“ASK, AND KEEP ON ASKING…….” Jesus said! 25 June 08

Only a few short weeks ago I visited my COACH client for the first time, to work towards setting out a list of goals for the next 12 months. Looking at her needs, and the tight time frame in which the steps towards the final goal had to be achieved, plus the difficulties inherent in each step of this process, it all seemed extremely daunting, if not impossible. Not only that, but the run-down, worn-out, impoverished and generally depressed feeling in the home was a testimony to a lack of not only money, but drive, energy and HOPE. The needs of the children and the years of struggle had taken their toll.  Even the goat was blind in one eye!  

My first thought was “God!! You will have to be in this in a BIG WAY for all of this to work!”

However, after we had completed the goal sheets and set ourselves a clear plan and timetable for each stage to be completed, it was amazing how  different the atmosphere was at the next visit – I could sense HOPE – it all seemed POSSIBLE, even exciting!,  and this change could only have come about through God’s grace and answer to prayer. I sensed the strength and powerful love of God each time I visited.

Then the car ceased to function and Hey Presto! – transport was provided by other members of the church/the school community. But there was still a long walk each afternoon, rain hail or shine, with a toddler as well, to collect them all, not to mention fitting in the Kinder hours.   Yet the level of support being provided was a great encouragement to the mother at a time when all seemed impossible again.  She needed $5,500 to fix the car, which seemed an insurmountable obstacle, even though $3500 was available. Borrowing was not an option as she as yet had no job or means to repay a loan.

But God!!  Suddenly an inheritance was left to her.  Next a friend introduced to her a friend of a friend who actually knows about cars, who came (from quite a distance!) and assessed the damaged car, and then found her a really good car for $1000 LESS than her repairs would have cost.

Being in this story is like watching the Red Sea part! And it is going to be SO exciting watching the rest of the story unfold! 

It is so obvious that people have been praying and supporting this ministry! Not just one person either – so thank you ALL and please KEEP ON ASKING!!!  We have only just begun the journey of the restoration for this family, and there are countless other struggling families out  there who need to be introduced to the GOODNESS OF GOD!   

COACH Program 3 June 08

One of the mentors told me of the heaviness that was present around the family they had been connected to. The first visit was quite a slog. Afterwards the mentor was listing the wide range of issues we needed to deal with. Would like to say the mentor and I were full of faith and pumped to see the solution.

The truth was a bit more like “flip, what have we got ourselves into here, we need to get God involved here big time cause this is way beyond either of us”. Next visit the mentor bounced back to me with the report of how much lighter the whole situation was in the family home. Basically the family concerned now had a sense of hope about their future.
Neither the mentor or I had done anything physical to change the situation but we had prayed and God had begun to work.

COACH Program 3 June 08

One of the families we are working with has a need to get their car back on the road but that needs a tonne of money to do so. However, through a range of circumstances the money is now available.

The family were so excited when they told their mentor without thinking about it the mentors’ response was “well there have been a bunch of people praying for you” which was answered by “I can tell”. Key detail, the family concerned (as is the case for all the COACH families when they start in the program) does not have a church background and so the concept of a loving heavenly Father is a new one to them.