Blessings Through a Fire - Emili Elefson

Last week, Duane Porter preached a sermon on fire and how it changes things, how true that is. As most of you, if not all of you at Grain Valley know, the trailer that we were staying in for five of the past seven months after selling our house caught on fire and burned up. Josh and I were home at the time it happened, which is a testimony in itself.

It was a Wednesday and typically Josh is at work Monday thru Friday, but it just so happened that he had a comp day that he was taking advantage of that day. We were taking it easy and just cleaning up that day, trying to take extra good care of the loaned trailer.

When the trailer caught on fire, Josh was the one who found it and promptly told Karlie and I to get out and into the house. Then he set about trying to put it out. Katie then called the fire department and I was pretty much just there.

There are so many things for us to be thankful for. 

1. No one was even hurt let alone anything worse happening. 
2. The propane tanks did not explode and spread the fire. 
3. The hay bales there were being used to insulate the trailer from the cold didn’t spread the fire anymore. 
4. Contrary to my feelings, the fire department responded quickly and worked hard to put out the fire. They were also kind and helpful. 
5. Last but most important, we are blessed with wonderful family, not all blood-related, who love us and try to help whenever they see a need. Our church family was there for us no matter what the cost or inconvenience to them.

There are so many blessings and gifts that the Lord blessed us with in this event, I could fill up a book. Not to mention all the prayers, thoughts, and offers of help that we were blessed with. The best part is that we can truly see the Lord’s hand in this and in our lives in finding a new home.

The Lord surely does work in mysterious ways, but how wonderful the outcome! May we offer praise to the Lord for the beautiful people He has placed in our lives and work with them in building the Kingdom of God.

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.

Testimony Tuesday - God speaks to Liz at Kirtland

Here is another testimony from Liz Scully about her trip to the Kirtland Temple.

About 23 years ago we were visiting the Kirtland Temple. I had been there before, but Bruce had not so I really wanted him to have a wonderful experience.

As we were sitting in the temple, Ashlea started to "act up" so I took her out so she wouldn't interrupt what was going on, but I was upset that I was going to miss out.

As we ascended the staircase, I thought I saw Ashlea start to fall so I reached out to catch her. She was not moving and I heard a voice say, "Never fear, I AM here." I really thought nothing of that until we were descending the other staircase and my anger with Ashlea was rising. She was not being cooperative and quiet. As we started down, the same voice said very quietly, "Don't be angry, for even I was a child."

I had been reprimanded lovingly and quickly. I went to get Bruce to share with him what had transpired wile I was outside not involved with those inside the sanctuary.

I have never written this testimony before and realize for the first time that the phrase, "I AM here" was God stating who He is and that He was in His home. This was not just a phrase or words He was saying.

Gus Ralston's Testimony

Gus was gracious enough to share how his family came to believe the restored gospel. Here is his story.

In the winter of 1913-1914 a blue norther (a blizzard with high winds, very low temperatures and lots of snow) was brewing in southeastern Colorado. A family, who was traveling in a covered wagon, stopped at a farm house to ask permission to park the wagon on the down wind side of his barn to protect them from the wind. Permission was given.

The next morning the wind was blowing fifty miles an hour and the snow was part way up on the windows of the farm house. The farmer’s wife turned to her husband and said, “You go out there get those people and bring them in the house. They can’t stay out there in this weather.” He said, “We have a small house and there isn’t room for all of them in the house.” She said, “You go out there get them anyway. We will just have to make do.” And so it was.

The storm didn’t let up for three weeks. The man traveling was an RLDS missionary and by the time the storm was over, he had converted the whole farm family. As he was preparing to leave, the farmer begged him stay a little longer, because he had family round about who needed to hear the message he had shared during the preceding three weeks.

Soon all of the farmer’s brothers and sisters and family were also converted. Before he left, everyone who was eligible to be baptized went out the stock pond for the service. A hole had to be chopped in the ice as the stock pond had six inches of ice on it.

Included in these baptisms were my grandfather August, grandmother Caroline and my father Wallace, who was eight at the time. The missionary was a well known missionary by the name of Bullard. The farmer was Christopher Ralston, father of apostle Russell Ralston.

Testimony Tuesday

God is good and generous and He has blessed the people of Grain Valley with many beautiful testimonies. We are instituting Testimony Tuesday where we will share a testimony from someone in the congregation (or anyone who wants to share) every Tuesday!

This is Susan Mauck's testimony of spiritual protection when it was most needed.

My relationship with my mother has always been on shaky ground for many reasons, but partly because she didn't want me to have a relationship with my father. She also loves the occult and loves darkness more than light. These two things, and many others, have always made our relationship strained.

Last summer, Mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer and I knew I had to go see her. In August, Jackie, Ben and I flew to Arizona to visit. We arrived late Thursday evening and were met with a barrage of negative comments. Mom immediately announced that she had been in the hospital with heart problems for five days and the minute she heard that my father had died, her heart stopped hurting and she hadn't had a bit of pain since.

In less than an hour, she fired comment after comment and we left feeling beat up and wondered how we were going to get through another couple of days like this. Jackie said she felt spiritually attacked and had come concerned about Benjamin's spiritual safety knowing my mother's many false Gods and the darkness she subscribes too.

That night we prayed together and God woke me up early the next morning (actually He woke Ben up, but when Ben and Jackie went back to sleep, I stayed up). As I prayed and studied, the Holy Spirit gave me specific words to pray.

1. An angel with a flaming sword would continually stand over Benjamin guarding and protecting him.
2. That Jackie and I would walk into Mom's house in humility and in the grace of Jesus Christ.
3. Angels would go before us in the strength and power of Jesus Christ.

I saw a vision before I prayed the words. As the angels went in before us, all of the demons fled to the walls and to their own strongholds and they were bound. They had no power over us while we walked in humility and grace.

For the next two days, we enjoyed peace and family fellowship - no barbs, hatefulness or hurt - it was beautiful and joyful. We left Saturday night and my niece stayed through Sunday. She said everything fell apart after we left. Everyone was shouting and railing on each other. She went into her room and shut the door and for eight hours everything was out of control. Her exact words were, "It was different after you left, Aunt Susan."

It wasn't us that made the difference, it was Jesus. We are in spiritual warfare we don't see or understand, but God is gracious and mighty to save His people. We need to remember that all things are made by and through Jesus Christ and that Jesus is all powerful. When we walk in faith and ask, we will be powerfully protected physically and spiritually. God is good!

Dave Winship earns a Meritous Award

In August, Dave came upon a crash where the driver was unconscious. In examining the vehicle, he noticed a medical kit for diabetics. Guessing the drivers was unconscious from low blood sugar, he gave the driver a sucker and quite possibly saved his life.

MoDOT recently awarded him with a Meritous Award and you can see the video here.

Dave, thank you for your great service and quick thinking!