The LON Family EXTREME Home Makeover - One
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We can’t change the world!

The needs are SO great and our resources are so limited that we can’t personally eliminate hunger, AIDS, properly take care of all the destitute widows, or every forgotten orphan. In fact many of us are having a hard time figuring out how to care for our own families right now. Besides we can’t change the world anyway! 

2008 on January 19th 90 people showed up at Judy’s home and together we did an EXTREME home makeover for her and her three kids. She had recently lost her husband to a massive heart attack and was feeling forgotten and helpless. We breathed life into her that day. Through a real God-story Channel 4 News showed up and we ended up on the 6 o clock news. I think God wanted this story told because Jesus told us that the lost world will know He is who He said He was by the way WE love each other. We loved that day! Plus it was just fun! And even though we didn’t change the world that day – we sure changed Judy’s world! 

God clearly has it in mind for this to be an annual event because He has made it clear we are to do it again! January 17th we are doing another EXTREME home makeover this time for the Lon Family. This family’s world came crashing down when they learned that their middle child – Christian – had a fatal disease called Hunter’s Syndrome. In layman’s terms his body is missing an essential enzyme that is supposed to breakdown a complex body sugar. Slowly the sugar builds up in his little body and will eventually cause him to be unable to talk, walk, or even hear. There are only about 2000 cases known world-wide and the normal life expectancy is somewhere between 10-14 years. However, Christian was accepted into a new FDA-approved program and he is responding well to the treatments. It won’t reverse the damage but it has already begun having positive results.    

The demands and strains on this family are unbelievable! In order to navigate Christian up to his bedroom or out to the car for a trip to his treatments, they are literally having to drag him up and down flights of stairs on his behind. Greg and Bernie have visited this family a couple of times and have created a plan to remodel a bedroom, move a bathroom, and create a new laundry room on the first floor of their home. It costs more than we have, will require a level of planning and ommitment that we’ve never done before, while we are in a really bad economy. Even if it somehow gets done it WON’T change the orld! But it will DEFINITELY change the Lon Families future. They will know that they aren’t alone in dealing with an mpossible situation every day of the rest of their lives. They will know that Jesus knows about their circumstance and that He cares. By serving we will be served. So, because and only because, we are thoroughly convinced we are joining a ‘God-activity’ we are going to take a step of faith and we are going for it! 

So here is the ‘ask’ – are you willing to join Bernie Thompson, Greg Lueck, and me in doing an EXTREME Home makeover for this family? It is a crazy ‘bigger than us’ God-adventure. At the end of your life when you are reflecting on the things that made it all worth it – I can guarantee you that whatever investment you make in this project will be part of that legacy. Jesus tells us that pure religion is helping the widow and orphans. In other words helping those who can’t help themselves and who won’t survive if someone doesn’t care. All I can say is, “Give me some of that!!” Who will join me? 

Here are the specific things needed         a) A demolition team for Saturday      b) Skilled crews willing to sign up starting Monday and going through Friday – we have identified the various skill sets needed     c) support teams during the week – meals and site clean up     d) Building materials – we have a list in the lobby       e)  Money donations – NOT tithe and NOT local church ministries giving!    f) prayer support – we are fasting this Wednesday as we plan to take this faith step!         

In HIM,
Paul

Project:            Lon Family EXTREME Home Makeover 

Where:             1 Doxdam Ct – Germantown, MD 20876-4172 

When:              Starting Jan 17th at 7am and ending Jan 24th at 4:00pm 

Contact No:    Bernie Thompson         301 639-5943 (project manager)

                         Greg Lueck                   240 446-6911 (project manager)

                         Paul Foss                     240 485-2650 (communication & donations) 

Needed Materials: (Please contact either Bernie Thompson or Greg Lueck

2x4’s                            Vanity
2x6’s                            Tile for tub area
Plywood                        Lights
Insulation                      Outside door
Drywall                          Inside doors
Paint                             Cement
Electrical                      Linoleum
Counter Top                 Carpet
Microwave                    Commercial washers & dryers (stackable)
Refrigerator                  Handicap Tub
Cabinets                       Toilet 

Work Crews: (Please contact Paul Foss)