Local Projects Index

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Our concerns are many. Working both locally and abroad the path of our river is determined
by the terrain presented to us as we move forward. Though our course may veer right or left,
the destination remains the same. We will GO AND DO Likewise.

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Involvement with Crittenton

What is Crittenton?

The National Florence Crittenton Mission was an organization established in 1883 by Charles N. Crittenton. Its general object was to assist all women and girls who were in trouble. Especial attention was paid to young girls who were pregnant or trying to leave prostitution; they were provided with shelter and cared for. Employment was secured for them and they were encouraged to return to a normal life. In April 2008, the National Crittenton Foundation celebrates its 125th anniversary of providing service to vulnerable young women and girls. (From Wikipedia)

Florence Crittenton Services

During a regular work day (during a community project) back in 1998 a friend asked if his granddaughter could bring a friend to help and of course GADL said yes. It happened that this ‘friend’ was then a resident of Florence Crittenton and could not go alone on such a venture since as an outside organization we had not been "checked out". Because we were doing things to help others the staff member in charge investigated what we did and allowed a group of the young girls to come out to help.

After the day’s work the whole staff believed there was such a large degree of positive experience for the girls, that we began to invite the girls to help when both our schedules allowed it to be possible. GADL worked on Saturday, and because this was their regular gathering day for this particular group of girls, it became somewhat regular for them to show up to help us paint, clean, or whatever work was needed. The Crittenton staff encouraged the girls to join us knowing they were getting as much out of it as they were giving.

During one work day, while painting a mobile home for a disabled lady, I happened by when a staff person was talking to a very small young girl having a very bad day and a very emotional time. All I heard of the conversation was, “What would you want for Christmas if you were going to get a present?”

One week later at our regular morning prayer and discussion I brought this up to others involved with our efforts and the question was asked, "Why don’t we have a party for them?" So it began, the first year was very low key as we had not been involved with them enough for the girls to be allowed to leave the campus for a party. After a second year of working with the staff and the girls there was no problem for the staff overseeing the girls to get permission for them to leave their restricted living situation for a celebration off premises. Since that year we have held an annual party for the residents which has been approved and encouraged by the Crittenton staff.

The story of how this became a boat cruise on the Newport Bay is an amazing story alone. Never the less, we continued to work with the girls for the next few years. As staff changed and the focus of both Crittenton Services and our own efforts changed the work ceased but the Christmas Celebration has continued. Each year all the eligible girls gather with us for a hosted cruise on Newport Bay. The staff of GADL and the Girls look forward to this and always comment on what an amazing experience it is for them. The boat, the gifts, the entertainment, the dinner and all the efforts involved are either donated to or paid for by GADL.


Florence Crittenton Christmas Cruise

It is hard to evaluate an event such as this annual gathering on Newport Bay for these kids. Many of them have never had this opportunity and some even have not been near the water or such a beautiful experience. The party is at night so the lights on the homes are in full array. The evening begins with simple instructions from the crew and a welcome, the boat is for their enjoyment and they are free to roam. The consistent comment we receive from the Crittenton staff is what an extremely positive experience this is for these kids.

The entire Crittenton staff is very caring they seem to be everywhere, and yet nowhere. Somehow managing to remain in the background until needed. We see laughing, crying, we can hear about the ordeal of real life and lend a smile and a gentle word of hope. Always there is live music, personal as a strolling minstrel playing requests, and Christmas music of course. A delicious meal is served and yes, there is probably a sugar overload as this is Christmas. And finally a gathering, stories are shared of the past and what others have done for them to enjoy this evening, there is group singing and opportunities to come to the front and perform. It is all very friendly and with great joy and laughter, and of course the gifts. Each young person is supplied with a “Bag” of goodies or two.

GADL would love to show you the beautiful smiles of these young people but by agreement, we may not.

The best way to really see this is to come and help. Each year we take 7 or 8 of our adult supporters along, every time they comment on the experience as singular and moving and joy filled. The group is limited in size, but open to any who would desire to join us.

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Assisting Communities

For all the years we have gone out and helped others we have had only one criteria; that is we are either asked by the home owner or resident or they agree to our help if someone else would ask. There were no other requirements. We began as a very small group, to go out regularly and help. We did not require an application, only a request. We did not advertise as word of mouth and the network of those who knew of us provided all the work we could accomplish.

Anytime we would be asked we would meet with the resident or property owner to determine if we could accomplish what they were asking and to confirm that they indeed were willing to receive our help.

The efforts began in 1997 and for the years up to 2006 came as requests very regularly and in a sequence that provided constant time and effort. While in 2002 I had thoughts of taking further steps, it did not work out, so we kept the status Quo and responded to requests.

During those years we provided assistance that included minor electrical skills, minor plumbing skills and always someone would show up for the workday with that skill.

As an example, we had a request to repaint a house for an elderly woman was a care giver for autistic children and also her elderly parent. There was a certain painting skill needed and even the day we went to work we had no answer, but it happened that a man came to help “because his grandmother had read in the paper about us and told him he needed to help” Another day we needed a painter with skill and experience with height, a guy came to help we had never seen before because he had read about this and just wanted to help.

The major effort we worked on was to paint houses and mobile homes or to do yard work. We painted houses in San Diego County after a Pastor who knew of us moved there and wanted the men’s group to do something similar. We painted a house in Whittier, Los Angeles County, Cal., because a man had been to a group meeting where a couple had shared their plight and need. He called as he knew we might help. (This was the house where we first became involved with the Florence Crittenton home.)

We painted houses in San Bernardino County because someone heard we might help. The same thing in Riverside County, we actually painted multiple houses in that county.

Our main focus has been in Orange County where we have fixed up and/or painted many, many yards and houses.

A typical sequence follows; A young woman, very much in need of assistance read in a local paper about us, she asked if we might be able to help her move into a condo and put down a floor. We scheduled this and went about gathering the materials. In the time before hand we received a call from a reporter from the Los Angeles Times asking if he could see what we did and interview us. We agreed, he came on the day we were putting down the floor, he was impressed and wanted to have a photographer come to a subsequent work day, which happened at the home of an elderly woman who needed yard care. The pictures were taken, the article appeared in the L. A. Times and someone from the San Fernando Valley called us and asked if we could help as their lives were very challenged, we traveled to meet them and look at their home, they needed to have it painted and had no resources, we looked at the house and said we could do the work and so another house in Los Angeles County and family was helped.

Most of the referrals came to us from local Code Enforcement personnel who had to find remedy for elderly or very poor residents who had home or yard issues and no means by which to accommodate the regulations short of court ordered services which would show as liens, neither the issues of taking citizens to court or encumbering their property were felt to be the best method, so we would be called and in every case in which the resident was willing to accept the help we prevented the legal hassles by accomplishing the tasks.

We worked at the request of code enforcement dept. in Fountain Valley, CA.; Orange, CA.; Tustin, CA.; Westminster CA.; Huntington Beach, CA.; Santa Ana, CA. and Newport Beach CA.; and the Orange County Public Defender’s office. A project in Newport Beach was the largest. We worked with both the city attorney’s office and the code enforcement office to resolve a forty (40) year old dispute. This project is well documented and we received certificate of thanks from the city. All this time we were very low budget and provided all the resources ourselves except for some as mentioned.

VIDEO - The Julliette Low Project

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Mt. Whitney Classic

The Birth of Whitney Women on Wheels
By Anastasia Hansel

It all began with a very simple prayer. "Lord Jesus, if you were me with all my weaknesses and strengths, what would you be doing in my little corner of the world?"

For years I have wanted to develop a women's athletic event to raise the needed awareness of the plight of women in Africa. I have wanted to raise funding to bring needed help and encouragement to the women's initiatives in the village of Rionchogu, Kenya as well as to come alongside rape warefare victims in the Congo.

This past September was the beginning of seeing the development of such an athletic event: Whitney Women on Wheels (WWW).

In 1985 my husband, Tim Hansel, developed the Whitney Classic as a fund raiser for Summit Expedition. This year I joined the effort as a participant. Other women cyclists that had cycled with me across the United States in 1985 became a part of our team.

On September 26^th we left Death Valley which is 200 feet below sea level and began to cycle in 120 degree heat. We cycled through the night to the base of Mt. Whitney which is 14,000 feet above sea level. We were a team. Each participant cycled as far as she could . . . maybe one mile . . . maybe 5 miles. We cycled up steep grades and experienced the thrill of cycling some 15 miles downhill at 2:00 a.m. We cycled at 3:30 in the morning all alone in the solitude of the midnight desert with only the support vehicle making sure we were alright. As we cycled we knew we were a beginning mustard seed of hope to bring healing to women whose bodies have become battlegrounds in a country ravaged by war.

Our hope is to continue to commit ourselves, along with other interested women cyclists, to cycle the last week in September on a yearly basis. As we cycle and come alongside women globally, we anticipate we as women cyclists will also experience the truth of:

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge
Keeping track of the things I did wrong
So as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I died
He was out there sort of like a president
I recognized his picture when I saw it
Bur I really didn't know Him.

But later on when I met Christ
It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride
But it was a tandem bike
And I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change
places, but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way
It was rather boring
But predictable
It was the shortest distance between two points
But when He took the lead
He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains
And through rocky places at breakneck speeds
It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness
He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer
And I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life
And entered into the adventure
And when I'd say, "I'm scared."
He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed
Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy
They gave me their gifts to take on my journey
My Lord's and mine.

And we were off again
He said, "Give the gifts away;
They're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did
To the people I met
And I found that in giving I received
And still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first. in control of my life
I thought He'd wreck it
But he knows bike secrets
Knows how to make it bend to turn sharp corners
Knows how to make it jump to clear high rocks
Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal
In the strangest places
And I am beginning to enjoy the view
And the cool breeze on my face
With my delightful constant companion Christ.

And when I'm sure I can't do anymore
He just smiles and says, "Pedal."

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