Pat Berg, Founder
I remember Thanksgiving at AMH . . .
When AMH was a new ministry, we would join with other ministries in reaching out to the homeless. One year we helped furnish food and serve bussed-in homeless friends from the Houston area to a park in The Heights. I had not been exposed to the homeless before and I admit – I was more than a little frightened. But I was determined. As I watched one busload of men come through the doors, I spotted a gentleman that did not look quite like the others. His clothes, though tattered, weren’t quite as grungy and his hair was not as long and dirty. He carried a satchel and immediately went to the restroom rather than follow the line to the food. When he returned, he was freshly washed, and his hair was combed. I took the opportunity to walk up to him and ask him if I could take his satchel to a table and save a place for him to sit. He pointed to an empty table near the back of the room and asked to be seated there. I did as he asked and sat across from where I put his satchel. I was determined that I was going to get to know him.
He came to the table and set his tray down. He positioned his flatware in a manner that would seem to be a formal setting. He put his napkin in his lap, folded his hands and said a beautiful blessing. Again, I immediately knew he was different. His table manners were impeccable. As he ate, we talked. He finished, opened his satchel and took out a pad and pen. He then wrote a beautiful poem, one that was truly a master of the English language.
He gave it to me and then started to tell me about himself. He was a philosophy professor at Rice University. He had taken a leave of absence from there for one year to live on the streets of Houston to study the homeless. He had a wife and children and would not see them during the year. At the end of the year, he would return to his former life. I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior and re replied, “I accepted him as a child but as I became educated, I thought I no longer needed him. But having been on the streets since August, I now know I need him, and I talk to him every day. I have a Bible that I carry it in my satchel and protect it with my being.”
It was then time for the bus to load and go back to the streets. I learned so much that day. I became truly thankful for all that I had. I have only seen him once since that time. I spotted him on a street as we were helping deliver food bags to teenagers from the Covenant House van. I think of him often and pray for him as God leads.
One other Thanksgiving, I remember was the year the turkeys arrived late.
AMH received a call that a certain produce company was donating 150 frozen turkeys to be delivered the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We were so excited for we usually bought either a ham or roasting chicken to give with our food boxes. Tuesday came; Tuesday went. Wednesday came; Wednesday went. We hit every grocery store in the area to obtain protein to go in our boxes. The boxes were delivered. We were disappointed. Thanksgiving came; Thanksgiving went. Friday morning at 2:00 a.m. Gordon’s cell phone rang. It was a truck driver telling us he would be delivering 150 frozen turkeys to OUR HOME around 8:00 a.m. that morning. At 7:55 a.m., a huge semi-trailer pulled up in front of our house. Where did we want to unload the turkeys?
We had room in our deep freeze for some and room for a couple in our refrigerator in the garage. The rest we had to put in the garage until we decided what to do with the rest. You see, Gordon NEVER refused a food delivery of any kind, except spoiled food. Larry, who lived across the street from us, came over to see what was going on. When we told him about our plight, he called his wife, Mary, to come over. She came, coffee in hand, and listened to our story. She said, “Stay here. Don’t leave. I have a plan.” Mary came back in about 30 minutes, beaming. She had called all her sorority sisters and made arrangements for them to be at her house in about an hour. They were all going to clean their deep freezers and store the turkeys for us until the 15th of December when we would deliver Christmas boxes to schools in the area to give to needy families at the schools.
What a miracle! God not only provided Thanksgiving Dinner for about 50 families; He also provided 150 turkeys for needy families at schools in the area.
Other Thanksgiving stories come to mind, but I chose these two to emphasize how AMH works. God gives us new and sometimes frightening experiences. He provides food and makes it increase even in these modern times. And He uses even those not a to complete His purposes. I am so thankful this year that we can remember and in doing so, move forth to accomplish whatever God has for us. AMH is not finished. We are just revolving into another era to serve others and give them the opportunity to see Jesus at work and join the family of God.