Today was our last day with Living Stones Church. It was a bitter sweet day for all of us. We know that they appreciate what we have done to help them and we know that they are equipped and ready to run with it. But we have made some friends and it's hard to leave that.
This has been an amazing trip, and I have been blessed by the experience. But I have also heard some heart breaking stories.
The pastor and his wife lost their daught to Leukemia last year. Their other child ran away, and is now homeless and pregnant and refuses to go home. She was brought home, but ran away again. How heartbreaking it must be to essentially lose two children in one year. And yet they strive on for their community and for thier grandchildren. The daughter that died left behind two children of her own (Christy and Jayla) and four foster children (Cassidy, Najha, Destiny, and Eternity) whom she had taken care of for years. With big hearts they couldn't see the foster children being split up and moved to new homes, and so they are now raising their late daughters' six kids. They say it's what she would have wanted and they seem proud to do it.
Some of the stories i wish I could share, but publicly on here, it's not my place to do so. But please, please, pray for the kids and families of this community. I am so thankful that there are people like Rev. and Mrs. Trimiar and Carl and Angie Walker, people who see a need in their community and are striving to meet that need despite the limited resources they may posses.
Ms Lynda is the church's main Secretary, but she does so much more than that. She runs a summer food program at the church for the local children, she runs a tutoring/mentory program, and she helps struggling families get back on their feet.
I know we've accomplished a lot this week. The church itself is highly organized and functional, and the Men have done and Phenomenal job on the study room and bathroom building.
This has been an amazing trip, and I have been blessed by the experience. But I have also heard some heart breaking stories.
The pastor and his wife lost their daught to Leukemia last year. Their other child ran away, and is now homeless and pregnant and refuses to go home. She was brought home, but ran away again. How heartbreaking it must be to essentially lose two children in one year. And yet they strive on for their community and for thier grandchildren. The daughter that died left behind two children of her own (Christy and Jayla) and four foster children (Cassidy, Najha, Destiny, and Eternity) whom she had taken care of for years. With big hearts they couldn't see the foster children being split up and moved to new homes, and so they are now raising their late daughters' six kids. They say it's what she would have wanted and they seem proud to do it.
Some of the stories i wish I could share, but publicly on here, it's not my place to do so. But please, please, pray for the kids and families of this community. I am so thankful that there are people like Rev. and Mrs. Trimiar and Carl and Angie Walker, people who see a need in their community and are striving to meet that need despite the limited resources they may posses.
Ms Lynda is the church's main Secretary, but she does so much more than that. She runs a summer food program at the church for the local children, she runs a tutoring/mentory program, and she helps struggling families get back on their feet.
I know we've accomplished a lot this week. The church itself is highly organized and functional, and the Men have done and Phenomenal job on the study room and bathroom building.
One of the things i noticed when I was cleaing and organizing the books, was how beaten up and tattered the church's bibles are. I also know that many of these kids do not have a bible of their own, they just can't afford it or thier parents see no point in having one. A lot of times church is the only time these kids get to read the bible.
I was wondering could we get a discount is we ordered Bibles in bulk. Maybe 15 kids Bibles for the Children's Class, 20 for the Youth Group, and 50 to 75 general adult Bibles for the sanctuary. Once I find out what that would cost, then maybe fundraising to make the money to pay for the Bibles and the money it would cost to send them there.
I will miss this place and these people. Knowing them has made my life better.
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