Dear Friend in Ministry,
There are moments in life when you just have to stop and pay tribute and thank God for special blessings. Today our tribute goes to a special family God used to pave our way smoother into the special needs world.
As you know, our Amy was born with very serious developmental concerns. Those first few days, months, and years were some of the hardest we have had to navigate.
Go back in time 22 years. Imagine a couple who is very happily raising three children 2, 4, and 6 years old and who are due to have their fourth soon. Imagine that mom goes into labor a full month ahead of the due date. Imagine that the child is born with a complex set of anomalies that doctors are scrambling to identify and treat.
You probably can imagine that this couple is in a little over their heads.
Imagine that soon after this little baby goes home (still very ill), mom and dad are trying to figure out a new norm with three very young children along with a baby who they feed through her nose and who is hooked up to an apnea monitor that has as many false alarms as real ones.
We were a little busy and had no idea what we were doing. God's grace and mercy were big as we relied greatly on Him for wisdom and help in those early days, months, and years.
One of the biggest grace factors during that time was the outpouring of love of another mom who had three boys, the middle one having special needs. The diagnosis was quite different but this lady knew things about the special needs world that we were yet to figure out.
In all her busyness of raising three boys, Debbie reached out in a way that wrapped Julie's heart with love and direction and God used her mightily to build confidence in caring for this new baby who needed lots of medical interventions.
You see, Debbie knew all about hospitals - way more than she wanted to have to know. She gave us navigational tips that kept us on a path for the utmost care for our baby. She poured the application of the Truth of God's Word and His character into Julie's heart, equipping us for the situations we had never encountered before.
Debbie lost her special needs son this week. He is in heaven now fully healed of the enormous pain he endured all the years of his life. He is happy and whole. Will you pray for my friend and her family?
Another parent to parent support story.
A new friend, we'll call her Samantha, recently started coming to our parent support group here in Lynchburg. She and her family are brand new to the area. One of her children is on the autism spectrum. This is a portion of her SOS that she posted in the Facebook group:
"Hi, everyone. I am going through a lot with my 6 year old son right now. He is ASD and has been acting out very badly over the past month since we've moved here. He is throwing fits over everything--at home, in public, anywhere--every single day. He is getting physically and verbally abusive toward me. He is making it impossible to go anywhere, yet he says he hates our new home. I am not sure how much more of this I can take (well, I have no choice, of course).
I stay home with him 24/7 and I am feeling a little depressed and crazy because of it, and my younger son is getting angry from being exposed to all the chaos. I don't regularly get alone time or date time with my husband, and it has been slowly destroying our family because we, as parents, are not able to recharge our batteries like we need to. I just can't see straight right now. What does anyone suggest or can you offer words of encouragement? Thanks in advance."
As a result of this post, several of the other parents in the group offered sympathy, encouragement, and to find a time to get together. They know how lonely raising a child with special needs can be. They came to her rescue. The photos you see here are the result of a gathering where the parents were eager to rescue Samantha. A morning at the playground.
These are the types of relationships and communities and outreaches your support is helping us to create.
Praises
- That we were able to come alongside a VBS volunteer seeking advice to help a child who is probably unchurched and comes from a difficult family situation fit it and enjoy VBS so that he had the opportunity to 1) hear the gospel and be encouraged to receive Christ, 2) be loved by a community of Christ-followers.
- That we have a few new supporters on the team. You know who you are and we are ever grateful you have jumped aboard this amazing work God is doing.
- For YOU - faith partners who have prayed for, encouraged, and financially supported helping other families with children with challenges and volunteers who work with them.
- For opportunities to do workshops at several Awana conferences in Maryland and Virginia this Fall.
- For Pasadena EP Church and Pastor Tom Wenger who has a huge heart for parents raising kids with challenges. We have the privilege of bringing another Parenting Seminar to Pasadena, MD this Fall.
Prayer Requests:
- That God would guide us to new faith partners.
- That God will continue to raise a network of churches with pastors and staff who care about overt and hidden special needs families and who will partner with us to bring hope through the Gospel of Jesus and practical support.
- For Amy as she works on a message she can deliver to encourage parents and children alike and inspire God's people to service.
Grace and Peace to you in Abundance,
