A fire truck almost brought me to tears today. I'm very happy to be associated, in a very small way, with the ministry of Mission of Hope. We talk a lot about the great work they do and the lives they touch. But I confess it isn't always very personal to me. Today was an exception. I received the email below from Emmette Thompson. Suddenly the people they help became very real to me.
Greetings, Dear Mission Of Hope Friends;Every week we are blessed to receive wonderful Donations that we in turn deliver to the various Mountain Ministry Centers and Elementary School - Family Resource Centers; which we are so privileged to assist and serve. They are the "True Hero's" in our eyes...and they are also the ones who get these donations into the hands of those who genuinely need them. Its gratifying to know that we get to play a small part in such a wonderful ministry field, that god has placed us right in the middle of.Please enjoy this very special story and thank you from our dear friend, Terrie Cross with Appalachian Life Quality Initiative (ALQI). She captures in words the heartfelt gratitude from a child...and all of the splendor of what comes with the gift of giving.Thanks for your friendship and support...and for all you do to help extend The Hope.Sincerest Regards;
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director - Mission Of Hope
"Not the last load…but the one before that where we received a lot of baby items…..we had a call about a family needing furniture and clothing because their trailer had burned the night before. They had 3 children. I told them to come on down to Main Street as the MOH Truck was there now and we were unloading it. The mother came with only one of the children – the youngest. Said all their toys had been lost in the fire too. We had piled all the baby items out on the street until we got everything else inside and then would carry these things in. Right in the middle of all the little baby stuff was a red fire engine. The child looked but never said a word. Kathy West picked it up and gave it to him. Even when he left I don't think he understood that the truck was actually his. He held onto it for dear life…as if we were going to take it away as they left. His mom had tears in her eyes."Thanks, Mission of Hope. Terrie Cross
