A fire that turned into a blessing!!!

So Joel and I had gone to over 60 grocery stores in 3 cities. One of the grocery stores in September/October said they would give to us. We put a plastic bin with Supplying Needs name on it and our phone number. We called every few weeks and went in a couple of times. But every time they said no no we will call you. Over and over they said no no we will call you.

Last Wednesday we get two calls during bible study from a number that we did not recognize. AFter bible study Joel called them back. It happened to be the same grocery store that said yes but never gave to us. They said they had a fire in their store and needed us to come pick up food. Joel asked if we needed the mini-bus or the truck. They didn't know but thought the truck would be best. We went there and as soon as we got out of the vehicle they asked us where our flash lights were. I ran to the nearest store and bought 4 flash lights. At the store the owner took us on a tour of the grocery store in the dark. We went up and down the aisles as the owner told us to take EVERYTHING. I mean everything. Then he asked if it was only Joel and I and where our help was. We didn't have any help. We called as many people we could think of. And after a few hours the youth pastor from our Church was able to leave work and come help us. HUGE HUGE HUGE HELP.

During this time we were wondering where we were going to put all this food. I wasn't worried I knew that if God had this planned out he would plan where the food needed to go.

The first day we loaded the truck from the top to the bottom FULL of dry and canned goods. And we had only been able to get clear 4 aisles.

We rented a 10x20 storage unit and got the first month for free. We unloaded it all the next day into the storage unit. Then went back on Friday to load more from the grocery store. We filled the truck up once again with as much as we could fit. On Friday we had a friend of ours come help of an hour. She heard Joel and I talking about renting another storage unit because there was no way we had enough room in the one we were renting. She said she had connections and called a friend whose husband owns a strip mall full of offices. Her husband approved us to be there for one month FREE OF CHARGE. Saturday we went to the place and unloaded our once again FULL TRUCK.

Today (Monday) we loaded the rest of the items. Look at God. He is so good.

And the guy that called us about the fire at the grocery store didn't even know us. When we mentioned the guy that had approved us he asked how we knew his brother. The only thing the guy had or knew of us was our one plastic bin with our name and phone number on it. We praise God and look forward to giving all the food out free of charge so we can spread the love of Christ and share what God does in the lives of people today!!!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY,

The Butlers

TRUCK COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU . . . . ..

YEAH YEAH AND YEAH!!!!!

Just to update you Supplying Needs has been donated a refrigerated box truck!!! Can you believe it. Thank you Jesus. A dear friend of ours that we met through Friend Ships emailed us and asked if we would want a refrigerated box truck. We said YES!!! We really need one. WE just needed to get it to Stockton. So through months of researching and talking with the owner we came to the agreement for Joel to fly to Lake Charles Louisiana and drive it back to Stockton. Yeah yeah and yeah.

Joel is leaving this Wednesday December 16th. He will be gone for over a week. Joel and I decided that I should stay back to be on call. We still have a grocery store that is thinking about giving us food on a consistent basis. Which is fine with me. I mean I am super sad that I cannot go and see all my friends and loved ones in Lake Charles (where we did mission work with Friend Ships for 4 years.) But I have peace and know that it is for the better good of our ministry.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS (for us getting this truck)? It means we can ask wholesalers for donations. That we can pick up pallets of donations instead of just boxes of donations. Either way we say Thank you Jesus when we do get a donation no matter big or small. But with this we can go to the bigger companies.

Okay so all we need now is a warehouse. Please be praying that a warehouse (with refrigeration) would open for us.

We love all ya'll very much.

GLORY TO GOD,
The Butlers

Our newest addition to Supplying Needs!

PS. The dog on the truck was put on there by the owner in an email. We told the owner our desire to stay behind the scenes (incognito) and he photo-shopped the dog on. It is pretty funny!!!

It's like the Cash Cab but you can call it the Jesus Cab

So Joel and I believe in helping people because God helped us and loves us. And one way we like to do this is to pick people up on the side of the road that are in trouble. Don't get me wrong we don't pick everyone up but we do it when we feel lead by God. This past week we have picked up two people that have just made us smile.

The first one was the day after America Thanksgiving (just so you American's know Canadians have a different thanksgiving, Any way) so Joel and I were driving to the mail to drop off a package. On the side walk in downtown Stockton we saw a young man wave his arms frantically trying to get someone to pick him up. Both Joel and I thought he may have to go to the hospital. Joel pulls over and asked what is up. He said he needed a ride but it was an hour away. We agreed. (I was for sure praying silently that God would protect us, because I mean come one who is this guy) Turns out he didn't need to go to the Hospital but (get this) TO HIS WEDDING!!! Can you believe it. He flew to LA to do a skateboard show then drove up to go to his wedding. He stopped in Stockton (for who knows what, Joel and I still do know what) and he parked in a Cops Car only zone and got his car towed. He asked the cops if they could take him to the wedding but they said they are not a cab. He went out to the side walk and started to have a panic attack for his wedding was in 3 hours. And he didn't know how he was going to get there. He actually lives in New York and flew for his wedding. Any way needless to say he wasn't a killer and was really a nice guy. He goes around the nation and world to skateboard. He said he is not a famous one but does open acts for the famous professional skateboarders. He was taken back by our kindness and we explained that it was the God in us and asked if he knew Jesus. He said that he knows Jesus and that his Dad is a real example to him.
We got him to his destination and he emailed us and said thanks and will send us Pics of his wedding later. Pretty crazy eh. It is funny because of a few reasons 1) Joel and I have been praying that God would use us to help people 2) I actually slept in that morning and felt it was okay by God to do so. 3) We stopped at the library and we were going to the post office 4) the guy had only been standing on the corner for 10 minutes. Our paths crossed at the perfect time. So God's timing is so perfect.

My next adventure was without Joel. Last night I went to women's group. I was waiting in the car for the church to be unlocked and had this huge urgency to go the Laundromat to see our Friend John to talk about Prayer. The urgency just would not leave me. So I bailed women's group and went to see John. When I got out of the car and at the Laundromat this women startled me. She was bawling and said her daughter was dropped off at a person's house and she just had to get there. She seemed frazzled yet not frazzled. It was weird. So I talked John into going with me because 1) I had no idea where the streets were and 2) I just didn't trust her.

When we got in the car she reaked of alcohol. On the way there I get this boldness that I don't experience very often and asked very boldly if she knew Jesus she said yes that she prayed to him every day because it was good or the right thing to do. The boldness came after she said that and I said no you need to have a true relationship with Jesus because he has a purpose for you. YOu were not made by accident and you have to ask Jesus what He wants you to do in life because he has something just for you. She started crying more and said started saying things about her life and how it wasn't so good and I said that doesn't matter God loves you and wants a personal relationship with you where you talk to him and he talks to you.

She said she understood.

When I took John back to the Laundromat it didn't seem so important what I was going to talk to him about any more.

On the way back home I started to think that when People got in Joel's and my car they didn't know what they had just gotten themselves into like the game show Cash Cab. But with Cash cab the money they won would be gone in no time. (Oh the cash cab is a cab that is New York that is a game show in the cab and you don't know you are getting into it. You have to answer questions until you get to your destination and if you miss 3 they kick you out at that spot you missed the last question and you get no money. If you answer the questions correctly you get the money you earned from each question you answer right.) But What Joel and I have to offer people can last for all eternity. So I was thinking we need to be called "The Jesus Cab"


Life is just too much fun with Jesus. There is never a boring moment.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

The Jesus Cab,
The Butlers

What is REAL FAITH??

Joel and I have been discussing today "What is real faith" and are we acting on faith or our resources that we have in front of us? Are we believing God or will we truly believe God when our provision runs out?

It is really quit frustrating with no clear answer for those questions at the moment.

As of now we have been to three cities/towns and have approached all the grocery stores we can get our hands on. The number keeps going up with the grocers that are throwing away good food that could feed people. It is really heart breaking. We know that God could move on the hearts of the grocers and wah-lah we would be getting food coming out of our ears. But we have realized with God giving us the revelation that He is trying to teach us something or somethingS.

WE got a yes yesterday from small grocer that doesn't have much in the way of product but they would like to start giving us Dairy, deli, and other refrigerated items. YEAH!!! Lord please let them call soon!!

By the end of December we will officially have a refrigerated box truck in Supplying Needs name!! YEAH GO GOD!!! WE just need to get it here (because it is in Louisiana). It is complicated. SO there are many ways we could get it here but at this point we are wondering if it is by faith we are trying to get it here or by our own hand. Ahhh all frustarting. We have a lot of options but still we are praying and seeking God. There are a few options we don't have peace about and there are others we are tossing about. So hm GOD WHAT DO WE DO? WE really don't want to do it by our own strength but we don't have an abusolute clear direction.

Today we might approach a grocery store for the ump-teenth time. I am nervous, Joel is determined. WE make a great team don't we. :) heheh

SO that is about it. We love all ya'll very much.
May you have a wonderful American Thanksgiving remembering all that God has blessed you with this holiday. And as a song from VeggieTales goes:
"Because a thankful heart is a happy heart. I am glad for what I have THAT'S AN EASY WAY TO START!!!"

Love all ya'll,
the Butlers

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance about things we can not see.

SUPRISE!!! Love, God

HELLO EVERYONE,

This month my mom and I surprised my Dad and sister for their birthdays. I won't tell you the age but both were celebrating a new decade. (Well they didn't want to celebrate it but at this point they didn't have a choice) I was pretty excited and with Joel's permission left for Washington State. My Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport. The cool thing is Dad didn't know I was coming. He was waiting for a "friend" of my sisters to bring a package at the airport. All was the truth. There he was waiting at the bottom of the ramp and shocked as all get out when I walked down.

Then the next day we went to my sisters, made dinner and a cake, decorated the house, and waited for her to get home from work. My parents and nephew started singing happy birthday then I popped (not from a cake) but out from a room. She was shocked as well.

It was a great 9 days of being with my family. One of my favorite parts was the days my sister had to work and I had the house to myself to spend with GOd. Aww those were the days. And I loved the time I spent with my parents, sister, nephews, and brother-in-law.

The biggest surprise was as I was coming home. I had a flight where I stayed on the same plane but had one stop. Before I get on planes I pray that God would set up divine appointments and He would be able to use me to talk to someone about Him or what Joel and I are doing for Him.

This girl came and sat beside me. We didn't talk the first leg of my flight. When we landed the first time she then asked if I needed to get out because she was staying for the next flight. I told her I was staying too. We then got to talking. I found out she is a children's pastor which I found intriguing. I started asking her more questions and discovered her dad and I went to the same high school, crazy. Then we found out she and I went to the same church every Christmas eve for the Christmas program. She then mentioned her grandmothers maiden name which is my grandmothers maiden name. Come to find out Her grandma and my grandma are sisters. Can you believe it and her dad and my mom are cousins. I was blown away. After getting off the plane she called her mom and her mom knew about my family. Shock shock shock.

Joyce and I only live about 30 to 40 minutes away from each other. I am going to go help her with her churches harvest fest this Saturday. I am excited to get to know my cousin.

Isn't God too cool. I love getting "great" surprises from God.

Love,
Dess

Me, Dad and My sista Tammie

Mom and I

My Oldest Nephew and I!!!
YOu love me you know you do!!!

Aunt and younger Nephew Craziness

UPDATE -UPDATE YA'LL NEED AN UPDATE!!!

Hello Everyone,

That is right it is update time. It has been almost a month since writing. Many things have been going on during this month of September. We had Jim and Kristin come up for a week to see us. They were gracious and stayed in a hotel. Joel and I look forward to the day God will give us our own place and people do NOT have to stay in a hotel to see us. WE had a blast with them and they even approached a few grocery stores for us.

During their stay we found out that one of our dear dear dear friends that the four of us knew took his life. It was heart breaking and hard to come to terms with. We all decided we would go to the funeral in LA. So Joel and I followed Jim and Kristin two days later down to LA and met them at the Funeral. Joel and I stayed in LA for 5 days seeing old friends that we knew through Friend SHIps. We stayed with our dear friends Curt and Theresa.

During our stay it happened to be my birthday. Theresa was so kind. She got me a funnel cake, a churro and a birthday cake on my birthday. I was so full by the end of the day.

We went to Matthew Barnett's Church Angelus Temple which Matthew is over the Dream center as well. When Pastor Matthew got up to preach he said "I am not going to give a message today so you don't need your bible" JOel and I looked at each other disappointedly. (Is that a word? disappointedly) Then Pastor Matthew went on to say "It is my 15 year anniversary for being a pastor and I am going to share 3 main things I have learned from my 15 years as a pastor." He went on to talk about how pursuing a calling from God you do NOT want instant success. GOd wants your foundation to be big and sturdy so that it can hold anything that God wants to put on your foundations.
He also talked about how Quiters never win. That if you decide never to give up you WILL have SUCCESS. And the third point was ALWAYS give God the glory. People always ask him what his formula is for his success as a pastor or what they can do to have success in their ministry. Pastor Matthew said that he is messes up, he has staff that are mess up that do things wrong, he has drug dealers and prostitutes who work for him but because of God they are a successful. So give GOD THE GLORY.

During his talk I was thinking does this really apply to any one else besides JOel or I. This message seems just for us. I was blown away.

So in the past month of September we have hit the total of 52 grocery stores just in the city of STOCKTON. And we recieved one yes and they have not given us any food yet. We have approached every grocery store on the map and on Monday I was praying asking God "Okay so what do you want us to do now, we are at a dead end." It was then put on my heart with much much much excitement to go for Warehouse space. The next day we got an email from a dear friend saying He had a Refrigeration truck for Joel and I if we needed it. OH MY GOODNESS WE NEED IT!!! He is concerned it wouldn't make it to Stockton but is having his maintance guys check it out. SO either we will fly and pick it up or we will find a way to get it here. To God be the GLORY.
SO while Joel and I were going from grocery store to grocery store JOel and I thought well maybe we should approach wholesale (info: grocery is retail) I went and asked the Lord about it and he said "If I wanted you to approach wholesale at this time I would have given you a Box truck and a warehouse." Looking back I am like hm well here comes our box truck, Lord may there be a warehouse to follow. THen we can start appraoching wholesalers.

SO that is where we are at now, sending letters and faxes and calls to companies who own warehouses to see if they would donate temperary warehouse space. God did promise we would have a huge ministry to help provide for the church everything they need to outreach in thier local community as well as the homeless, mentally disable, poor, etc. So JOel and I are standing on His promise and knowing He will do what HE said he would do.

We have found in STockton ALONE dozens and dozens of brand new warehouses never moved into and no one is really looking at this time because of the economy. I have found I prefere the warehouses that are used because they have office space in them and are a bit more developed. (And there are a few used warehouses that are vacant, okay a good handful of them) The brand new warehouses have that never been used do not have offices and they are one big room with truck loading docks. Either way they would work but I am asking Heavenly Daddy for a used one.

That is it from us. WE love and miss all ya'll. Keep us in your prayers when you talk to Father God.

Love love love,
The Butlers

I am dreaming of Fall and Winter (Can't wait until it is here)
(Pic at my Parents Cabin, IDAHO)

In Noxon, Montana

Life and Encouragment from God!!!

Hey Everyone,

Our life has been such a roller coaster since getting back from picking up the mini-bus. We hit the ground running as soon as we got back asking grocery stores for their non-sellable products. Or in lame terms for food that consumers will not buy because of the expiration date or it has a little mold on it and so grocery stores throw it away even though it is perfectly good.

Well I had assumed this would be the easy part. I thought I would just walk into two or three or four grocery stores and wah-la they would give and think it was the greatest idea in the world. WRONG. God is sure funny. I am learning a lot about God and how He matures his children or people who are called to do things for Him. So far Joel and I have been to over 40 grocery stores and we haven't received one solid yes yet. Mostly no's, a few I will call you back, and others who just don't answer. It has been frustrating to say the least. Because there are a hand full of stores that are giving and but most are throwing away and refuse to give you the food they are throwing away!! Every day I make the choice to either throw a crying tantrum or trust God. (I tend to choose differently each day, depending on my mood {Hey I am just being honest})

It has been discouraging to say the least. But with each day God either sends a person to encourage us or a scripture. The most amazing part about this is they all say the same thing. I am blown away. And it is not like they talk to each other or they read the scriptures I have put on our walls that the Lord has given to me. But they all tell Joel and I a few things

1) God's timing is perfect. God will do what He wants when He wants and I need to wait patiently for Him to act. (Psalms 37 talks about Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait PATIENCLY for Him to act)

2) That He is maturing JOel and I through these trials and frustrations. That it is testing our faith in God which leads to endurance and endurance leads to character and hope and maturity and all that good stuff that goes with being tested. WOW who knew, NOT IT!!!

3) We need to not give up. BAD IDEA (though I have to admit I have thought about it or at least trying a new vocation) But it says in Galatians: Do not grow weary in doing good. For at JUST THE RIGHT TIME (there is that time thing again) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

There are other leasons but one of the most encouraging talks I had was with Ray (my old boss at Friend Ships) Ray and I have this understanding about the food ministry that he or I don't really have with anyone else. There have been a few (VERY FEW) people in his life Ray shared the same passion with but Ray and I can talk for hours about the food minstry. I called him up and told him my frustrations. And he said that the EXACT same thing happened to him in LA. He was mad and frustrated wanted to blame it on people or God or who ever. Wanted to go back to Seattle where the food ministry was flowing like milk and honey. But He believes looking back that God was doing someting and Ray said he believes now God is doing something and purposely stopping us from getting a yes. He doesn't know what and I don't know what but God is doing it on purpose for a reason. Ray said that if he were I that he would doubt God. But then he said quickly "BUT WE DO NOT DOUBT GOD, and WE DO NOT QUESTION GOD." (which has snapped me out of doubting God) Then Ray went on to say that after the food started to flow in Los Angeles Friend Ships had the biggest food ministry in the history of Friend SHips. ON a weekly basis Friend Ships was picking up 150,000 pounds of food a week on average. And that I shouldn't give up.

So what are we doing now: NOt giving up. What are we doing now: Waiting (patiently and impatiently at times. Trying harder for patience) What are we doing now: Still knocking on doors.

So that is where we are at now. God is good whether I see his Hand move today or not. That it will come and that I just need to do what Joel and I were called to do. Start a ministry for HIM.

Love all ya'll. Be blessed in JESUS whether you see God move or not.

Dess Butler
God's Property