Hidden Blessing

Kathy's reflections:

I'd like to dedicate this post to what I am calling our "hidden blessing". Todd and Katie have been renting our home since we left for the Netherlands August of 2005. Todd and Katie had sold their home a few months prior to our move to Holland, without knowing what was to come next. They acted in obedience to a sense from God that they were to sell, downsize, and rent for a time. God acted in their hearts preparing them to fill our need. As an added blessing, Katie and I have developed a special friendship, sprung up through our shared common interest, the house. Katie has been a huge source of encouragement to me, and hopefully I to her.

We contracted with Denny to do a walk through every so often, checking up on the house, fixing problems or finding someone to fix them. It only took Denny a couple of months to write us saying he couldn't in right conscience take our money for doing this anymore, as Todd did such a wonderful job with the house. Todd keeps things up meticulously, as though he were the homeowner taking high pride in his property. It is their home now, and they consider it a ministry to us - caring for it while we are away.

A little about our home, we have a 1931 home that was in Kevin's family since 1981 - the woods behind the house was in the family since the homes in that area were built, sometime in the 1930's. When we bought the home it was quite small, and Kevin labored many hours building the patio and retaining walls, and helping the contracters with the addition wherever he had the opportunity. Our kids have spent many hours going through grandma and grandpa's attic, snow sliding down the back hill, and ice skating on the rink across from the house. Our house has always been a ministry home, starting before we owned it when Kevin's parents used their home for ministry and continuing on today with Todd and Katie and their family. Our home has hosted many a bonfire, stogie night on the patio, and small groups for youth and adults. Its been a haven for those in need and a safe place to drop by and process life. We'll always remember the night we arrived home about 11:00 pm to find a biffy on the front lawn. Later that evening we were awakened around 1:00 am to the hushed sounds of the Life Challenge ministry setting up tents in our backyard - just to have a camp out and play a joke on us. Our home has ushered in new life, and said tearful goodbye's to loved ones passing on.

I miss our home in Minnesota, but am eternally grateful for Todd and Katie, who treat that little cedar shake house with tender loving care and make it possible for us to serve the Lord internationally without having to say goodbye to it forever.

Thank you Todd and Katie, may God bless you richly for ever and ever for your hearts of service and love toward us.