Meet Sam

Sam stood by the laundry counter wearing a big smile and holding a key in his hand. He had been homeless for 3 years often working overnight for a dry-cleaning company, catching naps wherever and whenever possible.

“I’m going HOME! I’ll see you in two days…after I wake up for the first time in my new apartment!”

No two days at the Lamb Center are the same. Many guests, volunteers, staff, donors, and visitors flow through. If we pause to take a breath, we see God’s hand at work among us in amazing ways. Often our joy comes from those brief moments when something beautiful or precious occurs; when a little light shines in the darkness.

Sam rarely complained and often mentored new guests who wandered into the Lamb Center.  He encouraged them to “stay on the right track,” and to “leave their ‘street’ way of life” outside.  Sam also enjoyed singing hymns in the shower and his booming voice was often heard by others in our great room.

True to his word, Sam was gone for two days, pretty much all of which he spent sleeping in his new home.

Not only is Sam sleeping better now that he has a roof over his head, the stress lines readily seen on his face have disappeared.  He pops by the Lamb Center from time to time to share a smile and update us on his life.  When asked about the benefits of his new home, his eyes sparkled as he responded, “Now I see the rain from the other side! I can leave my place and stand in the hallway enjoying the rain and not get soaked! I can go into my bedroom, flop down on the bed and say, ‘Thank you Lord for this blessing!’”

Thank you, Lord, for reminding us of your great love and provision for all of us and the gift of seeing “rain from the other side.”

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19 NIV

Our hearts break for all the ‘Sam’s’ we serve at the Lamb Center each day. We are working on a plan that will house many more Sam’s……stay tuned.