Responding in Quapaw, OK and Baxter Springs, KS
Today we are making our way to Quapaw, Oklahoma to meet with Frank and those who are trying to help him recover from the latest tornado outbreak to hit Oklahoma. In the process of our preparation, we also have been thinking of all those that were impacted just a year ago- also in Oklahoma – Moore, Shawnee and the surrounding areas. We have seen these communities come together to mount heroic recovery efforts. This week we have also stopped with them to reflect on the events of last year when their lives were turned upside down. Many families were forever altered by the loss of their...
Read MoreVolume 3, Issue 1
Praise the Lord! The work has started! In our last newsletter we told you about the building that we have received and shared our vision for its future. We are very excited to say that the preliminary work has started! A precious man from our church, Skip, shared his construction talent with us for several days. Much of the removal of the damaged floor has been done! While the damage was a little more extensive than we anticipated and termites were discovered during the work, we are now ready to start the re-construction and repairs in the main room to make the flooring solid! The...
Read MoreVolume 2, Issue 1
Look What The Lord Has Done! 2013 has been an eventful year for us. In January, the Lord moved us from the Houston area back to Vickie’s hometown, Denison, Texas. Moving from the suburbs to acreage in the country has been quite an experience for us personally. As we prepared to move we sensed the Lord had purpose beyond our expectations. Returning to her hometown after more than 40 years, Vickie felt like she was being called as a missionary of sorts to the town she left behind as a rebellious teen. Located in NE Texas, with pockets of poverty and high addictions, Denison is very much in...
Read MoreVolume 1, Issue 2
Hurricane Sandy Strikes East Coast October 29th Wednesday, October 31st we deployed On Wednesday, October 31st we deployed to the east coast in response to the great need after Hurricane dubbed,“SuperStorm Sandy” by the media. The devastation we witnessed reminded us in many ways of the destruction after Hurricane Ike in the Gulf Coast region. However, in many ways the impact of Sandy is much more magnified. With the population density of the Northeast, the volume of people impacted is significantly greater than in the Gulf Coast. With basements in most all of the homes, water...
Read MoreThinking about the Holidays!
Tonight, I am wondering what kind of holidays the families of NY, NJ and the other hard hit areas will have. Makes me sad. I know that Christmas isn’t about the gifts, but since Jesus gave us the ultimate gift…HIMSELF, how can we do any less this year. Reach out and touch someone that is hurting- this holiday many will be challenged to walk in the JOY of the Lord while enduring hardship! May each of us keep an eternal...
Read MoreThe things we take for granted!
I am amazed by all the things we take for granted….all the things that I take for granted…at least I used to take them for granted! Things like LIGHT, HEAT, HOT FOOD, WARM SHOWER, GASOLINE! Just ran across this post on FB…”Is anyone in Old howard beach that can bring a friend of mine a flashlight or DD batteries?” Please pray with us for those that have been so impacted by this massive and destructive storm….and then get up from your prayers and DO SOMETHING! Give, go, volunteer, whether it is a gift card, cash to your church you have relationship...
Read More
When crisis comes, it seems like everything suddenly is going backwards! It seems that times are dark and difficult. But as the Lord shows up and His Church connects with volunteers, officials and those in need, things begin to improve and the load gets lighter. Often, things end up better than even before! We pray that each of us can RISE TO THE TIME IN HIM!