God’s Faithful Servants News
SEPTEMBER 2021
The transition from the “dog days of summer” to Fall has finally begun! Although we’re still running fans in our outbuildings, they are set on low and even completely shut off some nights. The animals are all happy for the cooler weather, and so are we! Unfortunately, for some local farmers, their bean crops went too long without rain. I think our little community of Edna was passed over just about any time rain was around. And I mean AROUND! It was ALL around us, and we were left without it.
We’ve continued working hard to get out and about, visiting various businesses, sharing with them how God has called us to host His Hearts a’Fire Charity Event and asking them if they will help sponsor it. And we continue to meet amazing people we would never have otherwise come in contact with. We are so inspired by their stories and the conviction so many have for being Disciples of Christ.
So if you are like we were before we set out on this journey, and you wonder if this world has completely lost its way – try wandering into a business you haven’t been in before and telling them about how you are working to plan an event to raise funds to deliver mobility to those people who can’t help themselves in the name of Jesus – and just see who He reveals to you!
We now have an agreement with Horses of Hope to partner with them, raising funds to provide scholarships for kids to participate in their therapeutic riding program in Baxter Springs, Kansas. I mentioned our visit there and our new friend, Cassie, a beneficiary of their program in the August News Letter. Shelly & Valarie, co-owners of the non-profit business met with us at their new facility near Miami, Oklahoma – another beautiful facility. We had such fun and learned so much about how God’s hand is leading them to serve the physically and mentally challenged. We couldn’t have had a more perfect day to be there, visiting and walking on the grounds of this life changing project. Both ladies are truly inspirational for us! And we want to do everything we can to help with their cause. Shelly had us at “We are the hands and feet of God.”
Never in a million years would we have known about the next gemstone we discovered in the middle of our SE Kansas area until a friend of ours suggested we visit with Kim, the owner of Show-Me Birds Hunting Resort, L.L.C., America’s Largest Pheasant Hunting Resort. We had seen his signs from time to time, but who would have guessed just how awesome the place is! Only people from all over the country and the world! Kim’s generous donation of a hunt was incredible; but, his love of Christ was priceless! We witnessed it as we toured his Club House museum, walked by the beautiful white crosses depicting the death and resurrection of Christ on the beautiful property he lives on, and listened to the life stories he shared. He captured our hearts. There is no way I can do justice to Kim’s story in this newsletter. Just listening to him gave me chills and made me want to hear more. You feel like you are in God’s place on earth when you see and feel the serenity of the place that was built because of his Christ-led vision. I can only hope that everyone has the opportunity to be in that place someday. It’s the closest thing to Heaven I’ve ever experienced.
And then there is the Saw Shack Redemption woodworking shop in Altamont! The name of the business was intriguing, and when we stopped and knocked on Mark’s door, he was inside working. A very clean shop with lots of different types of wood, all to be used for his custom projects was before us. Mark was friendly as we handed him our “WILL YOU HELP?” flier and he sincerely wanted to help. He made a very generous donation of one of his custom made Cornhole games (GO CHIEFS!) to be used to help raise money for our event, and we can’t thank him enough for what he has done. Likewise, David, owner of the very place we take our vehicles to be repaired – SOONER AUTOMOTIVE – donated an amazing fire pit for the same purpose! Again, we were humbled by the time and energy these men are donating, not to mention the materials used to manufacture the gifts.
Then, just a few days ago, here in our little cozy community of around 400 people – Edna, Kansas, sits two small businesses owned by Steve & Sheila. We’ve been in and out of both stores for the eleven years we’ve lived on the farm. I like the S&S Western Wear Store – they have the cutest Cowgirl clothes, boots, jewelry and home décor! Kurt finds most things he needs for the farm at their S&S Lumber Company. There’s not a lot in Edna – a Post Office, library, museum in the old bank, our Community National Bank, and the Edna Mattress Company! We also have a Woodshed Gas & Convenience store located on the highway. We’ve had a couple of little restaurants off-and-on; but, currently neither is operating. Anyway, we are so grateful for the generosity of Sheila & Steve. I know they are always supportive of activities in our community – but it is a great honor to have them support our international wheelchair mission and the Horses of Hope Community project we have now adopted. Sometimes it’s hard to explain how important it is for a child to have a wheelchair to someone from this country. In America we have so many programs available to provide basic medical equipment and treatment, it’s hard to envision people who will simply never have the opportunity to move about on their own – because there are no such programs in many other countries. I felt so excited and relieved to hear Sheila share with me her understanding of that fact. SHE GETS IT!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Sheila & Steve – for desiring to follow God’s call for us to help His hidden and hurting children.
In 2019 Kurt and I decided to bring back a fond memory we had of Christmases past. As children we had both participated in Christmas Pageants, acting out the biblical story of the birth of Christ in the churches we attended. We realized that that tradition had all but disappeared, so we were ecstatic when the Bartlett Community Church decided to support our effort to bring it to our surrounding communities! And this year, we’re doing it again! We are already in the midst of rehearsals with a cast of nearly 25 children & teens. You’ve probably heard of Christmas in July? Well – I guess we’re having Christmas in September! The interactive musical play, The Christmas Eve Visitor Story, will be performed December 17, 18, & 19, 2021. Admittance is FREE! And Love Donations are welcomed. All donations will be go directly to our wheelchair mission.
All in all – we have wonderful new friends in Christ – and we are being shown every day, that God is at work in our little corner of the world!
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel to contact us at godsfaithfulservants2@gmail.com!
Praying you have an extraordinary day!
May God’s love surround you,
Kate
P.S. – “IT’S ALWAYS FUN ON THE FARM!“
September has been fun! The grandkids are all back in school in the Kansas City area; football games dominate the television set; and, winterizing for the chickens and horses has turned into somewhat of a reality, rather than a “We’ll need to do this by the time it gets cold!” idea.
We’ve been planning all summer to get up to the city to watch the grandkids in their activities. We’ve had good times with the LITTLES this summer, but we haven’t gotten to see the BIGS much; so, we are finally heading to Kansas City this coming Saturday to watch the BIGS in their respective activities! It will be an exciting day! Noah (16) and Allie (14) are both in the Blue Valley SW Band. So, we’ll start our day by watching them: the EMERALD REGIMENT compete at the Olathe Marching Invitational @ the College Boulevard Activity Center! Noah plays baritone and Allie plays the drums. We hear their band is outstanding!!! Then we will trek across town to see their younger brother, Zach (12), play his football game. Zach has always been a venturous boy! He has LOVED running since he was a tiny tot! Now, he runs competitively, and he also plays football. One of the positions he plays is Wide Receiver. Last week he caught his first pass and made it across the goal line! GO TIMBERWOLVES!!!!
We can’t wait to see three of our favorite kids doing what they like most!!!