It All Happened in 2020
Some highly dramatic things happened all across the planet during 2020, some good and some not so good. This story is about a good one. It is about a family who moved cross country at the prompting of the Holy Spirit and how they became part of the Furnishing Families of Texas team.
In 2020, my life, like so many others, was interrupted when our nation was shaken by the Covid19 pandemic. I was working for Fitness Finders, a company that makes little plastic feet. Yes you heard that right, they are called Toe Tokens and these cute little gadgets are great for encouraging kids to run, walk, and eat healthy. They are perfect for… wait for it… schools! Which all shutdown due to the fear of this unknown little bug.
The shutdown put my boss at Fitness Finders in a predicament, as all school-centric companies were. Unfortunately it was necessary to lay off several staff members including me. So, I did what any sensible hard working individual would do with my first unemployment check. I bought a $750 Trek bicycle from a little shop in Jackson, Michigan called On Two Wheels and I installed training wheels on my 4 year-old’s bike. We biked around downtown Jackson, taking selfies in front of the Bright Walls murals and occasionally stopping at Junkyard Dog or City Crepes for a treat.
Enjoying the summer biking and kayaking with my wife and daughter was, as it turns out, one of the most sensible things we could have done. Having time to rest and reflect, my wife and I began considering what in the world are we doing on this planet? What are we doing here?
As we were going to bed one night in May, Megan casually floated the idea, what do you think about moving to Texas and being part of Todd White’s church? A church that didn’t officially exist yet (they were launching in August 2020). We stayed up late into the night, researching and dreaming about what that might look like. We started researching different ministries and churches and a couple of days later Megan randomly stumbled across a video of Annabelle Wallnau on Lance’s show where she was talking about the vision and launching of Furnishing Families of Texas.
So as they say in Texas, we weren’t born here, but we got here as soon as we could! I met with a friend about work, and Megan reached out to Annabelle about volunteering. We found out that FFOT was in need of a truck driver and a mover. I have a Class B CDL, and experience driving big vehicles so came on as a contractor with Furnishing Families.
Working for Furnishing Families was an answer to prayer and a part of God's plan to help me move from the land of my fathers into the promised land like Abraham (from Michigan to Texas). Working here has been a great experience that has challenged me to adopt a servant's heart. The work is not always fun and can even get downright grueling. Have you been to Texas in the 9 month long summer? When I was a kid my family moved a lot and I hated moving and packing. Here I am working at a job moving and packing, but the smiles of the kids, and the joy in their parents' eyes moves me to compassion and makes the work we do some of the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.
Furnishing Families of Texas is extremely grateful to have Andrew on our team. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV). We are grateful that God’s hand moved during Covid and FFOT received the gift of Andrew and his family in Texas. We have an amazing team.
As One,
Annabelle and Lance