I first met Jennifer on Thursday, June 2nd. It was close to 5 o’clock. I know this because I remember seeing her walk in with baby on hip and three children in tow and being, to be completely honest, annoyed that I’d probably have to stay past 5.
As an Office Host, I hear lots of tall tales. And, unfortunately, prior to Jennifer, I had unknowingly developed a toxic level of cynicism. Therefore, leading me to believe, she’d just be another story-teller.
Little did I know.
Jennifer is 29 years old. She has 4 children: Christin 8, Hailey 7, Olivia 2, and John, Jr. who is 11 months. Four months ago, her fiancé John, the father of her two youngest children was in a serious car accident while on the job and suffered a debilitating brain injury—leaving him with less than half of his brain function. In order to care for her 4 children and her newly disabled fiancé, Jennifer was forced to quit her job. With no income and no way to pay rent, Jennifer would be evicted from her home the following Wednesday.
I, apathetically, gave Jennifer some numbers to call for assistance and explained to her that if she came back the next day, there might be someone she could speak with about receiving help. She took the information and left.
As I was closing down shop for the day, I sent up a quick prayer asking if God would help me to discern if she was being truthful. I also asked if he’d show me a sign of her character. I didn’t think much more about it.
As I was following Sara Willison out of the parking lot, Her and I both noticed a car wreck at the intersection of Harrodsburg and Brannon. When I got closer, I realized Jennifer was standing beside the wreck. Sara and I both got out of our cars to check on her. Jennifer explained that she had not been in the wreck, she just stopped to help the people that had.
I took that as the answer to my quick prayer. 4’10 Jennifer, an unemployed mother of 4, with a brain injured fiance and no dollar to her name, stopped to help strangers.
Surely, I could do the same.
The next day, Jennifer & John and her 4 kids came back in. Sara Willison and I spent some time getting to know them. Jennifer went more in-depth with her story. She was completely transparent and completely broken. She was tired, hopeless, embarrassed she was asking for help and most of all, lonely. She said she had no food for her kids and no diapers to change the babies.
I had just finished ordering a new pair of shoes that I liked. I felt sick. And decided that the least I could do would be to get her kids some diapers and enough groceries for the week.
So, I did. On Saturday morning, I got up, got her some groceries and took them to her house. Her house was immaculate. Her children were unbelievably well-mannered and thankful. And when I was helping Jennifer put the groceries away, she looked at me and the only thing I could see was Jesus. And that’s when I knew, It was my duty to get her out of this situation.
On Monday morning I joined forces with KJ, Max Appel, Steve Kohlman, Sara Willison, Candy and Charlie. Not to sound cliché, but I couldn’t have done it without them. I absolutely couldn’t have. They have each been so helpful and so encouraging. And I have seen a part of Jesus in each one of them. They have refreshed my faith in ways unimaginable. They gave without even being emotionally invested or truly knowing Jennifer’s story. They are saints. They are God’s people.
After lots of calling around, lots of dead ends, lots of discouragement from the renting side of things, Sara Willison sent me a link to a property. A woman named Debbie answered. Debbie was a broker for the Cornett family. The Cornetts had been praying that someone with a story like Jennifer’s would move into their property. The Cornetts are members of Southern Acres and they immediately said they would like their kids to be playmates with Jennifer’s. It was perfect.
After the lease was signed, Debbie the Realtor took me aside and said that she had been so encouraged by Jennifer’s story. She said it was inspiring. And she asked if she could be involved with more cases like Jennifer’s through Southland.
I had witnessed the ripple effect first hand.
Jennifer and I got her family moved into their new place the night they were supposed to be evicted from their previous home. Jennifer was also a partial Dollar Club recipient. This has bought her enough time to find a job that is flexible and will allow her to care for her children and fiance.
I’ve known Jennifer and her family for over a month now. We have had several conversations about Jesus. She always tells me she can’t believe Jesus heard her prayers and answered them.
I, absolutely, can believe he heard her desperate prayers. What I can’t believe is that I got to be a part of it. I’m the lucky one in all of this. Sometimes I wonder if the mission wasn’t Jennifer, but the mission was me?
I have been given a whole new perspective.
Our God is glorious.
