I know so many of you enjoyed the pictures of Abby Steer on the last post. Shortly after I wrote that post, Abby went into the hospital with a high fever and virus. She had a seizure, and since has had a couple more. She is experiencing paralysis on her left side. They have been released from the hospital in Springfield, and will come to Memphis mid-week. PLEASE pray for Abby's symptoms to reduce, and for peace of mind for Rachel and Michael. Abby's sweet big brother is Andrew, and we would love if you would pray for understanding and peace for him too! You can follow Abby's story at www.caringbridge.com/visit/abigailgracesteer

I wanted to share a special blessing with you, although this took place about 10 days ago. About 18 months ago, we were connected to Michael and Rachel Steer - whose daughter Abby Grace had been diagnosed as terminal upon birth. It was found that she had a massive tumor taking up nearly half her brain, and the doctors in their home area thought it would be best for her to go home on hospice. Once home, Michael and Rachel quickly organized a dedication for her at their church, and even had a party at their house for Abby afterwards. Rachel tells of taking a moment alone with Abby that day, literally lifting her up high in her arms to the Lord and asking for his mercy over her sweet child. Shortly, Michael had done extensive internet research and found that St Jude was willing to take Abby (go St Jude!). 18 months later, Abby is cancer free, and here are a few pictures from her visit to our house. It was wonderful to spend some time with our precious friends.  We are so incredibly thankful to see her beautiful face...she is a miracle. All Glory to God in the highest!

Happy Birthday sweet Maddie. Miss you each day, and ever thankful that we enjoyed your presence in our lives.

Please remember to keepCaleb, Mark, Maria, Mark Jr and Victoria in your prayers. They are relying on God's mercy and grace.

Andy Gross – signing off on my first ever blog post. I look forward to sharing with you again…

Faith (brook's sister) and Bella

Ginny and I, getting food ready

Andy and Ginny carving up the bigger bird

The precious Morgan family, and sam of course - who is always in the middle of everything. The Morgans' daughter Shannia had passed just 3 days before Thanksgiving. They are currently in our housing.

The little kids table - Westin and Emma Dietz, my kids, and the Ottinger kids.

Hailey and Ali, with their Mimi

Julie and Mark dishing it up

We thank you for your prayers and promise to post some new pictures soon.

Blessings,

Mylissa

Sam, Zach Nason, and Izaiah

Mark and I are visiting our sweet friends, the Nasons, down in Mathiston, MS. We became close friends while their son was in treatment in Memphis, and we've continued that relationship after Brent's passing. We are so thankful for that! Today we will visit the Shawas and the Oswalts, and head home tonight. We'd also appreciate your prayers for Andy and Ginny, as they move into their new home this week!

Blessings,

Mylissa

Shannia Morgan is a precious girl that has been in Memphis for treatment for nearly 3 years.  We had met them and helped a few times in the past, but recently mom Michelle called to say that Shannia's condition had worsened and she would need to stay in Memphis for an additional year. Shannia and her family are from St Vincent, and have been apart most of this time. The Lord provided the funds for HFH to fly dad and brothers to the states, and we began to work on the details. While in the midst of planning this, Shannia took a turn for the worse. She is now in ICU and doing poorly - and by the grace of God and lots of phone calls, we were able to bump up her family's tickets and get them in tonight. Mark dropped them off a little bit ago, and tonight Shannia is once again with her family. Please pray for healing for Shannia, rest and peace for their whole family.

Friday November 14!!

We are so excited.

Fall Fellowship 2008

Prettiest time of year

Mark's newest creation for our upstairs house guests

Happy All Saints' Day!

First of all, let me say that shortly after we returned home, our sweet Amish family from downstairs took their son Ervin home to Illinois.  Ervin passed into eternal glory on Wednesday, October 15th. Mark and Andy were so glad to be able to travel to the services the following Sunday.  We dearly love the Chupps and hope to take the kids to IL to see them sometime soon.

Another family in our housing, the Copelands, lost their little boy Quinn the same week.  And we learned that two more of our precious families' children relapsed.

A dear friend and colleague once said that experiencing loss regularly is like "ripping off a scab - again and again".  I can say that this past few weeks has certainly felt so.

This Saturday, we will have our annual Fall Fellowship.  This is always lots of fun for all of us - those we minister to and our volunteers as well. HUGE thanks to Cyndi Rushing for handling all the food this year!

And I have been working diligently alongside Chris from 1Perspective to get our new site live. We are close...stay tuned!

In His grace,

Mylissa 

The theme for Catalyst 2008 was "together". The idea was to celebrate pushing toward unity in the body of Christ, and to help the church think about the possibilties of relieving suffering all over the world when we act united.

So Mark and I visited the Atlanta IKEA today. Nothing shocking there; we usually make a trip when we are near one. After a while, Mark remarked, "You know, IKEA has done a phenomenal job creating product that is desired across racial lines, cultural lines, and even the old people like it!" As we looked around the store for the remainder of our visit, we realized we were sorrounded with african americans, indians, singles, married people, musilms, middle eastern people, people advanced in age, asians...and the list goes on.  We began to ask questions of each other. I suggested that it could possibly be because the product line is not typically American.  Mark suggested that price was a factor. I thought that maybe its a correlation, since many IKEAs are located in major cities (where the population is more diverse).  But then I realized, most of the people in my life appreciate goods from IKEA, whether they are located anywhere near one or not.

As I was thinking about this, I realized a few things. You know, IKEA's designers and manufacturers are paid well, and employed mainly in first-world countries. The quality remains high and the cost remains low. They also create their product with environmentally sustainable methods. Green is the name of the game for IKEA. They have recycling bins in the store for everything from eyeglasses to cell phones...

And 4 months ago, they began offering an immediate 3% credit back to all customers that use a debit card. They are essentially rewarding us for paying cash.

I have no idea whether any of the managing partners of IKEA are believers. But it occurs to me that they have somehow managed to reward our thoughtful financial choices, profit humananity (low cost, recycling programs, living wages), the earth (green practice) and bring us TOGETHER. Interesting.   

Tony Morgan, of NewSpring Church, is sort of twitter-blogging all of the sessions here at Catalyst. Just in case you are interested...

http://tonymorganlive.com/

And a quick self portrait from a pizza place after Labs...

I know some of you may have questions about Catalyst, and the very interesting mix of speakers they bring to the stage. More on this soon, but I want you know that for many of us that attend Catalyst, we recognize that the team is striving to give us a picture of the climate in the church culture today. For many, its an oppurtunity to rethink our programming, or to re-up our message to be sure we are doing battle for hearts and minds in the appropriate arena. As Mark and I, God is speaking us, and we are renewing our passion and bringing home great concepts to help launch Habitat for Hope into the next stage of its development. We are seriously considering bringing a team of key players here next year for renewal and learning.

At the moment, Mark is at a session and I am laying down at the hotel - I seem to have picked up one of the many bugs that are going around Memphis right now. I hope to be back in action for Dave Ramsey's session in a couple hours.

Dean, Alicia, Mia and Zach Norwood. The Norwood's son Bryce passed into the Lord's hands last February, after battling cancer. Dean and Alicia  invited Mark down to a fundraiser they were having for St Jude families two weeks ago. He so enjoyed his time with them. 

I delight greatly in the LORD;
       my soul rejoices in my God.
       For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
       and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
       as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
       and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
       and a garden causes seeds to grow,
       so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness 
       and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:10-11 (from this week's 'bible in one year' readings) 

Please forgive me for not updating more recently! Mark and I have been busily attending to all the projects, relationships, and meetings that we left hanging while we were in New York. I have been working to get the new website up and running – it should be live within the next two weeks. More importantly, we have been enjoying the Chupps immensely – the new Amish family that have been staying with us at the HFH House. There are 8 of them here. The children are so well mannered, obedient, loving to each other, selfless…all the qualities I’d love to see more of in my own kids. Also, the boys are fantastic with the horses, and they have been whipping mine into shape. They have also encouraged Bella to be a bit more of an aggressive horse-woman, and Izaiah’s been right in the mix riding the pony as well. Its been a great season, even though we drive them to the hospital and pick them up every day (affectionately named the ‘Amish Express’). 

Andy and Ginny left Monday for the Triennial Conference for New Mission Systems International. This is a conference/retreat of all NMSI missionaries from all over the world, and it happens every 3 years. The first week is in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the second week is in Greece at a Spa hotel. Of course, Mark and I should be there, but it simply wasn’t in the budget this time around. We hope we can have the people in place as well as the funding to attend three years from now! Instead, Mark and I will head to Atlanta next week for a few days to attend Catalyst Conference 2008. Mark, Andy and I attended Catalyst together in 2006, and really enjoyed the worship and the sessions. Its produced by INJOY and lead by a neat team of guys that are affiliated with Northpoint Community Church in ATL. I am especially looking forward to the worship…its always amazing to worship together in that setting (around 10,000 attendees). 

Tomorrow, we will have dinner with the Welsh family – they are new to Memphis and have come off the mission field in Ecuador to seek treatment for their daughter’s brain tumor. More on that very soon.  

     I want to thank each and every one for coming today and joining us in this celebration service for my Dad.  I'm sure each one of you has a story about my dad and I wish we could sit here for a few hours to hear those stories.  As most of you know, my dad was a story teller.  He always had a story to tell... something about the Navy days or something about the bachelor pad days or something about growing up with a bunch of cousins on the lake.   Rick, Jerry, Maynard, Craig...I'm sure each of you has some dirt on my dad that we would all love to hear.  I remember stories my Dad told me about driving from CA to NY straight in just a couple of days.  I remember my Dad telling us about all the times he hitchhiked back from Connecticut to see a girl named Margaret, who later became Ralph and then I knew as Mom.  My dad recently shared with me the only time he ever asked his parents for money was when he had a bad poker night in the navy and had to call home for money because he was broke.  This, I understand, was the last time he played poker in the Navy.   I remember hearing about the glory days of bachelorhood after the navy and the all night card games, the guys having their own meat cooler and being tough guys with corvettes and motorcycles.   I know there are 1000's of these stories and I hope that many of you will share these stories with us later today. 

            Today I would like for you hear a story about a good man, his name is Gary Horrocks.  I would like to share with a few things that you may or may not know. My father was one of the most caring, selfless and giving Gentlemen I have ever met.  Growing up as a kid, I never realized it, but we made do with little money.   As I began to have children of my own, I began to think back about what my father was like when I was a kid.  One of my greatest memories as a child growing up was our summers at the lake; something that my family and I were able to do with my dad just a few weeks ago.  My dad's vacation time revolved around summer.  He would set up his vacation so he would spend as much time as possible with his family at the cottage.  Most of you have been fortunate to have spent some time at the Conesus Lake Estate.  All 250 sqft of it!  But as many of you know that cottage is bigger than just its size, it's a living memory of times with Dad. During our summers growing up, when John and I were out of school, he would work 2 weeks, take 2 weeks off, work 2 weeks, then take 2 weeks off.  I'm sure many of us fathers here wish we were able to do that with our children.

            Looking back I see a man who gave of himself and his time relentlessly.  He spent over 20 years of his life living next to his mother in law Helen....Now that is a true test of patience!   From what I know about Helen, she was quite a whipper snapper and my dad and her sure had their moments.  I think he knew just how to push her buttons.  Later in Helen's life I remember my parents giving their all to take care of her in the last days of her life.  Round the clock care was given to keep her in the comforts of home until the end of her life.  During this time and shortly after I remember my parents giving their time and help to Walt and Peggy McLaughlin.  My dad and mom taking care of all their needs and once again walked Peggy and eventually Walter through their last days here with us.  As my Aunty Lillian's health declined and my grandparents mental health slowly declined I remember our visits becoming more frequent.   Once again they walked with another close relative and did all they could to support Aunt Lillian through the last days of her life.   Shortly after Aunt Lillian’s death my paternal grandparents’ health began to decline rapidly.   I remember between home healthcare and my parents weekly and sometime daily visits to do all he could to keep them in the comforts of their home and make sure all their needs were taken care of.  He gave his time, his resources and his love day after day.  He humbly had to take care of his own father in ways that he could have never dreamed of.  When he had no other choice, but to put them into assisted living, he was so faithful to go in and see them as much as possible until their time expired here on earth.   As many of you know my parents had a close bond with Uncle Harry and Aunt Mary and they used love to visit and spend time with them.   As if my dad did not have enough going on, his own parents’ best friends needed some help and assistance and my parents were the first ones at the door to help.  After Charlie's death it was very apparent that Edna would need weekly help getting to her doctors’ appointments, getting her groceries and helping out around the house.  This was something that my dad was very experienced in doing and had great compassion to do...he continued to do this up until last week.  Edna, not having any family of her own left, said in her own words just a few days ago that Gary was family to her and she loved him like he was her own son.  Did I mention that in the midst of being able to reach out and help those in need, he even dropped everything to come be with my family during all of my daughter’s surgeries and treatment after her cancer diagnosis?  And on top of all that he was active in the local food pantry and bringing groceries to those who could not get out to get them on their own.

     My father, Gary Horrocks, was man who put others before himself.  To me he was one of the greatest examples of loving others.  Jesus said in the book of Matthew, "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." This is exactly what my father did. Maybe he had a problem and just could not say "NO".  Maybe my mom and he didn't realize that people get paid good money to do what they have been doing for the past 15 years.  I'd like to think that is not the case. I'd like for all of you to remember that my dad gave it his all.  That if he saw someone that needed help, he would drop everything to help that person.  In the book of Proverbs is says that "a generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  My father did prosper.  His riches were not in fancy cars, big houses or expensive vacations, my father's riches were in his family, his friends and the relationship he had with those he cared for.  Proverbs 13:22 says that "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children".   My own children will reap from knowing what an incredible man and servant their grandfather was.

    I would like to close this morning by asking you to take a look at your own life.  How are you serving others? Are you putting others before yourself?  My dad changed the world around him by making it a better place and I hope and pray that we all can have that desire.  This afternoon I want to encourage you share some stories about my father… my mom, my brother and our family would love to hear about the imprint of Dad's life upon yours. Finally, in Proverbs 22:1 it says that "A good name is more desirable then great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold."  My dad had a good name and I pray that I could be as selfless and giving as he was.  I miss my Dad. I, like many of you, just wish that I could have one more day with my dad.

We learned early this morning that Mark's dad, Gary Horrocks, died suddenly around 5am. We truly believe he is now in the loving arms of Jesus. He was not sick, and in fact had played in a golf tournament the day before. Because of his past heart issues, we believe he had a heart attack. Please continue to pray for our family - especially Mark and his mom, Margaret Horrocks. Mark gets to NY by plane in about 2 hours, and the kids and I are following by car.

Hi all!
The past couple of weeks have been heavy with meetings regarding the expansion of the HFH property. Today, we can happily report that the Shelby County Commision and the Memphis City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the property and plans for long-term use. Praise God!

We have begun moving the blog to its new location on the new website. Bear with us while that exchange occurs.

Blessings!
Mark and Mylissa

Melissa and Evan Thomason; Quincy, Ben and Leighann Russell and the Horrocks kids sharing a meal on the deck

Quincy, Evan and Mr. Mark being silly

This week, our associate pastor from VCCFM, Steve Morriss and his wife, Susan came to see us. They were only here one day; our time was too short! It was so lovely to spend that time with them. We are truly kindred spirits in many ways.

I will admit life has been a little strange lately; Habitat for Hope has been blessed in so many ways, and yet we are sobered and quieted by the circumstances of many families we assist. Your prayers are evident; God is hearing them. Please continue to lift us up as we do the work of this ministry and Habitat for Hope up as it marches ahead in God’s design.

We love you,Mark and Mylissa

So many of you have prayed for Andy and Ginny as they moved through the stages of dating, engagement and now marriage. We are so thankful to have them as part of our lives, and part of the HFH team. Rather than a bunch of words from me, I thought you might like to share in their celebration of marriage by viewing their pictures here.


Many congratulations, sweet friends. We love you.

And a less heart-wrenching change for us this month, but equally interesting…Mark and I took the kids on a short three-day vacation last week, and during the night there was a nasty windstorm (Branson, MO). We woke to find this:

We are so thankful that Joe and Mary Abraham had allowed us to use this car for the past 18 months here in Memphis. It enabled us to lend out our 2000 Sienna Minivan, which has been used by many families over the past year and a half. Obviously, the insurance company totaled the Yukon, and Habitat for Hope will receive a check for slightly less than $2000. At the moment, we are driving the Sienna minivan again, and asking the Lord for clarity on how we will move forward with a vehicle. We have found that the loaner vehicle can be a great blessing to families we assist, and would like to continue to help in that way.
In the past month we have also contracted with Chris Chaffin of 1Perspective, Inc. to design and create our new website. We are so thankful to be working with her, and are excited to offer a new and improved Habitat for Hope website soon!
Blessings to you,
Mylissa

Our story starts tragically with two words – childhood cancer. A devastating diagnosis that no parent should ever have to hear. At best, there is a 30% chance Evan will survive 5 years, they say. We pray. Pray for wisdom, strength, courage, and miraculous healing. Emotions are raw, ranging from angry to scared to determined to helpless. We prepare for battle. We suit up for the fight of our lives – the fight to save our most precious treasure – our son. We scream, we cry, we ask “God, why? WHY?” “Where are you, God?”
We step foot through the doors of our hospital and our battle begins. This battle is long – the outcome unforeseen and the end nowhere in sight. We are desperate, we are heartsick, we are overwhelmed. We are seemingly all alone in a strange town with NOONE. Noone to turn to for advice. No one to cry with. Noone to confide in. Noone to help us sort through our feelings – to tell us that they understand, to point us in the right direction. Noone to pray with us, to hold our hand, to show us that we would be okay.
Enter the Horrocks family and Habitat for Hope. Within a day or two of arrival, I receive an e-mail from a Mark Horrocks – Habitat for Hope. He’s praying for us. He claims he can help. Enter Mylissa Horrocks – we had just spent our first night in the hospital. Evan had had a bad reaction to anesthesia and we wound up inpatient for a night. She meets us in the hallway and offers to bring us dinner - a homecooked meal – something we hadn’t had since leaving Birmingham a week earlier. Our relationship with Habitat for Hope begins.
Soon, we are invited out to the Habitat for Hope House. We meet up with other families enduring the same heartaches, the same experiences. We worship together, we pray together. Other volunteers enter our lives and we find ourselves blessed with support in all aspects. A place to go when we need to get away. Homecooked meals just when a break from the cafeteria is needed. A shoulder to lean on when the going gets tough. A group to belong to – a network of and who we soon could call family to provide us with the social, the emotional , and the spiritual aspects of dealing with a life-threatening illness. Moral support as we faced a tough test or a tough day. Someone to talk to when the lonelies set in. A friendly face in the hall. A listening ear when we just need to vent. Someone to pray with us when a situation is almost too much to bear. Someone to pray for us when we just can’t find the words ourselves. Someone to sit in on that dreaded conversation with the doctor when one just needs another set of ears to understand and decipher the medical jargon. Someone to praise God with when we receive good news, to cry with when the news is not so good. Spiritual guidance to help our family discover the grace and love that God provides for us and to understand and cope with how this journey fits into our spiritual life. These bonds are essential for any family undergoing such a difficult experience and has proven to be a God-given gift to our family.
Our family has spent countless afternoons at the Habitat for Hope House, sharing a meal and fellowship. Evan loves playing on the playgrounds, swinging on the swing, riding the four-wheelers and the horses. We always feel safe – we always feel welcome – we always feel at home. I can’t begin to tell you how many times Mylissa and Mark have dropped everything to talk, to ease my fears, to provide needed guidance, to be at the hospital to sit and just hold my hand. We have formed a close relationship – one of family. One that I truly could not have survived this experience without.
But the impact of Habitat for Hope doesn’t end with our family, of course. Friends came along with different needs then ours. These needs were met too. A need for housing for large families that need to be together during treatment. A rocking chair to rock their baby with a brain tumor. A car to drive when needed. Someone to babysit when a parent needs to run to the grocery store and the patient child is too sick to go. Somewhere to go on Easter, Christmas, Fourth of July when a family is separated and can’t be with their own families. A place to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, a special occasion when a family can’t be at their own home. And then there are needs that no parent wants to endure, but Habitat for Hope came through to help. Endless vigils as they watch their child slip away. Help with planning end of life celebrations, an ear and a shoulder for the families that grieve the loss of their child. Love and guidance, helping to cope.
And the story continues…Our son is now on a drug that only requires a quick trip to Memphis each week with an extended stay for scans every three months. Families have come and gone and new families are in need each day. Some of their needs may be the same – others may be different. We have come to consider the Horrocks and all of the Habitat for Hope volunteers part of our family. It is comforting to know that our family is prayed for through the Prayer Partners. It is comforting to know that, while in Memphis, not only will our medical needs be met through the hospital, but we have a group to turn to and belong to at all times.
So, where is God in our story? God is in our hearts, guiding us to make the right decisions for our son. God is in the doctors and the nurses that provide for my child’s medical needs every day and God is in Habitat for Hope as they work endlessly and tirelessly to provide the support that families of children with life-threatening illnesses need to find God in their story.

Thank you, Melissa, for a beautiful tribute to our efforts as we fulfill our calling. We love you!
More pictures of the event are at www.habitatforhope.org/hfhbenefit

The Perkins Family

Thanksgiving was truly a blast here at the HFH House…we had tons of fun enjoying great company, watching some football, and cooks lots of food. HUGE thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who made dishes and desserts for us to share – it was GREAT! For the past several months, many of our families have been in isolation…meaning that their children have a particular contagious virus that prevents them from interacting with other kids. So Sunday after thanksgiving, we celebrated ‘turkey day 2’ with one of our isolation families that we have grown to love dearly. It was the first time since summer than we have gotten together with the WHOLE Higgins clan, and we had fun making another bird and enjoying great fellowship.

Mark and I thank you for your continued love and care for us and for the families we assist. We pray that your holiday is one filled with joy and peace!

And then there was race day…Mark and I were so pleased to be a part of Team Shae for the St Jude Marathon once again this year, and huge thanks to all of you who donated to our family! Unfortunately, Mark and I were unable to run that morning as we woke up tired and worn out from the tail end of a stomach virus that had swept through our family. We did, however, still throw our post-race party for teams Shae, Evan, Christal, and Emma Grace. What a treat to share some time with new and old friends alike! Just like sweet Trish said, laughter and joy among friends really is the best medicine. Dawn Pierce was a HUGE help to us in getting dinner and snacks prepared…Dawn, you rock!!



Christal's mom Chris and Shae's mom Dawn



And just this weekend, we were blessed by the sweet owners of Once Upon a Time store in Bartlett in providing a princess party for HFH little girls and siblings. The kids had a blast, and we mommas decided we should all have a room just like this in our homes for impromptu princess parties! What fun.


Keely and Elli getting their nails done