Looking Back, Staring Forward

Christmas (and my birthday) has come and gone and there are only a few more days left of 2010. This week one year ago I and a friend drove up to Kerrville, stopped at my realtor’s office to pick up the keys to the house I now live in, and then we drove another hour arriving late in the day. It was the first time to set foot in the house since viewing the property the past October. We walked into a cold, dark, house full of trash. The first task was to get the electricity on before dark. The second task was to unpack the car and set up our air beds so we would have a place to sleep that night. The third task (now dark) was to figure out how to turn the pump on so we could have running water. That first night in this house was truly and adventure.

Twelve months have now come and gone and I am staring straight into the second year of my life (and AOCCCI) here. This past year has been a year of many changes and progress towards the ultimate goal, a place for people with MCS to come and live. The work towards that goal will continue in 2011.

Occasionally when I am in San Antonio people will ask me if anyone has come out to live here yet. The answer is no, but I have had some serious inquiries.

The first inquirer came via a friend of mine currently living in Montana. I had sent out a ministry letter and she passed it onto a friend who could not face another cold winter in Montana. Since it was spring I suggested to him that he remain in Montana tell summer is over with and then travel south to a warmer climate. I have no idea what he eventually decided to do but I have not heard from him since.

The most recent person to consider coming out first contacted me this past fall. After numerous emails she asked me to help her come out here. At the time she was in El Paso and her health was pretty bad. This request came right before Thanksgiving and I had a few commitments preventing me from traveling out to El Paso. Besides, her situation was not desperate, as she did have a place to stay. Around the holidays we kept in touch, she asking me many questions about this place. In the end she decided to drive out to Pleasant Valley Ministries in Georgia. A decision I think was the right decision for her.

I have had a number of other inquirers between these two, but so far no one has decided to come live on this land. I guess no one wants to be the first. But that is okay, since getting this place ready for folks is taking a lot longer than I expected. I am hoping that this time next year, whether or not there are other folks living on this land, that the infrastructure is in place for at least a few folks to live out here. In order for that to happen God is going to have to supply volunteers and donations. It takes money and workers to build. Please pray.

Finally, Happy New Year!