Reaching out to the world that God so loved.

 

               Having FUN helping others and serving HIM!

  When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out.  Romans 12:13a NLT

Why are you doing this?

God has put it on our hearts to see peoples needs and bless them in any way we can.  We cannot out-give God.  Whatever we give away, whether it's money, time or "stuff", God always has more available.  When you allow God to bless people - through you - you get blessed along the way.  Earlier this year, we were blessing folks who had more chores than hours in the day, so we did some of the simple things like cleaning cabins and mowing the lawns.  That blessed them and God allowed us to live on a beautiful guest ranch with animals and ponds and trees and ... well, you get the picture!

We homeschool Hannah and want to teach her about this wonderful world that God has created.  We live in northern Idaho where it is absolutely gorgeous with trees and mountains and lakes and rivers, but God created a whole world for us to enjoy.  We want to go to the ocean and see whales.  We want to go to the desert and see... whatever there is!  We want to meet people and become friends with folks that have different ways and languages and look different and act different and love them with the Love of Jesus Christ.  This is so exciting and a little scary, but we know that God is with us always.

 

How are you doing this?  Are you wealthy?

Wealthy?  No, but we have a Father in Heaven that owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  He sees to it that we always have what we need.

(Mat 6:25-34 NLT) "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes.  Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?  Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.  "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!  "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.  Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.  "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Because God allowed Ashlee to become legally blind while saving her life, she receives just enough income to get us through each month.  God gave Rich abilities and skills that allow him to bless people.  They also allow him to make some extra money for those unexpected expenses or treats for the family, like a trip to the Zoo or an exciting adventure.  We have learned to live on, and with, a lot less than most people think they can.  We are happy and enjoy this simple life - really!  :-)

 

So why do you have a website?  Are you bragging about what you do?

Bragging?  You bet!  Bragging about us?  Why?  God is doing it all.  Do we applaud the the piano or the pianist?  The ball or the athlete?  The pencil or the architect?   We are just tools in the hands of the Master.  Now, do we enjoy being a hammer, screwdriver, paintbrush or even a nail?  More than we can express in words.

The website comes from a talent that God gave to Rich and is a tool to encourage others to allow God to use them - in whatever way He wills.  It is also used to let people know that we are wanting to help and giving them a means to contact us.  While God can make our e-mail address appear in someone's alphabet soup, he usually uses the simple to do the miraculous.

 

What can I do to help?

We covet your prayers.  Please pray for:

  • Our Marriage.  The enemy loves to derail good works by attacking the marriage of those involved.  Our marriage of over 14 years is very strong and it will take continued prayer to keep it that way.  Pray that Rich will love Ashlee the way Christ loves the Church.

  • Our Christian walk.  The enemy is always trying to sneak in and sometimes our old sin nature opens the door.

  • Our Finances.  That we would be good stewards of the gifts God gives us.

  • The People we help.  Pray that Jesus is, or will be, their Lord and Savior and they will be blessed beyond all that they can ask or think.  That we will accurately represent Christ as we interact with them.  That we become family to them and have many joyous times with them.

  • Hannah.  She loves people and LOVES playing with other kids.  Pray that God will allow her to bless many, many kids and that she will make friends wherever she goes.  Pray for her protection as we travel and go into new and strange places.  Pray that she will look back on this time as blessing from God and let her grow into a beautiful woman of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  That she will continue to tell kids about Jesus.

  • Our Health.  Ashlee's vision continues to degrade.   Rich's back, shoulders and wrists are not what they used to be.  Rich need glasses and some dental work.

  • Our Home.  The travel trailer we live in is 27 years old and is in the same shape that we are. :-)

  • Our Vehicle.  We have a 1999 GMC Yukon.  It is strong enough to pull the trailer, but if something happens to it, we'll be stuck until God fixes it.

  • Our Family and Friends.  Pray for salvation and faith.  Pray for our parents health and safety.

  • Our Home Church.  We love and are loved by the body of Christ at Sandpoint Christian Fellowship.  They live the life they preach and they preach the Word of God.  Pray for protection from the enemy and that they will continue to put Jesus above all.

  • Peace. The more we turn over to God, the less we have to worry about. Pray that we will relax and trust in God in ALL things. For Him to guide, protect, comfort and strengthen us.

  • Our "kids" in the Lord. We sponsor a little girl in Indonesia through Compassion International. She is six years old and her name is Vebbyola Yesshi Zintha Simanjuntak. Her family is very poor but they all love Jesus! We also sponsor a Native Missionary in Delhi, India through Gospel For Asia. He is twenty years old and his name is Jackson Kuldeep. Please pray that God will continue to bless them and that their ministries will grow stronger every day.

  • Yourself.  Pray for yourself to be strong in the Lord.  To hear His voice and to seek His face.  To love with His LOVE and to continue praying.

You can also tell people about us, or tell us about people who need help.  Even if we can't get to them right away, we can pray for them and maybe guide someone else to them.  There is always another tool in the tool box. :-)