Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Next Chapter in the Journey

There has been SO much going on in the Perkey House these days, sometimes I am not quite sure if I am coming or going!  God is doing amazing things... and very often I feel like I am RUNNING to try to keep up!

The past 3 years have been an incredible journey in building our FAITH...  by learning to TRUST the PROVISION, SOVEREIGNTY and FAITHFULNESS of God.

I have not been good at posting on my blog since returning home from Kenya this past July.  For many weeks it was because I honestly 'had NO words'!  For those of you who know me well, I am sure you are thinking that is close to impossible.  All kidding aside... coming  home from that trip was very hard.  Bret & I thought his month of being on the ground in Kenya and then the two weeks our entire family had there would be a confirmation of what we strongly felt God calling our family to.

Strangely though, we came home more confused and questioning many things, instead of feeling the strong confirmation we had hoped for.
Therefore... 'NO words'.  
Just hours of searching the scriptures, spending time in prayer and focusing on 'listening to His voice'.

After many weeks and an evening 'away' for Bret & I to really talk things through. We were amazed at how God had united our hearts as to the direction we felt He was laying out for our family.  Honestly, we don't have ALL the answers.  He hasn't shown us the 'over-all master plan' (wouldn't that be nice!).  But He has given us the next step in this journey.  And that next step is the launching of a new non-profit called EQUIP1 Ministries (Equipping & making a difference for 1 orphan at a time).  This is in the beginning stages, but already we are watching as God is BLESSING our meager efforts and orchestrating meetings, contacts, donors, and in-country orphanage partners... beyond what we could ask or think!!  DAILY we are blown away by His FAITHFULNESS!
 EQUIP1 Ministries exists to:

  • RESTORE: Meet the basic physical, spiritual and emotional needs of orphans and disadvantaged children
  • PREPARE: Supply educational resources and facilities to enable the development of vocational skills
  • EMPOWER: Meet transitional needs as senior orphans graduate and begin careers and life beyond the orphanage

So....WHAT does that really MEAN, and WHAT does that LOOK like??  
Currently, we are:
  • Seeking sponsors ($40/month) for teen orphans to help cover the costs of transportation and supplies for their vocational/trade school training.
  • Raising funds to complete the construction of a trade school at the orphanage in Kenya.  
  • Bret is returning to Kenya and Uganda in February to meet with several orphanage directors to discuss HOW best EQUIP1 can partner with them to be a blessing to the children they love and serve.
  • Planning a trip June 2013 to the orphanage in Kenya for the purpose of educational training, construction of the new trade school, and medical assistance for the children.

Each day is a step in the path that God is laying out in front of us.  After spending time on the ground in Africa and walking with these children, who have so little but who are rich beyond measure in their love, joy and passion for God... God has "ruined" us for all that we once pursued!  EQUIP1 Ministries is our meager response to what we have seen.  We cannot ignore the passion God has put in our hearts.  Therefore, we are compelled to step out of our comfort and work to make a difference in the lives of these precious children.
  What does the future hold for our family????
Only God has that 'master plan', but for now we will walk each day by FAITH... trusting and OBEYING what He is calling us to do.  

Will you join us?  For more information message us at:  info@equip1.org
(our website is still under construction)