Lots of Updates

Hey Everybody!
I hope everyone is doing well.

Here are some updates from the Luka family:

New Orleans Mission Trip with the Youth
Our annual youth mission trip to NOLA was again a success! We spent time mowing lawns, weedeating, beautifying yards, etc. Then we ended up at Ms. Shirleys house where we spend 4 out of the 5 days. This house was one block away from where we worked last year and those who went last year got to see the progress of what their hands accomplished last year. The two houses we worked on last year were done and two families lived in them! The swamp we cleared out last year(really messy job!) had a house being built on it! And the other yard we cleared had a house on it too! So, the kids were really proud of what they had done and so was I! At Ms. Shirleys house the kids learned under the direction of Michael, Nathan and Billy how to hang drywall. I taught a crew how to hang insulation. All of our crews were hard working! Ms. Shirley fed us on Friday. She was a joy to be around, everyone loved on her! Thank you for your prayers, they were answered! The kids were so excited about trades they had learned that we are going to start a street cleaning and construction crew in our youth group. I think once a month on a Saturday while it is warm, those who want to participate will go with us and our trailer filled with mowers and weedeaters and go arond L-ville taking care of peoples yards for the price of a prayer with them. And we are going to work on construction endeavors with CrossRoads here or look for them ourselves. Anywho, we are bringing that home with us so we can impact our community and if we go next year to New Orleans we will have some Pro's with us!

MICHAEL'S MOM:

A month and two days ago, Michael and his brother got his mom out of the house she was living in with her husband. She has severe MS. She was sleeping on a bed with no sheets, she was laying in a urinated bed with urine all over her, she was malnourished, weak, etc. Her husband is an emotional abuser. We had her in a hospital for a week and then moved her 3 weeks ago to a rehab facility. Things were looking good for her. While we were gone, Michael's brother took her to doctors appointment. Henry, showed up out of nowhere. The doctors office, unbeknownst to them, had called her house reminding them of the appt. and Henry heard it and made sure he showed up. He proceeded to talk to her. We had been told by her Adult Protective Services agent, numerous counselors and pastors that if something like that occured she would digress and desire to talk to him more and possibly go back. Greg did a great job of keeping things under control. But, two nights later she called Henry and told him her room number and said things she should not have. Michael and I got home Saturday night at 9PM and Sunday we visited her after church. We were very firm with her and thankfully a woman at our church from a similar situation came and talked to Susan. After that talk we decided we needed to put an EPO out on Henry. But, then we decided not too, because we thought it might trigger and unknown response in Henry and we feared for our safety. So, we decided to have Susan call Henry to let him know she would not be going to marital counseling the next day, instead they would work on individual counseling first and in 2 months would re-evaluate for marital therapy. From the moment go in that conversation he yelled at her. But, this had to be her decision. She was becoming co-depedndent on us and she had to finally make the decision. She ended up choosing the man yelling at her on the phone. After that conversation, we firmly told her we were out. From now on, Henry and her would have to work on getting disability, getting her care, etc. We were out and we were finished. The next day the rehab place discharged her and Henry now has her at home. All this breaks our hearts, but that is her decision. Please be in prayer for Susan and Henry. Please pray for her safety and his transformation of heart. thanks.

MY MOM

My mom went in for a biopsy Monday on her breasy, liver and lung. Last night we all found out that the growths in her liver and lung are cancer. Thursday she goes in to find out what needs to be done, what can be done, etc. I have lots of thoughts running through my mind; how I pray that she will be a survivor of this because I want her around for grandchildren, just to visit when I need her, to talk with her on the phone, etc. I am scared, but we are all finding strength in the Lord and He is proving faithful. Please keep my parents in your prayers, they are wonderful people and I know dad is scared. We will keep you updated as we get news.

We love you all lots!
Read my new life verse and may you apply it too to your lives in this season of trials.

NChrist,
Susan