When we pray, it’s easy to imagine how God will answer. Our imagined answers always come in ways that we can work it out to make it happen. But we are finding that God enjoys surprising and amazing us in how He will answer those prayers.
We have been surprised and amazed by God over and over again in this journey to build Elijah’s Retreat. It happened again over the weekend when a group of seven folks from a church in Rusk showed up at the ranch to help.
They are part of a larger ministry called the Chainsaw Ministry, and before you get the wrong idea, let me explain. They are a group of people who go out with their chainsaws to where there is need and offer their help. For instance, they spent a lot of time after Katrina and subsequent hurricanes helping to clear away fallen trees from people’s homes. They are a wonderful group of people, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work, with a lot of sweat and sometimes blood involved.
So they came out and cut down a huge dead pine tree in our pasture right next to the playground where the kids will all be playing. The tree was hit by lightening a few months ago and the whole top third of it had already fallen off and broken the fence. So they took it down and chopped it up so Jeff and I could haul it away.
Next they headed down to our Beaver Pond where the beavers in the past two months have cut down three big trees which fell very purposely across our dock. The beavers had also cut down a tree that blocked the trail that the 911 Air Charter group just cleared for us over Memorial Day weekend. Do you think the beavers are trying to tell us something, like maybe, “stay away from our pond!”? Whatever the case may be, the kind folks from Rusk pulled the trees off the dock and the trail and cut them up for us. They did all of that in only two hours time! It was unbelievable how quickly they worked!
So, once again God sent a group of strangers to help us here at Elijah’s Retreat. They are no longer strangers, but dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and dearly loved. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for moving in strange, unexpected, surprising, and always wonderful ways! It is so exciting to walk with YOU through this journey!
Showing posts with label autism Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autism Texas. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Cabin Update
Knowing there are 28 families out there who are waiting to visit Elijah's Retreat, thought it would be good to give you an update of where we're at in completing the first cabin and being ready for our first guests.
The adorable two bedroom cabin is 85% complete, meaning that the exterior is done and the interior is getting there. We've almost finished putting up the paneling inside. Next we need to install the kitchen cabinets (which we've already sanded and painted). We still need to do flooring, trim, countertops, install the toilet, vanity and sink in the bathroom, and install the air conditioning ducts and hook up the air conditioner.
The electric wiring in the cabin has been run, but the outside wiring from the pole to the cabin has not yet been run. The electric company has to do that and it costs $1,600 (thus the delay). The septic system still needs to be installed as well, which will cost $2,500. We are only able to complete as much as we have money for, and we're kind of at a stand still at the moment until the Lord provides some more funds. My husband's business has slowed up a bit so the dollars are having to stretch farther right now.
We are in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status for Elijah's Retreat (a non-profit organization), but it's a long and tedious process. Until we get that it's very difficult to raise funds because we can't give people a tax write-off. So Jeff and I have funded everything ourselves so far. The plan is to do some fund raising once we get the 501(c)(3) so that we can continue to build cabins and make this retreat a really great place for your families to visit year after year.
We are not discouraged. We know that where God guides, He provides - and we believe that God sent us here to build this retreat. So, we know He will provide in His perfect time. We trust Him completely and are resting in His love.
Please keep Elijah's Retreat in your prayers. Thanks so much!
Kathie
P.S. - We'd love to hear from you!!!
The adorable two bedroom cabin is 85% complete, meaning that the exterior is done and the interior is getting there. We've almost finished putting up the paneling inside. Next we need to install the kitchen cabinets (which we've already sanded and painted). We still need to do flooring, trim, countertops, install the toilet, vanity and sink in the bathroom, and install the air conditioning ducts and hook up the air conditioner.
The electric wiring in the cabin has been run, but the outside wiring from the pole to the cabin has not yet been run. The electric company has to do that and it costs $1,600 (thus the delay). The septic system still needs to be installed as well, which will cost $2,500. We are only able to complete as much as we have money for, and we're kind of at a stand still at the moment until the Lord provides some more funds. My husband's business has slowed up a bit so the dollars are having to stretch farther right now.
We are in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status for Elijah's Retreat (a non-profit organization), but it's a long and tedious process. Until we get that it's very difficult to raise funds because we can't give people a tax write-off. So Jeff and I have funded everything ourselves so far. The plan is to do some fund raising once we get the 501(c)(3) so that we can continue to build cabins and make this retreat a really great place for your families to visit year after year.
We are not discouraged. We know that where God guides, He provides - and we believe that God sent us here to build this retreat. So, we know He will provide in His perfect time. We trust Him completely and are resting in His love.
Please keep Elijah's Retreat in your prayers. Thanks so much!
Kathie
P.S. - We'd love to hear from you!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Welcome!
Elijah's Retreat is a Christ-centered, non-profit organization (currently applying for 501(c)(3) status). We are located in the beautiful green hills of East Texas, just south of Jacksonville on Divine Acres Ranch.
We are building a family retreat for the use of families dealing with autism. The retreat (when completed) will have 6 individual cabins, a large recreational center, and a playground. Right now (June 2008) we have one cabin under construction (85% complete), and the playground 75% completed. As soon as the cabin is ready, we will open for business. There are already over 20 families on a waiting list to make reservations.
Each cabin will have two bedrooms, one bath, a combination living/dining area, a full kitchen, a laundry room with washer & dryer, and a front porch with porch swing - a cozy little home away from home. There are hiking trails, a stocked pond in which to fish, horses and bicycles to ride, hammocks to nap in, and 50 acres of peace and quiet. It's a chance to spend time on a working ranch, out in nature, and you may even spot a few deer roaming about while you're here. We are trying to keep the price of a stay very low - $25.00 per night to begin with. Hopefully we can raise enough support to keep it that way.
We have been blessed with some wonderful folks who have come alongside us to see this vision come to reality. 911 Air Charter sent a group of 15, not once but twice to help with the construction. They are a wonderful group, so giving and helpful. What a blessing! A local construction company, D.R. Ramirez Construction, here in Jacksonville, Texas also donated a lot of time to the project. Wonderful folks from our church have volunteered many hours of time to Elijah's Retreat. Leigh Attaway Wilcox in Frisco has donated many hours of her time to help us with marketing to large corporations. Folks throughout Texas have donated appliances, furniture, all types of things!
We can't thank you all enough for all that you have done for Elijah's Retreat. God bless you!
Kathie
Thank you for visiting our blog. I hope you will return often.
We are building a family retreat for the use of families dealing with autism. The retreat (when completed) will have 6 individual cabins, a large recreational center, and a playground. Right now (June 2008) we have one cabin under construction (85% complete), and the playground 75% completed. As soon as the cabin is ready, we will open for business. There are already over 20 families on a waiting list to make reservations.
Each cabin will have two bedrooms, one bath, a combination living/dining area, a full kitchen, a laundry room with washer & dryer, and a front porch with porch swing - a cozy little home away from home. There are hiking trails, a stocked pond in which to fish, horses and bicycles to ride, hammocks to nap in, and 50 acres of peace and quiet. It's a chance to spend time on a working ranch, out in nature, and you may even spot a few deer roaming about while you're here. We are trying to keep the price of a stay very low - $25.00 per night to begin with. Hopefully we can raise enough support to keep it that way.
We have been blessed with some wonderful folks who have come alongside us to see this vision come to reality. 911 Air Charter sent a group of 15, not once but twice to help with the construction. They are a wonderful group, so giving and helpful. What a blessing! A local construction company, D.R. Ramirez Construction, here in Jacksonville, Texas also donated a lot of time to the project. Wonderful folks from our church have volunteered many hours of time to Elijah's Retreat. Leigh Attaway Wilcox in Frisco has donated many hours of her time to help us with marketing to large corporations. Folks throughout Texas have donated appliances, furniture, all types of things!
We can't thank you all enough for all that you have done for Elijah's Retreat. God bless you!
Kathie
Thank you for visiting our blog. I hope you will return often.
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