The October 29th truck delivery was followed with a very, successful Christmas mailing in God’s timing.  We strived for an early deadline of December 9^th, due to delayed postal deliveries along the Gulf Coast, but the initial response was weak.  As the days passed, however, more and more people called wanting to participate.  In the end, every family received something for Christmas...even three new families (including a little preemie baby). 

    Some decided to play Santa, including Chuck's mom who made eleven kinds of Christmas cookies and shipped quite a few tins.  Frank and Grace Prindle, who normally send their friends and customers handmade Christmas ornaments every year, decided this year to donate to the Families Helping Families effort, which enabled us to purchase needed items for ten families.  Some of the items included winter clothing, a small freezer, a sewing machine, building equipment, gift cards, and computers.  Our website helped a friend, in Kentucky, raise quite a bit of cash to distribute as well.

    Many of the families have written repeatedly to thank us for our concern and continued assistance.  None of them asked for anything, and they don't strike us as the type that would. They are hard working, "making the best out of the situation" people, and we have felt honored to be in touch with them.    THANK YOU from us and from all of them.  You have and continue to encourage them in a time of great need.

    We have many stories to share with you about the response of these wonderful people to your continued kindness.  

    An older woman stopped our friend Ken (who gave us the initial list) in a store in Louisiana.  He didn't know her but she told him that she was the mother of family #8, and she wanted to thank him for putting her family on "the list."  She said everything she was wearing had been sent to her (in her size) by Families Helping Families (Kathie and Jerry Brown at ADI tech).  It is a great blessing for Ken and us to know that someone has been helped.  It's very encouraging!

    A student at Immanuel Christian School, Hannah, decided to hold an all-day lemonade stand and give the proceeds to charity.  She made $100!  Her mom called to say that Hannah would like Families Helping Families to use the money, so she was given the address of family #24, and they sent it directly to them.  On Christmas Day, Hannah's family got a phone call from the family expressing their thanks.  Fara also received a phone call from Joy saying how great it was to know we care up here!  In this scenario, the blessing goes both ways.

    After the folks from Kentucky delivered the money they had raised, it was distributed to those we felt needed it most.  Family #4 had not been adopted so they received an envelope with $500.  Several days later, Tony, of Family #4, approached Ken to say thank you for the money.  Tony said his family had noticed an elderly couple down the street was living in a boat that had been washed ashore.  Then someone had found an old trailer for them, but he knew they really needed help, so he and his family decided to give the money to the old couple.  Tony further explained to Ken that when he gave the envelope to the man and he opened it, he thanked Tony vigorously saying that he knew of a family down the street that desperately needed it!  These people are a testimony to a selfless, courageous, compassionate and thankful life.

    Just before Christmas Pam Lindgren contacted Stephanie of family #26. Ken and his wife met her in a restaurant near his office and could see she needed help. Stephanie is a single mom who had been a restaurant manager before the storms and was now lucky to find a waitress job.  She and her two son's, Jacob and Joshua, were sleeping on a mattress they had found and were eager to put distance between them and what they were sleeping on and were also cold.  Pam was able to get a specific list of needs and then ship some basics (with donated funds).  They soon received space heaters, kitchen basics, and gift cards.  Amy and her family in Mississippi (cousins to the Cepaks) saw the list and bought plenty of bedding, three temporary mattresses, and much more for this family.  The next day Stephanie called Pam saying that her sister-in-law has just given birth prematurely (the stress) and was going to need prayer, preemie clothes, a bassinet, and basics for the new baby that had come before they were prepared.  Amy again came to the rescue, and being a nurse practitioner, she was also able to offer herself as a source of advice for the parents.

    Fara contacted another family just before Christmas and felt helpless knowing that we had just finished mailing everything we had received and distributed the cash.  That day Toni Gregory's office called to say that instead of exchanging gifts they wanted to give to a family on our list...we gave them family #28 (A family of four living in a garage two hours from where they lived all their lives).  The office manager shipped needed items to this family the same day, and the feedback was huge.  Their two little girls (Madison and Rebecca) were ecstatic to have some basic things again.

    We have many more amazing stories of God's provision for these people.  We even have a family that found our website and adopted a family from Italy.  They have spent hours on the phone with each other and may meet during a trip to the area this summer!  Please pray for guidance for the future of this project.  We were unsure after the Christmas mailings what to do, but then the MOPS group of Immanuel Bible Church called with a donation of 60 brand new toys they wanted to pass along.  Fara packed and shipped them and then thought, "I guess we're not finished yet!" 

    You have all been great.  We thank all of you who have adopted families and/or contributed to the effort and hope that it blesses you to really KNOW that you've made difference.  Assistance is still needed and we will continue our relief efforts as the Lord leads in 2006.

With much love,

The Cepaks and the Lindgrens