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By Aline Posner, Cadet-
Sometimes, what’s known in the head comes alive when felt in the heart and experienced firsthand.
My husband and I served with Corps Officers Lts. Justin and Jennifer Shiflett at The Salvation Army Glendale (California) Corps, for the College for Officer Training at Crestmont Christmas intensive. During this busy season, there was one day that I will never forget—the day the corps served the families in the Adopt-A-Family program. The recipients had been hand-picked by Jazmine, the social worker and social services manager.
This year one of the major donors partnering with the corps in the program was Forest Lawn Memorial Park; they adopted 12 families. They gave literally everything on the wish list and more, including a basket of food and a fully decorated Christmas tree, plus a plaque inscribed with each family’s own story.
It was a humbling experience to be able to see the reactions of the families—who had nothing—and even came on the bus because they weren’t expecting much, just an amount that they would be able to carry home on a bus.
There was one woman in particular who stuck out to me. As she stepped out of her vehicle, we pointed to her items, and she broke into tears, with such gratitude. We could tell that she had been struggling, and was in need. After helping her load everything into her vehicle, we prayed with her, and sent her home with hugs and a lot of love.
God truly blessed me and my husband to be able to experience his love in action.
Cadets Jesse and Aline Posner are in their second year at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont.
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