Encounters With Hope

We invite you to participate in a special project that will help illuminate the powerful, often unspoken moments of grace and inspiration in our lives— moments when we have been moved with hope. We ask you to reflect on a time,
a personal encounter when you experienced hope in a way that went beyond logic,
beyond reason—when you felt a deep connection with someone, a sense of peace
in the midst of struggle, or a spark of joy that seemed to come from something greater than yourself.

Please share your personal story with us (200-300 words)—whether it was a simple conversation, an act of kindness, a spiritual moment, or a time of unexpected grace. Your words will become part of our collective journey as Pilgrims of Hope in Mission
Territory. These stories will help deepen the connections within our Nativity family and remind us all of the power of human encounter.

Submit your reflections to [email protected], and consider sharing how these moments have shaped your faith and understanding of God's presence in your life. These are the moments that stir us, uplift us, and restore our faith. They increase our Hope!

Let us celebrate the poetry of the heart, the beauty of vulnerability, how God works
in the unexpected and the hope that unites us all.

Matt and I are privileged to serve in the Foster Parent/Star Ministry. Recently, a response team was formed to send text alerts to parishioners about the needs of foster families and single mothers. One such alert was about a young woman who
we'll call Elizabeth, who was preparing to move from a Safehome in Johnson County into her own apartment. Elizabeth’s three children—ages 15, 16, and 5—had been placed in foster care, but not together.

Elizabeth’s journey has been incredibly difficult. She has endured physical and emotional abuse, which led to struggles with addiction. However, her caseworker affirmed that Elizabeth has worked tirelessly to recover and reunite her children. She now has a job in hospitality and is starting fresh, including furnishing her new apartment.

Through the Nativity recovery team, we were able to help outfit her kitchen with essentials. Matt and I personally brought the supplies to her apartment, but there was still much work to be done. She had no furnishings or beds, so her caseworker
arranged an appointment for her at the Flourish Furniture Bank in Grandview. This wonderful organization, through donations, helps single women with challenging pasts select furniture free of charge. Matt and I had the privilege of taking Elizabeth to her appointment, where she was warmly welcomed by volunteers who helped her choose furniture, including beds. College Hunks Hauling volunteered and was waiting with a truck at the appointment. Her furniture selections were immediately
transported to her apartment. Elizabeth was overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness she received.

In addition, Elizabeth did not have a reliable car and relied on Uber for errands, even for simple things like picking up her mail at the post office which often was closed. Matt and I were able to transport her to some of these places, and during our time together, she shared her painful past. She had spent time in foster care as a child with her three brothers, and she vividly recalled the heartbreaking moment when, as a young girl, she sat late at night, in the back seat of a police car with flashing lights. That night, she never saw her mother again.

Matt and I continue to pray for Elizabeth and hope her journey continues the path of healing and stability. We know it will be a difficult road, but with God’s help, she can overcome it. We are reminded of the blessings we’ve received—a safe home, loving parents, and the grace to understand that not everyone has this same experience. We are grateful for the opportunity to support Elizabeth on her journey.

After I graduated college, I came into that season of life where peers move away from one another for work, relationships, or whatever factors are driving them. Thus, when I wanted to visit one of my dearest friends back in the fall of 2017, I had to make an 8-hour drive up to Minnesota. It was on this drive that I encountered one of the greatest acts of kindness and mercy I’ve ever known, courtesy of a man named Rick.

About halfway through what had been a relatively uneventful drive, I heard a suspicious noise. I pulled over on the side of the highway and realized that I had blown a tire, rendering me unable to continue on my drive. I tried to flag down someone driving by; nobody stopped until Rick. Rick asked if I was alright, as I looked noticeably shaken up and nervous, then helped me check for a spare tire in my trunk.

As it was, I did not have one; Rick hardly thought twice and just drove me to a tire shop a couple miles away. He kept me calm while I explained my situation, purchased a tire, and rode back with him to where my car was still standing on the side of the highway. Since Rick did not have the tools to actually change my tire, he got the attention of a passing sheriff, who stopped and helped with the process of putting the new tire on. Thanks to the sheriff's tools and Rick’s kindness, I was able to safely reach my destination and have a fun, joyful weekend with my friend. Rick gave me hope that most people are good and that people are still willing to help each other out of tough situations.

I’ve thought of Rick often since that day, and how he stepped up to help when he didn’t have to while asking for nothing in return. I pray that God continually shows Rick the same hope and blessings that He showed me when He put Rick on my
same stretch of highway that fall day in 2017.