This Will be Our First Fall as House Parents
As Summer concludes, we express our gratitude for the invaluable contributions of the workgroups. Our unwavering focus remains steadfast: to glorify God through diligent study of His Word (we are currently reading/ studying Nehemiah), to walk confidently in our faith (we firmly believe in the Word of God and its promises), to rely on the boundless grace of God (we engage in multiple obstacle courses daily, sometimes successfully – sometimes, not so), and to joyfully celebrate Jesus Christ and His impact through us.
Our recent days have been filled with workgroups, lunches, bunkhouse dinners, and ample opportunities for swimming and fishing as we embarked on an incredible summer of workgroups. This past June has been particularly meaningful as we, now a Shiloh family, have been hosting workgroups instead of visiting as part of a workgroup. From joining in prayer around our breakfast, lunch, and dinner table to sharing stories, experiences, and lessons around the fire pit, we have witnessed testimonies of God’s grace, victorious past trials, and faithful future plans. These experiences have reminded us of the love we discovered when we first visited Shiloh in June 2023.
As we prayerfully consider and plan for the future— for ourselves, our children, Shiloh, and its vital support— we are reminded of biblical parallels and relevant spiritual principles found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 5:17, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17, Acts 20:28-31, and Titus 1:6-9. These verses emphasize the importance of being faithful to the Word of God and His will, with everything beyond that serving as a testament to His glory. Reflecting on Scripture has been a valuable learning experience for our children and a welcome reminder for us. The example of Paul’s letter to Timothy, found in Acts 20, serves as a poignant reminder: “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
We were blessed to travel southeast for “The First Fitzgerald Family Vacation” to the Ark Encounter. The chance to visit and experience a piece of biblical history (a replica) with our children was “beyond imagination”. The physical size of the Ark cannot be expressed and understood with words. It will be something recommended for a long time to anyone that is interested in the visit.
We are now “Fitzgerald Party of 7!” The family has grown this summer and we couldn’t be more excited to see where this year goes. Kynlee is 11, about to start 6th grade. Charlie is 12, as of July, and ready to take on 7th grade. Tassanie is 15, will be transitioning to South Shelby this school year as a sophomore. Aj is 11 settling down in 6th grade. Luna is 8 going into the big 4th grade.
Consistently filtering our discussions through the lens of our Bibles and Jesus Christ helps us gain clarity in our actions and decisions. Guiding our children towards Godly ministry and fostering a personal relationship with Jesus through faith has been a rewarding experience. Baptism has been a topic of much discussion lately, and we believe it is a testament to the Holy Spirit’s work. From high school friends of Kam’s being baptized to others reaching out for baptism, and even our placed children wanting to understand it more, this has been a truly priceless experience.
We are deeply grateful for the generous support we receive for Shiloh. However, we are even more profoundly aware that God’s grace is freely given, unearned, and undeserved. As recipients of this incredible gift, we are privileged to live on-site with our children. It is truly our honor to give our efforts towards such a cause.
While we have experienced another amazing summer here at Shiloh, we are prayerfully ready for school to start back, sports to ramp up, and to look out our front window to experience the seasons change here onsite. This will be our first fall as house parents.
In HIS righteousness, Kam & Mickie Fitzgerald