Simple Grace Ministries

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Two Days Off

Simple Grace had two days off while we were visiting Sarasota, Florida, and we took advantage of the time to enjoy the sunshine and ocean.

We thank the Lord for great friends who share their blessings with us and give us memorable moments!

Our Captain, Dale Bontrager, knew the best places to visit and gave us a day to remember!

It was a different perspective viewing the bridge from the water instead of the water from the bridge!

Dale took us to a sandbar during low tide, where we all fanned out in search of seashells.

We found dozens of sanddollars from dime size to palm size. There were conch shells, starfish, tiny crabs, and all sorts of treasures from the sea! The water was shallow for a quarter mile, the sand was clean and white and the sun shone all day.

Sterling and Kathy combing the sand.

Isn't God creative?

Just the color of the water off the side of the boat was incredible!

Bristol smiles in the bow of the boat.

After a perfect day, Dale and Mary Bontrager shared their gift of hospitality by hosting a campfire in the backyard. Havilah roasted marshmallows for s'mores as the other guests relaxed.

Blake toasted up a perfect s'more, too!

Mary's mom, Mattie, was visiting from Indiana, and kept us company for the weekend. Everyone should be privileged to have such a special Grandma! Thank you, Bontragers's, for the best visit ever! We love you! Can't wait to see you again!

We lift up grateful hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His never-ending grace and lovingkindness toward us, His children. He is the joy in our hearts and gives us rest when we are weary, strength when we are weak, and wisdom when we request with believing hearts. Glory to Him!

Friday, February 1, 2008

We Care Prison Ministry

Simple Grace has been privileged to participate in the We Care Prison Crusade every year for the past seven years. Joining with hundreds of other volunteers, we spend four days in Alabama prisons ministering to prison inmates.

Our first prison assignment was Donaldson. This is a security Level VI men's prison, and a last-minute decision by the warden allowed only adults over age 19 to enter. That left our family with Jim, Kathy, Avery and Lucas for a band! We limped a little, but the Lord met us and we were able to minister in spite of being few in number. All we really need is the Lord!

It can be intimidating to drive up to a prison institution. I wanted you to see the fences, razor wire, electric bars and guard towers that meet us on approach.

You may imagine that we totally bless the inmates when we come to minister. In reality, it is we who are blessed! Blessed by incarcerated Christians who stand out in a dark place, willing to be persecuted for their faith, giving a hope in hopeless situations, expressing joy in sad circumstances, and encouraging US in our ministry. It is LOUD in prison! They stand up to applaud! They shout AMEN, and laugh and cry. It is real there. And those who just don't know God for sure hear the truth. A blessing to give and receive. . .

Last night we sang at Holman Prison. There was an inmate execution scheduled for 6:00 pm, while we were there ministering. It was a somber time for all of us. Actually, it was miraculous that the Warden would let a ministry enter the institution at all during a scheduled execution. Our Chaplain had a time of silence in honor of the inmate when we began at 5:30, and we proceeded with our concert. We were told the inmate had surrendered his life to Christ. I must admit, we all watched the clock minute by minute. At 6:00, our family exchanged glances discreetly. It began storming outside; lightening and thunder and wind. There was an intense storm, and before our scheduled ending time, the service was stopped and the inmates put into lock-down because of the severe weather. We were told after the inmates left that the execution was stayed by the Governor. The reality of matters of life and death is forefront in prison. Physical and spiritual life and death. Very sobering.

"Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

(Psalm 139:16)

We carried our equipment out of Holman during the peak of that storm. Some said they had never seen rain like that in their life! We had precious help from the volunteers, but the boys got drenched!! Above is Sterling emptying the equipment cart.

I took this photo out the window of the bus as the guys finished packing up! It was raining so hard, they could hardly keep their eyes open. Hope we can get their suits dry for the upcoming concert!

Next week we will participate in South Carolina's Prison Crusade. Please pray for health and safety for our family. We have had some health issues affecting our voices. We are weary from a busy week, but we don't wish to rest in any diesel shop!! (Thy Will be done, Lord.)

Thank you for sharing in our adventure with the Lord!

Beginning 2008!

For 2008, our family and ministry theme is "Exchanging will for Will". The path for Christian growth is full of opportunities to lay down our will for the Will of our Lord. Most gladly we purpose to do this. Walking it in the daily action of life is a challenge!

Who would have thought after days of cleaning, preparing, organizing and packing for our first trip of the year, instead of the warmer South, we would end up at this diesel shop for two days!

We left home during a severe winter snow storm, with blizzard-like conditions, and made it to Hebron, Nebraska, where our drive shaft yoke broke. We were towed 80 miles, to Salina, Kansas, where we spent the next two days inside this shop.

The mechanics did what they could, and waited for parts we needed to be overnight-delivered.

After exhausting ourselves with preparing our home and livestock for leaving in winter, helping Lacey finish her move to her new home, preparing the bus for a long trip and packing the bus and van, this forced stop gave us some much needed rest. We were thankful for the safe place to be and the rest we were given here. Not in our plans, but . . . .He knows.

We are also thankful for qualified mechanics who get us up and going along the way. This was definitely not the first time we've rested in mechanic's shops!

We missed our first two scheduled concerts in Macon, MS, and Greenville, AL. It was disappointing to miss our friends in those two churches.

When we did get to Flordia, we were blessed to stay in our favorite campground in between concerts. It is right on the Gulf of Mexico.

Homeschooling is just more fun on the beach, even if it is chilly!

Behold the Beauty of Holiness!

His faithfulness is unfailing!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Wedding of Lacey Hitch and Brandon Wilkie, December 29, 2007

The Filly Barn, on the historic register of Nebraska, was the setting for the wedding of

Lacey Hitch and Brandon Wilkie

Sterling Hitch, and Nick Hooge (classmate of Nick Hitch) directed traffic for parking on horseback!

Brandon Wilkie, dashing groom, man of the day!

Lacey Hitch, lovely bride, lady of the day!

The barn had stables in the lower level, where the Hitch horses leant an air of authenticity to the setting.

The day was cold, in the 20's F., but the barn warmed up as we filled it with diesel heaters to chase out the cold. By wedding time, it was chilly, but bearable. (I don't think Lacey or Brandon felt the cold one bit!!!)

Lacey is escorted down the aisle by her Dad. The day every little girl dreams about!

Avery surprised everyone but Lucas with a song she wrote especially for Lacey and Brandon on their wedding day. There were no dry eyes!

The couple blended colored sand in a jar, to signify the blending of their lives and the impossibility of separating them.

The double wedding ring quilt in the background was handmade by Kathy's grandmother, and given to Kathy and Jim on their wedding day 26 years ago.

Lucas honored Lacey and Brandon by singing A Page is Turned during the ceremony.

The wedded couple shares a holy kiss!

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Wilkie!!

Lacey and Brandon with Jim Newsom, officiating pastor. We were so honored to have Jim travel from Loiusville, Kentucky, to lend his grace and blessing to our special day.