I feel I should apologize for not making more time to do this type of post because I always have so much to share. However, in my defense, I do share on social media and am always such a busy mama to take time to write a post. So, with that, sit back, grab a cuppa, and join me in my "break" of sharing joy and love.
Well, if you've been following for long, I recently birthed a new program called Finding Home. It's a furniture re-homing program provided designed to bless someone who is in need of a special reward for a service they have done or are doing, or are dealing with hardships physically and/or financially by sending them a custom-finished piece of furniture.
We've had many successful deliveries of furniture and are excited to be able to keep going. The last program post was kind of a wonky launch as the chosen recipient wasn't able to complete the process and get a piece delivered. I was feeling frustrated as I really want to help others and prayed for direction as what to do. As per usual to God's grace, I found an answer to my prayers.
A MISSION
My soul purpose was to find someone who really needed furniture. God laid on my heart to donate to a local ministry called M.A.P. - Mission to Amish People. We reside in beautiful Amish country and felt that including this local ministry in our project was perfect. M.A.P. was created in 1999 by Joe and Ester Keim..."who are formerly Amish, to reach out to the Amish and former Amish locally in Ashland County as well as widespread to communities across the country. The Keims created a ministry called Mission to the Amish People, or “MAP” for short. MAP helps former Amish adults get their birth records, social security numbers and driver’s license. The ministry also provides GED classes, mentoring and discipleship sessions, and counseling; it has a goal of meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who come for help."
In addition, their new adventure in their Beyond Measure Market has been a great success. By God's grace, they built a 6,000 square foot store with the focus to serve the community as well as aid single Amish women who are leaving their culture and need help getting established in the English society.
BLESSING
Not only have they built this fantastic resource, but just last March they were also able to build New Beginnings Homestead by God's grace."For some Amish, the call to leave their community and follow Jesus is a great risk. They leave family, friends, and the only way of life they know. They enter the "English" world and are greeted by freedom and opportunity, but most times, they only bring with them a few dollars and the clothes on their back. In addition, young Amish women can face devastating vulnerability. Sometimes, they risk it all only to get trapped in relationships or desperate measures where they are easily victimized.
We have been called as a ministry to build and provide a Homestead for these young women. We want to give them a place they can land, feel safe, and get the training they need to succeed on their own in a short period of time. This home will also provide a small living center where a mentor family will provide counsel and will teach appropriate life skills to give those that leave the preparation needed to succeed."
A GIFT
So...how did we find a way to plug in? Furniture and by God's grace! The homestead needed some furnishings and we were able to send my antique library table and my oldest daughter sent her chest of drawers. Thanks to my guys, JC and Isaac, for making the delivery while I was under the weather.
We feel so blessed!
Now, you might think that's the end of the story, but there's more. Yay!
TEACHING
If you follow me on social media, you would have seen my excited post about JC, my husband, getting to achieve a long-time dream. Here he is on his first day of school being a TEACHER.
HONOR
Here is what I wrote:Can I just say how proud I am of this man? Yesterday marked his first day of school...not as a student, but a teacher...his dream. My sweet husband is a genius, at least in my mind, when it comes to languages. He ranked 1 in our entire graduating class from college with his focus in Biblical languages. Won all the awards that could be had in his field from two different schools. However, not one day has he been able to see his dream come to reality because of taking care of us, his family, providing and working in a job nowhere near his magnitude of capabilities. It in some ways breaks my heart it took so long for him to have this day, but...it's here. It may not be his ultimate dream, but it's a start since he needs more graduate studies under his belt to teach graduate level. So for now he works the day job, works for our business, and now works as a teacher. Do you know anyone else who knows 3 dead languages, carries around Hebrew & Greek flashcards in their pocket for 18 years, studies endlessly, listens to foreign language radio as he works so he can stay on top of it? Or can test out of an graduate level oral test 13 years post-graduate never having even spoke the language AND in a book he didn't even study? I ask God why...only He knows when JC's time to truly shine will come. Until then, we praise Him for his goodness in all ways. Keep your dreams alive!Although he was invited to teach months prior, the crazy, stressful part about this was we didn't find out he would actually be teaching this fall until a few days before school started. Whew!
PARTY TIME
The kids and I threw together a quick celebration party with his favorite homemade pizza.
All in God's grace, in His time. He is sufficient to meet all our needs and go beyond our expectations.
Now...as if that wasn't enough, I've got more. tee hee! After we delivered the furniture to MAP, I felt an ache. Seeing all the damage happening in North Carolina from the hurricane was horrible. Back after hurricane Harvey, I found a way to make a small contribution to help those in need. You can read about that HERE.
HURRICANE
This time around, I wasn't sure where to plug in, until I ran across an acquaintance's. Julie and her family of four live in Lumberton, NC and had experienced heavy loss only 16 months ago from a previous hurricane. Sadly, after being hit hard again, they had no resources to leave or to prepare for what was to come. I dropped a comment asking how she could use help. Mind you, I've not really communicated with her before, but knew there's gotta be something I can do. She messaged me telling me that they needed a water heater, towels, food, and furniture. BINGO!! Instantly I told her I wanted to send her a buffet I recently did if she was game for it. She accepted graciously and my heart soared. Because the buffet was a long one, I knew it would have extra room to fill with other needs. I couldn't wait to get started. My family and I have hit hard times and know what it's like to go without. You hate to ask for help, and you feel at a low. It stinks.HELP
Here's where it gets even more interesting. Just a few days before this, I mapped out to my family how we could take care of another outstanding debt before the year was over if we worked hard and stayed frugal. If you'd like to hear how I celebrated my 40th birthday with a debt paid off, you can read the fun HERE. I tend to be a little jump-the-gun style and I was nervous after I committed to send this pallet to Julie and her family. However, I had no doubt that God's grace would take care of us and them too. On the day I was sending the monthly chunk of change to eliminate this debt, I checked our balance and decided to add an extra $100 to the amount. I had no idea where that would come from, but felt the need to do that to hit a certain dollar amount remaining. Not even two seconds after I hit "send", a sale notification from my online shop came up on my phone that would not only cover the cost of the shipment, but also the extra $100!! Tears flowed. I knew without a doubt this was confirmation I was doing the right thing. Trusting can be so hard, but it pays off every time! We began to prepare the shipment and asked a few people to help us collect the much-needed items. I called on my parents and a couple of friends to send a gift to help her out until our pallet arrived. The flooding was delaying delivery and causing frustration too. So, HUGE thanks to Nancy at Artsy Chicks Rule, and Lauren at Bless'er House. You made such an impact!GOODIES
JC took the buffet in with him before work and got it prepared to ship. Meanwhile, we headed to the grocery store and loaded up our truck. You could only see heads peeking out. My kids loved it!
Gratefully, we ended up with a huge load. However, I was worried the supplies wouldn't fit or cause the rate to go to oversize. First, JC built the pallet and set up the buffet. While he did that we boxed all the supplies hoping to squeeze it all in as best we could.
Amazingly enough, it all fit like a glove. {{happy dance}}
SHIPPING TIME
Once we reached this point it was around 7 pm and everyone was getting hungry and tired. JC would complete the banding and wrapping the next work day. High five to my gang for getting it done lickety-split! And also huge thanks to my husband's workplace for letting us use their facilities and supplies on a regular basis.
Up next is Trash to Treasure time and I can't wait to show you what I'm going to do with this. Take a peek HERE.
Before you go, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!
Also, more of my stories of God's grace:
