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To volunteer your time, talents, skills, supplies, money, or prayers,
or to inquire about the project, please contact:
Cassi Beamer |
But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people,
chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness
into his own marvelous light. 1Pet. 2:9 The Peters Family 
The John and SuDawn Peters family has experienced trial upon trial (work lay-offs,
under-employment, and now John's inability to resume computer programming as a result of
a brain tumor), but they have never ceased answering the call to help others. They have
fourteen children, thirteen adopted, many of whom have special physical, learning, and
emotional needs. It is their unique calling in life and their unique children that make
housing especially challenging for them.
One child, Austin, has severe, spastic cerebral palsy. He is wheelchair bound,
cannot communicate, and cannot care for himself in any way despite his being almost
eleven years old. As he ages his care is getting harder and his parents have difficulty
lifting him. Thankfully the teenagers help tremendously with his care. Additionally,
limited medical coverage has left the family struggling to find and afford proper
adaptive equipment for him. Do not be mistaken; they do a tremendous job with what they
have, but life is challenging. Imagine, as a parent, wanting to pick up or just hold
your child but knowing that if you do, your back will act up in a way that makes it
nearly impossible to care for the rest of the children or your house for the next month!
Knowing the types of equipment and house modifications available in the world today
that could help Austin is another huge reason we are asking for your help!
The Peters have home-schooled for over fifteen years to meet the learning and emotional
needs of several of their children. Schooling children with a variety of learning
challenges requires a lot of different resources and space. They currently use their
three-stall garage as a classroom.If the Peters had the opportunity to design bedrooms for the kids, they would be able to address some of the children's sensory needs. Some children are fine to share rooms, but others require a place that offers solitude or they become over-stimulated. The Peters have a significant emotional need; moreso than the average family. All children, but especially adopted children, have a need for security. Living in rental homes doesn't lend itself to a feeling of peace or lasting security. John also has a need to see this security in place for his family. As a father and husband, he has worked hard to provide for them; the one thing he has not been able to do is secure a permanent place to live. The after-effects of his brain tumor have left him with limited ability to work, so this one, extremely important need seems out of reach, causing him increased anxiety and despair. SuDawn feels that having permanent housing will relieve much of John's stress and that perhaps then, his health will begin to improve. 
While it is true that if they hadn't said "yes" to so many children, they might not
be in the hardship they are in, the Peters have done exactly what has been asked of them
and more with no regrets. If more people were like them, willing to set aside their personal
goals or desires for the sake of the children, we might not have the orphan epidemic we have
today. | |||||||||||
| A SAFE HAVEN FOR ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN |
| John and SuDawn Peters c/o New Heights Church P.O. Box 8668 Fayetteville, AR 72703 Email Us |
