On the final day of work at this site I arrived to find a familiar looking roll of carpet that I had donated several years ago. The carpet had a tortured past. After purchasing for my parent's house, my elderly mother changed her mind and refused to have it installed in her home, so we took it to our home, used a portion of it to replace a worn bedroom carpet, and donated this remnant to Flower City Work Camp which stored it at their Lyell Avenue warehouse for 5 years. It also turned out that the neighbor who purchased my parents house wanted to restore the beautiful wood floors underneath the old carpet. The rejected carpet was redeemed and found its way this woman's home. But the story of the redeemed carpet pales in comparison to the story of the redeemed homeowner who also has had a tortured past. Originally from Haiti, she came to the US with her husband and two children, was abused by her husband, fled the place she was living, came to Rochester to receive help from a woman's shelter before somehow purchasing this home. Even in the purschage of this home, after the sale she had to replace the hot water heater and furnace. She explained to two of us adult leaders that she is learning each day to trust God to provide for her many needs. Her story of brokenness is heartbreaking but the story of her daily walk of faith and hearing of the encouragement and love this team of youth and adults provided over 3 days spent in her attic, kitchen and basement testifies of God's redemptive work in her life, the team members lives, and even a carpet.
