Anita Houk, communicator and writer, felt God calling her to do something new. She knew in her heart it was going to be something new, but something new with the gifts that she already possessed.

She heard Rev Peterson of St. Mary’s Catholic Church downtown preach about using what we have to do the Lord’s work and ideas began to form in her mind.  “I knew how to write, and I could talk to strangers,” said Houk who worked for The Commercial Appeal full time for 27 and a half  years.  She still writes the How We Met Column for the paper.  What she came up with has helped homeless people connect and build bonds with family members, sometimes even letting them know they are alive.

WOW, Write on Wedsnesdays, is her ministry that she sets up every week from seven fifteen until ten twenty  outside the St. Mary’s Soup kitchen. She brings two card tables, art paper, cards, pencils, rubber stamps and other art materials for the homeless to write letters to family members and create art. 

The first time she sat her table up no one came near her. “Because of my career, I have been in a lot of odd circumstances, so it did not bother me, “ said Houk.  The next week she sat up again and one man came close to her, sat down and began to draw. She was taken back by the beautiful picture the man had drawn of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Another man, John Gilchrease, soon become her guardian angel. He helps her unload, unpack and reload every week.  “He just stands quietly to the side and makes me feel safe,” said Houk. Gilchrease has 11 brothers and sisters.  He writes to a different one every week and has started to have a lifechanging bond with them.

Houk also takes pictures of them to use in their cards. One person wanted to propose to his girlfriend, so she bought the art, flowers and set up a photo shoot for the special picture to go into his letter.  “People began wanting their photo taken multiple times," said Houk. She takes lots of pictures and has them developed for the next week for them to use. She now has a collection of over 300 people on the streets that she keeps in a special “family album”.

The response to her ministry has been overwhelming. One guy who liked creating art at her table began to sell his artwork to other people. Another man came to her at Christmas time and said “My wife is on the phone, and she says to tell you thank-you ,thank-you, thank-you.” He said because of the new connections he had made that it was the best Christmas ever. It took one man a year of watching and thinking about it to participate. “For about a year he watched when I would come, and I just began to talk to him. I asked him 'so are you ready to write a card and have your picture taken?' He said ‘yah’,” recalled Houk. He sent if off  and made a new connection with his brother. Sometimes she just has someone pop in and ask for a certain type card, such as a sympathy card for funeral they are going to attend.

Besides setting up Wow every Wednesday, Houk has also set up at the Union Mission and is asked to do special workshops with patients who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome at the Veterans Affairs Hospital.  “I don’t know how to fix them, but I am skilled in helping them communicate to others.”   She also has her own writing and photography business. Her photography, which includes pictures of people who live on the streets, has been exhibited in Central and Cossitt Libraries. She also tutors children in art. She helps them make it, frame it, set up their exhibit and even lets them help pick out the food for the reception.  Houk loves having her own art studio in her midtown backyard and using her gifts to help other people.

If you are interested in helping with supplies for WOW, such as donating cards and art supplies, or would like to learn more please contact Houk at anita.houk@beeloveworks.com or visit the website at beeloveworks.com.

Cynthia “Cyndi” Siegfried, of Germantown, TN. and author of Cancer Journey. A Caregivers View From the Passenger Seat,  found herself  back in 2002 overwhelmed with fear as her husband Jim of now 41 years of marriage was diagnosed with lung cancer.  He was an athletic, healthy non-smoker who showed no symptoms.

Cyndi had never actually considered writing for publication, but after four years of gathering information, journaling and writing emails to family and friends to keep them informed of Jim’s condition she began to think about putting what she had learned into a book to help others going through the same thing.

 “The period of diagnosis is a difficult time,” said Cyndi. “I want to help people though that time. I wasn't prepared. The initial experience is the one I remember the most. You feel most alone and responsible."

 What makes Cyndi’s book different than other books on cancer is that her book is written by a caregiver for caregivers from a Christian perspective. She found out the hard way that Christian advice on how to handle cancer is hard to find. She believes that the spiritual aspect of dealing with cancer is the most important one.

Cyndi says that there is a grieving that comes with a cancer diagnosis. “There are tremendous losses with a cancer diagnosis,” said Cyndi. “Even if you don't lose your life you can lose your occupation, health and your self identity. Everyone facing an illness goes through a spiritual or psychological process. All of a sudden you ask What am I here for? Where am I going? My book gives practical advice and takes the reader through my quest to find those answers.”

Cyndi also recognized that her and her husband both had different reactions to the things they went through because they have different personalities.  “I had to make some truly life and death decisions,” said Cyndi. “Jim didn’t want to do that even when he was feeling better. He was fine with me doing that.”  Cyndi realized that the physical parts of caregiving are the easy parts, it is the emotional attachment to that person that is so hard.

She and her husband also started a cancer support group in 2003 called f.a.i.t.H. (facing an illness through Him). The purpose of the group is to mentor and councel other people facing an illness and to share Christ. “People are ripe for evangelism, to hear about Jesus and the hope that comes through knowing Jesus,” said Cyndi. Never seeing herself as much of an evangelist, Cyndi feels like she is much better at it now. She sees the urgency in sharing hope in Jesus.  "Before I didn't think it was my job to do that. Now I do."

 Their group meets once a month and draws many non-Christians because they are drawn to the available cancer information. “They are ripe and seeking answers.” 

 Having been through cancer with her husband, who has recently been told he is cancer free, Cyndi feels like it has opened new doors for the both of them.  Jim, who played college basketball for MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, and ran five miles a day up until the day he had his first surgery now volunteers for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is the Director of the Leadership Board.  Cyndi, who has always loved writing, is now an accomplished author, a speaker and has a few more books in the works.  She has contributed articles to Nostaligia Magazine, Today’s Christian, Chicken Soup for the Soul-Cancer Book and Moments of Grace.

Cancer Journey will be available for presale  January 1^st  and will be available online and in bookstores February of 2010. Portions of the sales will go to support Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  

 "The book tells you how to find joy in your situation, and provides hope and encouragement for people in that time of overwhelmimg fear," said Cyndi.

To order Cancer Journey you can visit www.caregivercancerjourney.com or visit   www.faithsupportgroup.com to learn more about the support group. Contact  Lynne Rooker to book Cyndi for speaking engagements at 901-299-7862.