A New Venture

I am not at all adventurous. The fact is, I like things calm and low key. I do not like to take risks and I like to feel safe and secure. Of course I married a man who is just the opposite. Throughout our 35 years of marriage he has often come up with ideas and visions that in my brain just seem like a good way to waste money. Over the years I have learned not to panic when another brainstorm pops into his head. More often then not, it doesn't get any further than his dream and it doesn't do me any good to stew and worry about what might happen. I have had many talks with Jesus about letting things go and not being the constant bubble buster for all of Steve's grand plans. As I look back over my life, I realize that in the end, everything has worked out for the good and this helps me relax and not get so uptight about what might possibly go wrong in the future.

One of Steve's ventures was the composting business. I have mentioned before that I certainly had my doubts about the success of Green 'N Grow Compost, LLC. However, this business has succeeded even beyond Steve's wildest imagination and we are very grateful. Steve has always felt that it was a gift that God gave to him that enabled him to figure out how to take food and its packaging and compost it to dirt. He believed that he should not bury his "talent" but use it to benefit the community. After seeing the huge quantities of perfectly good food that was sent to us to compost, Steve wondered if there was some way he could start up a local food bank for those in the area that were struggling to make ends meet. We are not allowed to give away any of the food that is sent to us to compost, because it is specifically marked to be destroyed, but he began to research how he could get this food before it is designated for a landfill or to be composted. He also began to work with the Pennsylvania Food Bank and some doors have opened up there to receive food through them.

The Mount Nebo General Store has been for sale in our neighborhood for the last two years. At one time it had been a big fixture in our community. In the last half of the twentieth century it was a small corner store that was kept well stocked with basic groceries and a few small household items. I loved to use it for those last minute things that I had forgotten to pick up at the larger grocery store where I normally shopped. Around the turn of the century, it changed ownership and along with groceries it sold pizza and subs. About three years ago, it closed up and has been empty ever since. Like any place that sits vacant for a long time, it was rapidly falling into a bad case of neglect and disrepair. Besides the area that was used for the store, it also has a four bedroom apartment in the back and upstairs of the building as well as a large basement underneath. The apartment was also vacated around the same time as the store, and has been uninhabited for at least two years.

 

Last summer Steve began to seriously think about buying the store to use for a food bank. At first I was adamantly opposed. Why in the world did we want to have another property to maintain and worry about? Even though I am sensitive to those around us who find it challenging to have enough food on their table, I personally did not have a big desire to help to physically feed them. I would rather just write a check out to some other organization so they could take care of them. Did he have any idea how time consuming and difficult a task it would be to actually start up a food bank? And where in the world was he going to get enough volunteers to help operate it?

Gradually what I had to realize is that Steve feels strongly that God is leading him in this mission and I probably should not stand in the way of it. We began to talk to some close friends who have agreed to help us organize it and get it off the ground. This has been a huge relief and blessing. Having some other people work with us on this journey is reassuring to me.

So last Friday the store was purchased and we now begin the cleanup process. Our first job is to get the apartment ready to rent and then we will focus on the food bank. People from church are already offering to help us get things fixed up and we are so grateful.

There is a lot of work to be done--broken water pipes, broken heating system, holes in floors and walls, dirt and grime everywhere! I am trusting God in this venture. It would be a lie to say that I am excited about this, but I think I can truthfully say that I am okay with it. Those that we have spoken to in the community seem to be genuinely happy that the store has been purchased and will be fixed up and used for a good purpose. God works in mysterious ways sometimes and maybe this store that was once the hub of the neighborhood will once again be a place where neighbors can meet neighbors and work together to help each other.