07/13/2010: "It was a Triple Play!"

On July 10th, for our first time the Local Out-Team performed three Community HUG Cookouts simultaneously!

It had been a morning of spiritual warfare at almost every turn. Some of our regular volunteers had been diverted (one had gotten bumped from a flight and was stuck somewhere in the backwoods of Louisiana); one of our tow vehicles had its battery burst even before leaving the staging area; one of the cookout teams arrived at their community only to realize they needed a replacement grill, and another arrived at their community to find many of the housing units were vacant. (Ok. That last one was avoidable. This was one of our regular communities so we did not bother to check occupancy before scheduling the cookout.) But, God made it a wonderful day!

This was our first trip to the Ansley Park manufactured home community in Stockbridge. Turn out for the event was very brisk even considering the heat and the threat of rain. Our normal menu consists of hot dogs, chips and soft drinks but because of the generosity of some of the Community Bible Church members today our menu included the additional items of hamburgers, watermelons and fresh baked breads! Even momma would have been envious of the meal we were offering! (It was so good we ran out!) Christ was presented in one way or another to almost every guest. Most acknowledged they were already believers and some had issues which will require more time to overcome. We made some great inroads into that community and are looking forward to a return trip next spring.

Our visit to Walnut Grove in Jonesboro was just as rewarding. It was here that the team leader realized he needed a new grill and had to run buy one at K-Mart. They too had a great turn out and depleted their food supply near the end of the event. The team members remarked that the residents of this community was very anxious for their arrival, even helping to set-up and break down the community. One of the team members had an emotional discussion with an admitted alcoholic in an attempt to help them get on the path to recovery. While the team member could not accomplish his goals, the seeds were planted. It is up to the Holy Spirit to make them sprout.

The Toby Springs team arrived to find the McDonough community about half-empty. A disappointment for sure, but that did not prevent them from serving those residents which were present. This group was accompanied by a pair of women from Bethel United Methodist Church in Fairview (Ellenwood), Georgia. These ladies were gracious enough to provide our teams with some food and clothing on their arrival. One was even kind enough to pray the opening prayer when we departed the church to head out to the event locations. (That will teach her to respond “Pick on me!' when someone asks “Who shall I pick on this time?” ;-) We hate our friends from Bethel attended the slow cookout instead one of the others. But that just means they will be impressed with the next they attend.

Our next Community HUG Cookouts are scheduled for August 14, 2010. Come join us!