Last night I stood in an upstairs apartment in downtown Luverne and offered my sympathy to the family and friends of Tisha, a young woman who was found dead just a few hours earlier. She was still in her bed and her mother was there with her hand on her daughter, sobbing and asking why this had to happen. Three policemen were in the room interviewing people and documenting the prescription medicine on the TV stand and scrolling through her cell phone to gain information. It was a very sad scene and one that made a lasting impression on me.
Tisha came in to ARC earlier this month asking for assistance with her rent and electric bill, which we were able to offer. She and I had a good talk about life, God, and other topics, and she was very positive about her future. She shared about taking care of her grandmother who lives in town here, and wanting to stay on the straight and narrow for her daughter, a 3rd grader at Luverne elementary. Being a connoisseur of cultures, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask, “Tisha, if you don’t mind, can I ask what is your ethnicity?” She smiled a big, beautiful smile and proudly said, “I’m part Native and part Black.” I noted that her speech patterns were distinctly Native, and her hair had the curl which suggested Black. She agreed and laughed. After that I gave her a ride to the hospital for an appointment.
Vicki Altena and Rodney Stone, my friend in town, also knew Tisha pretty well and were helping her in various ways. There is also a family in our church who were renting the apartment to Tisha, and she talked about how kind they were to her. Rodney is a friend of one of the Casey’s managers and had gotten Tisha a job interview there which was scheduled for yesterday morning. When she didn’t show up, they called Rodney wondering where she might be. He was upset with her for missing the appointment, but when he told me about the situation, I could sense he was a little bit worried, too. Rodney was the one who called me and let me know that she had passed away.
The reason I wanted to share this story with you, the ARC family, is to let you know that there is an incredible mission field right under our noses here in Luverne. There is a steady stream of struggling families and individuals who move here from various places and try to make a go of it due to our relatively affordable housing and good school system. Did you know that in 4th grade alone this year, 12 new students signed up for school on the first day of the semester? Many of these people struggle with broken relationships and financial instability, and some with substance abuse. All are in need of supportive, loving, godly friends who can help them make this a healthy home for their family.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…” (Matt. 25:35)
Tisha’s story ended sadly yesterday, but may God use this tragedy to open our eyes to the opportunity we have in front of us. If God is touching your heart through this story and the new people you see around town, two great ways to get started are to become involved with Big Buddies (Lisa Nath) and Atlas (Vicki Altena). There are other great organizations in Luverne looking for volunteers as well, and of course you can always invite people to your home for a meal or a life group meeting. Let’s step out of our comfort zone, cross boundaries, and put God’s incredible love into action.
Cory Grimm