I don’t often feel overwhelmed, but this last month has tested my limits.
In late June, our family was in South Dakota doing an estate sale and preparing the home of my mother and father in law for sale. To watch their transition from an amazing lake home to an assisted living home has been emotional, to say the least.
So many memories flood our minds as we have spent almost all of our major holidays and summer months at the lake. In the midst of the memories, the reality of watching my in-laws go from the healthy, energetic water skiing grandparents, to the need for more care in their daily lives has been hard. Nothing prepares you for this difficult transition.
As we headed back home to Oklahoma, just days later we would send our daughter Katelyn off to Florida for a big youth convention and mission experience for over a week. The very next day, we were headed to Oklahoma City in preparation for our daughter Hope’s, open heart surgery. Reagan held down the fort watching our new dog, Buck.
I don’t wish this experience on any parent. There is nothing like entrusting your child to the Lord as you send them off to have a major heart surgery. Since Hope has had 8 heart procedures, three of them open heart surgeries, the process becomes more familiar, but it never gets easier.
In the midst of these major family events, I was also trying to manage and help in the continued growth of our new business, Mission Roofing, and our ministry work with Faces With Names International. And did I mention we are trying to raise $250,000 to purchase land in Uganda to build a medical outreach hospital, a high school and additional farm land to grow food and gardens. No pressure!
As God has brought us through our time with Susan’s parents, still ongoing, but God is good! Our daughter Katelyn had amazing experience on her mission trip and Hope has had successful heart surgery and is recovering well, I know God is in control.
With each act of God’s faithfulness, my focus once again turns to our partnership in Uganda and the work we are striving for there to care for orphans and vulnerable children and families.
The family events of this past month have not been the only events bringing overwhelming feelings into my life.
We have been working on a campaign we are calling, Embrace the Vision, to purchase six parcels of land around the current orphan care campus to build a medical outreach hospital, a high school, a soccer field for the high school, additional farmland and gardens to feed the children, and a new kitchen and eating area for children and staff.
As I stated before, the estimated purchase price for these 12 plus acres is $250,000. Our plan has been to raise the entire amount so our Ugandan partners could negotiate the lowest price on the different parcels of land, since there are multiple owners.
Right in the middle of our family events, I was informed by our ministry partner, Pastor Daniel, the parcel of land that is immediately adjacent to the current campus, and where the high school is slated to be built, was being foreclosed.
This initially seemed like a positive for us, but before we knew it, a land investor purchased one acre right in the middle of the land we are planning to develop. The semi good news is, the land investor is willing to sell us this acre, but of course, for much more than he purchased the acre.
As if that was not enough, the parcel of land we are planning to build the medical outreach hospital on is being pursued by a Muslim Cleric to build a Muslim high school.
So how does 5 of the 12 acres we want become such a hot commodity right in the middle of a crazy season in our lives, in a country with almost 60 million total acres in its territory, and where most people make less than $300 a month in salary?
Welcome to the spiritual battlefield of caring for orphans and vulnerable children and families in the name of Jesus. Are you beginning to understand why I have been feeling a little overwhelmed?
So our strategy has changed. Our desire is to still purchase all 12 acres for $250,000. But for now, it is essential for us to secure the two parcels of land immediately adjacent to the campus. We are estimating this could take up to $120,000 to purchase these two parcels which equal just over five acres.
So why is this important and why should you feel compelled to give?
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When vulnerable children and vulnerable mothers and their unborn babies die needlessly from lack of food and treatable diseases, we have to act.
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When these same orphans and vulnerable children do not have a school to attend beyond the eight grade, we have to act.
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When the government rescues vulnerable girls and entrusts them to your care, we must act.
This is real life sounds of freedom stuff where we are keeping God’s children from being sold. But we can’t accomplish any of this if we don’t have the land to build the buildings and grow the food.
This is going to sound crazy, but Lord willing, I am leaving for Uganda on August 10th. I am praying for a crazy faith miracle that we can raise this $120,000 by the time I leave.
Our new company, Mission Roofing, has given the first $5000 towards the land purchase. Will you join us in making this crazy idea a reality?
Let me break this down to see how this can happen:
120 people getting 10 of their friends or family, including themselves to give $100 each. 120 x $1000 = $120,000
1200 people each giving $100. 1200 X $100 = $120,000.
And we are never opposed if you want to give a large donation to get us there quicker or can only make a small donation. We can watch God increase like loaves and fishes as we all chip in.
Will you be a part of this crazy God story?
I have never been a part of something that has gone viral, but would you share this to see what happens?
$120,000 in two weeks, only by Crazy Faith, God and You!
Click below to give:
https://faceswithnames.reachapp.co/campaigns/embrace-the-vision-land-acquisition
Cheering You On In Christ,
Eric Mills – President
Faces With Names International
