Seven of us crowded into a van and headed west to Holland, Michigan from Hudsonville. We were scheduled to serve lunch to the Holland Mission residents. One of the residents is from our church and is completing the program and learning to be a certified builder by trade.  This was the first time a band of us did this.

When we got there, Jake, our insider, gave us a brief tour of the Mission. I felt like I was in a nice hotel; it had the feel of a well-organized, friendly, resident-centered Christian ministry. We shot a little pool and played a little foosball. After a tour of the recycling building, we reported for duty.

We had to wear special attire–baseball-style caps and/or hair nets, aprons and rubber gloves.  You can imagine the masculine humor as we snapped on our rubber gloves. Ray looked like a doctor: “Paging Dr. Minnema; paging Dr. Minnema.”

We served “left-overs” since it was Saturday.  After the residents were served, we were free to make our own plates of food. I enjoyed chicken cacciatore over rice, a pork chop, lasagna and a pizza bread stick. The best “left overs” I’ve had in a while. I also took a chocolate-covered doughnut the size of Montana and ended up giving it away I was so stuffed.

Ray, Dan and I sat with a resident named Chris. He’d been in the Army and recently got cross ways with the law. He was a temporary resident waiting to get into the Veterans Facility in Grand Rapids.  Eager to befriend Chris, we asked questions about his life and he told us some of his story. What I thought was memorable was Chris’ time as a restaurant cook at a honky tonk in Miami, FL called “The Out House.” One time a show was booked called “A Taste of Key West.” Chris laughed as he told us, “We had ‘a taste of Key West’ at ‘the out house’.” Chris came from what sounded like a dysfunctional family, but still had a sense of hope about him. His court hearing is next Tuesday.

With our duties accomplished, we piled in the van and headed East. We might go back to the Mission on a week night (a non-left overs meal). We might go on a Sunday for the dinner meal when the eating is mighty fine we’re told. I kept thinking about Chris and what his future holds. Bless him, God, and guide him.

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