One of our Easter City Love initiatives was to work with the homeless community. We have two women’s bible study groups that meet weekly at Ren. We spend a lot of time listening to each other and reflecting on life. After each bible study we leave feeling refreshed. We wanted to do something like that for the homeless women at Crossroads.
Sue Johnson and Lora Wills led a team that came up with a Citylove Women's day of pampering. The homeless ladies could come to the church and have a meal, and get haircuts, nails painted, facials, and massages. We had lots of volunteers from hair dressers to moms doing nails and facials, to a masseuse. The food was delicious and was prepared by Ty Paup. In addition to feeding everyone who attended, we were able to make to go boxes of food and hand them out around lunch time to people walking by.
It was slow at first and there was fear that not many would come. But during that slow period we talked and visited with the ladies. We shared a meal with them and we listened. We heard stories of pain, heartbreak and the beauty that came from those difficult times. Seeing these ladies excited about their nails and looking in the mirror at their fresh hair cut was special. Seeing their smiles and the smiles of all the volunteers laughing and spending time together was something we will never forget.
Easter Citylove is a 1 week initiative of showing kindness to Providence that is paving the way for Citylove, a group of urban missionaries who are spending their next year serving Providence. Learn more at CitylovePVD.org
