Restoration Ministries and AL

oh, i don't how i could forget to tell you about Jackie. She is a 70 year old woman who has a heart the size of Texas and a computer for a brain. She is the director of Restoration Ministries and it is pretty much one of the most amazing ministries ever. Today, it operates 28 programs and with the help of 450 volunteers serves more than 7,000 individuals annually. It reaches out to all segments of the population and has become a beacon of hope for recovering drug-addicts, at-risk, underprivileged youth, families living in poverty, and senior citizens.
When we first arrived there in Harvey, IL, Jackie greeted us with a kiss on the cheek and a big hug!! SHe greets EVERYONE with a hug. Soon after we arrived the place was buzzing with people. Just for a taste of what goes on there. we were sitting talking with Jackie when Jim arrived. He is about 80 something years old and is living in poverty. He walked in and got some coffee and sat down with us. He goes there every single day for coffee, love, and christian friends. THis day, he also needed some new clothes, so Jackie wrote him a note and sent him to the Thrift store that Restoration has so he could get some things for free. She also sends him home with sandwiches and cakes and sweets that the ministry is donated everyday.
For most of Monday we spent our time touring the humble facilities and learning what all goes on there. We also went down to the boxing club they have for kids. Just so you know, they train boxers who have won junior nationals and silver and golden gloves! it was incredible what kids can do when they are given the opportunity!

The primary ministry there is for recovering drug addicts. We were lucky enough to get to meet and get to know Al.
On Tuesday, Jackie pretty much told Al that he was going to share his testimony and If Jackie tells you to do something, you can't say No to her. So Al shared his testimony with us, it was his very first time, and it was the sweetest thing. He was involved in drug dealing heavily for over 20 years. He had been shot 3 times, hit by a few cars, and is still alive to talk about it. Today, he took us around the neighborhood so we could hang up flyers for a Block Party on July 21st, and i was able to talk to him for a long time. His life has drastically changed just in the past week. He saw and talked to a couple of drug dealers while we were out and they told him that he looked so good and that he should stay clean. he was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. he was so ecstatic to hear that there had been an evident change in his life. He kept saying that if he can turn his life around, then there is hope for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord!! He was so sweet and such a softie once we got to know him. Continue to pray for him, that he will stay clean, that he won't succomb to all the druggies that surround him and will try to bring him down. he wants to badly to be a testimony for them so they will change too!.
GOD IS AWESOME!