Extra Care

It's hard to believe that the Care Center at Pinelake Starkville has been open since August 2011. About a month after it opened I had the privilege to interview Henry and Mary. As Henry began to tell me their story, I found Henry's hours at his part-time job had been cut to only 10 hours a week. He was eager to work and wanted to provide for his family. So we prayed for a job for Henry.

Several weeks later, a friend of mine asked me if I knew of anyone who needed a job. Immediately Henry came to mind, and I told her I knew someone who would be perfect. I didn’t know how else to contact him, so I went to find Henry at the apartment where he and Mary lived. Later that day he interviewed with the store manager. It took a few weeks, but finally Henry received a call to come to work. What an answered prayer!

A few weeks after Henry started his new job the store manager called me, thanking me for sending Henry to the store. She said, "Henry is the best worker I have. He gets the work completed faster than any other employee, and then asks for more work."

Every week we help people at the Care Center who have found themselves in a tight spot. They are grateful for the help, to receive practical things like food and blankets when they need them most. Henry and Mary were grateful for our help, so grateful that they came back to the Care Center to help. Henry’s other part-time job is to stock the shelves at a grocery store, so he used his expertise to organize the shelves at the Care Center.

I thank God for His perfect timing in Henry's life with this job. As Henry and Mary still face obstacles in their lives they both are looking to Jesus as their provider. Working at the Care Center, I have been blessed to see how God cares for people like Henry and Mary, and many others who step out in faith and ask for help.

by Mary Pankey, Pinelake Starkville