Stories of God at Work Through the People of PCC

On Sunday, March 9th, Peninsula Covenant Church randomly chose 15 people and gave them each a $100 bill with the stipulation that they prayerfully consider who God wanted to bless through them. They were encouraged to enlist others and multiply their $100. Here are some of their stories... 

• God desires us to be on the lookout
• Connection through Street Church
• Ravenswood Youth Athletic Association
• Struggling Family
• Wow, so much has happened that I want to tell you about...
• 667 Malnourished Children
• Helping Veterans in Need
• East Palo Alto Easter Egg Hunt
• Shoes for the Homeless
• Blessing an Ice Cream Vendor
• Day Laborers by Home Depot
• Lost Boys of Sudan
• Shelter Network
• Homeless Father
  

 If you'd like to support one of these causes contact John Seybert (click to email).

It took Debra almost two days to write me her story and let me know what her needs were. I knew that her car had been repossessed so I figured that was what we would be working on. Right away a car was donated and I was faced with the reality that in order to just get her head above water and a little breathing room we would need approximately $10,000. Without giving a dollar amount, I put out another email to our contacts that God had led me to Debra. I shared a little of her story and emphasized the quality of her character. Money started coming in, but more than that, people started praying for a miracle for Debra. Our contacts emailed their contacts and pretty soon we were getting checks from people we didn’t even know. People from all walks of faith have given. I think this is a testimony to the fact that generosity is a human characteristic, not just a Christian one.

I am happy to report that all of Debra’s needs that were expressed to me in her original letter will be met. But most important, Debra has reconnected with the God of her youth. She has expressed to me that even though she had never lost her faith in God, she had not been living for Him. God has drawn her back and I look forward to what He will continue to do in and through her life.

I have had so many people tell me that they didn't turn in the yellow slip of paper (to have the possibility of being chosen for the Big Give) because they were afraid of being chosen. I just want to cry when I hear that. I'm glad I was chosen. I would have missed the best spiritual experience of my life so far if I had chosen not to write my name down.

Wow, so much has happened that I want to tell you about. First, we had a Praise the Lord moment when we got a note from the Dunbar Insurance Agency (a Farmers Insurance Group) that they will be donating a full year of car insurance on Debra's new (to her) car. I'm hoping this comes back to them a hundred fold in the form of new business. I also want to thank Terrace Realty for a large donation from their owner and as I mentioned before a donation of time and materials from Towne Ford. Redwood City Florist met our anonymous donor's $1,000 challenge and together all these businesses and individuals are greatly involved in the success of this project. But ultimately it was God working on the hearts of individual givers that has allowed me to say we have met almost all of Debra's list of needs.

The one item remaining is new clothes for the children. My husband and I went out yesterday and today to many stores in Redwood City and Stanford Shopping Center and asked for donations in the form of gift cards or whatever to try and cover this last area. It is totally understandable that there is a lot of red tape to this process, but we always seemed to find the right person and are hopeful that after they present our project to the right person we will hear back from some of them. On the last stop this afternoon we went to Mervyn's in Redwood City. I went back to the office area and when the lady came up to help me I told her about the project I was working on and what I was looking for and in amazement she said, "Are you one of the people that got the $100 a few weeks ago?" It turns out she is not a member of our church but attended on that Sunday. She said she works funny hours and went to our church instead of going to her own Catholic Church because it was closer to her job. She is the one in charge of the donations at RC Mervyn's. Do you think God might have had that planned? We will have to wait and see.

One last "Yea God" before I let you go. I got a note from Debra this morning and she got the teaching job at the Art Institute of California. She goes in for training March 28th and teaches her first class on April 3rd. There was a saying on the bottom of one of our notes from the church bulletin that was from Joel Vestal. It said "I believe with all of my heart that God's people possess God's provisions to accomplish and fulfill God's purposes in the world." I say Amen to that! BACK TO THE TOP

A few months ago, my wife and I started helping with a new Veteran's Ministry called Reveille at the Fisher House™ at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. The military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times. In Palo Alto, most of the veterans are returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan and are patients in the Polytrauma unit. We have been one of many families delivering desserts to the Fisher House™ and the day room in the hospital. The purpose of Reveille Ministry is to offer support and thank the military heroes for their service that are at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto.

Two weeks ago, PCC gave $100 to 15 individuals and were told to take it and multiply it for God's Kingdom. After a lot of thought and prayer, we have a plan and want to invite you to participate. We want to invite the Fisher House™ residence, patients and a small group of volunteers to meet as a community for dinner. This Sunday (Easter Sunday), my wife and I, family and friends will kick this idea off and will be enjoying our Easter dinner at the Fisher House™.

A local caterer has volunteered to provide the dinners for 76 people at their cost and volunteers will provide the desserts. I estimate the total cost to provide 12 dinners to be approximately $8,000. I am asking you to help make this a idea an reality. If you would like to participate financially, please let me know and you may make a charitable donation to Peninsula Covenant Church, note Reveille Dinner on your check. I would like to monitor the funds we raise so I can announce at our Easter dinner if we are able to continue having dinners together. I am happy to come and pick your check.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful Easter and thank you for your consideration.

To date I have commitments for over $6,000, with the balance to come. I have collected some of it and the rest will be mailed from various foundations to PCC. BACK TO THE TOP

Since he speaks Spanish and I don’t, I asked someone on staff to help me interpret; as it turned out the Y staff person who helped me translate also goes to PCC, so he knew what this about! Ramon was completely surprised by my gift. I explained to him that I was picked out at a church service and told to find someone deserving. I also told him that the money wasn’t from me, but from God. I was only the messenger, the delivery man. This experience touched me deeply and was a gift for me, too. I felt privileged to be used by God. (An interesting side note: the person in this story who blessed the ice cream vendor is a retired chiropractor and has suffered a stroke. He’s been visiting a fellow chiropractor for adjustments and when he told him about the whole experience, it turned out to be a member of PCC!) BACK TO THE TOP

Now every time I would go to the grocery store down by Home Depot in San Carlos, I would see these men—the day laborers.I’d seen them before and had some fleeting feelings of compassion, but now I began to really look at them.I wondered… from where had they come; do they have families here; are they well, do they actually get enough work; what burdens do they carry?They look at each passing car in hopes of getting work.What must it be like as the cars pass one after the other and it becomes late in the day?

Pretty soon my children knew the men as day workers who want to work, and that they may or may not be here illegally.We really don’t know their stories. Even my children started seeing these men more as people.Occasionally we’d bring them a flat of bottled water and some energy bars. They were always gracious.

During the church service two weeks ago, when the opportunity for the “Big Give” was offered, my husband and I put our names in.I began to think of the day laborers.As the last name was about to be called I whispered to my husband that we were going to get it, and they called out my name.

During the week I prayed for confirmation about the project.In BSF, I was telling my girlfriend Donna about my desire to help the day laborers down by Home Depot and then shortly thereafter in the BSF lecture on Matthew 19, the lecturer spoke of the laborers waiting to be asked to work.She said that it reminded her of the guys who are down by Home Depot.“They aren’t lazy; they’re just waiting to be asked…” She likened it to people waiting to be told the gospel.She mentioned that these people have no powerful union to represent or protect them and people often take advantage of them. (It just so happens that I am being represented by a powerful nurses union, and about to go on strike for the causes that have affected my labor.) My friend Donna and I touched each other’s hands and teared up a bit.It was a divine appointment.Donna then asked me if she could help.

I thought about the men and what they might need.For me this translated into a Spanish Bible, some information on a church, and maybe some lunch.I contacted Pastor Luna from our Spanish church.He told me about his work among the day workers on 5th Avenue in RWC.He told me heartbreaking stories of the lack of shelter for the workers and their families and how some workers survive on a candy bar a day as they work to feed their families.We met and he was so gracious and willing to help.He made flyers about the Spanish church.He and his son-in-law, Crispin got Spanish bibles and put a tract in them.We also had Spanish flyers about “THE HUNT,” made. I went to Costco and ordered some lunches.

Last Saturday, March 15th, we went out to the Home Depot.The group consisted of a friend, Virginia, and her two children, other friends Donna and Joe, and their two children, Nick, Pastor Luna and his son-in-law, Crispin, and me.The moms and children stayed at the truck.The moms handed out the meals and the children helped with the cookies.The rest of us went out to the workers in groups of two and three.

We prayed as a group before setting out, all of us in a circle holding hands, some not even knowing each other.We prayed for the moving of the Holy Spirit in the laborers’ hearts, for the strongholds that opposed us to come down, and for safety.God moved us all in compassion for these men.

I had the privilege of going with Pastor Luna.I thought I would be at the truck handing out meals.God had other plans.Pastor Luna said, “Don’t worry, Victoria, I will be your Aaron.”It reminded of what my husband said, “You need an Aaron.” You see, I don’t speak Spanish.

We walked up to the men with bibles and flyers and Pastor Luna began to speak.At first the men looked down then they began to look at him. He spoke and spoke and then I gave them the bibles.They took them with a gracias.The next group consisted of about nine men.Pastor Luna began to speak.Two of them smiled at each other and politely walked away.About seven of them stayed.They listened and listened.I could understand about every 12th Spanish word—Jesus, your family, your work, “THE HUNT.” All of a sudden seven men formed a circle.They were praying, repeating after Pastor Luna.I bowed my head with them as they prayed asking Jesus into their hearts.We then sent them to get some food.Some came up to me asking for the Spanish bible, and they did not even want the other food.Several asked for the Spanish bible in order to give it to an amigo.There were probably more than 75 men there that Saturday.

As we all came back together at the truck, all were excited and moved by the experience and wondered what would be the next step. Pastor Luna said “These men are ready!”He added that the field was ripe unto harvest.We prayed together and were so blessed by the experience.Throughout the experience, I would here God whisper “You can do it or I will find someone else to bless.”Often I would hear, “Jesus helps the oppressed.” I was a little frightened in doing this and wavered a bit, given the heated politics surrounding the issue of aliens/illegal aliens, but God would always find a way to reaffirm, and I never heard God say, “Only help the poor if they have proper legal standing and a proper green card for the United States.”  BACK TO THE TOP

On Monday, after the “Give” and lots of middle of the night talks with God, I decided to have a raffle to increase the money.I had a couple of indirect contacts for sports tickets so I began to make my calls.I had two great Giants tickets donated, and two Warriors tickets donated by Joy Nelson (Coach Don Nelson’s wife).The wait time on confirmation of tickets was three days,I was anxious but at peace that God’s hand was so in this.In selling the tickets, the doors I thought would be open, were closed; God had other plans.It was such a disappointment to me, like someone burst my bubble.My sister and a close friend were there and prayed for me on the spot.I have learned when someone needs prayer, not to just say, “I’ll pray for you” but to actually open up in prayer with them right then and there.

I initially thought I would like to help children in Africa with the money but since we needed to bless someone in the community,I called my friend, Jennifer who works closely with the Lost Boys of Sudan who have be relocated to San Jose.She put me in contact with Deng Ajak Jongkuch.He was 6 when he was separated from his family due to Sudan’s civil war.He lived in a refugee camp for over 14 years.He has an amazing story, ask me and I’ll share it with you.Currently, he has several plans to help his people in Sudan, including the children and schooling for them.Just think, by helping this man, we are helping thousands in Africa.I was able to have the raffle tickets donated by a printer and he did them on incredibly short notice.I had one week left to sell the tickets.Today our ticket sales have ended and the raffle is tomorrow (Saturday, March 22).Our final count including the original $100 (I still haven’t opened the envelope) is $2000.00.Deng will be at 11 am Easter service at PCC.Two bible verses that have helped me along these two weeks are:Matthew 19:26.“Jesus said, with man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”and Philippians 4:6-7“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  BACK TO THE TOP

Gail is a part of PLUS Ministries and God put it on their hearts to want to get involved by using their own resources. God put it on Gail’s heart to give a $100 to Henry. Her thought was why not get a child involved and experience the Big Give! She had remembered a time when Henry prayed aloud for Pastor Jeff who was sick. Her reflection of that day put Henry on her heart to want to give him the money. In turn I asked Henry who he would give the 100 dollars to and his heart was touched by a person he met name Tanya. Tanya works for a shelter for women and children and often sits out in front of the Redwood City Safeway and the Trader Joes in San Carlos. Henry met Tanya last Christmas and was touched by her willingness to help others in need. Without hesitation God put it on his heart to want to give Tanya the 100 dollars to help out her organization or another organization like hers that helps women and children in need. He decided if he could not contact her, he would like to donate the money to the Shelter Network.

With anticipation and excitement we shared our good news with another friend and she immediately doubled the $100 to $200. Once home, Henry made flyers and a donation box and hit the corner of Walnut and St. Francis asking for donations in order to multiply the 100 dollars and see God’s work at its best. The money increased by $26 that day. The next day, Henry had a pack meeting with his Cub Scout Pack 65 and I put out the word. Again, God was at work as the money increased by $69.71.

It’s the day before Easter and we still have not been able to contact Tanya, however, Henry has decided to donate the money to the Shelter Network. The director of Shelter Network and the contact person whom I’ve spoken with, Aimee, has planned a day when Henry will turn over the donation to the shelter in Redwood City at 110 Locust Street on a Friday at 5:30pm. Anyone who has been a part of this journey with Henry or would like to be a part of witnessing what God has done in all of this, please come.