stories from our Outreach Sites

PINE VALLEY
Written by Mary Ingle

Since we have started SWSS and the cookouts, several relationships between the volunteers and neighbors has been developed.

Think back as to where we were two years ago, God has definitely opened doors and the neighbors hearts to and for us. We are not just a "Church" group of people coming to help the needy, but we are friends. Some call us family.

God has blessed us so much with being accepted and trust being built. Relationships has been established. Here are examples of fruit being sown:

* Several people has asked us to for them .

* Charlotte asked me, prayed for her after SWSS about a personal matter. I was speaking on forgiveness and she opened her heart up to me and we all prayed over her. She released what was on her heart to God.

* Bonnie and I laid hands on Sarah for healing. She had been very sick for two weeks. All kinds of tests were ran on her from gall bladder to kidneys to liver. Everything checked out fine, but she was still running fever and vomiting. And having severe stomach cramps. Bonnie and I went down and laid hands on her right before VBS started. The next day, Gina and I was out there visiting a little gal and she was not home, so we checked on Sarah. She was outside playing and looked wonderful. Her mom told us that a couple of hours after we prayed over Sarah, she came out of her room and said that she was hungry. She ate and kept it down. Had a good night's rest and was playing outside when we arrived. Her color was normal and she was eating and keeping everything down. She saw me and said, Miss Mary, God is good!! Our prayers were answered.

* Tamera, age 6 faccepted Jesus in her heart last spring. Dave, Gina, Margaret, Dave P, and myself lead her to saying the sinner's prayer and explained to her what those words meant. Then we prayed over her. I shared with her mom Erin that night at the meal that her daughter accepted Jesus in her heart. She begin to cry.

Carolyn and Nick The Kilty's and myself has prayed several times with her for guidance and healing. We have also prayed for her to have a deeper relationship with Jesus.

* We have had an awesome turnout for the clothing give-away, cookouts, one year anniversary, Christmas Eve service, Sunday night service,VBS, and movie night. The neighbors keep asking me why are always doing wonderful things for them. They have told all of us how thankful and appreciative they are in all we do.

* I cannot express the number of relationships that has been built among all of us (volunteers and neighbors) and relationships restored among the neighbors themselves since we have started the cookouts.

* Dean Bausom, KHA has told me that there has been a lot of positive changes out there.

Adults and kids are getting along better.

* When I am passing out flyers and I come up on adults who are swearing, one of them usually tells the other one to clean up his mouth, here comes the church lady. They are showing me respect.

* We gave out 69 school bags compared to 39 last year. every person and child that received a book bag with supplies all said "Thank You" and told us how appreciated they were. I knew in my heart that they meant every word.