Wow...so much has happened in such a short amount of time! I again want to say thank you to everyone who has responded to me with such love, kindness and extreme generosity!
Since I last updated you we were able to find temporary childcare for Kelley's girls. The next part of the plan was to help her find a new living arrangement, job situation and just a way for her to make everything work on her own. Joe and I advised her that she needed to quit the group home. It was just too hard on her and her girls to be away from them more than 40 hours during the week at her other full-time job and then leaving them Friday morning at 6:00 am and not seeing them again until Sunday evening at 9:30 pm, while she stayed at the group home. Not to mention finding someone to watch them during that entire time. I struggled with her leaving the group home because she was such a good influence on the girls, but I knew in my heart that it was the best thing for her. I prayed that even though she was leaving and wouldn't be bringing the girls to church, that I would still see them again. I am so happy to report that they were there this weekend! Their new leader had brought them and after getting to meet her, she promised to continue to bring them each week and was excited about coming herself. God is so good! I got her new contact information and after receiving a very generous donation, I will be purchasing socks, underwear, bras, toothbrushes and possible other hygienic products. I will be getting these items to the current girls living in the home and creating Welcome Bags for new girls. I have also received clothing items from family and friends. Some have been given to the current girls. I will be sizing clothing and then adding the appropriate sizes to the Welcome Bags for the new girls that arrive. If you have clothing and shoe donations, please continue to send them my way.
As far as Kelley and her girls, God truly intervened. A friend from Kelley's military days, lives here in Arizona. Their husbands were both deployed at the same time, leaving Kelley and her friend, Lupe together. Lupe has a daughter the same age as Kelley's oldest daughter, Kya. She helped Kelley watch the girls when they were stationed in Hawaii. She contacted Kelley this past Friday and told her of an apartment right across from her that was available. The apartment in located downtown, which will be closer to her current job and also closer to a couple potential job opportunities. Another great thing about this living situation is that Lupe offered to watch Kelley's daughters for her for only a $100 a week, which is amazing! Joe and I went on Friday to help her decide if this was a good idea. The apartment isn't in the greatest neighborhood, but she is surrounded by Lupe, her husband, daughter and other family of theirs. The rent is within her budget and she has someone who knows and loves her kids and that she trusts, which is invaluable. Kelley decided to take the apartment and we helped her this weekend by cleaning, painting and moving her out of her old place and into the new. Because of generous donations we were able to help her with her first month's rent, moving costs, painting supplies, a storage cabinet for her apartment, child care for the next few weeks and other miscellaneous expenses to help her get settled. I also want to take Kelley shopping for new professional clothes, so she can be ready for job interviews and hopefully a new job soon. Our goal of helping her get to a self-sustaining situation by October 1st is looking promising.
All that Kelley has needed was love, encouragement and support. God brought her into my life so that me, my family and friends could give that to her. She is giving all the glory to God and so am I! She was able to attend church this weekend with her girls and desires to be there every weekend and has even been inviting friends and neighbors to attend with her.
