Here is another story from our Journey with Grace.
One one of the several trips we have made down to Grace’s house I had to stop to get a load of furniture for her, so the only thing I threw into the truck was a pair of brand new Nike shoes that someone had donated.
I stopped to pick up a bed and a kitchen table, along with some bedding and headed down to see Grace. When I pulled up Grace and her 5 kids were sitting on the front porch and they were clapping for me. It was very moving to see how excited they were that I was there. They now had enough beds so that no one was sleeping on the floor any more. I enjoyed some great conversation with Grace and then got in my truck to leave. As I was climbing in I saw the shoe box and turned to Grace and said, “Do you wear this size shoe?” She looked at them and then turned to her niece and said, “Tell Ms. Cissa why I got sent home from school today.” Her niece promptly replied, “Because you don’t have the right shoes.” Grace needed tennis shoes, but she hadn’t had a chance to tell me that. And the ones I brought were the exact size she needed. She was able to return to school the next day and continue her education so that she could support her family. All because of a simple pair of shoes!
I recently had the opportunity to meet a sweet woman. Grace was living at the City Rescue Mission when another organization gave her a hand up and helped her to get into some housing. She then received our number and we got her list of what she needed. Everything. So we started collecting.
And while we were collecting, Grace was praying. She and all 5 of her children were praying. Every day when the family gets up, Grace gathers them all together and they thank God for the blessing of another day. Then she encourages them to pray for the things they need and even the things that they want. She is trying to teach them to have faith and to ask for the desires of their hearts.
Meanwhile, we had gathered enough for our first trip down to Grace’s new house. They were all sleeping on blankets on the tile floor and we had received a bed and a bunch of other items to give her. Mindi was at my house as we began piling things into the pick up. One bag we grabbed at random and threw it into the cab. It was a grocery bag with a nintendo and a bunch of games. My husband, Russell, was the deliverer that evening and said that Grace was just so excited that God was already answering their prayers.
The next day Grace called me and I asked if everything was ok. She was so thrilled that I didn’t understand her at first.
“Ms. Cissa,” she said, “I just have to tell you what happened last night!” It seemed that after Russ left her house her 7 year old son came to her saying, “I can’t breath, Momma, I can’t breath! I prayed for video games and God gave them to me!”
Now, what are the chances that someone would donate a game system and then on top of that we give it to this family of all the families that we are helping? I love God!!!
Stay tuned for more stories from our journey with Grace’s family!
Thank you to everyone who helped make the wedding on Monday a great success!
These are some of the pictures that Amy’s camera took. When we get the professional ones we will post some of them as well!
cutting the cake
Amber and Dustin with their children
Amy, Amber, Dustin, and Cissa