Backpackmission

The last few months have been the most active time the ministry has ever experienced. There has been so much more need and so many families crying out to us for help but, the Lord has provided all their needs according to His riches. We serve an awesome, faithful God. In Isaiah 65: 24 the Lord says, “Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”

The Lord has always provided every month for the Backpack children. He has without fail made sure that all that we need has been supplied. This school year started with 356 children receiving Backpack food each week. As of this morning, the number has grown to over 700. More mines have closed in the area and many more layoffs. The economy seems to be even more devastated here in the mountains than elsewhere. The ones who were barely getting by before are no longer able to manage even that.

We have teachers and even churches calling us to say, “We heard you are feeding children in the other schools. We have some really hungry children at our school. Will you please feed them too?” Can you imagine the thoughts that come to my mind as I hear this question? If I say “yes”, then we must rush to find and deliver more food. If I say “no”, I see their hungry, hurting faces even as I try to sleep. Once you have looked into the face of a truly hungry child it is not something that is easily forgotten. I pray I never have to say no again.

We are so thankful that the Lord has given us this opportunity to help these precious children. Some of them have become such a part of my life that I consider them my family. I think of them as grandchildren of my heart. They are a special gift from God. One of my boys was homeless for months this year. As I told you in the last letter, he and his mother were living on the side of a lake in a pup tent. They bathed in the lake, cooked on a rusty grill and did the best they could to stay dry during all the steady rain we had last month. They watched out for snakes and bears and people that might harm them. But, we had a prayer team praying for them and God protected them and no harm came to them. We praise you Lord.

We tried three times to rent a place for them but before we could get there the places were already rented. Finally, two weeks ago they found a place and were able to move indoors. We had some very kind people make a donation so we could pay the first month’s rent and get the electricity turned on. When I asked her about the water she said there was a creek in front that she could use for water if they needed to. Thankfully she had an old deposit with the water company and they turned the water on.

We were so happy that they were finally out of the woods and indoors, until we visited them for the first time. When we arrived I thought we were in the wrong place. As John opened the door for us, the smell of a decaying old house hit me in the face. Everything they owned was piled in the front room. The kitchen had no appliances, no cabinets, holes in the floor and was just awful. One of the reasons we were there that day was to deliver a refrigerator and stove for them. The refrigerator was donated to us and apparently had been sitting unplugged for a long time. When we opened the door the odor nearly knocked us down.

We apologized and promised to find something better for her. She assured us that she could clean it and everything would be fine. I have known her for almost four years. They have lived in several different places in that time. No matter what the houses looked like, she always kept them clean. We left there so sad and troubled we could hardly sleep that night. To think that they were homeless and without the simplest conveniences for so long and now here they were in this terrible, nasty place. But, they both kept saying to me, “It is better than a tent.” I was not at all sure that it was better than a tent. I think I might have preferred a tent. At least in the woods they had fresh air.

The next day friends of ours were visiting the mountains to bring food and supplies. They wanted to take some lamps, dishes, silverware and other things to John and his mom. Remembering the day before, I tried to explain the condition of the house.

When John opened the door this time we were pleasantly surprised. Most of the things in the front room had been removed and arranged and it almost looked like a living room. She had been up all night cleaning and mopping and the “old house” smell was almost gone. When we went into the kitchen the refrigerator had been cleaned and had magnets all over the front and side. The stove was in place and dishes were arranged in make shift cabinets. She opened the refrigerator to show us that she had been able to remove the odor. She said, “Oh I have moved into a lot worse places than this. I know how to clean up dirty houses.” I would never have believed it if I had not been there to see it. It was remarkably better in just one night. She was trying to make this place a home.

These are the kind of people that just need a hand up. They are so thankful just to have a place to live. They continued to thank us over and over again for our help. She is a hard worker and is willing to do whatever she has to do to take care of her son.

John wanted me to see the room where he had his toys and books. He picked up a cord that went to an old game. It was wrapped from one end to the other with black tape. I asked why he had put tape all over the cord. He said because at their previous house the rats had chewed it into pieces. I thought about the holes in the floor at this house and I shuddered.

Sometimes at night as I lie in my bed in my clean secure home, I think about these mountain grandchildren God has given me and I pray a hedge of protection around them as they sleep in these dangerous situations and awaken to empty refrigerators and cupboards. It is surely motivation for me to get up one more day with determination to make sure that at least they are not without food and the knowledge that someone cares about them.

It is also very reassuring to know that God loves these children even more than I do. He is so great and good. He provides continually for their needs. On August 18th God blessed us in a very big way. MS. WYNONNA JUDD was on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and she chose Backpack Mission Ministries as her charity of choice. That night she won $50,000.00 to help feed the children!!!! We are so grateful for her kindness and generosity. She has been a friend of this ministry since we began and has given hundreds of backpacks and other gifts over the years. The children of Eastern Kentucky are very dear to her heart because she was raised there and remembers friends who lived in the same conditions that the Backpack children do. We thank God for Wynonna and her good kind heart and pray His blessings surround her and overtake her daily.

This gift is the reason we were able to add many more children to the program. When Wynonna was on Millionaire she made this statement, “We are feeding hundreds of children each week and we want to feed thousands.” I pray her words come true. I pray that in the very near future not one child will go to bed hungry.

It costs about $5.00 per week per child to give them 12 to 14 items in their backpack. That translates to $3,500 per week for 700 children and over $180,000.00 a year. When I break it into those figures I could become anxious but Phil 4: 6, 7 says, “Be anxious for nothing but in all things by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” So we pray and God has never failed to provide. This is HIS ministry. He sent us because He wants these children fed. He touches all of our hearts to take care of these little ones because they are so helpless.

Many of you have been taking care of the children with us from the very beginning. Some of you only recently found out about their needs. They need each of you. Even the smallest donations when combined together go a very long way. Thank you for your faithfulness to HIM and HIS ministry.

In Christ’s love,

Diane Durham