All in the Timing

Dear Mission Family,

I was going to wait another week and send my annual Christmas message to you all, something that I promise I will still do. But I wanted to share a current development with everyone so that you can join us in rejoicing over God’s Sovereignty. After all, what better time than Christmas to ponder the Lord’s perfect timing. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ (came into the world and) died for the ungodly.” (Rom 5:6 NIV).

A very strong weather front swept across the country this past weekend. Our friends up north had to contend with snow, ice, freezing rain, and all the other influences that make me happy to live in the south during the winter season. But we had our own weather issues to deal with. High winds roared across the hills for more than 24 hours straight. Falling tree limbs severed power lines and caused disruptions in many people’s lives. It was a pretty significant event.

I know that most, if not all, of you remember the Heaths. This special family was the focus of much of our home building ministry this past year. You may recall me sharing that, because of resource issues, we had decided not to build any more new homes, focusing instead on repairs and remodeling. However, once I met with the Heaths I knew in my spirit that we must help them move out of their ramshackle trailer into a safe, secure house. “The rest is history”, as they say! By summer’s end, visiting mission teams had completed a Miracle on the Mountain; a beautiful new home for Brian, Amy and the kids.

I stopped by the Heaths today for a short visit. As I began to pass the old trailer that they once called home, I was shocked by what met my eyes. The roof of this rotting structure had been pried off, starting with the area over Dacey’s old bedroom and extending to the kitchen. It looked as if someone had used a giant can opener to sever the metal and then rolled it over to touch the ground, pinning the family truck beneath it. As I entered the new home Amy met me at the door with a huge smile on her face. “Did you see that?” she asked with an anxious voice. “Those winds the other night just ripped the roof off. I can’t believe I didn’t hear it!” (a testimony to the insulating qualities of the new house). What she said next was very powerful. “God knew, in His perfect timing, that we needed to move from that old trailer this past summer. The Lord provided us with a wonderful new home and then showed us again how much we have to be thankful for. If we had still been living in that trailer I’m sure that Dacey would have been hurt by all the falling debris! God loves us SO MUCH!”

I know I don’t need to comment much on this event. We had hoped to demolish the trailer in October, but certain circumstances kept that from happening. I’ve heard from one of the churches who worked here last summer, and they are putting together a team of volunteers to come here shortly after the holidays and remove this eyesore. But for now, the twisted wreckage has provided a strange sense of peace in Amy and Brian’s lives, contemplating the Love that never fails to move… at just the right time.

I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Our thanks goes out to each of you who, in some way or another, followed the calling of God to make this difference in the lives of a poor mountain family. The Heath family will never be the same because of it! Neither will mine!

Until next week, our love to y’all… Jim and Rita