Open House - A Thanks
At the end of February, we hosted an open house. Over 50 visitors, young and old, family and friends, from down the street and from hours drive away, cared about us enough to come and meet the guys who were making a new life here at Orchard Community. For the whole afternoon, Matthew, Simeon, and Jonathan, shared with you about their hopes and aspirations for this new chapter in their lives.
I know that you were encouraged by the guys’ journeys that have taken them from challenging situations to a stable community here to pursue their goals. I know that the guys were encouraged by your support and interest. We are looking forward to seeing you again in a few months for our next open house.
Over the last three months, I’ve been blessed by the abundance of your support for us. You’ve prayed for us. You’ve dropped off meals. You’ve given your finances and time. You’ve offered more help than we can use. The first of Jesus’ beatitudes says, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Your generosity has made us rich and full.
I’ve also been blessed by the trust that the guys have given me. They’ve allowed me to help in cleaning a room, in creating a budget, in navigating school enrollment. They’ve allowed me to chastise and to encourage. They’ve allowed me to apologize and to forgive. They’ve allowed me into their lives day in and day out. They’ve answered my knocks on their doors or late night texts about where they are. In a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to a church in Corinth, he writes, “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” Thank goodness for the teachers that we do have in our lives, but how we need fathers.
Where my own father lacked, God has been a father in more ways than I could have imagined. And God has now called me to be like a father to these young men teaching them to live a life worthy of the gift of life they have received. And what a gift they’ve been to me.
Thank you for joining us in this journey. May God’s peace and love be upon you,
Mike Liaw
