There has been so much work going on the last week and what's so great about it is, everyone is doing what they do best, and it's looking awesome.  We will start cleaning tomorrow and that will be a deep cleaning!  Sawdust is everywhere!  
People have been great to stop in or just ask what they can do to help out....There's plenty so we keep 'em busy!  Today it was vacuuming, staining, painting, while the crews worked on trim and sheet rock.  Ron's put in so many hours helping in so many ways, we would be lost without him.
This weekend we also got the window stickers that my dad made for the coffeehouse and they turned out beautifully. We're hoping to get a sign over the store front as well as two out on the highway.
Prayer concerns at this point are for staff training, learning the espresso machine and cash register and making a schedule that works for our staff and our budget.  

Moving In

We are moving in today! Woohoo. It feels wonderful to be able to begin moving our things into the building on Main Street today. It's been a long time coming and this marks the beginning of an entirely new phase in the opening of Origins. I am certain that we will find new things we haven't before noticed; some that are real benefits to us, and others that introduce challenges yet un-thought of. We have accomplished so much up to this point, and now we get to see it as it all starts coming together into the real thing. What an exciting point in the process!

First Merchandise

We were so excited to receive our first box of merchandise all the way from a township in South Africa!  Inside were gorgeous and unique works of bead art by a lady named Catherine.  Our contact that is promoting this artist's works are the Stanfields (family of the Ballards and Stanfields of Haviland), who are part of a YWAM ministry there. The link to their website is www.kevandton.com  They live and work within their community in educating those vulnerable to sex trafficking, ministering to AIDS victims, and in countless other ways to reach the poor with the message of hope in Jesus.  We know that Catherine is part of their ministry and are looking forward to sharing her story in the future.


We are honored to carry a line of this art in our coffeehouse and pray that it is a blessing to those who enter, those who purchase and mostly to Catherine and the Stanfields.

Heart of a Servant

This is a photo by Hannah Williams, one of those servants who is giving of her time and gifts to help us get a website up and running.

I just have to say how amazed I have been with the recent calls, emails and face-to-face conversations with people who have voiced a willingness to help us.  We have had a handful of people tell us they'd like to help in various capacities, many without wanting pay.  These are all answers to my prayers.  Seriously.  I have prayed that the LORD would bring others alongside us who would be willing to be part of this ministry, that they would understand the heart of the ministry.  I'm greatly encouraged.


I say that as I work away on the budget, trying to figure out all the unknowns so I can give the bank an idea of how we'll come out after sales and expenses......how do you make a budget not knowing how much you'll sell?  This is definitely not my area of expertise!  I'm trying not too worry...it's hard, though.


Some of you have asked how the girls are doing.  I've had them all at home since I gave birth to our firstborn, and I think that I'm so busy during the day, that I don't worry about them.  They are going through a lot of changes, and encountering testing (something I never did until high school level course work), homework after schoolwork, less time to play and create, some drama (in the 6th grade).  However, we have seen the LORD answer specific prayers for them, and what's cool is, they realize it.  So the answer is, they are doing okay.....we'll see how long we last at this phase.  We are a close family, enjoy being together and enjoy being at home.  God will show us, I'm confident.

A walk through the soon to be coffeehouse.

I decided tonight that Hannah doesn't have to have all the fun and I should do some posting, too. She truly nailed it on the head in her post about the crepe machine. God is continuing to prove his faithfulness and I am reminded through my fear (and sometimes unbelief), he is strong in our weakness. He continues to open doors as we try to faithfully walk through them. He is answering prayers and providing just as he says he will.

We met Oscar in the building last night and it was fun to talk with him about the changes we are going to make as far as the electrical and plumbing are concerned. I am really starting to visualize what our coffeehouse is going to look like and could almost smell the coffee and hear the music as we walked around the room. There is still so much to do before we are going to be ready to open, but I am convinced more and more each week that we are truly following God and I'm excited to see what he has in store for us as he continues to bless our steps in this ministry.

- Ryan

Equal Exchange...what a gem!

I just wanted to link a page that tells more about Equal Exchange, the company we're going with to supply our coffee and hot chocolates.  They have been super to work with and have sent samples quickly for us to try.  Here are some of the fast facts about the company.  Their Fair Trade track record is impressive!

http://www.equalexchange.coop/fast-facts

Monsieur Crepe

It isn't often that I've thought that God would do this, but I think He's laughing at us!  Saturday morning, as I made crepes for breakfast, Ryan and I talked about how serving crepes occasionally at the coffeehouse would be a real treat.  I was going to be heading to the thrift shop in Greensburg (the Care 'n Share) and thought to myself, I should start looking for a used crepe machine (like I'll ever really find one!)  


At the beginning of the week I was feeling a bit stretched....I was beginning to doubt how we were actually going to do this.  What was this going to cost us as a family with our time?  Will sales be enough to cover the finances of the business?  Would others catch onto this vision and come alongside us?  


The LORD again, let us know that He was with us.  He gave us a wonderful message at church through our pastor about living with abundant joy despite our circumstances.  It was a reminder to surrender our troubles to Him.  Later that evening at the Morfords, Kenny and Michelle blessed us with their confidence and excitement, but more than that, they offered to help us with accounting and bookkeeping.  I nearly cried!  This is an area I feel very inadequate.  The next day, Hannah W. emailed and basically volunteered her time 3 days a week to help with whatever we might need help with.  Unbelievable!  Later that day, DeAnn Garrett joyfully volunteered her creative skills to help us get our logo digital.  It literally felt like the LORD was smiling down on us.


However, yesterday took the cake.  Not only did I come home with  3 cafe tables (for a total of $13!), and miscellaneous kitchen items and fabric, I spotted a crepe maker, "Monsieur Crepe!"  I could almost hear Him laughing (I know I was!)  What are the odds that a  cute little crepe machine in a tiny shop in a little town in KS was there the morning I made crepes, thought about looking for one, and was still there the day I shopped?


Yes, laughing!