Normal is a real place. We've been there. Last Sunday in fact. Christ Church invited us to come share a bit about our family (they love adoption too.) The pastor and other men of Christ Church have been a part of Amazing Grace over the last few years filling the pulpit, administering communion and baptizing some of the people. The men recalled the church being significantly larger in past years and expressed their enthusiasm for the growth of Amazing Grace Church once again. BTW (By the way) if you're ever in the area, I would highly recommend you pay the peeps (people) at Christ Church a visit. They love our great God. I was inspired with their desire to be generous in their community that they might win a city for Christ. One simple phrase I held onto (although there were others) was, "pick up garbage to God's glory." What a good challenge. Yup, I can do that.
I was inspired by the teaching and conversations from our visit to Christ Church I returned home on a big love-for-the-Lord high (does that make sense to anyone else?) As if that wasnt enough on Monday we were thrilled to get a text from our friends at Amazing Grace: "…had a good service. Full house...We might need a larger building soon." Does that warm the cockles of your heart and make you smile too?
What a wonderful problem to have. There is so much to do. In between working his two jobs Scott is plugging away at the various responsibilities needed to get things going. He has completed his transfer exam questions for presbytery and gotten the insurance costs for the church figured out which required adjusting the budget. (I'm so glad I don't have to do that stuff. Sounds as much fun as plucking out my toenails with a pliers.)
And we've come to the support raising part of our journey. We don't want to do that part. Asking people for money ranks right up there with road construction and detours and potholes. But so far it's been a bit like plucking a perfectly ripe tomato. For 5 summers now I've been planting yellow cherry tomatoes and I've tested my theory of ripeness. If I tug on a shiny yellow tomato and it pops right off it is perfectly ready and bursting with deliciousness. If I have to wrestle it off the bush it isn't ripe yet! That is what support raising is starting out like for us. It seems there are those whom God has ripened to care about His work in Watseka and us. I don't mean to over look those who may be sacrificing for this effort. I appreciate that some have been pouring into this ministry for some time and to ramp up their efforts is not without sacrifice. We are thankful. We are humbled. I pray we are used tremendously in the community surrounding Watseka. And I know that road construction and detours are part of God's plan for us. If the road was smooth and straightforward we wouldn't need to be on our knees asking for help through unknown paths.
We spent last Saturday in Watseka at the nursing home with a couple of our friends from Amazing Grace we hadn't had much time with before. They played and sang for the residents of the nursing home. I met a resident lady 98 years old. She was amazing. She approached me and we chatted as if she was 40. Her family is scattered and she's lonely but cheery. I think I'm going to have to move her in with me when I get settled there! Saturday night we crashed at one couple's home from Amazing Grace so we didn't have as big of a drive on Sunday. It was great to spend time with Amazing Gracers but we look forward to no more stuffing a bunch of kids in the van for hours and hours. We look forward to having people over to our house. We can't wait to be able to explore alternative meeting place options without our kids in tow. We are excited to be there and we are sad to leave behind friends and family.
It's sweet and sour like a big wonderful Texas Grapefruit. I can't believe I've lived in the Toledo area 17 years. I'm scared to leave. I can't imagine life without my friends in Toledo. I'm sad to leave behind family here in Ohio. I'm also so excited to be in Watseka. I have this back and forth in my head. You see I need help! Pray for all us wee killys will ya?
No comments:
Post a Comment