August 2017 Newsletter


The Widow’s Offering
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4
Newspaper 52e1d74b4b 1920

Home Build Update

We have begun the process of arranging paperwork for the upcoming house builds.

As we drove by one home, we saw an elderly Grandma and a young lady about 10 years old peaking out of the structure they lived in. The person I was with asked me to turn around and go back, so we did.

After a warm greeting they invited us to see the structure they all lived in. There were 6 people living in the home. The Grandfather and Grandmother, along with their two grandchildren that had been dropped off by a mom hooked on meth.   To the left we noticed a man staring off into space. We were told that he had fried his brain on meth over the last several years.

Then there was the hollering coming from a different part of the house. It was the grandmother’s disabled sister who called out to whoever would listen. I found the whole situation very uncomfortable.

They had a 12 x12 brick structure that was ¾ of the way done, and off that they had hanging fabric going all over the place.

The beds were out in the open with a brick stove in the middle of it all. I could hardly breathe from the raw smoke that lingered under the tarps.

We asked if we could pray for them. We spent time in prayer for the family and then they showed us around and what they had. So, this week we began to add a roof on the brick structure they had in the middle of the home.

We have doors to build and a floor to pour for them so they will have one room to protect them from the elements. A local gentleman is preparing the roof for a new metal covering.

In January we will be building Grandpa and Grandma a new home.  Until then we are going to try and get them one room to keep things safe and dry.

Our student program has grown to 25 students..

Just the other day a young lady, whom I remember slipping a pair of shoes on her feet about 6 years ago, came and asked if she could go to school.

She was just a little girl back then but I have continued to see her on the street and always offer a wave. Here she was with her Mother as a young adult looking for a chance at a better future.

We told her right now we did not have the money for her to go to school. May I tell you, that is a very hard thing to do. A young person wants to better herself and you can't help.

One reason we cant help is there are two other students on the waiting list ahead of her. I watched as they walked away and wished I could listen to the conversation.

Fast forward a couple days...

Student Program

Newspaper 52e1d74b4b 1920
I was working on the above house with Crispin. When I went to put the tools away at the end of the day, a couple of the students asked if we could talk because they had an idea. I noticed a paper with a bunch of names on it and some scribbles.

They said “what if all 25 of us saved .75 every week and put it in a pig (piggy bank) that would add up to $18.75 a week. Then if we did that for 4 weeks we would have $75.00 in the pig.

Now if we took that money every month and did that for 12 months we would have $900.00 in the pig to give to you so we could add another student. Do you think that would be a good Idea for us to sponsor a student?” By this time my heart had swollen so big I was near tears as I saw these kids getting it!

They have been blessed and given a chance at an education by many of you. And now they wanted to give back and make a difference in a local young adults life.

They got what it is all about, which is helping one another. I am so excited to see what transpires over the next month. I can hardly wait to see the blessings God will pour out on these young adults. We have all of you to thank for pouring into the lives of these kids.

Please pray that we never have to turn a child away because of lack of sponsorship. Please pray that we can find the funds to help them.

The ministry home is almost a reality. We are so close to acquiring this home and we are breathing a breath of relief. Thanks to all who have given to this home as well as all who have prayed.
 
Prayer requests
  • We are in need of monthly supporters to help us move forward every month.
  • Students and finances.
  • Faithfulness to what God has called us to do.
 
Curt and Kelly VanEkeren

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