“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” What blessings we experience, as we see God’s hand at work in so many ways, and His abundance flowing into our ministry, as we reach out to help those in need.
Things began with a request for rice, two weeks ago. Maybe I should go into a little more detail…. We have a white board in our kitchen where we put our shopping and “wish” list, as well as special projects that need to be completed, and other little notes. As we finished off our supply of rice, Mary Edna wrote a note with a special request, “Please Daddy, Send Uncle Ben!” Pastor Dowdy here at Church of the Living God happened to see the note, and immediately recognized that we were in need of rice. This was the beginning of our story on our “flow of abundance!”
Within a few days, over 1,600 pounds of rice showed up from an anonymous source. And, guess what, “Uncle Ben is home!” The very first thing we noticed is that it is indeed “Uncle Ben’s” brand of rice….How is that for specific? We have rice to last till around the end of August. What a blessing! This started the chain of events that continues to follow. As teams personally see how we ask for supplies and watch them show up, they have begun to test their faith by making their requests known on our white board in the kitchen. Seth and a team from CA showed up on the 5th, and when we shared with them how God was providing, Seth jokingly said he wanted cheesecake, and we encouraged him to write it on the board. We had cheesecakes donated in the past, so we thought it certainly would be worth making the request known. Well, sure enough, two days before they were leaving, we had someone show up with several cheesecakes! Now, who says God does not care about the desires of our heart!!!
I share all of this to say how many times we truly “have not” a lot of what we need in life very simply because we are too proud and “ask not.” This very same week, we were scrambling, trying to figure out how we would keep our volunteers busy, as we were lacking funding for building supplies. I have shared with you in previous newsletters about Sonia and her family, who lost everything in Ike. She shared in the experience of the next prayer answered… We have committed to assisting her with her home, and knew there were no funds available for supplies, but encouraged her to stand strong and trust God for all her needs. Knowing we had the team from CA which possessed significant construction skills and a team of college students from Campus Crusade, we began to scramble for supplies, and praise God, we were blessed with some grant monies to apply to supplies for her construction. I talked with GCR2 and was told they would pre-approve her home and we could get supplies immediately! What a site it was! As soon as we knew funds were available to begin reconstruction, our teams began tearing that house apart, literally. The siding came down, windows and doors out, and by the end of the day, you could see straight through her home. Within just a couple of days though, we are so thrilled to see the beginnings of her NEW home!
It brought tears to my eyes when Sonia called me, in complete disbelief. “Vicki, you told me I would be getting a NEW home, but I did not really believe it till the guy just ask me what color I would like my house!” I knew she was crying through the broken words. She said, “I told that guy that I did not care what color of house I had. It is a miracle that I am getting a NEW home!” I do not know where Sonia stood in her faith prior to all of this, or even where she stands today, but I do know that she is seeing firsthand the love of Christ. She is seeing for herself that God loves her so much, and is seeing His miracles in her life. She is experiencing Christ in the flesh through the many volunteers who come to serve and work on her home. She recently told me that she sees each and every volunteer as an angel, sent by God. She says she, “cries tears of joy every time she sees them working on her home and is reminded that so many people care so much to come and volunteer to work on her home.” What a humbling, but incredible experience. For God to call someone from half-way across the country to come to serve someone they have never even met, just to show His love in such practical ways. I am constantly reminded of Matthew 25.
We are in great need of more volunteers, especially skilled construction teams. As we have recently transitioned into the phase of recovery, our main focus is on the reconstruction. With that, we have such a great opportunity to minister to families on a personal level, as we assist them in rebuilding their homes and lives. Let us know how you can be a part of our ministry here in Galveston. If you are able to come and serve with us, or make a donation to help us purchase supplies, please let us know. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Update 1.4.09

Update 1.4.09
Jesus is the reason for the season, and this holiday season, Jesus has become a best-friend to many who previously did not even know Him! Wow! I am amazed at all that has happened in the past month, and how God is so graciously blessing our ministry here in Galveston, as we continue to reach out to those who are broken, hurting, and still continue to recover from the 3rd worst hurricane in our nation’s history.
C4C hosted a large distribution of Toys for Tots for the local Marine Corps where we distributed toys to over 2,000 children. For so many families, this alone was an answer to their prayers. Many parents confessed that, “They had accepted in their hearts that they would not be able to have gifts for their children this Christmas morning.” But, instead of the disappointment this would have created in both the parents and children, with your help, and the help of the local Marine Corp, we were able to bring hope and share the love of Christ to so many families. They were reminded of the love of Christ, when He gave the world His gift of eternal life….What a gift that is!
Families came at scheduled appointments to the facility where we are partnered here at Church of the Living God, and upon arrival had a place where they could check in their children to play, while the parents went “shopping.” The children enjoyed “Ms. Pearl” the clown, face painting, balloon animals, bubbles, singing, storytelling, and played, not having a clue that Mom and Dad were preparing for their Christmas morning by selecting toys and gifts. We then had a “shopping area” where the parents were able to shop with “points” for toys. They selected items for each child, and were then blessed by gift wrapping by the Lee-Gregory-Thompson Families who donated the gift wrap and served in personally wrapping each gift. Families left with smiles, and I would have loved to have been there on Christmas morning.
Along with the Christmas presents received, so many were prayed with, and we had over 100 salvations the week of Christmas. What a blessing to see so many come to know Christ as their personal friend. It has truly been the greatest gift we could ever give. We rejoice with the angels!
We have had so many wonderful volunteers during the month of December. A very special thanks to Wendy Koy and her family and teams from Houston, Mary Rimple from Wisconsin, Debbie Stinson from here in Galveston for her faithful service, Kristine Masorsky and her family, Josephine Salcedo and her family, Nicole McCann and Jacqueline Games from Franklin, TX, Stephanie Little from here in Galveston, Pauline Larson, Lindsey and the AmeriCorp team, Kyle Wilmers and the Cincinnati, OH team, Amanda and Alex Corbitt and family from Oklahoma, Rebecca and Alan Harris and their girls from Colorado Springs, CO, Gwen, Stewart, and Olivia Lee from Oklahoma, Alethea Ficklin from Long Beach, MS, Bill Sherry from Cleveland, OH, Melinda and Steven Thompson and their family and friends, Erik Perez and Erik Jr., Meryl Gregory and her family and friends, Ginny Hobbs, Bill and Clara Knee and their son, Robin Sturgis and family and friends, Rhonda VanLiew, Cissie Sandoval, Susan, Kathy Roche, Susan Kirksey and the Kirksey and Phillips families, Joan Ostroot and her family, Diana Tian-Yu, Gerry Burgess and family, Cliff Golden and Boy Scout Troop #33 from IL, Jennifer and Bob Ruggio and family, Sheri Robinson, Tina Bloom, Rose and Dennis McCarroll and family and friends, Jacqueline (better known as “Ms. Pearl”), Gary, Deanna Williams, Mary Garcia and family, Ralph and Anna Tims and their girls, Terry and Cynthia Owens, Lonnie, Henry and Effie Amparan, the YWAM teams from Tyler, TX, and all who participated with Toys for Tots and served with us. We could not have done it without you.
As we start this New Year, we are kicking off our rebuilding efforts and the recovery stage of our efforts here in Galveston. Our main focus will change to skilled construction teams that are capable of assisting homeowners with the repairs and rebuilding necessary for many of them to return home. We are in great need of skilled construction volunteer teams who can come and spend a day, week, or month and the funding to assist homeowners with supplies in order to utilize the volunteer labor when they have exhausted all other resources.
I pray that we will all see others as Christ sees them, and that our ministry here on the Coast will continue to be blessed, as we bless those who are recovering and rebuilding their lives and homes from Hurricane Ike. Your support, prayers, and volunteer service allow us to continue to meet the needs of so many who are walking through tough times. With God’s help….Together, we can rebuild the Gulf Coast and make a difference!