By Mary Beth Marino

Three green buildings obviously stand out as you drive up to 199 Pirkle Ferry Rd. in Cumming, Ga. Many activities are being pursued in these buildings by the impoverished people who live in this rural community. These buildings go by the name, “The Place.” They are used to offering alternatives to the poor. The people can work off utility bills by doing some creative sewing, or by using their hands to make wood products that can be sold. There is a thrift shop that offers clothes at minimal cost.

“The Place” also offers art therapy, counseling, advocacy, financial assistance, arts and crafts and a food pantry.

This is a rough description of “The Place” and its functions. But this story is about “the person” who plays a vital role in the success of this unique place.

It all began in September of 1980 when Jack Howard and his wife, Georgia, attended a Life In The Spirit seminar.

“It was at this time my wife and I decided to give our life to the Lord,” Jack said.

“We had everything. We adopted two children, owned two homes, had a good car – and I held a position as a social worker,” Jack explained.

But like many who experience a conversion of the Holy Spirit, Jack felt his priorities needed to be reassessed. Jack and his wife both experienced a calling to work for a foreign mission. Excited at the prospects of starting a new and rewarding life, they sent a letter to a Franciscan missionary stating that they wanted to come to Africa to work. They quickly received a reply saying, while it was commendable to express the desire to do foreign mission work, it was not feasible due to lack of housing, schools and the expense incurred to travel with a family to Zambia, Africa.

But Jack and Georgia were not to be deterred from their desire to work in foreign ministry. They continued to hope the situation would change and their prayers were answered. They received a letter from the Franciscan missionary saying they would be welcomed if they were still interested in coming to Africa.

“We sold everything we had and left to pursue our mission,” Jack explained.

But is wasn’t as easy as the married couple of eleven years had envisioned it to be.

Upon their arrival in Africa, they immediately took their task in hand. Jack worked on construction projects for the homeless and Georgia worked with youth groups. But the call to missionary life was difficult and the progress slow and unrewarding. After eighteen months, the couple found their marriage was in trouble. The inner turmoil and conflicts regarding this new life, and what they were experiencing, affected their marriage deeply.

“We found out something very important and vital to our spiritual life, as well as our married life,” Jack said.

“We found out that you have to come to know the Lord individually first, on a one to one basis, then you and your spouse become one through the Lord,” Jack expressed with new found wisdom.

“The journey we experienced was one of getting to know the Lord. It was a journey of calling on Him, knowing Him and loving Him individually, as well as serving Him.”

So Jack and Georgia came back to the states a temporarily broken family with nothing but pain and hurt to add to their own poverty.

“We have prayed that the Lord would take care of the children,” Jack said.

He further explained that he and Georgia finally came to the realization that they were at a resting place in their lives and affirmed that they must count their blessings.

Their prayers were again answered as a friend recommended Jack investigate a position available at “The Place.” The staff of “The Place” is paid through Catholic Social Services.

“We now have more than when we left,” Jack said humbly. But as Jack continued to tell his story, it was evident that he was not referring to material possessions.

A woodworking shop had been opened at “The Place” but there was no man working on the premises. After Jack was hired, he organized the shop and slowly, the men started trekking in, and before long, Jack was training men in the art of building bird houses, grain feeders, planters and even furniture. The shop lacks many tools, however, such as small hand tools, a drill press and a joiner planer. They are hoping someone will donate the badly needed items, or make a contribution towards the purchase of the tools.

There are also men who come to “The Place” just to visit Jack and have a chat with him. He’s a good listener and offers to pray with the men. He often reads the scriptures to them, or sometimes, they just walk the grounds and share in “men talk.”

“We have to be accountable to the poor,” Jack said. “We can learn humility from them and, in turn, allow them the opportunity to develop skills and gain self-respect.”

Jack feels God has not only given him a gift, but has bestowed him with the grace necessary to work with the poor.

Jack Howard recalled a young boy who hated to bathe and had, in fact, refused to bathe for years. One day, without warning, the boy’s mother died and he did not want to attend the funeral. He was being criticized for his appearance by the townspeople. Perceptively, Jack finally convinced the boy to bathe and even scrubbed the boy himself.

“The poor have so much love they want to give and need to receive. Sometimes it just takes a little prodding, and showing that we do care for them,” Jack said.

Jack does a lot more than his counseling and training and spreading the Gospel. He also visits the elderly in the hospital, fixes leaking roofs and gutters for those who can’t afford a repairman, visits the sick in nursing homes, and works with boys who have gotten in trouble with the law.

Jack’s life and that of his family was deeply influenced as they journeyed in faith from the depths of southern Africa to the heights of “The Place.”

The lives they have touched will benefit from the love and care they share. And “the person” at “The Place” is there for those who seek him out!