December has been Jam packed this year at Gilead House. It's hard to believe all that we were able to squeeze in this month. As busy as the season has been it really has been a "Gilead" Christmas for me. In Bible Gilead means "a hill of testimonies" A hill is an understatement of how many testimonies people of God have shown by reaching out to the ladies and children of Gilead house this month. As a believer I feel it is important to take time to share with other believers all that God is doing in his kingdom. Here are a few of my favorite highlights of the month.
We began the month with Hillside youth group throwing a Christmas party for our Gilead House kids. It was a really special time. All the youth made it a point to include our kids and really love on them. At the end of the evening one of the moms told me, "I just can't understand why a bunch of teens would want to come here when they could be doing other things." It gave me the chance to share that Christ was that reason.
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| Hillside Youth and Gilead House kids |
The next week we were so blessed to have Lauren, from FBC Batesville, MS, come and spend a week serving with us. We got to know Lauren when she came last summer with her youth group for a week. While Lauren was here she helped us by setting up a new mom's room and doing a lot of organizing! Her sweet and gentle spirit was such a blessing to our staff and moms.
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| Lauren putting together a bed |
Our moms and kids were blessed by so many this year with Christmas gifts. FBC Batesville sent hundreds of diapers and wipes, along with winter gear. They also blessed our mom's with gift cards allowing them to even pick out a few things for their kids themselves. A lady from a local church donated play mobile toys that we were able to surprise the children with set up on Christmas morning. We also had several church knitting groups custom make socks, blankets, and scarves for our mom's and children.
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| Setting up for Christmas Morning |
The story that touched my heart the most, however, was that of 3rd grader Anabella. After seeing a homeless man on the street she began to wonder about the children of Marin who might not have a special Christmas. After praying and talking with her mom she decided to give all her good grade money ($50) towards buying Christmas presents for other children. She challenged her friends at school and other church members to donate a little money and in the end managed to raise $1000! She was able to bless all of the Gilead House Children with 2 gifts and the children of 3 other shelters! That totaled over 30 children! It is amazing that God and use even his youngest children for his purpose!
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| Surprise gifts for one of the Gilead House Families |
We finally had a group of teens from another local church Flipside Youth Group come and help us take down our Christmas decorations. In their time at the house they were able to clean up and Assemble several new bikes the house had gotten for Christmas They also had a chance to love on a few of our Gilead Kids. One mom told me, "It was such a blessing that they were able to give me a break from my kids just for a few minutes."
It has been such a blessed Christmas season. So many Christians have shared the testimony of Christ in so many different ways with our Gilead House families. I am looking forward to getting to do follow up with our moms in the coming weeks. I hope hearing about others sharing the love of Christ has inspired a few of you to go out in the new year and do the same.
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