Nearly every Saturday that we go out and deliver furniture to families in need in our community, we deploy our Hearts Team to follow up after the delivery. They sit with the family, hear their stories, encourage them and pray for them, when its accepted. Our recipients tell us about challenges they have experienced that are unfathomable to many of us; from financial setbacks, loss of jobs or homes, loss of support systems, and even loss of family members or near-death situations.
Here’s one recent story from a volunteer from our team:
{We were privileged to serve this amazing family sitting on the couch. Continue to pray for them.}
She is a strong woman…
She is a strong woman and one that you would have never known came through such a hardship and lives in a tragic challenge. She grew up in Haiti. On that tragic day in 2010, she was the victim of the devastating earthquake that left so many dead and many others injured—homes destroyed, life changed as anyone knew it.
For this woman, her life was beyond “changed” than ever imagined. After being trapped under the rubble for 3 days, rescued unconscious, she woke up in the United States, in a hospital room. Though thankful she was alive and being cared for, she faced shock as she realized she had been taken from her country, leaving her two children behind—and not understanding much of what was going on, due to the fact that she only spoke Creole.
Trapped…Unconscious…She experienced so much hurt, but so much healing.
She underwent major surgery and took 2 years to get back to reasonable health. She re-learned how to walk and do basic tasks. She worked hard. She experienced so much hurt, but so much healing. After her recovery, she met her husband, got married and has 2 boys and another baby on the way (a girl!). This woman has risen from near-death and extensive disability, to become strong and healthy, have a family, and overcome challenges that most of us will never face.
Yet God so humbly chose us to come alongside this family and help where we can. That day, Fully Furnished Ministries brought this family beds for their two young boys, who were beyond excited. We also replaced their very broken sofa with a large well-working one, to which her husband was “all smiles” and sat on right away!
Yet God so humbly chose us to come alongside this family and help where we can.
We spent time listening and encouraging this woman and her family. We prayed for her, the family, and her pregnancy.
Though we helped them in these small ways, which encouraged them so greatly, we saw they still had important needs. Currently, this woman and her husband are sleeping on an inflatable mattress which is very difficult for her while being pregnant. Their tv is broken. And this mother’s heart is broken as she doesn’t have a way to communicate with her two children back in Haiti, who are being raised by her father.
It is in moments like these that we trust in God’s provision for these families and pray fervently that God would continue to provide for us ways to help families like this one, as much as possible, in their basic needs at home.
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Help us provide help and hope to those with journeys of hurt:
In 2019, we delivered over 4,000 pieces of furniture to 125 families in need here in our community, living and sharing the Gospel through the gift of furnishings. Would you consider giving your year-end gift to Fully Furnished Ministries, helping us prepare for another year of providing families with basic needs for dignified living? Visit our website to donate, https://fullyfurnishedministries.org/give , or give by check to:
Fully Furnished Ministries
P.O. Box 4811
Alpharetta, GA 30023