What a great and awesome God we serve! Right after I posted the information about our burglarly, I checked our online bank statement and found that the problem there has been, for the most part, rectified. So we have access to our money again, which is a huge praise!
Elizabeth and I were able to work hard on Saturday night driving carriages, and God allowed us to earn enough money to replace what cash was stolen.
We have also had a couple of friends who were gracious enough to send us some money to help out in our time of need. To you, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have blessed and encouraged us more than you realize.
And now, for the most amazing part of this so far! Last night, I received a phone call from my band director from high school. He teaches a Sunday School class at a little church in WV. He told me that something new occurred this week — he was asked to teach both of the adult Sunday school classes in a combined setting. One part of the lesson talked about questioning your faith. Apparently, our story (and how we looked to God rather than blaming Him) impressed him enough that he felt led to share it with his class as an illustration. He did not ask them for anything, and yet, when class was over, people began coming up to him, handing him money to send to us. From a little 70-80 member church, they collected nearly $275! I share this story, not to impress you with our faith, but to boast in the faithfulness of our loving, compassionate God and the grace of His Body in reaching out to complete strangers in their time of need. Elizabeth and I have been so humbled by this, that God could choose to use us to encourage other believers and to, in turn, encourage us 10-fold.
We still do not fully understand God’s purpose in allowing this, and perhaps never will, but we can, at least, see how He uses all things for His own glory and for the edification of the saints.
Our sense of peace and security is still shaky at this time, so we continue to ask your prayers for this need. It is hard to feel safe in your own home when it has been so rudely violated, but we trust God to protect us.
Thank you for the many emails and phone calls expressing your love, encouragement, and support. It has meant so much to us.
I am extremely satisfied that your spirituality has grown as a result of what happened. :-)