What an exciting time it has been lately for TFE! It’s hard to believe that we are already through the first quarter of 2021 (and some). Between all of our projects and the snowpocalypse I feel like I just blinked and here we are in mid-April. Rolling out of 2020 has felt like a heavy lift but thanks be to God, it feels like the sun is shining and we have so much to look forward to.

Titus helping our neighbor Ted build a coop for our quail

As hard as 2020 was on our staff, it was harder on our RV residents and homeless neighbors. Isolation, loss of services, unemployment. These are just some of the things they’ve dealt with but it has been incredible to witness their resilience. There have been multiple instances that I’ve been comforted and encouraged by the peace that our friends have, even in the midst of uncertainty and trial. One thing I’ve learned is that it is only by experiencing weakness and need that we can understand the goodness and provision of God. Because of what they’ve been through, many of the folks we serve have a childlike faith and trust in their Father; areas that I pray to grow in personally.

So far this year we’ve celebrated many victories, but we haven’t been without disappointments and setbacks too. It’s easy for us to share all of the great things going on, but ministry work is hard and there always seem to be these simultaneous ups and downs. We’re told in the scriptures to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). I’m totally good with that, but it’s been a challenge to learn how to do both of those paradoxical things at the same time. Our days are typically a mixture of rejoicing and weeping but there is always an overlay of hope. My desire is to share all of the amazing things that God is doing here and to be real about the struggles so that all of you can partner with us in praise and in prayer. After all, The Field’s Edge is a family made up of our neighbors, staff, and partners like YOU.

First thing Friday morning we were blessed by something awesome to celebrate! John and Jeanie are part of our Glean Up program and they’ve been working so hard to meet their goals. They called me that morning to let me know they had both been hired at Market Street! They started out on the street with very little, but with their hard work, the love and support of our Program Manager Jeff Massie, and partners like the Salvation Army, they have been empowered to obtain temporary housing, transportation, and employment. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments and praising God for His provision for them. We plan to continue working with them to help them reach their goals for a more permanent housing solution. We would appreciate your prayers for them in their new jobs and for their housing.

We’re also thrilled that thanks to you, we have completed our capital fundraising goal of $4.3M and construction on the village is underway. We are shooting to be finished with Phase I construction before the end of 2021! Right now, they’re moving a lot of dirt around and preparing the site which doesn’t seem all that exciting, but pretty soon we’ll be seeing concrete slabs! We’re so looking forward to seeing the buildings and praying for all that the Lord will do in each one of them. We have contracted with Fletco Construction to do all of the site work and build both the Community Hall and the bath/kitchen/laundry facility. We’re also excited to be working with Kahler Homes to build the Missional home. In addition, TFE has hired Richard Schuman as our staff Construction Project Manager, and we are SO looking forward to getting all of you involved in building the tiny homes. Be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities for construction this summer. We’re told that the site will be ready for us to start pouring slabs for the tiny homes in June or so and after that we can’t wait to get YOU out there swinging hammers and planting trees.

COO Laura Chandler speaking at our Critical and Strategic Problem Solving for Nonprofits Class sponsored by West Texas National Bank

Operationally we are working to keep up with the growth of the organization by working on structure, policies, procedures, and systems. Our fearless COO Laura Chandler (very soon to be Laura Maiorino) is crafting us into a well-oiled machine and keeping us laser focused on our mission. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without her servant-hearted leadership. One thing I love about this work is that no matter what our role is in the organization, every single one of us is engaged with our neighbors and our mission. I’ve never been part of such a special staff culture.

This next update is sensitive so I will not share a name, but we’d be so blessed by your prayers for one of our neighbors who is going through a rough season. On the same day we got the news about John and Jeanie getting jobs our Neighbor Care Committee met, and we had a great meeting talking about how all of our neighbors are doing, discussing how to best care for them, and planning to move in our 5th resident. I was pretty stoked that things seemed to be going really well for everyone all at the same time. As I walked into my office though, one of our neighbors was waiting for me to tell me out of the blue that they were giving up on some goals that were in progress, changing jobs, and wanting to leave TFE. See what I mean about simultaneous weeping and rejoicing? As I listened and tried to understand, it was apparent to me that there was an underlying reason for these impulsive decisions that seemed to be related to the neighbor’s mental health. So far, we’ve been able to reason with the neighbor and deescalate the situation, but we all still need your prayers to care for our friend well and do our best to encourage wise decisions. Please pray that this member of our TFE Family will be given an abundance of peace and will choose to stay with us.

Speaking of our Neighbor Care Committee I just need to give them a massive shoutout. This group of folks are responsible for walking alongside our Field’s Edge Neighbors, helping to lift them up, and enabling them to thrive in community. It is a very boots-on-the-ground bunch and TFE would not be able to accomplish the work we do without them. They are committed to loving our neighbors well and doing everything they possibly can to help cultivate home. I am so honored to be serving with them. They give rides, put on trainings, have neighbors over for dinner, throw birthday parties, get homes stocked and decorated for new neighbors, and a million more things. Truly an amazing Christ-centered and servant hearted group that I am blessed by every day.

Neighbor Care worked hard this past weekend to get an RV ready for our 5th resident to move in and we were able to welcome him home this afternoon. There is nothing better than watching someone who has been homeless for years walk into a place of their own and start to soak it in. This period of transition can be very difficult emotionally, so we’d appreciate your prayers for our new neighbor Boone as he adjusts and acclimates to being part of our TFE Family.

As I try to condense and explain all that God is doing here at TFE I am just so grateful; grateful to be part of the work, grateful for our staff, and over the moon grateful for volunteers and supporters like you. Thank you for being part of this forged family and for playing such an important role in cultivating home. 2021 is going to be a banner year thanks to you.

Give

2021: First Quarter Newsletter