Caring for Katy 2012 | Stories
=========================================================================
CrossTrainers ABF
Hutsell Elementary
It went well, we did have quite a bit of extra mulch, which we spread around the campus in other flower beds and around trees. The principal offered to e-mail her staff and tell them that there was free mulch for anyone who wanted it on Monday, so we were able to leave some for them. The beds at the front of the school look really nice and the butterfly garden is full of butterfly attracting plants. The vegetable beds are all full and ready for the kids to plant in them. Some of the guys moved a broken raised bed frame and moved it with the others and fixed it so now there will be a vegetable/ herb bed for the teachers as well. We planted some of the rosemary plants in there to get them started. The whole school grounds looked much prettier when we left!
=========================================================================
Taking Aim ABF- Willow River Farm
There was a lot more going on for our class than just preparing rice and beans, landscaping, and window washing. First, we have a new class member, Ashok. Ashok is wheelchair-bound and non-verbal. Ashok's parents, his siblings, and his sister's friend all loaded up their van and came out to Willow River Farms to help us. They assisted with rice and beans and window washing. It was a blessing to get to know their family.
Several of our guys were energizer bunnies! They kept on mulching, weeding, and even on their own initiative, found tools and took out three dead bushes from around the building.
Our ladies prepared 1500 lbs. of rice and beans for KCM. After that, they washed windows, did crafts with the other residents, and joined with them on the patio for some dancing!
All, I repeat all of our regular attenders showed up to help. In addition, we had six teachers and 10 family and friends. On the way home, one of the teachers asked, "why did we close down church today and do this"? Without missing a beat, one of our guys replied, "because we are servants of the Lord." I think they got it!
=========================================================================
Joshua House and Faith and Fellowship ABF projects at the Manna House
Thank you so much for everything that your people did at Titus Community / Manna House. It was a most awesome day, to see all of God's people working together to help others and for the glory of the Lord. It's hard to believe that so much could get done in one day. What a blessing!
Mickey Riggs and his Bible Study group did a beautiful job on the flower beds in front of the Manna House, the Chapel and around the Bunk House, as well as restoring our old tool shed. Todd Willhoit did a wonderful job organizing and coordinating all the work on our new property: clearing away trees and brush, chipping up all the limbs and bushes, fixing flower beds around the house and trees, cleaning out the old pond and landscaping around it, repairing and finishing the garage, painting and putting up new signs for the Manna House and Thrift Store, painting cinder blocks for the garden, working on new raised beds for the garden, planting beautiful flowers around the Coffee Shop, and various other things. We have been so blessed!
Thank you, Jon for providing all the finances necessary for the projects. God has poured out a tremendous blessing upon us!
I have many pictures of before and after, as well as in-progress of people working; I would like to share them with you and the groups. I'm not sure of the best way to do that; would you let me know your thoughts on how to accomplish that.
Thank you and God bless you.
Bob Mersmann
=========================================================================
Random Customer from Lowe's
Just wanted to express my gratitude again for your blessing on
Saturday. When I got back to the church building the guys doing the
construction were floored. It's not that they couldn't believe it--
it's what the Church is all about, and we know that--it's just that
we're not usually on the receiving end. We were overjoyed and praising
God for you guys.
I've shared the story a few times the past few days, and each person
has been very thankful for the folks at Kingsland for their
generosity. As a guy who has worked in the church, I recognize that
once you found out I was a Christian you could've loaded up our stuff
and spent that money elsewhere--on someone that might've wound up at
your church, etc. The fact that you went ahead and blessed us--fellow
believers and co-laborers in the ministry--says a lot about your
heart. Your generosity and kindness is a testimony of the good things
that God is doing here in Katy, and we're thankful for it!
And I meant what I said...when the work is all done you'll have to let
me take you to lunch and show you around our renovated student building.
=========================================================================
Interactive Christianity ABF
From the Krause Center
Thank you
Kingsland Baptist Church
the
Caring for Katy
Project was awesome!
We are so grateful for the incredible band, wonderful devotion, the great pizza and your amazing work on all projects!
All of the Krause kids and staff enjoyed this event!
Please accept an open invitation to come back to our center anytime!
=========================================================================
THE RACE ABF
This year our class, The Race, had the opportunity to serve a local Katy family and their neighbors. Sean, the eldest son, was riding his bike when he was hit by a car. His injuries were so severe that the doctors were surprised how far he has come in so little time. We praise God that Sean was able to come home. There were things around the house that needed to be fixed. We were able to bless the family by fixing their backyard, which meant a lot to Trevor, Sean's mom. We had placed a path around the backyard, cleaned out their garden, planted, and put down mulch. Tom, from our church, was able to fix their main bathroom in their home. It had been stripped for years, because of mold and only had the toilet working. Tom was able to fix the plumbing, place a new tub and vanity, and tiled the bathroom as well.
Another part of Caring for Katy, was to be a blessing to their surrounding neighbors. A few children and adults went to the neighbors to ask if we could mow, mulch, and clean up their front yard. We also offered them bagels, orange juice, and the Sunday newspaper to start their day. Neighbors were surprised to get this offer. Some wanted to offer money, some were questioning why were doing this, some were wondering if the family was part of our church. This lead to multiple opportunities to talk with them and share with them. To share that we wanted to be a blessing to them, that their neighbors did not attend our church but we were here to help them, that we wanted to be there to love on them. Neighbors were coming out to watch and it was great to see the community talking with each other. Kids and adults were up and down the street cleaning the neighbors yards. At the end, the smaller children had potted 2 flower pots to give to the 11 neighbor homes that we worked on as a gift. Trevor had mentioned that in the evening, the neighbors were out and talked about their own experience getting the food and their lawns taken care of. She said that they were all curious to see their backyard and were all amazed. Giving God all the glory and thanks.
=============================================================================================
Lowe's Customer, March 3rd
Good evening,
I am not sure if you were the one who gave my husband a Lowes gift card today from Kingsland Baptist Church. He said that the person’s name was John or in your case Jon. He did not remember the last name probably because this type of thing has never happened to him before and left him in a state of WOW!!!!!!. Hopefully you are the right Jon and if not I am sure that this will find its way to the right person.
We would like to thank you for the gift card. Right before it was given to my husband, he called to tell me that it was going to cost a lot more for our project than we originally thought. We discussed it and said it needs to be done, so we agreed to go ahead and spend the money. After he hung up, all I kept thinking about was it’s going to cost a thousand dollars…………..wow!!!!!! It is our home and we need to take care of it for the family so we just need to bite the bullet so to speak and do it. Still it’s a thousand dollars…………………………………………….
My husband and twin daughters finally returned home and he walked in and said “You are not going to guess what happened after we hung up the phone.” I said oh no what, did you spend more than a thousand dollars?? He said a little bit. I just gritted my teeth and said, well it needed to get done. Then he said, “but I only paid seven hundred something out the door.” I was like what?????? Are you talking about. He then proceeded to tell me that a very nice man approached him and said that it looked like he was doing a large project and would like to give him a gift card for three hundred and thirty dollars. I said what????????? Again. He then told me a man from Kingsland Baptist Church was handing out gift cards to people in the store that day and we were blessed to have been picked out. My twin daughters are still talking about it, and they too are amazed that this happened to their dadJ
This was such a wonderful surprise and could not have come at a better time for us. I have always said that GOD gives back to those who give and my husband is a huge giver!!!
We want to thank you so much and send our blessings to you and your congregation at Kingsland Baptist Church.
What a wonderful thing you have done for us and the others you helped out today.
Thanks again from the bottoms of our hearts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J&K D
Caring for Katy 2011 | Stories
Mosaic ABF | Initiative to Assist the Elderly at Heritage Grand
We worked with several of widows, which was a good thing, but it was the last person we dealt with that was the most impactful for many of us. It was almost lunch time and there were about 12 – 15 of us working in the Heritage Grand Clubhouse. We received a call to assist a woman. We showed up and this poor woman — probably 95 years-old — was in a wheel chair and needed assistance with many things. Several people helped rearrange things inside her home, including changing her linens. Others went outside to clean up her backyard where it appeared nothing had been done for quite some time. It was at that moment when James 1:27 seemed to make the most sense — “pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is to help widows and orphans in their time of need.” Every single one of us who helped this elderly woman was touched by the opportunity to assist her in her time of need. It was a lot of work but truly was rewarding.
Thank You Note from the Krause Center
Thank you, Kingsland Baptist. Because of you, our facility looks clean, fresh, fun and beautiful! We are so grateful all to each of you for deciding to adopt us as a place to serve and save the children. We will never forget your servant hearts, great smiles and beautiful spirits. Thank you again for a job well done!
Tawana Goodwin
Director of Volunteer Services
Krause Children's Center
E-Mail from the son of a man we assisted at Lowe's
Dear Omar,
My name is Jose Israel Mejia, and my father is Jose Macario Mejia. I am writing on his behalf to once again thank you for your generous blessing on Saturday 3/5/11. My dad is the man that you met at Lowe’s and that you paid for his work material that day. We are also believers and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ and I am simply writing to thank you and to share something with you. The previous Sunday at our church, after our church offering was picked up, my dad felt led to give a second offering. He felt that God wanted to bless him, but that he needed to give again and he did so. During the week he kept telling himself. “God, you’re going to surprise me" and when you offered to pay for the material this past Saturday, the blessing and the surprise came. He never expected something like that to happen and not only were we blessed, but that day through you the word of God in Galatians 6:10 was fulfilled: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
We pray that you, your family, and your church are blessed and prospered, and declare this word over you: “I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26).
God Bless,
Jose Mejia
Thank You Note
I would like to thank you and your staff for all the wonderful juice and kolaches. We definitely appreciate ya'll thinking about us. I would also like to say thanks for all the great reference material. I was able to minister to a young sexually abused girl today and give her a Bible and some of the information that you sent. Hopefully with that and prayer she will be able to help her realize there is more to life than what she has been facing.
Thanks again,
Elizabeth Schalla
Outreach to Day-Laborers
The men were very excited to see us and receive the Spanish Bibles. When we drove back by they flagged us down for more Bibles. God is so good!
The Smith and Hooper Families
Early Light ABF
Early Light members (Karen Womack and Arron Ratliff) were able to be a blessing to a precious 86 year old woman named Inez Rodriguez yesterday morning. We put up a new steel garage side door, trimmed bushes, raked, planted new shrubs and flowers. We fixed her door bell, added house numbers to her home, a new wall hanging, outdoor floor mat and an American flag. Her swing outside was painted along with her mailbox post to match. Her yard was mowed and her driveway and sidewalk power washed. Inez is still beaming and so thankful to have this kindness shown to her. She was very very touched by everyone. We were all so thankful to be a part of this wonderful project. Thank you Kingsland Church for "Caring for Katy."
Pat Bramlett | Extreme Home Makeover ABF
What a blessing I received on Sunday to wake up to a beautiful sunny day and prepare to work at a home whose family has experienced so much loss in the past year. 76 members of Kingsland, adults, children, and youth, descended on a Katy home and were able to bless a family with some much needed repairs. The fence was replaced, 80% of the inside of the house was painted, the front yard was sodded, flower beds were replaced, two large trees were trimmed, and homemade cookies were delivered to 30 neighbors. Many neighbors came by to ask what was going on, and a police car stopped to question the activity. What a great experience to share with them our purpose to bring God’s love to this family, but also to be a blessing to them by sharing cookies. Visiting with the family revealed the extent of the loss they have incurred in the past year, but also how blessed they felt to have received so much help.
After our morning of work, about 50 people from the work site went to Fuddruckers for lunch and found so many other green shirts already in the restaurant. The manager asked about the group and I shared with him Kingsland’s projects all over the Katy area. He expressed desire to participate next year by offering a discount to anyone who comes wearing a Caring for Katy green shirt. I count it a privilege to be apart of what God is doing in and through our community.
Pat Bramlett
Thank you from Soaring Eagle Ministries
Our hearts of full of thanks for our new friends at Kingsland Baptist Church. The Soaring Eagle Ministries just had the MOST AMAZING day with members of Kingsland Baptist Church. They came out to the ranch as an outreach ministry and helped with SO many tasks that needed to be done. They built a horse shelter, cleaned the barn, cleaned tack, mucked stalls and paddocks, painted, made feed bags, mended fences and cleaned up everywhere. We owe many thanks to these children of God who are willing to work tirelessly in the name of our Father as an outreach to our community. It was a wonderful and joyous day to be in the presence of those who are examples of Christ. We made many new friends who have touched our hearts and left a feeling of love and kindness for us and the children we so humbly serve. I declare many blessings on our new friends from Kingsland Baptist Church.
Beth Rollins Seime
Joshua House ABF | Served an Entire Neighborhood
Jon,
I just wanted to say thanks for all you guys do to make it so easy for us to bless people!
Sunday when we were passing out the bags that the kids had prepared I was the one that was completely blessed. We handed this sweet older lady a bag and I explained what we were doing and she asked several questions about who we were, who we were with, etc. After I explained what we were doing she took a deep breath and looked up to the sky with tears in her eyes and told me that we were an answer to her prayers.She hugged my neck and kept thanking me. She said that she was wanting to get back into church and thanked me over and over for coming by her house. She asked if the church information was in the back(and I showed her a little devotion I had put in there and it had Kingsland's name and number on it). As I walked away she said,"You'll see me there. I promise." And I told her I sure hoped so!
I don't know if she'll ever step foot in Kingsland but at that moment I knew that God had put us in that exact place that morning. If no one else even opened the bag that we handed to them it was worth putting together 120 bags if just that one person knew that God loved them that morning and had not forgotten about them.
So, thanks to you all for getting us out there so that we can be the hands and feet!
Michelle Monroe
Mosaic ABF | Thank You from Genevieve Urban
What can I say about Melissa and Bob Ellis except “what a wonderful young couple” to come to help me at my home today. It is so nice to know that there are still good young people who are willing to give their time and effort to help us “old folks”.
And then, along came two young women who brought me a beautiful plant and some goodies to eat, ( I should be the one to give gifts to my helpers instead of receiving gifts).
Tell them I cannot thank them enough for coming to help me and I will keep them in my prayers that they will have a healthy baby. Tell everyone Thank you , Thank you Thank you!!!
Genevieve Urban
Mosaic ABF | Thank You from Martha Butler
What a wonderful group you sent to help me last Sunday! They were kind and polite and so motivated to help those who can’t quite do what we used to. Thank you all so much for your ministry’s outreach. I do hope many people were impacted by your giving spirit and He who inspired you to do these acts of love.
Then to have the diabetic muffins, lovely plant and the great schedule your church offers for seniors. May much fruit come from your outreach. I thank each of you who serve.
Mosaic ABF | Thank you from the Boyd Family
We were pleasantly surprised when we opened our door and found the lovely plant, muffins, juice and invitation to your church. Please accept our appreciation and thanks for them and share it with all those who helped make it possible. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are truly Christ-like and touching. However, because I am a retired Lutheran Pastor, my wife and I already have a place of worship. Nevertheless, we will keep you and your work in our prayers.
Donald and Roberta Boyd
Thank You from Stephens Elementary
Wanted to thank whoever came to Stephens Elementary to decorate the lounge and plant flowers in the front. It was such a nice surprise. Teaching can be very tiring and it is so nice to relax in such a beautifully decorated area.
Thank you for touching so many lives with kindness,
Melissa Witte