The Reality of our war!

This is why...

...WE WON'T GIVE UP!!!!

We will not give up

Yesterday we had some disappointing news, that because of where we live we are not able to be a safe home to children whose family are in crisis.  This broke my heart, but not just mine,  the children's too.  BUT - we will NOT give up.  We CANNOT give up.  To give up is to say, 'that's okay, someone else will take care of them, someone else can be responsible for meeting their needs'.  But that goes AGAINST God's word!  God's word has told us to take care of those in need, to take care of the poor, the widowed, the orphan.  Matthew 25 tells us that when we take care of the least of these it's like we are doing it for Christ and also if we turn our back on them we have turned our back on HIM.  WE CANNOT DO THAT.

Do you hear my heart?  Do you hear my passion?  These families in crisis need help, need someone to love them, someone to help them walk through their crisis - someone to point them to Christ.  There is such a great need in our own community for foster/adoptive and safe families.

But, I have heard the argument that 'you have done enough - you have already adopted six!'  But while there are still those in need and there is still breath in my body then I have not done enough.  Please tell me where in the Bible it says we only have to do so much?!! Hasn't my life been bought at a price?!  Don't I owe everything I have and all that I am to Christ?!  Paul tells us to run the race, hard.  To train for it - does Paul ever mention giving up?  I don't think so - and I will not.  If my life ends early because I have worn this body out for Christ - then so be it!! but I will not live my life the easy way.

So what will we do?  That I am not sure.  I will continue to work at recruiting other families to be safe homes - I will continue to point others towards the joy of adoption, I will continue to do whatever the Lord puts in front of me ... and most importantly ... PRAY.

I will pray that the Lord would move us to a place where we can be a safe home or adopt.  This isn't just to satisfy my 'need' for more children.  Believe me when I tell you there are days when I don't want anymore, there are days when I certainly don't feel like I can handle the ones the Lord has already given me.  But it's not about ME!!  It's about Christ and what He has called us to do.  He has called the whole family to help children in need.  Our kids have the desire to share what they have with someone else.  They long for more children in the home.  God has not put this passion in 8 hearts just to drive us crazy!!!  I believe He will bring it about.  He will move us.

Last night as we talked about the situation we started recalling all the times the Lord has done the impossible in our lives and all the times He has proved Himself faithful.  This time is no different!  This time He will work again.  We need just be still, know that He is God, wait and watch as He brings His work to fruition and then give Him ALL the glory :)

Michelle

So where did I end?

Sorry that this has taken so long. It has been a very busy week. I have had to get over jet lag, a cold that I have had for more than 2 weeks now, that I still have some lingering affects from. I have also been busy doing projects around the house that desperately needed to be done. I built Naomi and Deanna a bunk bed, they now have their own beds after 2 years of sleeping together. I am putting 2 windows in our family room to let in some outside light and air. This room is so dark that we have 5-60 watt light bulbs burning all day long to light the room up. We have spent a lot of time together as a family this past week, it has been a great time together.

Well, the project in England had its ups and downs. When I left we had everything and everyone in place so that the project would be finished. As I said in another post, Phil, a local guy who used to be a builder, was lined up to complete the project. In fact, he had entered the picture sometime around the 2nd week that I was there, so he had been involved in putting the pieces together with me.


As far as the work that was accomplished while I was there, all of the walls had been framed up and insulated. Most of the drywall had been hung and taping of the joints had begun. The electrical rough-in work was complete and all of the bathroom plumbing was done. We had leveled the floor in both the bathroom and kitchen after removing the tile floor. All of the kitchen cabinets were on site just waiting to be installed. All of the colors had been chosen for flooring, countertops, paint, and the wall tile for the kitchen and bathroom.


I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with the folks there. They were so good to me and my family. They fed me a meal most days and provided me with money each week. They sent me home with gifts for Michelle and the kids, as well as a financial gift at the end. Thank you so much to all of you at Springhead Park House for your hospitality and your generosity. We have been so blessed by you all.

Thank you for your prayers for this trip.  They were really appreciated and I would ask you to continue to pray as I consider the next project the Lord has for me.


Gary

Sara

Sara's Story from Trinity Grace Church on Vimeo.

I made it home!

I just got in. It has been a very long day and now for bed. It was an uneventful day of traveling. The only problem we had was a delay at the Atlanta airport. First it was delayed by 15 minutes and then they sorted out some problems at the gate. The pilot said that we would have turbulence most of the way to Saint Louis but I thought it was a pretty smooth.

I will post about the project after some sleep.

Gary

To top it all off...

I came down with a really bad cold this week. On Tuesday evening, after dinner, I started to get a sore throat, achiness and heat flashes. I went to bed and woke up Wednesday with a bad sore throat and all my joints hurting. I spent the day dragging just trying to keep going. I took some Ibuprofen before I went to bed that night and sweated all night long. When I woke the next morning I felt GREAT, having a lot of energy, I was able to do my work with ease. I thank God for His healing so that I could continue with all my work that is still ahead of me. I am feeling much better now, still not completely over it.

Thank you all for praying. Please continue to pray, it has certainly been a battle here as well as on the home front.

The work is going well. The electrician is nearly complete with his Rough-in. The Plumber still has not been able to start his work yet, because of the problems we have had the Plumber had to go start another job and has not been able to get back to us. He is to start his work on Monday. The apartment is coming together despite all the set backs that we have had. We have all the walls framed up and have started insulating and hanging the drywall. It is looking like an apartment now. We should be able to hang some kitchen cabinets on Monday.

I have a very busy week. Some friends want to see me on Monday evening, my Brother-in-law is coming up to see me on Tuesday evening, I have a meeting planned with another friend and I still need to do some shopping, as well as do some work on this apartment.  Don't get me wrong, I am very excited about this week with all the busyness seeing everybody and all, especially the fact that I will be seeing my own family on Thursday, that is the day I will be traveling back home. So, I can't forget to pack too!

I have some very exciting news too! My phone rang today and I answered it to hear Elaina tell me that she has repented of her sins and is now trusting Christ save her. I am choking back tears just writing this. Oh that was so good to hear! Thank you, Lord! Michelle hugged her for me but that just isn't the same. I am so looking forward to going back home.

Gary