Thursday, October 29, 2015

Love is Home Made

My beautiful sister-in-law has lived in Northern British Columbia for more than two years as she's devoted her life to serving the First Nations people who live in that breathtaking area of Canada.  {Fun Fact: I knew Miss Nicole before Captain America, and we were actually housemates in college!}  Two years ago, God put it on her heart to have a safe house for the young women there.  This month, it became possible with a family giving her the opportunity to rent-to-own their house and property!  The house was made specifically for a family with foster kids, is 3,000 square feet and sits on 85 acres.  Nicole had actually viewed it a year ago and thought it was perfect for her vision but didn't know how it would come to pass.  Her slogan for this endeavor is "Love is Home Made."

Well the timing of her receiving this house couldn't have been more perfect: she was able to move in at the beginning of October and my sister AND parents were selling their homes at the same time! Consequently, they both had many furnishings to help fill the 3,000 square foot home! Captain America and myself became the deliverers of the goods...
Through spreading the word at two of her supporting churches, we were able to raise enough money to pay for a U-haul and the gas {THANKS to all who donated}.  We also received help from some kind men in picking-up all the furnishings at three locations.  We left early on the second Saturday of October and made it through the border with only an hour wait!  We were slightly crammed in the front, as we brought our pals, Amos and Caleb (their very first trip to Canada).
We made it to our meeting point by early evening and were able to spend that night and the next morning with Nicole.  It was Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, so she was able to have some student helpers help with the unloading when she arrived home the next day.
In the last couple of weeks, she has been working hard to make the house a home for all who enter.  Here are some pictures of the furnishings and donations filling the rooms of the house!
If you would like to hear more about Nicole's ministry, please read more at her blog.  If you would like to donate to the future of this safe house, please take a closer look at UIM and consider donating.
So now some of you may be asking: "Wait!! What's going on with your parents and sister?  Well my parents are finally downsizing to a 1200 square foot ranch home (which I'm helping with the interior design) and my sister decided to sell in preparation for her upcoming wedding.  Yep, lots of changes happening...stay tuned!

Anyways, Captain America, the pals and myself made it back home safely the next day, with a good eighteen hours of driving under our belt, a quick stop at one of Canada's finest, and a disappointing Seahawks' loss (that we listened to as reception allowed).
There were so many aspects of this little 'adventure' that were Divinely orchestrated: the timing of the house, the timing of my parents/sister getting rid of furniture, all of the people who kept on donating money, everything fitting perfectly in the U-haul, getting through the border with all of the goods and not having to pay extra taxes...It was a great adventure to be a part of and we can't wait to see what else unfolds for that home!  We pray that all who walk through those doors will feel the love that has been poured-out into making it a home.  Nicole has great plans of helping the young people in learning how to become self-sufficient (canning, cooking, sewing, gardens, etc)...indeed, "Love is Home Made."

Thank you, Nicole, for listening so attentively to God and His call on your life.  We miss you, but we know that you are where you are supposed to be!
  ~Andréa    

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