Ben Israel Fellowship

The Heart of my Mom

It’s been a long time since I have had the opportunity to sit and write an update…to long perhaps? But it some ways, I intentionally and specifically waited until today as this is October 10th…seven years since the Lord called my Mother to His side as she finished her race on this earth after a five year battle against breast cancer.

So why did I want to wait until today? It wasn’t completely intentional, but the longer it took me to get this written, more was taking place here, and it seemed that much of what I had to share would have blessed the heart of my Mom. To see what is being done here now, would have brought her much peace and happiness! So, unintentionally intentional?

I have mentioned in past updates, the extensive amount of work needed on the main property and down at the lodge. It’s been a huge task and the list continued to grow…the barn needed painting, a new roof needed to be put on part of the shop, both sides of the main farmhouse had damage due to snow build up and ice melting…and the lodge? So much to be done!

Since moving here five years ago, we knew that in His time and according to His will, He would reveal to us what the plans were for the property and ongoing ministry. While waiting, we (primarily Keith) have been tackling one project at a time. We had some help from different ones coming over the years (so grateful!!) to assist on projects, but most of it still falls to Keith to take care of.

At our last Board Meeting in July, I thought it was time to establish what we saw as a vision for the current ministry on the farm. We felt as a Board that the property was a place for healing, restoration, strength and faith..as those who had come over the past years had experienced this in one way or another. But we also knew that the heart of my Dad for the property needed to be a part of the vison as well.

The Board talked at great length about the lodge. We knew action had to be taken soon or we risked that the lodge could potentially become so deteriorated, it could no longer be used.

Added to all this, we also talked about the impending arrival of a new family moving here in a few weeks, for an unknown amount of time…the impact of their coming we did not know until after they arrived. But I’ll share that piece in a moment!

But our primary focus was the lodge and our current options…one being to sell it or another, to give it away to another ministry who would fix it and use it. The lodge holds much sentimental value to me as this is where Dad thrived in his last days…holding teaching sessions for believers who came from all over, while my Mom did what she loved most…cooking and feeding those that came. I am emotionally attached to it!

Where did we go from there? At the end our our conversation, we made the decision to get four bids on what it would cost to repair the lodge and make a “to do” list of what needed to be done at the lodge. We also all agreed that IF and WHEN we got the lodge up and running, we would need a couple to oversee it and run it.

We tasked ourselves with writing a Vision Statement and I was to share my understanding of what Dad felt the Lord told him when he stepped onto the property over 40 years ago. I truly intended to get THIS update done sooner versus later to see who still had a heart for the lodge and future ministry happening again there.

Big goals set for our current Board to accomplish! Keith and myself serve with Rick and Billie Jean Weinert and Jessica Gunning…three voting, two non voting members…and hopefully soon a new member to join us! He has much to offer and will be a great addition if he is voted in. All of our Board Members are wonderful we are blessed by the support and encouragement they bring.

And as usual, things never go according to what we plan…but God had a plan! Our own good intentions to get things accomplished were put on the back burner in late August as our lives were about to change drastically! We were heading to Missouri.

Keith’s 102 year old (she turned 103 yesterday!) Grandmother now lives with us, as the care she was receiving in a nursing home had come to the point where we felt it was no longer a safe option for her to stay there.

Caring for her is now a priority for us. I resigned my former position and have been blessed with a new job that allows me to work from primarily from home, around her schedule and Keith’s. BIG changes in our home!

Which leads me to share about the other big change here…our new family! David, Jolynn and their son Walter, who arrived in early August. Jolynn is Rick and Billie Jean’s daughter. We had little to offer them but the old trailer that used to be the home of Mama Pearl. It wasn’t much, but it was a place they could make into a home.

We knew that we were to offer them a place to stay for as long as they chose to stay. We were told that David was very handy and would be able to help, but we did not want to place any expectations on him.

And what a blessing we received. David and Jolynn have been such a help. David has become Keith’s right hand and taken on many of the repairs and projects that needed to get done. We needed them as much as they needed us/this place, according to both David and Jolynn!

More has been done in the last six weeks than what I thought was possible to accomplish! The damage to the farmhouse from the snow and ice is nearly completed, the barn painting has been started, the roof on the shop is now replaced, the garage is neat as a pin and clean up is being planned and started at the lodge. It’s all beyond amazing!

David sent me pictures today that I am going to share with you, but his comment was…”what a wonderful place to make a kind of heaven on earth, thank you for letting us be a part of this vision.” God had a plan. We offered a home (that they have beautifully fixed and made their own!) and in return, they have invested fully of themselves, to bring life back to the property…something we could not do on our own.

Chaos is being brought to order. Our personal lives are busier than ever, BUT as the work is being done here…I can just see how my Mom’s heart would be overflowing with joy as THIS is what she wanted…to see the property be maintained and welcoming, to let those that come here find peace and rest, to offer hope and healing to any who may have felt lost and in need of a chance to catch their breath.

According to His plan…His purpose…His timing…we will continue on this path and believe for Him to to reveal to us His heart for the ministry here. It won’t be what it was before, but we are encouraged at what is taking place.

Nothing has been finalized yet with the lodge, but if we move forward, would you you pray with us and see what your part might be? Winter will be here before any of us know it, but could it be that God has a plan for YOU to be part of whatever the next chapter could be here at Ben Israel?

We will be sharing more in the months to come, including what we see as the current vision and ministry here. We, as a Board, will be revisiting on all of this and share with you any plans as they unfold!

Until then, keep us in your prayers! All of us living here appreciate each of you who have provided support in prayer, words of encouragement, time spent here to help, and financially. We are truly blessed and thankful…

In His grace,

Sissie

The tree swing is back! Thank you David for returning the nostalgic memory to its place…

Autumn beauty on the drive to the lodge.

The barn in much need of getting painted!

Winter and snow are hard on an old farm house…

I think Sarah might want her window back!

So THANKFUL for all that has been done…more to come! Thank you for walking on this journey with us.

Psalm 17:7-8

Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

13 Years

“So he rose and did according to the word of the Lord.”

6/28/20-13 years ago…almost at this very moment. Just like that, dad was here and then he was gone. Dad would have turned 91 this year.

How do I even begin to put to words the depth of my dad? Those that knew him, knew him well.

I’ll never forget this day…ever.

I very vividly recall his final moments on this earth. He had slipped into a coma a few days prior. I had been vigilantly at his bedside along with many others. We knew his time was drawing near.

My mother was busy attending to everyone that had come to be with dad. We had moved his hospital bed to the den which gave us more space to care for him, and more room for those gathering to be present.

I knew that he was transitioning to leave his physical body. His hands has started to grow cold. From my nursing experience, it was clear his body was shutting down.

Uncle Shelly and Aunt June Volk were on their way, but would sadly did not make it in time. Arthur Beebe, Mary Baker Stranathan Beebe, Janie McDonald, John McDonald, the Caron’s, Uncle Paul and Aunt Adrienne Volk…So many precious and dear ones had gathered.

Diana Herrera was sitting at his bedside, prayer warrior…friend…heart of love for Dad, like so many others. I saw dad raised his hands to heaven, as if he were worshipping. I looked up at Dina and saw her eyes and she shook her head no at me.

I screamed for my mother to come as I jumped from where I had been sitting. Within moments he was gone. He had breathed his last…just like that, his struggling was over. He was at rest. He was home.

No more fighting for air to breathe. No more of the 17 different medications he had been on to keep his body functioning. No more suffering. Just gone.

We all gathered around him. I laid on the bed by him and wept like I had never wept before. My papa, my dad, my guardian who wept for me when I faced a health battle.

Dad and I had sat down 10 days prior to this as I knew it was time to have that conversation on his final wishes. Not a task I relished, but one I knew that had to be done.

His words to me were that the Lord would either raise him up and heal him, or take him home. Either way, he would be restored.

So 13 years later…Those words still run through my head. He is restored. Though I wish he were here every day, I would want the same thing for him.

I miss you Papa. I love you now, forever and always.

In loving memory…💕

Knowing God as He is

This has been a challenging month for so many on multiple levels. Drastic changes. Unprecedented changes.

Doubt. Fear. Loneliness. Depression. Anxiety…all things that are prevalent in a society and culture that is without hope in our Father.

But we have something we can offer. We have hope. We have faith. We have His life in us. We have each other. Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to be still, to hear, to know…

What is it that He would want to say to us? What is it that He is wanting us to do?

On This Day – What Would 91 Years Have Looked Like?

Today…what a day today should have been…a day to celebrate the birth of this amazing man. My Papa. My Dad. My friend. My supporter. My encourager. My praying Father. Husband. Papa. Father-In-Law. Grandpa. Friend.

He would have been 91 today. This June it will be 13 years since he was called home.

The ground is frozen and covered in feet of snow. There is no physical way to get to his his final resting place to leave anything in remembrance of this special day.

But I will always remember him in my heart. This year as much as the first year. Maybe even more so.

27 years ago, Keith and I married on my Dad’s birthday. What a joy is was to stop at our wedding and celebrate with him, his birthday.

20 years ago on nearly this same date, we found out I had breast cancer. Seven years after that, we found out he was sick with a terminal diagnosis. 13 years ago, he left this earth. Little did we know then, that those years would hold SUCH significance.

Now it’s the early morning hours on a bitter cold winter day (-45 with the windchill factor!) and my thoughts go fondly to him with love, my heart still aching with sadness over his loss.

There is so much about him that I wish all of you could have known. There is a book in there somewhere, just waiting to be written.

You that knew him, knew him as a teacher, evangelist, prophet, church lead, author.

I knew him as Dad. My Dad who took care of me, who cared for me, who wept with me when my heart was devastated by the breakup of my first relationship, the proud Papa who rejoiced with me at the marriage to the man who he felt was my perfect match, the heart broken Father who silently wept in the presence of friends when he found out I had cancer, the Pappy who cherished his grandchildren (and especially rejoiced with us at the birth of our only child Sarah), the man who treasured life, who wanted to keep on living but was willing to go in obedience to the will of His maker.

This is the man I wish you all could have known and the one whom I will honor and love.

This is the Daddy who I will celebrate, remember and honor on every February 13th. This is my Papa.

Happy birthday in heaven Daddy!💗