Starting off, I want to apologize for not updating you all more often about
what is going on in our lives and the amazing things God is doing in Grove. It seems as if we are going through growing pains
and I am in constant ache. Trying to evaluate priority and necessity versus “it can wait,” this letter ended
up on the latter list. The year 2007 has left us with so much gratitude for God’s continual provision. It allowed us
to think of the last seven years and the gift of faith God allotted us to survive the unknown. Sometimes I feel like Abraham
bringing my family and its monthly needs to the altar and praying there is a ram in the bush, and then sometimes I laugh like
Sarah knowing God has truly done the impossible! We were given lots of opportunities to grow, reflect and learn this year
and for those things we are extremely grateful!
We started the year out with an extreme blessing - after three years of saving (and 34 years of waiting)
we headed south to meet Mickey & Donald! What an amazing memory! Then I faced an unknown illness which ended up with the
removal of my gall bladder. Without having insurance this was one of those times God pulled out the ram, and also the laughter,
from my belly. A very generous doctor performed the surgery at no cost, and even prayed with me to calm my anxiety beforehand!
Lackey Free Medical Clinic and its staff & volunteers made this burden not so heavy!
As the year proceeded God gave us some of the most difficult yet rewarding gifts
to date. First He walked me through the homegoing of a dear friend, one who taught
me grace and truly knew the meaning of resting in the Lord's peace. Kristine Meadows was a light for the Lord and a selfless
servant until the moment God called her home. I ask that you would pray for her family: her husband David and Matt &
Ben, her precious boys. Very shortly after Kristine’s death God allowed us as a family to experience the gift of service
to a man who changed our lives. John Miller, an old friend who I knew in my BC (before Christ) years, was replanted back into
my life the day he found out he had lung cancer. Through God’s abundant plan and wisdom He called us to walk with
him to the gates of glory. John didn’t receive Christ until about eight weeks before he died, and in that eight weeks
I saw extreme strength, courage, forgiveness, and empathy in him. In all honesty, even though I knew John for
a long time, I really had just met the man God had created him to be. John had a very heavy heart for those he cared about,
especially his brothers and his friends. He prayed often they would know the joy of the Lord. John died in our home on July
4th. John loved his country, and that day we celebrated his independence from himself and his new dependence on
Jesus. We are still grieving for the precious ones God allowed us to love and praising Him that they are in His arms completely
healed for eternity!
The fall brought “back to school” for all
of the Walls crew. Destiney started her senior year and Joey began high school, leaving Merrissa alone in middle school without
siblings for the first time in a while. Josiah entered the bunny room at the YMCA and is loving learning! Mom too headed back
to TNCC and took on a full load putting quite a lot on that “it can wait“ list. God in his creativity sent an
army of angels to carry some of our burden by cooking for us a few meals each week. It is such an act of love, and if you
don’t already know I struggle in the culinary department, so my children are in the bistro of blessing! This year also brought the death of my Uncle Arlen whom I have nothing but fond memories of, like riding
on his Harley Christmas day and his tender heart for people. It also brought a
reconnection with Marlo, one of my favorite cousins (Arlen’s daughter), as she visited VA while traveling from
her and her husband Jon's home in AZ. This is just a brief overview of the year and I know as soon as I print this I will
remember something else. * I do have to note that the Swain family won hands down
for the most real, honest truth of a Christmas letter and the most creative picture
-- way to GO !!! I admire you Jodi! *
Despite the gift of faith God has supernaturally implanted in our lives we walked down the "How Lord?"
road a lot this year ... How will we pay the electric bill? How will I take on a braces payment? How will I pay off our
van? How will the water get pumped out of our basement? How will I get the kids' yearbooks? ... etc. For some these are easy
tasks and just require the writing of a check or making a phone call. For us it is a “miracle moment” where
we face the Lord of Lords and know that we could not ever accomplish what lies in front of us but for His provision! Again
Sarah surfaces and an Isaac is birthed! All of the situations that happened this year and all of their answers manifested
in God’s perfect timing! So why do I fear sometimes, and doubt we’ll
be ok? Because I'm a single mom of four who wants the best for her kids, and who has always struggled with her self worth!
So asking God is easy, but asking people -- well now, that is hard, especially when the power is due to be cut off and
the enemy is chanting in my brain, "Do you really think God would use you? God is getting tired of meeting your needs.
Go get a 'real' job!”
Ministry is tough, because you want to serve and you
know God has called you to serve, but you can’t really digest why. God continually tries to show me my worth
in Him, and that if He cares so much for me I should, too. It is easy to say I trust Him, but not so easy sometimes to trust when
my yard gets overgrown and I am continually fighting my weeds or when I get sick and debate, sometimes for days, whether
or not to go to the doctor. I hate being a burden on anyone, so being 100% reliable on other people to support us because
they believe in what God is doing in our lives has always been my biggest challenge. So I ask in humble appeal to pray for
me in my doubts and fear and to petition the Lord on my family’s behalf. Also that you would keep my children in the
forefront of your mind as they grow into adulthood, that God would continue to reveal His perfect plan in their lives.
Our immense thanks go out to the many in the body of believers who
have walked in faith with us, supported us, and listened when the Holy Spirit prompted. I want to thank my home church Williamsburg
Community Chapel for its extreme grace and commitment to my family and God’s ministry in Grove. I have watched these
precious sisters and brothers envelop us in our toughest of moments and go above and beyond at all levels. We ask in faith
that God would continue to meet our daily needs and that He would enable us to continue the journey he has placed us on reminding
us of His love at every turn!
Going
in Godspeed, Deena, Destiney, Joey, Josiah & Merrissa Walls
GCOC in 2007
God moved mountains at GCOC
this year and we are forever grateful for the covering He has placed on the community. He has showed His face to the people
there in an abundant manner! God is letting the people of Grove know He has a plan for their lives and that each one is unique
and special in their own way and is loved by the Creator of the universe. They are coming to a realization that He wants to
spend time with them! It has been a year of planting and of building relationships and we eagerly await the harvest that we
know is yet to come in God's perfect timing!
This year God …
· Protected
us from what could have been a devastating fire, and in turn replaced every lost item (and then some, a lot of somes). He
also provided us with a new furnace and brought the community together in such an amazing way!
· Opened up
the door for us to buy a one acre parcel of land ($95,000, debt free!) in Grove to build a much needed building. (We
are now looking for the someone God intends to lead our capital campaign).
· Sent us an
amazing army of volunteers (representing over 14 churches) to meet the daily food pick-up, distribution, and clothing needs.
He hand-picked each one, fitting them in the space that He created for them to fill! We are praising God for His mighty provision!
· Enabled us
to meet the growing needs that have arose, never leaving the shelves bare. He also allowed us to change our hours on Tuesdays
to let us minister to working families that can’t come during the day.
· Provided
the “From His Hands” ministry to feed our families with the Salvation Army’s canteen on Thursday evenings.
· Blessed our
back-to-school event bringing over 500 out to enjoy His abundant blessing! He also blessed the Shoe Box Gift for Kids ministry.
Over 350 children received shoeboxes and blessing room gifts. There were over 1,400 blessing room gifts for the families to
receive!
· Extended
favor to us as we were awarded numerous grants to help maintain the center's daily operations, cover food and hygiene
pantry expenses, provide financial assistance, and help fund special events.
· Blessed us with the ability to upgrade to computer files and launch the center’s
website Groveoutreach.com
As
you can see God is at work in Grove and in the lives of the precious people He desires to reach. We are amazed daily at His creative
plan to go into the homes, lives and hearts of these people and anxiously await His next move!
We invite you to come out and visit us and see up close what the Lord is doing in the Grove community!
