Maxine

We went to visit Maxine today.  She is the person who started Lost Sheep Ministry over 30 years ago.  She is in a nursing home outside Knoxville.  It is hard for me to see this once vibrant, go getter woman, just lying in a bed sleeping.  This is what she does now most of the time.  Only 3 short years ago she and I were out on the streets of Knoxville looking for "our girls."  (This is what we called the girls who "work the streets" of Knoxville.)  Every week for several years we drove around looking for these precious girls.  

Someone once said to me, "what do you say to a prostitute?  I wouldn't know what to say."  My answer?  "Hi_______!"  (you fill in the blank.)  "How are you doing today.?  Need anything?  Are you hungry?  We have snacks.  Do you need any hygiene stuff?  We have that too.  Need prayer for anything.?"  We could definitely supply that!  And, most of them did want prayer.  During those years, we learned over 50 girls names.  I still have some of those names on my refrigerator.  Many of their stories are in a couple of my books.

i spoke at a women's meeting in Virginia a couple of years ago, and they wanted me to tell a little bit about our ministry here in Knoxville.  I started out by saying I work with people who smell bad, who drink, smoke and do drugs and who sell their bodies to get those drugs.  But honestly?  I had rather be out there with them than here in this room with all of you who not only had a bath before you came but are clean every other way as well.

Maxine didn't wake up while we were there, so we prayed for her and left.  We prayed that the Lord would take her into His arms soon.  When she makes it to the other shore, I am sure she will start looking for some of the girls she looked for and loved here on this planet.  I can picture that reunion!  They will run to her with arms open wide!

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