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Update: Hope for the Hearings
Resurrecting Hope Through Human Investment
This is David Hearing. David is the 11 year-old son of Paul & Heather
Hearing, and brother to his 9 year-old sister Kayla. David was born with
Microcephaly. Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the
circumference of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has
not developed properly or has stopped growing. It has impeded his
mental development, and hindered development of his core motor skills,
confining him to a wheel chair. He developed a seizure disorder as a
toddler, and can suffer over 100 seizures a day. His hair is literally
turning gray from the strain. His father Paul is a stay at home dad, while
his mother Heather works part time at Walmart. They receive some
benefits from Social Security, Medicaid, and food stamps, though their
food stamps were just reduced because Mrs. Hearing makes too much
money at her part-time job. Read more... you can help!
TM
David Hearing, Age 11
We just completed our 16th annual Mission Christmas Project It was an
amazing success! What a blessing it has been to us, and to hundreds of
homeless women and children! This year we raised money to help
homeless women who live with their children at the Atlanta Mission, shop
for their children for Christmas. We gave each mother the ability to give
her child a gift that she picks out and wraps. This year we gave to almost
300 women and children! We gave these mothers the gift of dignity by
enabling them to give to their children for Christmas. Though we have
altered the format of the project, our purpose is unwaivering... though it is
our mission to give dignity. our purpose is to demonstrate God's unfailing
love for them, and to resurrect Hope in their hearts that God made this
world for them too! ******DONATE / VOLUNTEER.******
Inc.
2011 Mission Christmas Project
Update: Loganville Woman Without Water For 3 Years!
It had been three years since Peggy Lackey had running water in her home.
That's three years without a shower, a flushable toilet, a way to wash clothes
or clean dishes. She depended on family to bring her jugs of water once or
twice a week. The shallow well on her property went dry three years ago, and
county water service is not currently available to her due to the prohibitive
cost of getting a meter installed, and running a water line. Her trailer has no
heating & air system, and she must endure stifling heat, sometimes 100
degrees or more. We recently repaired her well, and she was able to turn on her kitchen faucet after 3 long, dry years! This year we along with S&H Mechanical replaced her heating and air system. We partnered with CATG & Brigadier Roofing to replace her roof, front stairs and deck. We assist her with gas for her car so she can visit her doctor and drive herself to church.
That's three years without a shower, a flushable toilet, a way to wash clothes
or clean dishes. She depended on family to bring her jugs of water once or
twice a week. The shallow well on her property went dry three years ago, and
county water service is not currently available to her due to the prohibitive
cost of getting a meter installed, and running a water line. Her trailer has no
heating & air system, and she must endure stifling heat, sometimes 100
degrees or more. We recently repaired her well, and she was able to turn on her kitchen faucet after 3 long, dry years! This year we along with S&H Mechanical replaced her heating and air system. We partnered with CATG & Brigadier Roofing to replace her roof, front stairs and deck. We assist her with gas for her car so she can visit her doctor and drive herself to church.
I am so grateful to be a part of this project! We really do bring dignity to these mothers, and change lives in the doing.
A couple of years ago one of the women aproached my co-founder Gardner Biddle and said "you don't know what this
means to me; I sold my body last Christmas to get my child a bycycle!" Can you imagine that kind of desperation? There
is an innate need for a parent to give to their children; to give love, security, and a home. It is hard when you can't
supply two out of the three. But the kids adjust and love you anyway. When Christmas comes around, there is an
overwhelming desire to make their life as normal as possible. For them to experience Christmas like other kids do; a
desire so great that you'll do almost anything to give them that gift of "normal". Times are hard right now and I, like
most of you, am struggling to make it. My children are blessed to have a home, security, and the love of a mom and a
dad. I am truly blessed and grateful that I am able to provide that "normal" for them. So grateful that I want to help
others experience it. It's sad to me that the longer I do this the more I find that my "normal" isn't normal. - Dave
A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER:
There are still several crucial outstanding repairs estimated at approx. $7,500.00. Your donations have allowed us to make
a huge difference in her life! There is still more to do for her, and others like her. We can do it with your help!
About Us
Mission Christmas Project
Community Renewal Projects
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Project Partners
Media Coverage
Contact Us
Mission Christmas Project
Community Renewal Projects
Photo Gallery
Project Partners
Media Coverage
Contact Us
UPDATE: Due to the hard work of Res-Hope volunteer extroidinaire Patti F., the Hearings receieved a $9,000.00+ grant
from the Walton Foundation in Walton County, to buy a specially equipped van for David. They now have greater
mobility, and no longer have to lift 80lb David in and out of the car. We are continuing to work with them to totally equip
their home with mobility equipment and other devises to make theirs and David's life easier. Thank you donors and
volunteers!
•ue to health issues on my part (Dave), we did not have a major renovation project this year, and are a little late
putting together the Mission Christmas Project. For that, I humbly apologize. But we have made an impact this year
thanks to your help. Some of the behind the scenes activities were:
• We purchased vehicle fuel for several senior citizens who could not afford it.
• We purchased food for several senior citizens who could not afford it.
• We paid an emergency room bill for an elderly woman who fell and suffered for a week because she couldn't afford care.
• We assisted a woman and her children whose husband went to prison, leaving them to fend for themselves.
• We provided extermination services for a family caring fora severely disabled child - roaches would crawl on him at night.
• We made more repairs to Ms. Peggy's mobile home to improve her quality of life (see below.)
• We put a roof on Ms Mattie's home, rebuilt her crumbling bathroom, and installed a furnace to keep her grandbaby warm.
• We assisted a self-employed,single mom, stroke victim with her childs tuition expense.
• We sponsored an at-risk child's membership into a baseball league who otherwise would not have that available to him.
• We are assisting newly formed Life Pack ministries in their hands-on outreach to the homeless in Atlanta. (More Below)
• We purchased vehicle fuel for several senior citizens who could not afford it.
• We purchased food for several senior citizens who could not afford it.
• We paid an emergency room bill for an elderly woman who fell and suffered for a week because she couldn't afford care.
• We assisted a woman and her children whose husband went to prison, leaving them to fend for themselves.
• We provided extermination services for a family caring fora severely disabled child - roaches would crawl on him at night.
• We made more repairs to Ms. Peggy's mobile home to improve her quality of life (see below.)
• We put a roof on Ms Mattie's home, rebuilt her crumbling bathroom, and installed a furnace to keep her grandbaby warm.
• We assisted a self-employed,single mom, stroke victim with her childs tuition expense.
• We sponsored an at-risk child's membership into a baseball league who otherwise would not have that available to him.
• We are assisting newly formed Life Pack ministries in their hands-on outreach to the homeless in Atlanta. (More Below)
Resurrecting Hope joined our friends at Church at the Grove in
Loganville, GA, to pair local "at risk" children with police officers and
fire-fighters in Church at the Grove's annual "Shop With A Hero" project.
Church at the Grove purchases $100 Walmart card for each child, and
pairs them with a local police officer for a Christmas shopping trip at
Loganville Walmart. The shopping trip provides an opportunity for the
children to interact with officers and fire-fighters in a non-threatening
environment, and promotes awareness among the officers and
fire-fighters. Over 100 children got to hang out with a hero this year!
Please donate and join us next year at Loganville Walmart... guaranteed
to be the safest place in town on that day!
2011 Update
Update: "Shop With A Hero"
The event was held at Brown Memorial Baptist Church located directly beside Atlanta Mission's My Sisters House. Adr:
963 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318 - We wish to express our gratitude for their assistance!
Happy Future Hero
• asked my kids "What is Christmas about?" I heard the standard answer come from their lips: To celebrate Jesus'
birthday. And how do we do that? We get together with family and friends and exchange gifts. What else? We go to a
special church service. Why? To hear music and sing Christmas songs, and hear about the Christmas story. They tell us
what the church did this year, and pump us up for next year. What's your favorite thing about Christmas? We get to open
presents on Christmas morning! Yeah, that is alot of fun isnt it? Oh yeah!
• am not a preacher, I haven't read all of the Bible, and I try not to tell people how to conduct their personal relationship with God - I cant stand it when people do that to me. So this is not telling anyone to do anything except consider this: I believe that Christmas is an opportunity to emulate and honor our Creator. It is a reminder of His greatest gift to humanity, and his his greatest sacrifice - his son Jesus. While I love the all of the window dressings of the season - spending time with my family and friends, exchanging gifts, shopping for my kids, eating a big meal, sitting in an amazing church service and being uplifted by the music and the sermon... I cant seem to equate that to emulating or honoring God. Again, I believe that we best honeor and praise God is when we try to be like him. I believe that I need to give sacrificially as he did, as Jesus did, if I truly want to celebrate his gift. So a question: Are you willing to sacrifice your personal time and effort and gift it to someone who you may not know, or someone in need? Is there a cut-off time at Christmas after which that holiday time is strictly yours and those you love, where you feel safe that you have given enough to others. A time that is now justifiably yours? When is that reasonable time? A week before Christmas? The Day before Christmas Eve? Christmas Eve? Christmas? After that is it OK to lay around the house and do your own thing, or go hunting, visit family and relatives?
• am not saying that any of that is wrong... I think we need it; I know I do. But lets do a heart check... there is a family that was homeless a couple of years ago, and were recipients of our Mission Christmas Project. They have since pulled their life together with Gods help, and have just moved into their first home, which they helped build with Habitat for Humanity. They both have jobs... she works two jobs. They do not need or want for anything more than just having a home this Christmas. But I believe God wants more for them. They will not have the abundent Christmas that most of us will have. Their Children are getting two presents each from their parents and they are really excited. There are no Christmas lights because they cant afford the electric bill... just 2 bows on the front of the house. Yet they are are overjoyed with the abundance God has bestowed upon them this Christmas. They don't consider themselves lacking. I feel compelled to demonstrate God's mercy, and extravagant abundance, and bring them a Christmas they wont soon forget. Everything from lights on their house, a new christmas tree w/ lights and decorations, presents under the tree, a Christmas ham, to paying their utility bill for December so tthey can the lights on throughout the season. I want to give them an extravagant Christmas that they might not otherwise see in their lifetime. Not because I feel guilty, or because they need it desperately, or because they deserve it. I want to do it because that's what God did for us... he has given us everything. We don't deserve it, we dont have to have everything, but it is ours through our inheritance, and God's Grace.
•here will be time for the other things, but we must remember that they are gifts as well... we need to be careful not to worship the gifts instead of the the giver.
• am not a preacher, I haven't read all of the Bible, and I try not to tell people how to conduct their personal relationship with God - I cant stand it when people do that to me. So this is not telling anyone to do anything except consider this: I believe that Christmas is an opportunity to emulate and honor our Creator. It is a reminder of His greatest gift to humanity, and his his greatest sacrifice - his son Jesus. While I love the all of the window dressings of the season - spending time with my family and friends, exchanging gifts, shopping for my kids, eating a big meal, sitting in an amazing church service and being uplifted by the music and the sermon... I cant seem to equate that to emulating or honoring God. Again, I believe that we best honeor and praise God is when we try to be like him. I believe that I need to give sacrificially as he did, as Jesus did, if I truly want to celebrate his gift. So a question: Are you willing to sacrifice your personal time and effort and gift it to someone who you may not know, or someone in need? Is there a cut-off time at Christmas after which that holiday time is strictly yours and those you love, where you feel safe that you have given enough to others. A time that is now justifiably yours? When is that reasonable time? A week before Christmas? The Day before Christmas Eve? Christmas Eve? Christmas? After that is it OK to lay around the house and do your own thing, or go hunting, visit family and relatives?
• am not saying that any of that is wrong... I think we need it; I know I do. But lets do a heart check... there is a family that was homeless a couple of years ago, and were recipients of our Mission Christmas Project. They have since pulled their life together with Gods help, and have just moved into their first home, which they helped build with Habitat for Humanity. They both have jobs... she works two jobs. They do not need or want for anything more than just having a home this Christmas. But I believe God wants more for them. They will not have the abundent Christmas that most of us will have. Their Children are getting two presents each from their parents and they are really excited. There are no Christmas lights because they cant afford the electric bill... just 2 bows on the front of the house. Yet they are are overjoyed with the abundance God has bestowed upon them this Christmas. They don't consider themselves lacking. I feel compelled to demonstrate God's mercy, and extravagant abundance, and bring them a Christmas they wont soon forget. Everything from lights on their house, a new christmas tree w/ lights and decorations, presents under the tree, a Christmas ham, to paying their utility bill for December so tthey can the lights on throughout the season. I want to give them an extravagant Christmas that they might not otherwise see in their lifetime. Not because I feel guilty, or because they need it desperately, or because they deserve it. I want to do it because that's what God did for us... he has given us everything. We don't deserve it, we dont have to have everything, but it is ours through our inheritance, and God's Grace.
•here will be time for the other things, but we must remember that they are gifts as well... we need to be careful not to worship the gifts instead of the the giver.
What is Christmas? One last request...