We sat around the beautiful dining room table in the elegant SONshine Home, making preparations for our opening date, when the phone rang.
Her tender, soft voice quivered. She’d called us before. Just a child herself hoping for a safe place for her child, if even for the night. She set aside the fear of rejection, angst, and so many closed doors…at that moment, we knew…this is what God had prepared us for. God’s miracles were unfolding right before our eyes as the SONshine Home would be opening soon. The first faith-based maternity home in Yellowstone County, dedicated to providing safe housing to some of our most vulnerable: homeless, pregnant, or parenting youth and their children.
All the preparation, all the training, were we prepared? Was the timing right? It didn’t matter because we knew that God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. It was time to live by our words, “Faith comes before the miracle” and “Don’t wait for perfect”. The doors were about to open to a vision set upon our hearts so many years ago. The many miracles, resources, God’s provision, His timing…faith.
The SONshine Home opened its doors on November 27, 2023. Since then, our home has been full of tiny hands and feet, mamas who now have hope and courage to face life’s challenges as a teen mom. Our very first mother has already completed her HiSet (High School Equivalency Test). She’s registered for higher education classes and is working toward getting her driver’s license.
And, if God isn’t already showing off, our very first little SONshine baby was born on Christmas Eve!! As I sat in church that day, I couldn’t hold back tears thinking of the many, many miracles God has bestowed upon us these past few years. How fitting, as we remember the greatest gift of all – one tiny baby, born in a manger in the city of Bethlehem, offering the greatest hope of all – God provided a way, the only Way – for us to spend eternity with Him, through His Son Jesus, our Lord, and Savior!
As we remember the true meaning of Christmas, won’t you join us as we seek to become more like Christ each day, to love the least of these, to take care of the orphan and her child? As we usher in 2024, we simply ask you to join hands and hearts, to support Love and SONshine as a volunteer, prayer partner, and financial supporter. “It is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). Thank you to our volunteers, staff, prayer partners, donors, and friends. God Bless you, and welcome to 2024!!
