If only you could see the faces...

This is what you look like when you see God.  For people who say "What God?" I've never seen him.  Have you?"

We can without a doubt say "Yes we have!"

Friday morning we were blessed to host the Hopewell Special Needs Prom.  Dozens of young prom goers arrived to have their picture taken, grab some refreshments (thanks McDonalds for the generous gift of hundreds of McNuggets!) and dance the morning away in true style.

For us, this event symbolized the culmination of a season full of God sightings, tearful stories, and witnesses to the generosity and compassion of God's people.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27

I wish we could show you their faces.  In the smiles, the laughter, and the pure joy, you see God.  Not a God who demands from us but a God who gives to us unending love and joy.

Love demonstrated in simple things.  Joy that comes from truly feeling special.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this Prom season so special!  Thank you to all the organizations who helped make it all possible.  Thank you God for revealing yourself to us.

Flowers always make a girl cry right?

Amen.

- Aileen and Tammy

I am glad God never takes a break. Otherwise I would be a mess!

Friday morning my mom, Mr. Kay, and I went to pick up just a few prom dresses from Lincoln Ministries for next year.  When we got back to church with our van literally crammed with dresses, there was a lady and two daughters waiting for us.

Huffing and puffing with our allergies working over time, we ran up and down the stairs unloading the dresses and helping our newest customers find their princess dresses.   Then the mom said “what a blessing this place is” and it stopped me in my tracks.

I know I have heard that before but what makes today different?  You see we are all dealing with times in life that leaves us tired and out of breath.  But God breathes life into us.

"Let all that you do be done in love" 1 Corinthians 16:14

As I talked to the lady I found she has 16 kids!  Well, not literally.  Her kids are grown but she has taken these kids on as her project - to do things for them as she can.  Talk about exhausting!

- Aileen

What does a Cashier and a Teacher Have in Common?

Last year one of the teachers for the special needs kids at Mallard Creek came in to the Prom Closet to help her students find dresses for their prom.  She said she was getting married soon but didn’t have a dress.  Ms. Cindy talked her into looking and she found one! 

Fast forward one year later and when I called Mallard Creek the same teacher said “I have a great story to tell you but you are going to have to wait until I get there!”  I am not very patient so the suspense was killing me.  When she came in last Friday she told me that God had put a wonderful man in her life and her wedding dress from the Closet made her feel so special on her wedding day!

A couple of weeks ago, Ms. Kay beamed as she told me the story of when she bought Bibles at the Dollar Store.  While she was checking out, the cashier asked her why she was buying so many Bibles.   Ms. Kay told her about the Prom Closet and sure enough, that cashier came in with her daughter to pick out a prom dress.  She even brought in some to donate, too.

“A lady at the store buying Bibles told me about the Prom Closet,” she said.  “What a great ministry you guys are doing!”

Now at first you wouldn’t think that a cashier and a special needs teacher would have much in common.   One was helping students and one was helping her daughter.  One was getting married and one was experiencing the joy of watching her daughter proudly go to prom.

What they both had in common was that they experienced beauty that only God can give.  God knows and provides for our needs.  God makes us feel beautiful, special, and needed in so many ways. 

She is more precious than Rubies.  Proverbs 31:10

Their hugs, thanks, and stories warmed our hearts too and reminded us that God is at work every day.

Blessings!

-Aileen

Sweet, Juicy Fruit of the Spirit

Last week we had a young lady that came in for the Joy Prom that bonded with Tammy.  She helped them find the perfect dress and as they thanked Tammy I heard her say “It wasn’t me – it was God.”

At the same time I was helping another family and it was taking awhile so I offered the mom some fruit from our breakfast.  She replied “Yes please!  I haven’t had any breakfast.”

As I was making her a plate of fruit I realized that her experience here was more than just a plate of fruit, she was getting ready to taste the fruit of God’s work as well.  When I handed her the snack, she said that there was no way she could do this for her daughters.  I explained to her that this ministry was the result of God’s goodness and provision.

"A generous person will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs22:9

See the plate of fruit is not important. Tammy was able to share "food with the poor" when she said "it wasn't me it was God." I was able to do the same. Both families were able to taste that the Lord is good. Best of all, at the prom closet we get to share our food with the poor. Not physical food but spiritual food.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good" Psalm34:8a

I am confident that many families have been able to taste the sweet, juicy fruit of the Spirit here at the Prom Closet.  In fact, this season 357 dresses have found their person.   Just like fruit that is sweet and juicy to our taste, the fruit of the smiles and joy that God uses our ministry for leaves me craving more!

-          - Aileen

It's Just a Number on a Dress

We give Bibles wrapped in recycled prom dresses to the young ladies (and young men) who come into the Prom Closet.  As many of you know we gave away every single Bible we had. Last week, I sent out a Facebook message about needing Bibles to give to our Bible lady.

I have been praying and thinking about what we could do to find more Bibles and then Saturday guess who shows up?  Bible lady!!! Volunteer Kelley said something that stuck in my mind “Ask and you shall receive." How true! God is never late or early. His timing is always perfect!

One of our customers was at the mall and stopped at the kiosk to ask if Belk had any formal dresses on sale.  The attendant told her that she knows of a place that gives away Prom dresses and if she was in need she should check it out.

When she arrived, she explained that at first she wasn’t going to come because she didn’t know what to expect.   She said that by faith she came and was pleasantly surprised at how nice everyone was to her and her daughter.

Her daughter tried on several dresses and was beginning to get discouraged.  I noticed her staring at the size tags and getting more and more sad.  As they found the perfect dresses and were ready to check out, the number on the tag came up in our conversation and I knew that God giving us a golden opportunity.

I told her the number on that tag is not who you are.  It doesn't say anything about you.  That tag is just a number on a dress. Who you are comes from God. You were made in his image and He knows how precious you are.  He knows your name. 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" Jeremiah 1:5a

This season 137 dresses have found their person since we opened for the season and 46 dresses were given out this past Saturday alone!

Remember we are not that number.  That number doesn't say who we are. That number just tells us how many seeds God has to help grow. Our job is to plant.  His job is to give them life.

- Aileen

Aileen is a You Tube star

The young ladies at Fort Mill High School did a great job on the Prom Closet story!  It is the last segment of their newscast:

By the Hundreds

Matthew 13:8 (NIV) Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

We are very close to our 100 dresses given mark.  That is 100 dresses given away, 100 seeds planted.  Pray that the soil is good and God gets the glory!

Last weekend we picked up 300 dresses from Girl Talk in Charlotte.  What a wonderful group they have and what a blessing to us just in time for Prom season!

We are also partnering with Joy Prom for kids with special needs.  We will be dressing the beautiful young girls and handsome young men.

- Aileen