Now, the big job was renting the store and putting it all together. I still worked as a coordinator for ‘Aides at home’. I had a secure job, with benefits. Friends offered different opinions about this, some encouraging but most of them negative due to my supposed lack of business experience. Never having done anything like this before, I didn’t know what was involved. On my lunch hours, I went to the public library, seeking information about suppliers of Christian religious articles. My friend, Leah, went to the East Meadow library and gathered a lot of information for me. I also decided to go to other area Christian stores, where I looked on the backs of cards to see where they were printed. Then, still on my lunch hours, I went home to call these companies long distance to request that they send me their catalog. Inasmuch as I had worked on the Labor Day holiday, I took a day of my choice off from my office duties and I spent the entire day calling suppliers, so I would have to establish credit. To put it all together, I used my VISA card and whatever cash I Had.
I left my office position on September 13. My son John and sons-in-law, Tommy, Sal, Billy and Domenick built me an office, and they also painted the store and put in light fixtures and speakers. My son John put in book shelves for me. My son-in-law, Tommy put up the “WALK IN LOVE” sign, as this is his business. My supplies were coming in and, with the help of my children, grandchildren and friends, I was able to get the store ready for opening on October 7, 1996, three weeks later. This was the hardest three weeks I ever worked. I was there from early morning, until late at night, seven days a week. Inasmuch as I could not afford to advertise the opening of my new store, I was waiting for the people to just come in. On October 30th, all I had to my name, was the $400.00 that I had taken in for the three weeks that I had been there. The night of October 30th, I wasn’t able to sleep----I was so worried. For November lst, I had no money to pay my VISA, my rent, and other bills. I spent the night praying and saying to Jesus ‘I did everything you asked me to do to open this store, to build a shelter for the least of your children, and now I will have to close. I have no money. I will have to go bankrupt’.
The next day, October 31st, I went to the store early. I was sitting in the back of the store, praying, not knowing what I was going to do. At 9:30 A.M. Norman came to the store, and gave me a gift check of $25,000, I was so overwhelmed and crying: In my wildest dreams I would never have imagined that nobody would give me $25,000, no strings attached. Norman said to me, Jeanette, this is the least I could do for you. When I needed you, you were there, and now I am here to help you. Four years earlier, Norman’s mother had been a hospice patient of mine. Norman, a retired college professor, was 71 years old at the time, his mother was completely bedridden, and Norman needed help before she retired for the night. I told Norman that I would come at night and help. I did this from my heart. Between 9:00 and 10:00pm every night I went to Hicksville to take care of her, even in a very bad snow storm. That is what he meant when he said that I had been there for him.
When Norman left the store, I immediately grabbed my Bible. Miraculously, it opened up to Psalm ll8, verses 5,6 and 7:
5: I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6: The Lord is on my side: I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7: The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
On November 1st, I paid off $l6,000 in bills, $8,000 of which was on my VISA. I had not realized that my indebtedness was so high. I now believe that the Lord was testing my faith. Jesus does have a sense of humor. He said, ‘When I give you a vision, I will never fail you’.
There is now no doubt in my mind that the Lord will help me to build a shelter for the homeless in Nassau County.