WAITING FOR GOD - PRICELESS

Now, why would I title this post, "Waiting for God - Priceless"?

Because that's what I've been doing for months and months.

In fact, for so long, I stopped thinking about my question and

stopped praying for it. 

Seriously??

Oh, yeah. I'm old and it's not that hard.

Quickly, I should have died twice in the last 7 years

from two of my medical adventures.

Well, it should be obvious that I didn't 

as I'm the author of this post.

I started wondering why God didn't take me.

And, then I knew without a doubt that

he had something for me to do.

He started planting seeds when Skyler and I were

planning our road trip/mini mission trip

to Joplin............we thought!

God had other plans which happens to me

all of the time!

Cut to the chase:

He sent us to Bokenkamp Emergency Children's Shelter

in Corpus Christi, Texas.

I asked for donations to help defer the cost

of having 79+ kids make their own journal

and was humbled by how many people jumped in

to help us.

The planning and specifics of that mission trip

can be found in the previous post.....

Since that time the volunteer director has asked

me WHEN we're coming back.

The kids loved us, loved making their own journals,

the clinicians love how the journals are

helping them work with the kids,

and Joanne is anxious for us to come back.

We will be going back as soon as I can gather up

enough of our "budget" to buy canvas, paints

and brushes for the kids to paint their

self portrait on an 8 x 10" canvas.

This is a perfect project and will, again, be a

huge help to the clinicians in working with these

amazing kids.

I'm so excited!!

On the drive home from Corpus 

(I live about 3 1/2 hours north)

after the first time,

I heard God.

Loud and clear,

I heard him tell me what he wants me to do.

Not only does he want me to continue my work

at Bokenkamp, he wants

me to volunteer at the woman's shelter for

rape and domestic violence victims

(and their children if they're involved)

in Kerrville, 10 minutes up the highway

from Center Point, where I live.

I visited the shelter office on my way home 

from Bokenkamp.

Why wait when God tells you to do something?

I have filled out the mound of paper work 

and go for my orientation next Friday.

After that I will start my volunteering

which will include teaching art classes

for the woman and any children there,

along with other programs.

I am extremely excited that God has chosen

me to be his vessel

in working with his hurting children.

(His "children" are all of us:)

Wow. Bokenkamp is my heart.

And, I know that 

Hill Country Cares will soon

be my heart, also.

There is never enough money to run a shelter

so these programs, these art projects, 

are funded by me.

Me and any of you who have a heart

for God's hurting children.

I would gladly accept your help and

I can send you a letter so that your help

can be tax deductible.

Or do you think I should put a PayPal 

button on my blog?

I don't know what to do -

I've never been God's vessel to this extent!

Anyway, that's the story Morning Glory.

No matter how hard your life is,

and mine's been health-hard these

last 7 years,

when you reach out and help others

through Jesus Christ,

your life takes on a new light.

And it doesn't have to be a "big deal".

God will take all of the blessings

we are able to dump (dump?) on his 

children.

Pay someone's toll.

Pay for the lunch, or a dessert,

of the person behind you in line

at McDonald's.

(My sister did that as my

birthday present this past week.

Best present I've had in a long time!)

Hold a door open for an approaching person.

Smile at the checker at Wal-Mart

(can you think of anyone else that needs

a smile more than a Wal-Mart checker??)

See? There's a lot you can do to be God's vessel.

Oh, another one.

Last night Frank and I were at a restaurant

and next to us was an older woman 

sitting by herself.

She was finishing up her dinner and

reading her Kindle.

So, I simply asked her if she liked her Kindle

which started a very nice conversation

for someone that may have been very lonely.

We don't know people's circumstances,

even the put together people we see,

so always take the time to be a blessing.

Sermon's over.

And, the people said?

"Finally!" LOL 

God bless you and God bless 

the people I will be working with,

new and old!

                           Jan

ROAD TRIP TURNS INTO A MISSION TRIP!

I am taking a "random" road trip this July

with my 'little girl', Skyler.

We started planning this trip about 9 months ago

and it was simply going to be a road trip

with no agenda.

We were going to find some

Diners, Drive-In's and Dives,

take back roads and my camera.

Check out some junk stores.....

just several many days of relaxed fun.

It's not changed in that sense.

What has changed is that we now

have a mission!

I love, love, love it when God speaks to me

and I'm quiet enough to hear Him.

In thinking about the trip, He told me

that turning it into a short mission trip

would give it meaning.

It would give us more of a chance to

be a vessel for God.

Whenever I travel I always

do what I can to be a vessel for God.

I pay other people's tolls, anonymously.

I pay for other traveler's meals, anonymously.

And, I am extremely blessed each time

I do a random act of kindness.

(if you've never done a random act of kindness,

give it a try - it's the bomb.)

You've probably figured out our mission...

we are going to volunteer for two days

at a Center for Women and Families

in the eastern part of the U.S.

Basically a shelter for victims of

domestic violence or rape.

(because of confidentiality I can't tell you any more than that)

We are so excited to be a part of

the healing process of

these women and children.

We will be helping them create art.

Here's where YOU come in.

Here's where you can be a part of the healing process.

We'll be supplying the art supplies to make journals

and keepsake boxes out of cigar boxes.

We could use some help with these supplies

so if you are interested in helping with

glue sticks, patterned paper (for women and children),

fabulous embellishments,

AND/OR AN ENCOURAGEMENT CARD OR TAG FOR

THE WOMEN AND FOR THE CHILDREN,

please do what you can and

mail everything to me.

Don't sign your name on the cards/tags,

And, don't "address" OR seal the envelopes. (This is sooooo exciting!!)

and add a note of encouragement in your card or on your tag back.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ENOUGH CARDS/TAGS

FOR EVERY

WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE CENTER.

Those will touch these hurting women and children

more than money.

Think about it - receiving a letter of encouragement from

someone that doesn't even know you. WOW.

God bless y'all and

if you can help with some of the above,

thank you.

And, if you can't, would you please pray

that we can be effective representatives of Jesus Christ

and that the women and children who we encounter

will see Jesus in our eyes and in our actions.

Jan Vermillion-Thomason

5720 Hwy. 27

Center Point, Texas 78010