5 Years, 11 Houses, 22 Camping Places, 1 Great Hope

Oh, friends, it doesn’t seem real! I feel as if I am in a dream—a wonderful dream!

So, after struggling the last 5-6 years—fearing for my life at least 7 different times; living in 11 houses plus at least 22 camping places near 4 different towns, sometimes without electricity; wondering when the next chemical build-up or mold “assault” would force us to move…

After wondering if I will ever get better enough to even just take care of myself, suffering pain, researching things, pursuing leads, asking questions, asking for help, waiting on God, trying our best to obey Him (not credit to us but to His grace and help), and receiving so much help from other people that I could probably not even list it all on several pages…

After packing and unpacking what feels like a million times, putting stuff in storage, living in an old Winnebago, telling the kids we’re going somewhere else, leaving friends behind, trying to keep track of school and library books and healthy eating and special needs and life amid the chaos (yes, we’re tired)….

The Lord has provided some investors who are eager and have the ability to help us begin solving our housing problem. They just closed on some land in the country away from pollution.

We finally have a safe place, a place to gain recovery and strength. As I think about that, the tears start—happy, incredulous tears for something that has felt impossible.

But God is the God of accomplishing the impossible! And it is hard to express how much this means to us—that these investors are willing to take a risk that no banks and no one else would.

We have been/will be spending days out there and likely camping/sleeping there by May. The hope is to build an MCS house, but if that does not happen, at least we will be able to live there about 6 months of the year.

Regarding the potential house, a number of people have already come forward willing to donate significant labor. We are so grateful!!!

With these money-saving volunteers and doing what work we can ourselves, the investors have enough to cover land, initial electric, septic, water, foundation, framing, ceiling, roof, and siding. The rest (insulation, metal lath, plaster, plumbing, indoor wiring, etc.) will cost approximately $35,000. We will be starting a fundraiser soon for this.

If this project goes forward, we will be using the book Healthy House Building for the New Millennium (John Bower), which gives a detailed account of how to build a low-tox home.

Please pray for and thank God for the investors and our wonderful church, which is coordinating this effort.

This photo doesn’t do it justice, but here’s a peek at the land. 🙂

PS  Those of you still struggling with no safe place, not even land, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books PO Box 293 Custer, SD 57730