Helping hands

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Tuesday week ago I decided that I would go into Kansas City as we were going somewhere on the opposite side of Kansas City and I didn’t want Jo coming back and forward. I had my day planned, walk to the nearest bus station which was an hour and 8 minutes away according to google, I then got the bus into the city at Crown Central. I needed to be there for around 4 so i thought if I left around one that should give me plenty of time to get there. I got all organised, made a proper lunch and brought snacks which in case I needed more substance. I prayed before I left that God would go before me and guide me to the right way.

I started walking and got passed all the barking dogs and seem to want to get at a piece of me, I walked to the top of the street turned right and then checked my phone to see if I had to turn right or go straight on, as I was doing this I realised that there was a vehicle coming behind me so I moved from the house I was standing in front of to a piece of ground by the side of the road. The vehicle went past, I looked at it and then looked at my phone, the sun was blinding my eyes so couldn’t really see anything. The truck stopped and the man reversed back to me and put his window down and said,

“Do you want a lift? I’m going to 47th street”

I looked at him as I wasn’t sure as I didn’t know who he was, so I asked him,

“What is your name?

“I am Don” “I live over there in the brick house” “What is your name”

” I am Ruth and I live with Jo and Alex” Do you know them?

“Oh yes, I am in charge of the neighbourhood watch”

I remembered Jo speaking to me about Don, so I decided to trust him and got into the truck. I told him I was going to the nearest bus station, he told me to look out for a bus stop on the way as he didn’t know where they were and I didn’t know where they were either so it was the blind leading the blind at this point. I had a great chat with him about his family and I found out that he feeds over 40 feral cats and the deer that comes to visit near his property and Jo had told this so I definitely knew who he was. We couldn’t find the bus stop so Don decided to take me the whole way to the City.

God is good, he answered my prayer, he went before me and I got safely to Crown Central and was able to walk to the hospital where Alex worked. I told Don that it was like God had sent him to look after me and that I was very thankful for him bringing me into Kansas City.

Snowy days

On Sunday I woke up to the snowy day just like the photo above, it was beautiful to walk about in but when going to church it was an adventure the jeep jackknifed a few occasions until we got stuck and had to reverse to get out of it. We got to church half an hour late but in time for the service, the minister Aaron was speaking about how great our God was, reading from Genesis 1-3, what I still remember was how great our God is because when Adam and Eve sinned instead of stopping the human race he killed a lamb and used the skin to clothe them. It pointed to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us as He was the Lamb that took away the sin of the world. After church I met with a few people and organised to meet up with Amanda, which I did yesterday and had loads of fun chatting about how Jo and Alex met me and what was available in the church for me to participate in. It was fun going home but we got there thankfully. Praise the Lord. Jo did say that I could drive home but I quickly said no and that he or Alex could do it.

I have started spray painting the legs of a table last week, I got to finish the legs this week and then started on the table, I have got it started even though I think I made a bit of a mess at the beginning. We brought in the 4 chairs for the dining room table that were as above, I cleaned and polished them and removed the seat part and hoping to paint and recover the seating.

So I have been keeping myself busy, been knitting a blanket in the evening as well. On Thursday as some of you may know a friend (Valerie) came and picked me up and we went to the Social Security Office, I had already completed the form at home and brought all the necessary documents just in case they did not have anything on their system. So took a number and waited until I was called, the lady was very helpful, there was nothing on the system so I just had to give her the form and my documents and she put it on the system, she then printed a couple of pages of for me to check the information, she had written down that I came from the Republic of Ireland and I told her that was incorrect as my Passport was a British passport which means that she needed to changed it to the United Kingdom, she checked my passport and said

“so you pay your money to the Queen and in Ireland you don’t “

“That is correct” I said

It made me smile. Once this was completed the lady informed me that I should get my Social Security card and number in 8 working days, to have a happy birthday and merry Christmas. My friend took me out to lunch and to the post office so that I could get some stamps. It was a great day.

This week I have been studying about the Joy we have received at Advent, in reading was in Acts 17v24-25, I found it really encouraging in the part that was written about how all we need to do is submit to Jesus,

• Trust Him to be the Supplier
• Trust Him to be the Strengthener
• Trust Him to be the Counselor
• Trust Him to be the Guide
• Trust Him to be the Saviour

and being satisfied with that and with all that God is for us in Jesus.

I am excited for my birthday tomorrow and I just want to thank you to all who are praying for me.

I wish you all a Happy and joyful Christmas with family and friends and may you have a enriching and blessed 2020.