpired as we tried to communicate, met with child services, and loaded up kids and furniture. But where was she to go? If she had no home, and the shelters and agencies couldn’t hold families of nine, they would split them up, place the children in foster homes’, and a long term process would begin and possibly end this family of nine. So, they were placed in a hotel. All the mom knew was that strangers were taking care of her children, picking them up before and after school, bringing food, and tutoring.

For days and then weeks, calls were made on every boarded up, rentable, for sale house that could be found in the west side of Binghampton. But who wants a family of nine with no income or stability? Through much prayer, driving, and a ‘per-chance’ call, we learned of the ‘east’ side of Binghampton. Two more days and the matter would be out of our hands. The Lord led us out of the west side into the east side where to our amazement, a homeowner would be willing to rent to this family and they would be across from pastors, friends, and others who were willing to engage in her life.

Where is she now? With Engage Memphis’ help and a joint effort by the Body of Christ, she’s in a little home, on a great street, able to keep the kids in the same 3 schools, has neighbors who have already engaged in helping, has day-care so that now she has the possibility of getting a job, and is learning English and job skills. Thank you Engage Memphis; this family’s possibilities are endless and eternal!