Hope for the Holidays

236 Main Ave. PO Box 762 Fort Lupton, CO 80621 Phone: 720-778-6273Email: hopeatmiraclehouse@gmail.com Website: www.hopeatmiraclehouse.org

Fourth Quarter 2017

Heather Marhoefer 1959- 2017 Heather Marhoefer meant so much to so many. At Hope @ Miracle House, she was a driving force. She was a founding Board member whose contributions were invaluable. She readily stepped into the role of Treasurer and made it hers. She brought her gift of joy and enthusiasm to each meeting and event. Although her position with Hope was one of business, her heart was first and foremost focused on the safety, comfort and future of the guests. Hope @ Miracle House is not the same without Heather. It never will be. But she left a legacy and an example for those who follow in her foot- steps. Rest in Peace Heather.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them.

Remembering We are two months into our third year here at Hope@Miracle House. We currently have two families staying with us and we are undergoing some exciting changes in our structure. We have become a 24/7 facility in the past couple of weeks. This is a much prayed about undertaking. It means that we have transitioned from a 12 hour, overnight shelter, to a shelter that remains open for our guests 24 hours a day. Our guests are no longer required to leave the house at 7 AM and return at 7 PM. They are able to stay during the day. It was difficult for the staff and volunteers to lock the doors behind the families as they walked out each morning, often into inclement weather conditions, forcing them to take refuge in a car or trying to find a warm, safe place for the day. With these changes, they are now able to stay in a comfortable setting which affords them a place to work on job searches, work with case management counselors and strive towards making positive life decisions. It was a huge step for Hope@Miracle House to find a way around the barriers to move forward with a 24/7 facility. The United Methodist Church very generously agreed to the plan and provisions were made to set up the new schedule. Our guests were very pleased to learn that hurrying out into the cold each morning was no longer a necessity. Our staff, Fanessa and Anthony, have also embraced these changes. In fact, they were very instrumental in the changes being made. They have set up crafts for the kids to work on, and have made Hope a warm and inviting place to stay. Although our guests are eager to be on their own, we consider it a blessing for them to be with us as they make new plans for their futures. This is a picture of a few of the crafts, including a Christmas countdown, that were designed for our guests to make. The kids loved working on these! AB

We’d all come together with one purpose: to give food and shelter to the hungry and homeless. We believed that we could make a difference in Fort Lupton and we were determined to figure out just how to accomplish our goals. Four years ago we first gathered at the Methodist church because we had a dream. Folks from all parts of the community were meeting to make a difference. Some had been friends for years, others were meeting for the first time, but altogether, we were a tenacious lot. The first several meetings were spent struggling with the overwhelming odds that seem to go against our plans. For some of us, Policies and Procedures were confusing. Others confronted legal issues with trepidation and determination. The mere logistics of caring for families who needed immediate help to simply survive was staggering. Funding was the obstacle that was most daunting. Where could we ever raise the kind of money that it would take to turn some place into a sanctuary with warmth, comfort, nourishment and provisions for people who desperately needed it? We kept coming together each month knowing that God had a plan and a direction. Some months we saw clearly what needed to be accomplished and other times we would sit and look at each other as we contemplated our next move. Don’t misunderstand me. We were not a dismal lot. We enjoyed the challenges we faced, but there were times when we flailed and definitely took several steps backwards. But we persevered. Many prayers were prayed at those meetings. Many prayers were ANSWERED at these meetings. Just when discouragement reared its ugly head, God would lay a miracle at our feet, and our courage would be renewed and we would find our faith bolstered. We eventually decided that dividing into small groups to get tasks done might be the best path to take. And so we did just that. There were groups to study the logistics of housing those in need. There were groups tasked with reading and understanding the legalities involved. The group I was thrust into was the Policies and Procedures lot. It consisted of Braylon Roup, Karen Fernandez and myself. We decided to meet at the Adventist church to begin our daunting task. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, we gathered together; three of us who were used to floundering with the larger group, on a quest to conquer the P&Ps. We had ‘borrowed’ policies from other cold weather care facilities so that we had a foundation to build upon. We read each word and changed phrases and adapted their suggestions to suit our needs. It was a tedious chore, but we were determined not to let the rest of the members down, so we dug in our heels and forged ahead. After having come through months of meetings and uncertainties, we plowed through stacks of papers that day, in our first of many attempts to address out what we thought to be pertinent and set aside that which did not fit our idea of Hope@Miracle House. About an hour into our work, we heard a knock on the door of the Fellowship Hall. As I approached the door I saw an unusual sight through the small window. I had to squint a bit and shake my head to make certain I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Through the window I could see the top of a Roman soldier’s helmet. This was Fort Lupton and I’d not read of any recent Roman army activity in the area. I opened the door and standing before me was a boy about eight or nine years old. He was indeed wearing a plastic Roman soldiers helmet and was astride his bike. “What is this building” he asked. I explained that it was a church. “And what do you do here?” “Well”, I said, “we usually meet here to worship God.” He nodded very solemnly as if turning this information over in his mind. “Do you ever help people?” “We do our very best to help people. As a matter of fact, we are meeting right now to figure out how we can help people who don’t have a home or food and need someplace warm to stay.” He dug into his pocket, took out three dollars and asked “Would this help? It’s all I have.” I found myself blinking rapidly as this wonderful child offered up all that he had in his pockets. I assured him that his gift would help more than he could imagine. I thanked him and mentally hugged him as he pedaled off without another word. I am not sure if this was the first contribution made to Hope@Miracle House, but for me, it changed the direction of our work. I turned and told Braylon and Karen what had happened and after thanking God for this most wonderful gift, we returned to our work which was no longer so tedious or insurmountable. It gave us renewed determination and with many gifts of time and money that came to H@MH, we were able to open the doors and begin taking in God’s cold, hungry and frightened children. Each year, I am amazed and blessed by the generosity of this community. Folks volunteer their resources and continue to provide the necessary funding to keep Hope alive. During this Season of Giving, I ask that you continue your generosity and outpouring of love. And as we celebrate the birth of a precious baby boy this Christmas, I just want to say thank you to another little boy in a plastic helmet, who just wanted to help…people.

WHAT IS Hope @ Miracle House? Hope @ Miracle House is a faith-based community organization that compassionately seeks to address the needs of homeless families through emergency safe shelter, food, and supportive services.

Hope @ Miracle House residents must be drug free and alcohol free. A resident can stay Hope @ Miracle House for 30 days.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me". (Matthew 25:40, 45, NIV)

Hope @ Miracle House Board

President Deb DeMille

Vice President Gwen Ceretto Treasurer Karen

FernandezSecretary Sue Hubert Member Sandy Akins Member Perla

GuerreroMember Donna

HowardMember Jacque KerrMember Julie SpadiMember Debra

StinnettMember Janice Wilkins

These sweet girls brought gifts for the guests at Miracle House.

Blessings all year long!

Thank you all for your generosity. Without your gifts none of these blessings would be possible. You are all so appreciated. Merry Christmas

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

Newsletter 6