It's overwhelming. It gives me goosebumps every morning when I open the doors to the kitchen and see how much food there is that has been donated by people in this city.
The residents of this town have a commitment to the mission to make sure every peson is fed.
It's one of those things that they are open down here. People back east, if they gave something they would want recognition. Here, they just drop it off.
They are so selfless. They don't want anything from it and they know that they are helping. The don't know that it's just not helping, we are surviving off of it. And then, I get thanks for what I do there and I feel wierd because all I did was taking time to throw it together and serve it. They go out of their way and they work it out with their budget. That's the easy part. The hard part is getting the food in.
It's amazing. We average 6,000 meals a month. It's a miracle. You can't feed 6,000 people with a budget...The miracle is the town getting the food to the mission. It doesn't stop. I wake up the next morning and before I even get breakfast done, there is someone there with another 25lb. bag of beans or rice. The postal workers food drive helped!
................................................. How did you end up coming to the Rescue Mission?
I came to Las Cruces for work. A friend of mine had a job lined up. I got here and it was a month later and the job I came down for disappeared because of the economy. This was three years ago. I started looking for work in kitchens. I found a little bit of work, but not enough to get the bills paid. after 2 1/2 years of struggling each month, I couldn't afford rent and the landlord didn't want to hear any more excuses. This is not an easy town to get a job and a lot of college students are vying for the same job. That was my competition and I was losing left and right. My hours at work had dropped to 17 a week. My landlord had been extending the 5 day grace period to 2 weeks. Finally, I knew I had to do something. I asked, "Do they have a misison in this town or a church that would give me a bus ticket ?"
Instead of a bus ticket, I found a place to stay at the Rescue Mission. That time I only stayed 2 months. I found a job working 40 hours/week. (David saved his money and was able to move to an apartment).
Another couple of months later, business was dropping off. My hours were reduced to only 20 hrs. /week. This time I packed up and left right away for the mission.
.................................................How did you end up cooking at the Rescue Mission?
I had been putting in applications and was going to get out of the mission and work. Then, at the mission, they asked for volunteers to clean after dinner. The cook saw me cleaning and asked if I had any kitchen experience. "22 years, I told him. Every day since then, the two cooks gave me a chance to be the prep cook. A few months ago, the cooks left. The staff approached me and asked if I would like to take on a leadership role and asked what I wanted in life.
I had been praying to God and asking him for a reset button. For so long, I had been struggling. It was exactly what I needed. You don't know your prayers are getting answered. You wake up one day and realize they have been answered. I had prayed, "Give me some time."
It's a lot of responsibility, but I feel rejuvenated every single morning! My knees don't hurt. I hit the reset button. I haven't thrown my back out in over a year. Before when I was working just part time, 25 hrs. a week I would feel instantly drained. You can't explain it. You know it's coming from Him. It's a miracle.
Is there anything you have done differently?......................................
The only difference in my life in the past 3 years is that I've accepted God again. In my faith alone-He's doing everything He said He could do. He gave me a break. He gave my body a chance to heal and put my head on straight!
All I do is get up and cook! He's doing the healing. He's giving me a focus on what He wants me to do in my life.
Before it was a constant struggle. There was a pattern. Every time I'd do stuff on my own, I'd fail. I didn't understand why. I decided first let's get alcohol out of the way (partying with friends). After I got that out, I would wake up a little fresher in the morning and not as tired. Still, I was trying but things were not working out.
.......................................................................................Did you always believe in God?
I was an atheist. 7-8 years ago a question popped in my head. "OK, create something." I realized man could assemble it, but no one could create something that did not exist. You can't create anything. How is anything there is man hadn't created it? WE can't create. We can make but not create. Little things like that made me think more.
Then, finally I had a complete break down. "I'm tired of failing anymore, " I cried to Him. It all started coming back-all the Bible stories from when I was 4 years old. I told Him, "I've done everything I can and I'm still failing and I just don't know why."
In chapel one night, it was like I realized how God slid it into there like a puzzle piece. He was saying, "I know what you're doing." He's putting everything in place for me to succeed. I was taught I had to do everything in my life to succeed. We actually have to do very little. You have to start somewhere and somebody has to give you a chance.
____________________postscript___________________
:) David thanks you for your prayers. Part of the purpose he sees as working as the cook is actually giving people a chance to start over. Homeless individuals who lack work history are given a chance. David has volunteers working as dishwashers in the kitchen. He sees that they excel in every aspect of their job. When they have been persistent and shown good work, he gives them a referral. He has seen an excellent success story of a life God has changed. A man got a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant and returned to thank David for his new start in life.
Our local talented dance and choir clubs at Las Cruces High School and New Mexico State University are encouraging you to help them collect food warm clothing and blankets for the needy who are helped at Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission and the Rescue Mission's ministry, The Clothing Room. The Gospel Rescue Mission serves 70,000 meals a year to people who are homeless or just need a meal. They also help with food boxes for needy families. The Clothing Room at 1416 S. Solano is a set up like a normal clothing store. The difference is that the clothing was donated by people like you who care. The once loved clothing helps others find a job, have clothes for school and know that they will be warm in the beds with blankets, etc. Thanks for your help in this endeavor. Stop by anytime between 9-11 AM Mon. Wed. or Friday to see how your donations make a difference. Come to our open house on Saturday, Nov. 10th from 11:00-4:00 ! Thanks! THANK YOU...STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
