Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A wall in 50 days..Nehemiah (and God) did it, why not us?

We found out a few days ago from the City of Phoenix that because of the zoning area our church sits in and because our property fronts a major street and residential houses, a chain link fence isn't an option. We need to go with a block fence, a six footer. We need it to be 1,440 linear feet. Thus far, the bids we've received are between $28,000.00 and $34,000.00

Funds are being raised from different sources, including at least one local Rotary club and the possibility of a few more Rotary clubs joining together to help us. We're also exploring the possibility with Rotary that there might be a fencing contractor who would be willing to donate some materials or labor, or maybe even both to lower the cost, or maybe even cover the entire thing--which certainly is feasible based on what God has already done to get us this far.

We really need to get it done by mid-June, about 50 days from now, (I think I've heard about that being done before!) If we do so, then we would be on target to have the soil prepared, the refugees trained, and planting started the last week of August for the fall growing season here in Phoenix.

Pray that we get the right 10 families. Currently we are looking at 4 Chin families, (from Burma,) 2 Karen families, (also from Burma,) and then 2 Bhutanese families, and possibly two families from an African country.

Phoenix 10/40 Interface is becoming a reality. More on this next time.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Connected and ready for use

Believe it or not, the connection to the agricultural water supply through SRP is finished! Their crew was out here bright and early Monday morning, including a huge excavator. They wrapped it up yesterday and we now have an access point that we will tap in to for our property once everything is done. Amazing!

The next step is the fence. We need about 1,700 linear feet of 8 foot fence. Expensive? By normal fence company prices, it will be at least $20,000.00 But hey, God has moved once and I don't think He'll bail out on us now. In fact, I've been invited to speak to the board of a local Rotary club that may want to get on board and help raise funds for the fence and then the grading we'll need.

I'm pondering the reality of the great missions quote: "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God."

It's already been proven true once again.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Public utilities...He influences them too!

A few posts ago I talked about our church property and the potential of using about 3/4 of it for refugee families to do organic farming. For those of you who actually prayed about the situation, (and of course, as an encouragement for those who didn't, that maybe they should consider praying,) our incredible God has answered!

The SRP folks, (one of the two public utilities in Phoenix that provide water,) came out a few weeks ago, looked in detail at the situation and told us that to do what really needed to be done to connect their system to our property, would probably cost close to 70,000.00 (not the 25,000.00 we previously thought.)

When we explained to them a little more clearly WHY we wanted to get this done and the potential benefit it could be public relations-wise for any organization that might help us get it accomplished, they were intrigued.

Two days ago they called us and said they were going to do it for us.....FOR FREE! They love what we're doing, they love the idea of helping people who have suffered so tremendously, and they love the idea that they, a public utility, can do something that will take 10 families out of the public assistance realm that they live until they find high enough paying jobs.

They even said it should be done by May 1! Now we can concentrate on the fence we need to put around the property, the soil preparation and a few other things that will total about 20,000.00 But hey, if He can move public utilities to do something like this, He can certainly move some private companies to get on board too.