There's room at the inn for 2011!  Our Board of Directors has approved month to month rental, funds permitting, of a townhouse capable of housing two women and their children.  The perfect rental unit has been identified.  A search is underway for the two families we will house as I write.   Two families have donated considerable furnishings to basically outfit the home.  Additional furnishings needed, especially white goods and household supplies, will be announced when we know exactly the ages of our new residents.  We hope that you'll consider making a donation - even a small one - to our funding so that this home can be kept available to these families, for up to two years if needed, as they develop in the areas of self-sufficiency, mutual accountability, and community responsibility.  If you have time to mentor in any way, to be a friend to these women and children, ask for a volunteer application.  It's the right thing to do. 

in faith, Cathy

When God finished each day of creation, the story goes, God looked at what had been made and "proclaimed it good".  That's original grace.  In my religious upbringing, I heard far more about what I might do in my lifetime or was doing right now as a consequence of original sin, wrongdoing against the creator and the creation.  Wrongdoing from which I must be saved.  No question the human race, and yours truly, have engaged in a goodly share of wrongdoing.  Whatever happened to "original grace" -  the state of being in which and for which we were made?

OASIS of NWA proclaims original grace as a primary tenet in our community rule.  We believe that all of us - residents, volunteers, supporters, donors, partners -  were created good.     To think of oneself as good is new to some of us.  To be able to say "Life is good" is new to some of us.  Not only new, but a challenge.  It's a challenge worth pursuing for no one has to be defined by that which is wrong or in any way less than good. Like the news networks and corporate marketers who are celebrating today's "heroes" and the growing culture of generosity,  the OASIS community will always be appreciating, celebrating, and contributing to goodness by who we are and what we are doing.   Join us....it will be good for you and you'll be good for us!

in faith, Cathy