What a beautiful August cloudy, cool, rainy day this is in eastern Missouri. Yes, beautiful! Missouri can have its dry, hot, summer days. Am I complaining about the hot days of summer? No way, not at all. Summer is my season that I love. Perhaps it is because on a hot day in July in 1965 my dear mother almost had me along the two lane highway of old 71. She was on her way home from the doctor at Nevada, Missouri and had a flat tire. She, 9 months pregnant in the hot, humid part of July in Missouri, took out walking with my two older siblings in tow to call on someones phone at someones residence to get help from my dad who was tending his cattle out in the pasture who was not available right soon. I must felt the heat that day while my mama was carrying me, from her and the hot sun and decided it was good. Later that evening she had me. Whew!!! That was close. This story would have been far more interesting if I had been born beside the road however for her sake I'm glad that it isn't true. Oh my!!! The days before cell phones!!
In Kansas City there is a place where the very broken arrive. It is Restoration House of Greater Kansas City, a faith based organization that takes in these devastated women, taking them into their care to help them through the long journey of recovery and healing. Rehope market is a little coffee shop and cafe that is connected with the Restoration House. If you are in Greenwood, Missouri stop there for your cup of Joe and shop in the little gift store where these women sell their candles and various crafts that they make while they are recovering.
Millions of people today, at this moment, are caught in the clutches of human trafficking. This does not eliminate any origin of sex, men, women and children are caught in this awful crime. The things I have learned through the little investigation I have done, is that it is at your back door and you may not know it. Unknown to all the reasons this has captured my attention. It hits a very soft place in my heart for these precious souls who have found themselves in this slavery at the the command of evil persons. This should not be so. God is not pleased with this and someday those who have committed such crimes will stand before Him and will pay an awful price for the things that seemed good and pleasant to them. I pray for them as well that they will come to repentance and be able to enjoy the pleasures of Heaven someday that God intended for them. Everyone should have a right to make their own choices of who they give themselves to. No man or woman has any rights to take this freedom away and have another human in their control without choice. It is not a matter if it is a president, any leader, any police, any pastor, any teacher, any lawyer on down to the lowest on the ladder. It is sin and it is not Gods plan.
This love that I carried in my heart for this cause was a distant feeling that I would ever get to become a supporter of this special ministry. Yet, God is so good and these things often fall in our lap when we pray and aren't even looking for it.
I was dilly dallying in Greenwood, Missouri one day after picking up some items. I was hungry and was looking for a cute little place to find a bite to eat. So I was googling for a place and Rehope Market showed up. I was so delighted when I began to read what they were all about. Driving the street, Google was hollering at me, "you have arrived" yet I could not see the place right away as it was tucked in so quietly among the other houses and buildings. After turning around, I spotted it with its charm and invitation to go in. I went in there, bought a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee and sat down at a table all alone in my comfortable surroundings. I felt blessed to be there. As I was eating, I was eavesdropping. I know, I should not have, however the conversation was amazing that these mixed group of people were having. Since I was eavesdropping, it would not be proper to tell of the conversation they were having however it was much to do with the cause of Restoration House. I could have jumped up and given them honors for such a noble work, yet no, I felt not to. I just ate and listened.
Then I asked the workers there what Restoration House represented. They proceeded to tell me and gave me a business card of the home where these women go to start their journey of making a new life.
These women are there by choice. Often, these women come with no self respect, no identity and no rudder for their life. This is not an easy journey for these women as because of their low self worth they often do not feel worthy to be rescued and cared for. They can run away for this reason as they do not comprehend their value. Going to Restoration House, I was amazed at their tour of their very nice house that is actually a renovated church. it is inspiring to see how these women that are there, the ones who care for them, to see them give themselves for this. I truly am inspired about their unselfish giving. They make their own cement candle vessels and they are so pretty. They also decorate insulated water tumblers in which they sell in their store as well.
Twice a year, Sweet Life and Farmhouse Wicks raffles a candle off to raise money for this purpose. It is a thrill to be able to present this money to Restoration House as they don't operate on a lush budget. They have told me before that they save this money for the soy candle wax that they purchase from me at wholesale price. This coming Christmas, I will be raffling off another candle. I hope to do this on my website as well to give everyone an opportunity to be able to donate to this splendid, awesome, very needful and worthy work.
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