Testimony Tuesday - God Provides Even Paint for the Walls!

In the midst of our renovation of the upper floor of our building, we started looking at paint colors. We wanted to get the walls painted before the carpenters put on the wood trim around windows and doors so we wouldn’t have to be quite so careful. It would save time in the long run.

Jean started the process by going to Lowe’s to collect paint color sample cards. From there, we picked some colors we liked and purchased samples to paint on the wall. We picked the colors we liked best. When we started figuring out how many gallons we would need, we realized this was going to be an expensive purchase. Jean started thinking about who we could contact to see if we could get the paint donated. She discussed it with Ken, and mentioned a former Hope student and Board member who works for a major paint supplier. She said, “I wonder if his company ever donates paint?” Ken said, “Well, let’s find out.”

Ken called our friend, Bill. Bill said he didn’t know what the company policy about donations was, but he would find out and he asked how much we would need. He called us a few days later and said he had tracked down 20 gallons of flat white paint. We didn’t like flat paint for a finish coat, so we asked him if we could use it for primer and he said it would work fine for that. Then he called again and said he had found 45 gallons of semi-gloss paint which could have color added, and he could match the colors we had picked out. And it was all being donated!! Wow! He brought the first batch over, along with a lot of paint supplies, and we started painting. He took our color samples and worked hard to get a match. We had several volunteers who came to help apply the paint and it was done in no time.

In further discussions with Bill, we learned that the paint was $40 per gallon premium paint that wasn’t selling, so the company offered it to its employees for $1.00 per gallon right at the time we needed it. Bill and his wife talked it over and decided to buy the paint and donate it to us. Bill explained to his boss what the paint was for and offered to pay $2.00 per gallon for the paint and the cost of having it tinted. His boss said, “No way. But you can buy it for a dollar.” If you figure 60-65 gallons at the original price, you get $2,400 -- $2,600 that we saved, plus the high-quality paint brushes, buckets, tape, plastic, and other paint supplies that were donated as well. God is good!!!!

Ken and Jean Schmidt

Testimony Tuesday - God sent a messenger to speak to Katie

Jason and I received this testimony right before the church retreat (September 2009). I had sold my car to Andrew Schmidt and we were currently looking for a new vehicle. I had found what I had thought was a perfect match. It was in the right price range, right year bracket and had everything that we had wanted. I called the man and we set up a time to meet him. Jason took off work and we met with him in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Independence.

Before we had left to go meet with him, I wanted to pray to God and ask his counsel regarding this matter, so I went to my closet, (the only quiet place in my house!) shut the door and got down on my knees and prayed. I specifically asked God to send his Holy Spirit to rest upon Jason and I and to tell us what to do.

When we got to the meeting place, both of us took turns driving the car. It seemed perfect. I really did not like the man who was selling it for some reason, but other than that there was nothing wrong with it. I still did not know what to do.

As we were standing by the car talking to the man, we heard a voice behind us. We turned and there was a homeless man with a dog asking for money. I usually do not feel comfortable around homeless people and do not really like giving money because I don't know how they are going to use it.

We stood and talked to the man for a good twenty minutes. The whole time I just felt a strong love and peace in his presence. I can't even describe the peace and safety I felt. He talked about God the entire time. At one point he looked straight at me and said that we just need to trust in God and leave everything in His hands. That God would take care of us. I felt so excited! This is what I had prayed for!

We gave him sixty dollars, and I wished that we could have given more, which is so unlike me. :) He gave Jason a hug and the car guy a hug and said "God bless" and left. We both turned to the car guy and said that we would think about it and call him and let him know.

Less than a thirty seconds had passed, we turned back around and could not see the homeless man anywhere! No cars had left, no one had gotten into any cars (believe me we checked) and there was no way he could have exited the parking lot and crossed 291 that fast without us seeing him. We even searched the Tractor Supply store for him! I truly think he was an angel from God, sent as an answer to my prayer.

He even seemed different. Even though he was "homeless" he was extremely clean, a clean that almost seemed to glow. Even Jason commented on it. As I look back on this experience, it amazes me how much we were blessed by it.

We never did buy the car. I still don't have a car. But now I realize that it was God protecting us, because if we had bought it, we would have never been able to afford the bills we currently have, even though it seemed like we could have then. I have been blessed by Mom, because she lets me use her car anytime I need to go anywhere. God has provided. He has provided us with just enough money to provide for what we need and provided me the use of a car whenever I need it. He also provided me with an angel to tell me an answer to my prayer. God is so amazing, all we have to do is trust in Him.