Faith in Action

We spent a lot of time praying over our money and how it should be spent. For a variety of reasons, we have very soft hearts for adoption and birth families. As a result, we contacted Adoption Ministries in Puyallup and asked them if they had a birth mother who could use some financial assistance and someone who would be willing to meet with us. They did, and we were able to meet a young lady by the name of Faith. Faith's story is amazing! Six years ago, at age 18, she placed her son up for adoption through Adoption Ministries. Since then, she has devoted her life to international ministry. Recently, she lost her job and was in need of money to purchase interview clothes. The Pointe Project money will help her purchase an outfit appropriate for such an occasion. Her heart is to continue serving God through missionary work.We were fortunate enough to be able to meet wtih Faith and hear her adoption story and it is simply beautiful. The love she has for her son was evident in the amazing gift she gave to a local couple struggling with infertility. Faith graciously listened to us share our testimony about Jalen's adoption and we were able to see, from a birth mother's perspective, what adoption is like for the birth mother. What a blessing for us to be able to have had the opportunity to see adoption from a new perspective!We pray for Faith and her devotion to God. We pray that the Pointe Project money will help her carry on her missionary work and that God will multiply the money and use it for His glory and His gain! --The Moyd Family

From Eileen Elsdon -- I Found Her!

It all started about 3 weeks ago, I was ready for church early so I decided it would be nice to relax at Forza over a cup of coffee, as I drove through the Wal-Mart parking lot, there was a newer car with plastic bags over the windows other than the frontend of the car being damaged it looked like a very nice car. I wondered if someone could be sleeping in the car. I decided to go into Wal-Mart a pick up a few items before heading for church, when I came out there she was! This sweet woman folding up the bags that covered her windows, she was sleeping in her car! …my heart broke and I knew she was my Pointe Project.

Unfortunately I didn’t have my packet with me (lesson 1- keep you packet in your car) so I called my daughter Jen and asked her to bring it to me. I thought it best to give gift cards rather than cash and decided after church I would pick up the cards and deliver them. I sat in church that morning resisting the urge to leave in the middle of service and go get the cards to deliver (did I say “resist”…maybe I should have said “rebel”…lesson 2 act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit) by the time I returned, she was gone.

I have driven through all the parking lots I could think many times over the past few weeks, the YMCA (someone told me they heard she showered there), both Wal-Marts, the mall, praying that God would put her in my path again.

I was on vacation this week so I decided I would try one more time I pulled into Wal-Mart parking lot at 6:45 am and there she was! Praise God for giving me a second chance to meet her! I ran up to Wendy’s and grabbed 2 cups of coffee and 2 breakfast sandwiches and then went back and waited for her to come out of her car. I have felt all along that I didn’t just want to give her the gift but I wanted to have the chance to talk to her and hear her story.
When she came out of her car I went up a and wished her good morning and told her I had seen her a few weeks ago and she had been on my heart ever since. I told her I wanted to bring her a warm breakfast and a small gift (In the bag with her breakfast I had placed 3 gift cards one for McDonalds, one for Target, and one fuel card for Safeway, along with the Pointe Project card), her response was overwhelming…she gave ME a hug and assured me she was okay. She was so grateful to Wal-Mart for allowing her to sleep in their parking lot (she has been sleeping in her car for 6 months). She said she is between homes and is saving her money to start her own business, and assured me she has been “God-based” for 32 years. She didn’t have time to talk much because she was on her way to an appointment in Tacoma but invited me back to talk another time.

I didn’t get to see her open the bag but I pray that it blessed her day as much as she blessed mine. I thought that I was only there to allow God to bless this woman through my obedience, but it was I who received the blessing! This woman taught me a lot about gratitude, determination, and humility. Had I ventured to assume what her “story” might be I probably would have come up with something completely different. It reminds me that it is not my place to judge others, but only to love them as Christ loves them. I plan to go back again and take her to dinner of coffee another time. Praise God for second chances!

WANT TO HELP? One thing she did share with me was that she needed to get her car fixed (remember the front end damage), she did not have insurance and the damage to her car is extensive. I’m sure that it would be too much to repair the car completely ($10,000 she said) but her radiator is leaking and she needs to put water into it every 20-30 minutes. If you know of someone that could help get her car operational let me know.

Pointe Project at Saturn of Puyallup

Last Friday afternoon, Louann from Saturn of Puyallup called to tell us about a Pointe Project act of kindness. One of their customers, Sebastian, had his car in the service department for repairs that totaled over $500. He approached Luann and asked whether there were other customers there who could use some assistance with paying for their car repairs. She assisted him and he paid $50 each toward the car work being done for two customers. Luann said we "should have seen their faces." She felt that in both cases, the money to help couldn't have come at a better time.

Thanks to Louann for sharing this story with us!

A Pointe Project Report from the Wood Family

Amiee and I early on decided to match the church’s money, but struggled to identify specifically how to use the funds. We felt great responsibility. We came up with numerous ideas and discussed them with each other and our small group. Last Monday, I became aware of the fact that one of my bowling team mates had suffered a brain aneurysm. I was aware of both the financial and spiritual burden. On Monday night, I took $50.00 down to the family (kids) for emergency funds…while they waited for word from the hospital. We left a High Pointe card and expressed our concern and prayers and thoughts for a recovery.

On Wednesday, we discovered my team mate was having his third surgery in as many days and did not have any insurance. What a significant burden…single income family, limited savings, five children. We committed the rest of our funds ($150) and with the help of another team mate encouraged our league to reach out. We collected an additional $281 for a total of $431. This will not solve their financial burden but did provide a sense of comfort that his circumstances are known, we care, and your fellow man (bowling league) are willing to help and pray for your recovery.

We thank the church family for the opportunity to use the Lord’s money to serve our community. – Jeff, Amie and Sadie Wood

Jiffy Lube

I pulled into the Jiffy Lube knowing that God wanted me to reach out to someone there. I turned over my car and went into the waiting room. The gentleman in there waiting with me had obviously just gotten off work like myself. He had his work clothes on. I knew he was who God wanted me to help. I went out to the Jiffy Lube attendant and asked if I could pay for his oil change. Everyone in the car port came around and wanted to know more about what I was doing. It was an amazing opportunity to share with the workers. They were happy to take some small part in what I was doing and as I pulled away I saw them handing the card to the man and trying to explain what had just been done. What a testament to what God can do through his people!

From Nancy Caldara

I thank the church and God for the opportunity of extending Christ’s love to others!

I thought about whom I could best help and use the money wisely. I was thinking about pooling the money with a few others in my small group and helping some other people but after praying about it, God brought some others to mind.

I have a co-worker that just lost his mother about a week and a half ago. He had not seen his mother in twelve years and was going to go see her in Nov. He doesn’t make a large salary, always glad to help others and has a wonderful attitude. He left on his trip the night before I was going to approach him. I wrote a note to him saying how much he is valued and appreciated, that I was sorry for his loss of his mother, that he and his family were in my prayers, and hoped this would help with a need and help to encourage him. I added the Pointe Project card and some money. I put it in his mailbox. Waiting to hear how that goes.

I also reached out to a single mom with a young child on my bowling league that I have known for years. She is a dear person, very kind and thoughtful. She recently lost her job and struggles at times to make ends meet. She has got another job but know that she buys for her daughter and often forgets about herself. I purchased a gift card, included the Pointe Project card and included a note and gave it to her. In the note I wrote expressing how much she is valued and loved by God and others and hoped that would help with a need or concern. I also wrote the gift card was not from me. She was so thankful! I will be anxious to share more about the Lord.

From Chris Robison

My name is Chris Robison and the Sunday that they gave us the money.Somebody immediatelycame to my mind, I have a friend that is going through a very bad divorce.With a husband that is not paying any child support to help feed and carefor her two children. So I went home that night and prayed that if there wasanyone else out there who needed the money more that God would show me andif He didn't I was meant to give it to my friend. As her need was greater, Iwent out and bought three bags of groceries and made her special doughnutsfrom my job I took the hundred dollars and the card and placed it in the box of doughnuts. I took it over to her and told her there was a specialdoughnut in the box just for her, and when she saw the money she started torefuse. I stopped her and I told her that it wasn't from me and at that timeshe looked very confused and said "What do you mean it's not from you?" andI said "It's not from me it's from God." and she still was confused andlooked at me and said "How can it be from God?" and i told her that it is agift from God. So I started to explain to her how our church had offered agift from God for us to go out and give in His name. She said the hair onthe back of her neck was standing up and said that it was a very specialgift for a church to give and said that we must have a special church to goto. And she was very greatfull and used it to help her children. She is achristian and and is very greatfull. As a christian I felt priveliged togive this gift in God's name. And it's an experience I will never forget andneither will she.Thank You- Chris Robison