Home is where you hang your memories, rest your head and open your heart. Home is where you have peace, joy, laughter, tears and love. My home away from home is the cafe.

As I think of the time I have put in at the cafe, a smile comes to my face. I have had the privilege to serve, listen, laugh, cry, and pray with the young and the old. I feel totally at home and can't wait to get there and see what God has to offer for the day.

As each person walks through the door, I look up and my face lights-up and I say, "Hello!"

These people are becoming my friends...my family. I am getting to know them better and better each week. I look forward to their arrival. The more the better!

The Lord is moving in ways I never dreamed of, not only in their lives but in mine as well.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...AWAY FROM HOME!!

I Love This Place!

See You Tuesday's 3-6,

Paula Browand

How do I begin to write about a day that has been greatly blessed by the Lord? I know everyday is a blessing from God but some day's it seems He moves more than others.

Two weeks ago at the cafe things were a little slower than the week before. We got to spend more time with the guests who wandered in. Quite a few of the kids were talking about God, the word saved, baptism, and ways of the world.

A group of young ladies were talking about how they saw no point in getting married. They felt it was O.K. to just live with someone and then leave them whenever you wanted. I couldn't help myself. I had to share what God says about that. In doing so, I found out one of the girls is an agnostic (believes in a higher power) not necessarily "God."

I shared with her about the ways of the devil and how he is a liar and great deceiver. I told her about the hole in her heart that needs to be filled with Jesus Christ. I shared with her how to be saved. She wasn't interested in doing that today but a seed was planted, now we just need to water it and watch it grow, praying it not be snatched away. Mark 4:1-20 (Parable of the Sower) gives a very clear description of this. Thank you Lord.

Other volunteers were busy planting and watering seeds too. One was speaking with a woman about her faith, another was sharing the gospel with a young man who was celebrating his birthday. He was accepting of the gift of God and received Jesus into his heart. Praise the Lord!

Lots of gardening done today at the cafe. Pray with us for the harvest!

I love this place!

See you Tuesdays 3-6,

Paula Browand

A - acceptance

B - boys and girls

C - coffee

D - drinks

E - excitement

F - free food

G - games

H - help when needed

I - ice cream

J - Jesus known

K - kick back and relax

L - love given

M - many people

N - no one turned away

O - openness

P - pizza

Q - quiet it is not

R - ramen noodles (kids favorite)

S - soup

T -  time to talk

U - understanding

V - volunteers

W - water of life

X - xtra helpings

Y - you are important

Z - zany, fun people

I love being part of Cafe 41:11,

Lynn

Another busy week...another experience...another memory...another lesson learned.

When I arrived at the cafe this week, we had people waiting to come in, waiting for a refreshing drink, waiting for a meal, waiting to talk. It amazes me the regulars that come in counting on us to provide and to be there for them. I feel the Lord has us all there at the right place and the right time.

After half an hour of hustle and bustle, I got to spend some time with a young man who just came off a great experience of coaching a boys basketball tournament. Hearing how he related to the kids, and how well they did in taking second place, touched my heart. I listened as he shared things about the game and his life. I got to congratulate and encourage him. I let him know that when he comes into a room it just lights up with his joy and shining eyes as he talks. Yes, he has had some hard times but he continues to shine.

I am reminded that we all are to let our light shine. Matthew 5:16 tells us, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven" (NIV).

I hope we that volunteer here at the cafe are a light; a beacon to all who come in. I hope the people who come in see the Lord's light in us as we try and meet their needs both physically and spiritually. I pray that light leads them to the truth.

Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!

I love this place!!

See you Tuesdays 3-6,

Paula Browand

The cafe was jumping last week. With the temperature outside at 94 degrees, refreshing beverages were being poured out one after another. Pizza, sandwiches, bagels, popcorn, & desserts were gobbled up like crazy. We could hardly keep up with the dishes.

Finally a break came in the crowd and I sat on a stool, with my ice water, and rested my head in my hands...AHHH! A friend of mine from Church came and sat next to me tired after a long day at work. We smiled but barely spoke...just relaxing in the moment.

A woman who had been in the cafe for awhile came over and started a conversation. From what I could tell she had been struggling in all areas of her life and the Lord was currently bringing her out of a great valley. She was accepting of the bits of wisdom she had learned. She was radiating in the beauties of creation surrounding her. She was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and she was grateful. Praise the Lord!

She asked a question of me, "Do I really have to go to church if I have the temple inside me?"

I shared with her how God's word says in Hebrews 10:24-45 that we are called to not give up on meeting together and to lift up and encourage one another towards love and good deeds.

There is a purpose for our gathering in God's house. It's not about just what we can receive but what we can give. It's not about how full our cup is but how much we empty it out for another. It's not about us...it's about God's love flowing through us in a sharing of the gifts and talents He has given us.

Through the tears in her eyes I could see the Holy Spirit had touched her questioning mind and healed her wounded heart. Had I not "taken a break" from my busy deeds, I would have missed the opportunity provided to me to not only give to another but also to remind myself I need to keep pressing on no matter what the road looks like before me.

We are called to come together...one another...FOR HIS HOUSE...HIS PEOPLE...HIS GLORY.

I love this place!!

See you Tuesdays 3-6,

Paula Browand

Sometimes a cup of coffee ain't so bad. I've never had a cup of coffee in my life, and I'm 59 years old. That's a lot of life...LOL! But during one shift at Cafe 41:11, I had my first coffee experience. A group of kids stopped in aging from 15-18 years old. They were a happy group, and we started to kid around immediately. They saw some coffee flavoring on the counter and asked if I could make them a Latte.

I said with raised eyebrows, "What's a Latte?"

They thought that was pretty funny. (I didn't get the joke...as usual). Well, anyway, they taught me how to make a Raspberry Latte. We laughed about different ways to say the word Latte (guess you had to be there). Within 10 minutes, I felt we were looking into each others faces and eyes really smiling with one another.

It was then that I realized:

Sometimes a strong cup of coffee (i.e. strong message) needs a little warmth of heated milk (i.e. love added to it) topped off with a sweet dab of whip cream (laughter) and a drizzle of chocolate syrup (friendship) to make a sweeter coffee (connection with the Lord's love for us).

Smile and Drink up!

I love this place!

See you Tuesdays 3-6,

Paula Browand

When Tim approached me during my usual Wednesday afternoon shift asking if I would do him a favor I said, "Of course!"

Not even thinking it would be such a blessing in return. Tim asked me if I would go for a ride to the Clark gas station with a stranger not even a 1/2 mile down the road to buy $20 of gas for a woman. Tim reached into his wallet and gave me the money. Understanding that Tim was rightfully protecting him and his family by sending me, I excitedly, but nervously took my apron off and put the money in my pocket.

Tim explained to the woman who has 2 young children that I would take her. I had no idea the specifics of this mission, but I knew Tim was walking by faith. I noticed tears streaming down her face as I gave her a little hug. We got in the van and she told me how embarrassed she was to have all of her belongings crammed into her van. Her and her children were spending the night with different friends and relatives and sometimes in their van. It broke my heart at how hurt this woman was not only because of her living arrangements, but that she was frustrated for continuing to wish she could go back to the child's father who kicked her out.

She told me how he wasn't steady and didn't provide the things she wanted, but he was obviously the one she looked to for trust and loyalty. I quickly prayed that God would give me the words to comfort and show this woman how important it is that she trust and place her loyalty in God alone. I recently memorized Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

This verse hit me hard when I realized what exactly it meant to me. Everyone in the world could and would fail me. But I know that Jesus Christ was, and always is, consistent in my life. Whether I give him 100% or 5%. I tried my best to show her how she can't keep trying to trust and pursue this man when she has the perfect man there for her every second of everyday. God will provide more than the man she thought had all the answers she could dream of or imagine.

I told her how I struggle everyday with trusting that God will provide. She slowly calmed down, and we drove to the gas station.

God put the gas in her car yesterday. And I tried right there to show her how God has entrusted Tim with the burden of Medina. That Tim has a wife and a daughter and he gives his time and money to anyone who needs it at the cafe. I watched him several times take care of people today and every other day by giving of himself.

I tried so hard to recall 18 years of church lessons and the one I came up with is that I believe God has entrusted Tim with all that he has because he realizes that the money he has, the car he has, the home, and time he has is ALL GOD'S!!!! I think right then it hit her that Tim wasn't rich, but Tim was FAR from poor.

He knows what is important and is grateful for what he has. I explained to her how missionaries get there money, and I believe she was much more grateful for the $20 in gas. This also taught me a lesson I will remember for years to come. And it's exactly what I had to tell her. The lesson that God will always be the constant variable in my experiment of a life. God is in control and will protect me and those I care about.

I've never had the opportunity to use scripture in witness like this, and it's so encouraging to memorize God's word because God just overwhelmed me with a feeling of accomplishment and the feeling that He, my Heavenly Father, was proud of me. And that He is in complete control, not me.

--Crystal