Quarterly Newsletter – October 2017

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Thank you for your generous commitment of time, prayers and finances for those in need of The Journey Home. We are so grateful for each one of you. What a joy it is to partner with you in God’s work as together we build this home.

Last week, we went by the property with great anticipation and saw that the water line along the road was finally being put in. YAY! A four-inch pipe was needed to replace the two-inch pipe for the required sprinkler system in the home. There have been several delays, yet we trust this was God’s perfect timing. Praise God that He has provided the funds needed to pay for this next phase!

We eagerly wait for a groundbreaking date. There is much to be done to make that happen. Presentations are continuing to be made at area churches and organizations, as well as meeting with individuals. This past Monday, we met with a group of 15 Pastors at the Louisa County & Vicinity Ministerial meeting who were both engaged and supportive. Please continue to pray with us for God’s favor as Ed continues to seek grants and for God to provide the funds needed to build soon (though we know He has the perfect timing). This was His vision and we trust He will make provision.

The August 19th Bingo Give Away fundraiser was a great success due to great volunteers and amazing community support. What a fun evening it was with the help of Irene’s expert planning, steaks cooked to perfection by the Mineral Volunteer Fire Department (thanks Stewart and Lloyd!), Tommy’s precise accounting, Kelly’s exciting Bingo calling and special friends that traveled from PA to help with the event. Over $10,000 was raised. Praise the Lord!

The recent yard sale was so much more than a fundraiser! God blessed the days with beautiful weather, abundant dedicated volunteers, lots of generous donations, many eager shoppers, and a wonderful profit of $3,000. More importantly, there was great community support including the Louisa Volunteer Fire Department that loaned us tables, Louisa Baptist Church that gave us the use of their building and parking lot, and Goshen Ministries that loaned us their truck. The 25+ volunteers were from many area churches. It was exciting to hear them telling people about TJH and to find that half the people had already heard about the home and were confirming the great need.

Opportunities are available to invest in TJH including a raffle of a beautiful P. Buckley Moss signed “Remarque” print that Shirley has arranged with 100% of the profit going to TJH. Tickets are only $1 and will be available until May. The brick fundraiser ($100) has continued to be a great way to support TJH and honor a loved one or friend or family member. The engraved brick path will bless the future guests of TJH. A form can be sent to you electronically by emailing your request to [email protected]. A greeting card fundraiser is a fun way to support TJH, too. Nadine can help you with all the details.

With thanksgiving, we shared in the last newsletter how God has used the generosity of many donors like you to allow sufficient money to purchase a parcel of land across the street from The Journey Home. Ben Reid has been looking for suitable property for the Next Step Program that will allow graduates of TJH to move into affordable housing as they continue to process of becoming independent. This suitable land became available and TJH Board voted unanimously to purchase it. The proximity to TJH will enable us to stay in close contact with the family that moves into the home.

Ben has been building relationships with men in the community who have a heart for helping others. They have recently built a wheelchair ramp for an amputee and are repairing a “sinking” kitchen floor for an elderly woman. This team of volunteers will also participate in the Next Step Program. Let us know if you would like to join in this rewarding outreach.

Work continues on fine-tuning the application process, the rules for living in the home, and the roles of the “house parents”. We have also been meeting with a kitchen planner and a volunteer interior designer to strategize the best use of interior spaces.

We hope you can join us on Saturday, November 11th from 9-11 am at Mineral Baptist Church for our next update and planning meeting. One update will be hearing details about the Capital Campaign. Please prayerfully consider how God might be leading you to participate in His work through The Journey Home. Thank you!

Just this morning, I heard about a woman whose home burned down and she has nowhere to go. A friend, who works with this lady, told me about her situation and how much she wished TJH was available for people in need like this woman. We continually hear of individuals and families in desperate need of a temporary home where they can get back on their feet. Thank you for your part in helping provide a place where God will transform lives.

Trusting in the Lord,
Ed and Debby