It’s a Wonderful Life
Over 2000 years ago, a young woman found herself pregnant in a less than ideal circumstance. She was young and didn’t have the knowledge or resources to raise a baby. As she approached childbirth, she didn’t have the best support system or a stable place to live. The...
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Driving around Phoenix the other day, “I’ll be home for Christmas” came on the radio. I began humming and soon was singing the song. Sure enough, when the line, “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams,” was drawled out by Bing or Frank or whichever crooner...
It’s the Little Things
Simple living, especially relying on donations and Divine Providence to provide for what we need, makes you appreciate little things more. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are some of the little things that I have come to appreciate greatly while living at Maggie's...
Spiritual Motherhood
In my past year and a half at Maggie’s Place, more often than not, people who hear what I am doing, remark with a “Wow, that must be so rewarding!” response to my story. Unfortunately, though, most of us MissionCorps do not go to bed at night with this on our mind....
Welcoming God’s Grace
At Maggie’s Place, we have four core values that we strive to live by as MissionCorps and staff: love, hospitality, community, and excellence. Within the pillar of hospitality, we strive to welcome every mom, baby, donor, volunteer and anyone else who is a guest in...
Facing the Great Unknown
A few weeks ago, I found myself driving downtown to the women’s homeless shelter to pick up a new mom and bring her back to The Zechariah House. Before I even reached the shelter and read the sign I knew which building it occupied because there were a number of women...
The On Duty Apron
I want to show you a little bit of what life is like as a MissionCorps member at Maggie’s Place. Enter the On Duty Apron. Actually, let me back up. Maggie’s Place is a community of many homes of hospitality for homeless pregnant women, each staffed by full-time,...
The Soul Workout
I recently began training for an Ironman triathlon. I know, I am crazy. Now that we have established that; Throughout training, there have been moments of weakness. “Stop now,” my body says, “This is not good for you. You need to stop, you can’t handle this.” “What...
Taking Root
Go across the country to a place caught in a strange undertow of time, a swift current, strangely paused in July. Never to doubt your mission and Live a life willing to challenge the currents of culture, to be misunderstood by society governed by wealth and success,...
Do Whatever He Tells You
Do whatever He tells you. Do whatever He tells you. These words are repeated in my head so often throughout the day. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, said these words to the servants at the wedding at Cana. These words are the reason I am here serving at Maggie’s Place. Do...
Bring Something You Don’t Mind Getting Spit Up On
One of my first glimpses into life at Maggie’s Place was the packing list sent out for my interview. “Bring something you don't mind getting spit up on!” Throughout the past few months at The Zechariah House, I have been spit up on… a lot. I have come to the...
The Alumnae Mom World
Living in the Maggie’s Place homes is an awesome and fulfilling experience. When you are done living in the homes, you feel that you have mastered all situations good and bad. For instance: My contact mom didn’t come home last night, I’m worried, but it always works...
Saying “Yes”
About two months into my time at Maggie’s Place, all of the Summer Corps were gathered together for dinner, swimming, and a reflection on our time in the homes. During this discussion, we read a section of the Maggie’s Place book in which Mary Peterson talks about...
Life Inside a Home of Hospitality
My first contact with Maggie’s Place was through the website, after a friend from Phoenix suggested I check it out in my search for a place to do a year of service. From the website it sounded just like what I was looking for, but better. The MissionCorps recruitment...
Growing in Faith
This week marks four months since I decided to apply to Maggie’s Place, three months since my interview, and two months since I moved into The Zechariah House. Overall, my journey after graduating from college and moving onto Maggie’s Place happened very...
One Year of Being an MP Mom
My contact mom, Lacey, is moving out of Maggie's Place after having lived here for over a year. So what does one year at Maggie's Place look like? You move in without really knowing what Maggie's Place is beforehand; when you get to your new home for the first time,...
Well, in Whoville They Say
“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!” Nope, it is not Christmas here in...
What’s in a Name?
Ring, ring...ring, ring..... "Maggie’s Place, The Hannah House, this is Gretchen, how may I help you?" "Yes, I would like to speak to Maggie, please. Is she available?" Every once in a while, the MissionCorps get this question when we answer the phone and it always...
Too Close for Comfort
I once heard it said that Maggie’s Place is nobody’s comfort zone. While we seek to make our houses into homes, there is an element to our lives shared in common that is very uncomfortable. It’s not comfortable for the moms to be in place where they are held...
Camino of Love
I am moving out of Maggie's Place this weekend and it all feels surreal to me. It is hard to believe that I’ve been here for over a year, and that my time of service as a MissionCorps member is ending. I have to admit that I’ve been pretty nostalgic over the past few...