This has been a tough week for all of us I think. Today is Memorial Day as I write this and we honor those who gave everything that we all can live in freedom here within the United States of America. I’ve been thinking of the families of those who sacrificed their very lives for us. It also reminds me of how Christ sacrificed His very life on the cross to set us free from the penalty of our sins.

My mind is also in turmoil in trying to comprehend how an 18 year old boy can walk into a school loaded down with thousands of rounds of ammunition with the sole evil intend of murdering as many young children as he can. I just cannot comprehend anger, hatred, and evil such as that. An evil heart is what kills; not a knife, rocks, ropes, poisons, or guns.

Its been a week of grieving all those who have lost their lives; some for the love of country, and others who died because of a demonic lust for blood. My heart hurts for all the families and my prayers are with them. Life continues and we pray, we grieve, and we try to make sense of all that is happening in this crazy mixed up world.

Some of us become more determined to help others that have experienced evil first hand. That’s what our Into the Light Home is about. This week has been a time of mixed emotions but our work has continued. Mr. Handyman came and when I went to the house today to water the newly planted flower garden I found the refrigerator water line has been installed and the frig. is ready to be filled, (after its plugged in and needed.) The stove is working beautifully, and the dishwasher has also been fully installed waiting for the first load of dirty dishes.

New bathroom (over the mirror) lights have been installed in both bathrooms and even in the shower in the main bath. Boy those rooms are bright now! A shower door has been donated and will soon be replacing the old broken one.

In talking with Pastor I learned there is little insulation in the attic so we’re going to have to have that insulated, we still have the sliding glass doors to replace, and windows replaced, but we’re getting there. I’m waiting on a decision about cement steps to the front door or wooden steps. I prefer cement due to the home being brick and no maintenance. But it isn’t my decision.

Pastor will be spending the day doing whatever he has planned and for me, I’ll be kicking back for a bit. Well, maybe I’ll go plant the Rose of Sharon’s in the back yard. I need to get those in the ground pretty soon.

I hope you all have had a safe Memorial Day holiday and have remembered, our freedom did not come easy or free.

Blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

To donate: http://www.intothelightga.com

Praise be to God the rain has held off for at least the first part of the day and I’m taking full advantage of it. The shovels and tools are loaded and I’m off to finish what I started Saturday. With just a short distance from the front corner to the end of the house corner it shouldn’t take long to complete the largest section of the flower garden edging.

I needed to be at the ministry house by 9:00 to meet the handyman. Pastor may get tied up so I arrived at 8:30 and just as I was taking the shovels out Mr. handyman pulled in. I’m glad I got there early. Soon after pastor pulled up and while they discussed what needed to be done I got busy playing in the mud.

I was right, it didn’t take me long and the ground being softened by the rain certainly helped in digging and moving dirt around.

Once I finished, pastor and I had the talk we needed to have. No, after our discussion, we are not compromising our dream. We agree on 97% of what we are doing and what we want to do. With more than one person making decisions there will be disagreements but they can be worked out. My main concern now is about the furnishings and of course men see differently on those kinds of decisions than women. Men are happy with an apple crate, a T.V., and a sleeping bag. Women NOT! (you know I’m right. ha ha)

I confess, the one question survey I posted really surprised me! I expected the women to chime in with, “Oh yuck! Outdoor furniture as living room furniture? No way!” The men basically said, “If its comfortable, that’s fine.” (which this is not!) Next time I’ll think a little longer before doing a survey. ha ha

Anyway, things are going more smoothly. By the end of this day the gas stove will be connected (it was before I left), the dishwasher was being set up for installing, and the water line (hopefully) will be completed to the frig. ice maker. Pastor was working on replacing a bathroom door that looked like someone had kicked a hole in.

Pastor and I both agree we’re on the last stretch of the renovations. We’re seeing the end of the tunnel and no, it isn’t the trains headlight. We’ll begin to focus a little more on the furnishings now. Rather than have hodge-podge donations brought in, we’d much rather have the “green back” donations so we can purchase what we feel the ladies are worthy of having; a nicely furnished home that they can be proud to call home for the year they will be there.

I ain’t proud – We need the money to purchase what we need. Please prayerfully consider whatever the Lord leads you to give.

Pastors favorite – M-I-L-L-I-O-N would be nice. 🙂

To donate: http://www.intothelightga.com And it is tax deductible.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

The work clothes are washed and ready for next time. Will the front steps be installed? Will I get to finish the rest of the front garden edging? Then what?

Blessings to you and see ya’ next time.

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

More has been done as pastor spent two days working and praise God he had a volunteer to help. When I arrived Friday afternoon to wait for the edging blocks. (Don’t you hate those 4 hour windows these companies give to arrive?) I walked through the house and saw a new light hanging over where the kitchen table will be, some new ceiling fans, the laundry room ceiling has been replaced but not quite finished, and entering a bedroom there are some tower kind of wire baskets sitting near the bottom of the closet. Hopefully they are not to replace a dresser or chest of drawers, is my thought.

A metal twin bed has been put together and another still in the box on the floor. Gazing at the bed a past image enters my mind and I’m seeing beds lined along the walls of a ward in the mental psych hospital in Phoenix, Arizona where I was employed while working my way through college. Shaking my head to dispel the mental image, I hear a truck outside and tear out the door to accept the edging blocks as the driver steps out of the truck.

Pastor and I need a meeting. Medal beds, a tower of wire baskets in the closet, and outdoor patio furniture in a living room is not what our original vision included. These women deserve better. Making one more trip through the house to make sure I saw what I thought I saw, I left with mixed emotions after the driver pulled away, but happy to see the flat of cement edging blocks.

Saturday morning I arrived early with my work clothes on, my sweat band and hat, a cooler with plenty of water and a small lunch. I knew this was going to take a while. Retrieving the shovels and tools from the back of my car, I’m ready to start the job that I’ve been waiting to do for several weeks.

The morning is cool and I’ve worked in the shade but by the time three hours have passed, with a couple of breaks to rest and hydrate, the sun is beginning to shine on the area I’m working on and its getting hot and I’m getting tired.

Standing back to see what I’ve accomplished I’m amazed. This old gal has succeeded in placing a double high edging the entire length, from where the front steps will be, to the end of the house. I only have about 5-6 feet more to go but the sun has gotten hot and I’ve decided to quit for now.

Looking at my watch while my belly growls, I think its time to rest the old body, eat my sandwich and chips, and drink that cold root beer I brought with me. I’ve done enough for today but boy does it look nice!

We’re expecting rain for a few days so I’ll be back when the rain stops and I have a chance to finish the job…..in the mud.

How long will that take? Hopefully not as long as the weather prediction says.

And please pray for the Lord’s direction for the furnishings for this home.

Blessings to you;

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

THIS IS ASHLEY CLARE VIEW NUVELLA OUTDOOR PATIO FURNITURE SET.

WOULD YOU PLACE THIS IN YOUR HOME AS LIVING ROOM FURNITURE?

Yes?

No?

You may answer in the comment section.

Thank you and blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

To donate or more info: http://www.intothelightga.com

As stated in the last post pastor and 5 volunteers accomplished quite a lot yet there is still more to be done. There was some caulking that needed to be finished, and was, as well as several other needs taken care of. When I arrived pastor had another man volunteering to help him.

I wonder if maybe some of the men may be reading this because I had stated before how pastor was having to do everything himself and “that just ain’t right.” Suddenly he is getting the help he needs and if the men aren’t reading this then it must be the Lord telling them to get off their duffs and give pastor a hand, and they are! Thank you guys and thank you Lord.

Walking up to the carport, pastor and the man are talking about some measurements for the laundry room ceiling. That is one of those repairs that has been left to be done and apparently today is the day to get it done.

I have a dear lady friend that came to visit for a few days from out of town and she is always faithful to help me with whatever project I’m working on, which in this case, as you know, is the flower garden in the front of the ministry home.

We got the mulch straightened out and I planted the 2 Hosta’s that needed to get in the dirt. They look perfect in the spots I put them, after we were able to fill in a good portion of the area that pastor wanted fill dirt for. Digging holes and using that dirt is a blessing. I always use black dirt in the new holes for newly planted plants.

We were then able to make a clearing for the walkway. (mulch had covered the whole area) It still needs to be leveled but I had several square cement pavers under my deck at home that I no longer need and brought them with us. I lined those up to see what they would look like. We’ve decided to use those with pea gravel/rocks around them as the walk way for now. We still need to have the steps to the front door made. So I’m having to work around that.

Pastor and the other man were busy inside. I asked him to come outside to see what I had done and showed him while explaining the next steps. I explained the edger blocks are next, then I’ll level for the walkway, then we’ll do the gravel. (Lord, please don’t let some kind hearted man want to get gravel and spread it before I can get these next steps done in order)

Once pastor approved of the work done and agreed to the plans for the next step my friend and I left before my handy man arrived. I haven’t talked to pastor so I can’t report on whether the gas stove is now connected or if the water line to the refrigerator ice maker has been installed or what else was done. Pastor and the other man were going to be there working all day so I’m sure much was accomplished. I’ll have an update on everything by the week-end and will be sharing that with you next time.

I am so grateful for the help pastor is getting and the work that is being done. He’s really hoping to have 90-95% of the inside renovations done by June. That’s a pretty big dream but hey, the Lord says dream big.

I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon for the delivery of the cement edge blocks and the forecast is still rain! Not just Saturday, but Sunday and Monday, too.

Will I get my project done by June? We’ll see.

Blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

Yesterday pastor had volunteers at the ministry house helping and they accomplished quite a lot. When I met with pastor this morning he was upbeat and grateful for the work that had been done.

The outside of the home, as you may have noticed from the picture I posted, needed a good cleaning. One of the men pressure washed yesterday and it really looks nice now. While he was washing the outside men were putting up ceiling fans, a new attic drop down stair unit now replaces the dangerous old ones, light switches and electric sockets have been fixed or replaced, and the molding and trim is finished except for a little caulking here and there.

I was approached after church by a couple and was told they were going to Home Depot to buy several bags of mulch for the front flower garden. Gerri and I met them there and I showed them what I wanted and they proceeded to buy them as we left. They said they would deliver them to the house for when I’m ready to put it down.

This morning when I arrived they had not only bought the mulch, but had spread the mulch too, “to save Sue that much work.” Gerri was shocked when I told her because she thought “She’ll blow a gasket!” But I didn’t. I think it was a nice gesture BUT, I need to undo what was mistakenly done, like covering the entire area that pastor was going to fill in with dirt and covering where the walkway will be. No big deal because I’ll be going today to just move the mulch to another area where it’s needed. I’ll now be able to plant the Hosta’s I have that are beginning to fade due to out growing their pots and maybe even plant a couple more Rose of Sharon in the back yard that I have in a pot of dirt.

That nice wooden bird house I bought now has two big holes in the bottom where cottin’ pickin’ carpenter bees got to it. They sure didn’t waste any time! So I’ll be making repairs on that. What really thrills me, besides the work inside that is being accomplished, and even more being done today, is that the cement edging blocks are ordered and will be delivered Friday afternoon. Thank you Lord we didn’t try to load them on pastor’s pick-up and wrestle with that job.

The handy man is coming today so hopefully we’ll have the gas stove hooked up and in position and the water line for the refrigerator ice maker, well that may take some time due to where it has to come from to where it has to go. We’ll see.

Things have really picked up again and if we can keep this kind of pace it will be time to start with the administration part of the ministry, but we aren’t there yet.

Will I get to finally start playing in the dirt again with putting the cement edging blocks down on Saturday ….or will the 60% chance for rain keep me grumbling at home?

See ya’ next time.

Blessings to you,

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

Not being an early bird, as the saying goes, I woke early and was up and out the door within thirty minutes. Today was an important day. We were expecting a delivery and I needed to be there early. Arriving, pastor was already at the ministry house working inside.

We walked through some of the rooms and he told me about a list he has made of what he wants to get done. Pointing to the broken shower door he explains someone has exactly what we need, the size, frame and all, and is willing to donate it. Hallelujah. After having to replace mine and how expensive it was, that is a real blessing.

He also told me he has five men coming later this week to help him install the ceiling fans, clean duct and heating covers, finish (hopefully) the trim and base boards, and a number of other items that need to be done. A window repairman is scheduled to come look at what needs to be done about some windows and using my landscaper to cut and weed eat the yard. He’s offered to do it free as his contribution to the ministry. Yet another blessing.

Walking around the back yard I pointed out where I plan to plant the other Rose of Sharon bushes and as we walked on the other side of the old storage shed, that we plan to tear down, pastor points out a large hole. “We have a big ground hog in residence and it looks like he’s made another hole.” I chuckled because Gerri and I have seen him several times out the kitchen window while working in the kitchen. I wanted to name him but once the old storage shed is torn down he’ll be moving on. He has his home under it.

I felt more encouraged as we talked and as we stood at the front flower bed I explained my plans for how I will use the edger blocks for the flower garden. He totally surprised me when he said, “Call me Monday morning and I’ll meet you at Home Depot and we’ll get the blocks you need.” Praise God and hallelujah. Now I am encouraged! 🙂

Just as I started to do a little dance the delivery truck arrived. While pastor was talking with them I went to the side of the house to get the hose to water all the flowers. It was not as I had left it! Instead of neatly rolled to make it easy to stretch to where I need it, it was an absolute tangled mess where someone (I’m sure I know who) had just thrown it helter skelter and the next several minutes was spent untangling the mess. Grrrr A hose roller upper thing will be bought next trip to Home Depot!

We checked the manufacturers numbers to make sure we were receiving the cherished items we had ordered and paid for and now sitting in the kitchen is a brand new side by side refrigerator, a brand new dish washer, and a brand new gas 5 burner stove. Oh they look soooo pretty, especially after seeing the old ones.

They are not yet installed because we need to run a water line for the refrigerator ice maker, get a gas cut off safety thingy that was not present, and pastor will install the dishwasher. But the good news is he is willing to hire someone who can do the gas hookups and water line as well as other jobs we need done. And I know just the man! (My handy man)

So after fighting so much frustration these past weeks I am pleased to say, things are really looking up for this week and next. I’ll be playing in the dirt once again, more will have been completed inside the house, and I can still do a happy dance.

Oh, and hopefully the tiny kittens hiding behind the shed will find a happy home.

Blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

In creating any new ministry there will be mistakes made. Why? Because we all are human and if it is a ministry that we, as a church, have not done before, it is started as a learning experience as we go. We found that out almost from the beginning.

We were all gung-ho and excited about starting, looking at all the possibilities, and how best we could glorify the Lord. As time passed we began to encounter unexpected problems, which in reality, is to be expected even though we were unaware of just what those unexpected problems would be. For example, the couple we hired that I spoke of early on.

Then we had what pastor kindly called, “bumps in the road.” The furnace, windows, a stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher, that all need replacing plus so much more. Some expected, others not. The renovation needs have piled up and although a good bit has been done it is slow going and much left to be done.

When we first started, it was during the Covic hysteria and people were out of work so volunteers were ready and willing to lend a helpful hand, but now those same people have jobs and their focus is work and family. Oh, we still have a few that are willing to help here and there but nothing like it was at first. Pastor is doing almost all of it by himself and that just ain’t right!

People are still being loving through their donations of physical items. We received more towels, a much needed shower curtain, a couple of sheets, and when I walked into the home a week ago I was surprised to see furniture in the living room. Some generous person took the time to buy outdoor patio furniture.

That confused me because we are not extending the small patio so why patio furniture? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate their generosity but patio furniture is not living room furniture and I realized that was what it was supposed to be used as! I’m hoping that pastor will suggest to this generous couple (if it is a couple) to exchange the patio furniture for living room furniture. Like I said, we all make mistakes and with the Lord’s help we have been able to rectify what mistakes we have made and hopefully this mistake will be rectified also.

Pastor was at the house today and was able to get more of the trim and base boards done as well as changing out a few of the electrical outlets. I have not been able to do any more than water the flower garden due to no edging. I have found that I will be forced to go with the paving stone blocks due to grey scalloped edging, that I had decided I wanted to use, cannot be found or ordered. Red just won’t cut it!

So that decision has been made and now its just a matter of purchasing them and getting them hauled over to the house. I can’t wait to get to work on that and then I can do the mulch. The largest section will then be complete and I’ll have to start on the other end where pastor needs to fill in with top soil.

A slow process? Oh yeah! And once again I have to remind myself it all takes time and cool my heels on letting frustration take hold. Any new ministry, especially where a home is purchased or renovations of a store front, a room, a church, or anything else that has to be done to prepare for whatever ministry is to be done within, is going to be quite an experience!

I’ll see you next time with news of a new delivery. Hmm I wonder what it is?

Blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com

The time that we have had without running back and forth to the ministry house has been a time, for me, has been catching up on everyday tasks around my own home. We have gotten some rain so no need for me to go water. I’ve had time to grocery shop, buy myself a tomato plant, and do the usual things like laundry, etc.

I was told by my handy man about another ministry much like ours and I am absolutely amazed at the work they do. Yes, its helping women rescued straight out of the sex traffic horrors. The Sacred Roots Farm Ministry is much more than what we are planning on doing. Into the Light Ministry is a transition home. The women have previously gone through a year long program before they come to us. That ministry is a working farm and there is no time limit for the women and their children (if they have any) to stay to heal and recover. Milking cows, feeding chickens, and horseback riding can bring amazing healing.

These types of Christian ministries is desperately needed in Georgia. (All across the country actually) Georgia is one of the top sex traffic states. Last report we saw we have gone from number 1 (Atlanta) to number 3 in the U.S.A. and ministries such as this one and ours is less than a handful in this state. Out of Darkness is yet another one. (Atlanta)

From the very first when Pastor and I spoke about starting this ministry I have felt an urgency. Once we actually began the plans and searching for a house the urgency seemed to increase. Now that we have the house and have been doing the renovations it has caused me much frustration (not happening fast enough) and I have to keep reminding myself, “its all in God’s hands and in His timing.” I’ve had to do that this week while pastor is having himself a great time wading out into a flowing cool stream and casting that fly rod. I hope he and his honey had a big old trout dinner. I can hear that crackling campfire and smell those trout frying from here. Its making my mouth water. They both deserve the time away and I pray safe journey back home tomorrow.

In the meantime I’m getting a bit of rest too, but my mind is zeroing back in the direction of what I need to do to get the flower garden done. We still have the front steps and a walkway to install and pastor needs fill dirt to fill in next to the driveway before I can do anything with that end. I’m waiting for his return to get his opinion on whether to use the scalloped edging or blocks, plus all that still needs to be done inside.

I am excited though about a new delivery coming next week. Will it be delivered as promised?

Come on back to see what all the excitement is about. I hope to see you then.

Blessings to you.

Into the Light Ministry

http://www.intothelightga.com