OCR Text |
Show mon River country of Idaho were some of the facets of her life that attached her to the wilderness. Jennie also knows the worldly life of business, corporate organizing and troubleshooting for businesses in crises. Ive had it all already: a wonderful husband; raising my kids; a 19th floor suite at the Hilton with a pool outside my door; ranching; dia- mond rings and big black Lincolns, Jennie commented. These days I spend a lot of my time with my kids, my eldest grandson is usually here helping, or Im here, or studying the Word. Profile Can Lady by $ Commenting dn todays political system and the failure of mental hospitals and welfare to treat the ill, Jennie said, Our system is falling apart. Its not Gods way. I feel this vision will take up some of the slack in the system. Look at the record, what s Cara Cahoon (above-mentione- fc K Jl Homeless people only live in large cities is a myth too many people accept. A woman without a home in the town of Igan, Utah disproved the myth for me. Logan and its surrounding areas is populated by about 75,000 people, compared to Salt Lakes 250,000. The Logan area is peaceful, kind, and sheltered; at least to most who live there. It seemed a great deal of the citys residents did not want to deal with the fact that there may be some sort of problem with the homeless in such a happy little town. The problem may have been small in comparison to larger cities, nevertheless it was there, although we did not wish it so. It was some time before I was aware that people without homes might be somewhere near me. Doesnt that only happen in New York City? The first time I saw the woman we called the Can Lady, was the first time my sheltered existence in Logan, Utah became a little less protected. In the beginning I was frightened of her, as were my friends. We heard stories of how she hated children, especially children who teased and taunted her as she collected the aluminum cans she turned in for money. Of course, at my young age, I could not imagineanyone wanting to go near her, to tease her or otherwise. I, too, practically ignored her existence. People like her do not live in Logan, I thought. But she did live there. We heard stories of policemen telling her to get out of the park where she slept, and of the ways she got around confrontations with these men of law. Despite the attempts made to be rid of her, she eventually became a part of life in that city. Some still ignored her, some tried to help her; for me, just accepting her presence made me more aware of the problem of people without homes. The same thing happened to the rest of my family and some of my friends. We had discussions about the Can Lady, (why we didnt know her name, for instance), and about the serious amount of homeless people in other cities. We figured if people could be without homes in Logan, they could be without homes anywhere. Unfortunately, it was not until someone like the Can Lady came along that many of us in Logan became more aware of our society. A society where people lived on the streets, a society in which collecting cans might be the only source of income. It was too bad it took an actual person who wandered about in alleys to make us realize this type of thing happens. It was too bad all of us were not conscious enough to know this could happen anywhere. Even in Utah. Even in Logan. I never got to speak with this woman who lived on Logans streets. She left one winter and did not return. Now, when I see people in larger cities who have spent the night on a park bench, I want to thank this woman who collected cans in the town where I grew up. Although I may not have helped her, she unknowingly helped me and other people in our community. She made us realize people like her do exist; they need help from those of us who are able to give something, however small. They are human beings above all, and they cannot be ignored. d) we have now isnt working. Jennie feels that with Gods help, and in His time, her vision will become reality. Until then, to avoid being over- she stays prayed-u- p whelmed by compassion for the people she serves. It would be hard when you see a little girl alone in a whole car load of men, or little kids, cold and hungry, their mom and dad in a she broken down car. So I stay prayed-up- , said. . X According to Jennie, the most touching moments are when she believes God about something and it happens. Whether its a new pair of boots for her, in exactly the right size and style, jobs for the needy, sleeping bags for the homeless, or food when they run low, she feels God always supplies the need. Like Christ when He fed the 5000, she said, "He started with only a few fish and a couple loaves of bread, and He satisfied everyone. Seconds after an embrace and God bless ..you for this reporter, Jennie was immersed again in the organized; efficient chaos of handing out real turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pies and all the trimmings of Thanksgiving. It was below freezing under the bridge, as traffic thundered overhead. But within reach of Jennies voice were all the best feelings of Thanksgiving warmth, cheer, an atmosphere of family love, and the giving of thanks.' .7 , Jennie Dudley, serving.the i Crbspel I while serving food. Profile Aragel of Mercy by Laura Reeves "In the Book I read, everything HE says is printed in red. In your story, everything Jennie says should be printed in red. Rich Eastman The above statement was handed to this reporter, neatly printed on lined paper by a qu iet man under the fourth south viaduct. He is referring to the Bible translations in which Jesus quotes are printed in red. It is the sum of everything that could be said about Jennie Dudley, operator of the Chuckwagon. It was Thanksgiving and Jennie hopped up every time she noticed someone needing help. With only half of her attention on the interview, she hurried off to assist a family in need of clothing, or an old, battered man looking for a place to stay off of the street, or one of the dozens of servers who needed a hand. She was involved, personally, in everything. On Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and every Sunday from- 0 a.m., Jennie can be found under the viaduct, hustling and directing the Chuckwagon operation which feeds between 500 and 700 needy people on a given day. With a hug, a smile and a Praise God, Jennies vibrant personality and blue cowboy hat can be picked out at any time. The joy of the Lord is my strength, Jennie said, as the biting wind blew wisps of hair across her face, a face etched and molded by life and the love of living it. 7-1- Jennie knows that God is the guiding force behind her operation. He provides all of our needs, she said. I havent been called to collect the food or even organize the people. He does that. He called me to walk in the faith. A widowed mother of five and grandmother of 14, Jennie also works a lot with children. Guiding trips into the high country for children is her love, and she argued with God about her current ministry. But, she said, He called to me and said, These are my children and this is the wilderness. So began a commitment that Jennie sees as only part of a much larger vision. Jennies sees in the future a healing station I can see it, I know what it will be called. If I was an artist, Id draw it for you, she said. Obviously something special for her, Jennie described her vision. It will be a place, a ranch sort of, where people can come and heal, be they families, old, young, whatever. A communal healing station where the elderly woman left to die in a rest home could bake apple pie and comfort the pregnant young girl who is alone and frightened. A temporary shelter so that people who have healed can leave and benefit society Jennie enthused. Although Jennie said she the Lord accepted at a young age, the possibilities of her current ministry never crossed my mind until her children were in college and she and her husband dedicated their lives to God. Born in California and raised in Albany Oregon, Jennie loves the Raisin quarter-horse- s in Oregon and g her children until high school age in the Sal out-of-doo- home-teachin- Thawing frozen hearts under the Fourth South viaduct. Special Christmas Issue . |