Moving Forward

"Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Here by Thy great help I've come."

~Robert Robinson

Dear praying friends,

I felt led to write a brief update on where the work is on Herrnhut, the place of rest that the Lord has called us to build here in Wisconsin. 

We have removed the old barnboard that was on half of the outbuilding, stripped the building down to the old beams, and added plywood to front, back, and sides, as well as framing in windows. My husband, brother-in-law, and nephew have been working on these things throughout the summer in their spare time. My nephew was also able to frame in and install three windows on the part of the Missionary House where the barn board had previously been removed. 

The next step after this was/is to dig around the compromised foundation under about 2/3 of the outbuilding (it is currently on stone columns that are pretty old and need reinforcing). Last week, someone came to dig around the columns, and we are now waiting for the concrete to be poured this week, the Lord willing. 

After this step, my nephew will be able to install the rest of the windows into the remaining portion of the Missionary House, as well as install the front and back door. Things are beginning to shape up, and we are grateful to the Lord! 

Our hope is to be able to housewrap and apply siding to the Missionary House before the really cold weather comes, sometimes quickly here in Wisconsin. We are trusting in the Lord's timing and moving forward step by step. 

To keep in prayer:

• That concrete would be poured this week so that the project could move forward in a timely fashion.

• That the Lord would continue to bless us with good weather while my nephew, husband, and brother-in-law work on the Missionary House.

• For a part time worker for our property; I continue to pray that the Lord would bring someone to help me with the upkeep of the property as I need help with some of the heavier work. 

Praise:

• That the septic system supporting our home and the Missionary House was finally installed after a very long wait and that the water line was brought to the Missionary House during this process. 

• That the Lord has provided family members with skill and willingness to do much of the work on the Missionary House; I am so grateful for this. 

Please continue to keep this project in your prayers! I am greatly encouraged by the way in which the Lord has removed so many roadblocks along the way and parted waters that seemed irremoveable. I give all of the praise and glory to Him. The Lord will build His house. 

And as always, I am so grateful for your prayers. 

"Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure." ~D.L. Moody

~Rebekah 

Nothing is Too Hard for the Lord

 Dear Friends, 

The last post that I wrote about our ministry here detailed the difficulties that we have been undergoing. We were stuck at a roadblock, unable to move forward in the way that we believed the Lord was leading us. 

My heart was heavy for a number of months and I felt baffled, laying the whole situation before the Lord morning by morning. 

Local ordinances and laws were blocking the way; we were unable to move forward.  

Finally, we decided that perhaps building onto our own home was the only way. We continued to pray and to seek the Lord's direction. I wrote about this decision on my blog. 

I felt uneasy in my spirit. 

Whenever I feel this way, I sense that it is the Lord speaking to me, telling me to stop and wait and to continue in prayer. 

For many months, the way continued to be closed to us. 

However, through a series of unusual circumstances, the Lord showed us a loophole in the law that would require us to rezone our property but that would also enable us to go forward. 

Step by step, the way slowly opened to us. Our land was surveyed, we submitted our request to the local town board, and then to the county board. It was a long and tedious process that took many months. 

At the end of the process, our request was approved. 

And here we are. At the end of a long and winding road of many tears, prayers, doubts, fears, and faith in a mighty God who is able to do great and mighty things when there seems to be no way. 

And now we go forward with grateful hearts. 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we begin to make plans to renovate the Missionary House. I will continue to provide updates here as the Lord leads me and as I am able to. If anyone would like to join our prayer group for our ministry where I post more frequently, the link is HERE. 

Praising the Lord for all that He has done,

Rebekah