More Aware

Over the last couple of weeks I've been very much aware of the giving that happens here. I always try and be aware and so very grateful, but these last couple of weeks it has been at the forefront of my thoughts, more so than usual.

In the early days of Mercy Ministries things were tough, so tough actually. We moved into Mercy Home before it was finished. It wasn't even halfway finished actually. We didn't have steady power, just a small generator for power in the evening. We didn't have a refrigerator, oven, or even a couch. We didn't have flushing toilets or running water so we used composting toilets...it was pretty wild, but we definitely survived.

This was in the living room of Mercy Home when we first moved in. All of our kids lived in here until we were able to finish other rooms in the home.

The house to the left of the picture is where Mercy Christian Academy is now, which we didn't own when this picture was taken. The corn field on the right is where the playground is which we were able to purchase in December 2020.

This is the “master bedroom” inside of Mercy Home. Is was bare bones for a few years.

The building of Mercy Home…we started with half an acre corn field and God has continued to provide in so many ways! We are so blessed!

This last month or so we've had several fundraisers open, but not quickly (according to me) funded and I've been a bit frustrated because I feel like these things need to be done and I feel like they will be beneficial to the ministry here. But, really what I need to do is relax and remember that you can't eat a whole elephant in one or two bites. Often times we have so many needs coming at us that it is hard to know what to do.

We could actually get more of these projects done if we said "no" to more things. Obviously if you've followed us for long you know that saying "no" isn't something we are good at. As many of you know we recently took in a baby, she is just as cute and sweet as can be, but she's expensive 🤣. Two weeks ago we got a call that a little girl we purchase sickle cell medication for was really sick so we sent her to the hospital. She was admitted and spent around 10 days there where her bill was around $250, we couldn't say "no" to getting her help. On Monday one of our MCA students had 2 seizures, she has epilepsy and it isn't controlled, so we sent her to the hospital on Tuesday where she stayed until Saturday. On Friday when Jeff was delivering food boxes to several families in our village he found out about a sick baby and a sick widow, of course he sent them to the Dr for treatment. Often times we have people come to our gate asking for help with funds for medical care, that is just too hard to say "no" to.

This is sickle cell medication that he provide for 2 children outside of our home. It is about 35 cents per capsule which is too much for many families.

God has brought this ministry SO far! We started with half of an acre that we didn't even own 🤦🏻‍♀️ and now we have 4 acres. We started with a corn field and now we have a home, school, church, playground and permaculture project. We started with just 2 employees and Monday we paid 36 employees. Y'all, I remember when the end of month used to make me SO nervous because we had our weekly food shopping and we needed to pay our small staff. Okay it still makes me nervous because everything has increased so much, but there were times I wasn't sure we would be able to pay our staff and do all the weekly shopping. Today we are able to have a staff of 36, most of them coming from our small village. 36 people are able to help provide for their family because of your love and giving. Wow, I'm totally blessed and blown away by that. Not only are we able to have a staff of 36, but many of them have been able to receive a raise since they started working here and recently we were able to add health care coverage for all staff and their families. What a blessing y'all are to so many.

When Mercy Baptist Church first started we met in what is now the boys room. It wasn’t finished so the boys were living in a different part of the home.

Mercy Baptist Church 2021, we meet under a pavilion which is also used for Mercy Christian Academy.

We now own 4 acres which is everything inside the red line.

The playground is used by Mercy Home, Mercy Christian Academy, and Mercy Baptist Church.

An overhead view of part of Kijiji Garden.

Kijiji Gardens was designed and planted in March 2021 and we were able to purchase this land in January 2021. We are using a permaculture design, this garden should grow to feed many people.

All of this to say thank you! Many of you give sacrificially to this ministry and it really makes a difference. Some of the medical costs that we help with are as little as $5 so don't ever think that you must give a certain amount or a "big" amount to matter! It all matters to God and to the ministry work here. Thank you again and again for standing in the gap for others, others who would not get what they need without someone like you. We are incredibly blessed to be here and by the prayers and love of each one of you. 💜