Just this week we were given the opportunity to minister to two families in our community who are walking through a terrible tragedy. I wanted to share their story with you
so that you can be praying for them. This incident took place on Bolivar
Peninsula, which is reached by crossing over the ferry from Galveston. Two 12
year old boys, best friends, had been trick or treating on Halloween and were on their way to attend a community Halloween party at the Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department (they were riding in the back of a pickup truck driven by one of the fathers). Almost there, the father slowed down to turn left across a highway. The boys, thinking they were there, jumped out of the vehicle and then proceeded to run across the highway; however, a vehicle traveling the other direction hit them. They were both care flighted to UTMB in Galveston where one boy was pronounced dead and the other is fighting for his life, alive because the other boy pushed him out of the way to save him.

This story has been front page news and on all the Houston TV news stations. The story is
heartbreaking and hits so close to home. Both of these precious boys were a part of one of the programs where Jo Anna works. Lyle and Jo Anna decided yesterday that there had to be a way that the Abby Grace Project could help these families. After talking with the chaplain at the hospital, she told us that the family of the injured child has not left the hospital since this happened on Monday night. We decided to help with meal vouchers for the hospital cafeteria. We also took a trip to Target and Wal Mart and purchased two large baskets and filled them with “goodies” for both families.

I watched in tears last night as Jo Anna and Lyle with much love picked out everything that would go in the “baskets”. They talked about what helped them as they spent
those 5 special days with Abby and walked through their own grief. They decided
on “easy” things, such as popcorn, snacks, pop tarts, fruits and lots more. Each basket was thoughtfully prepared. The final touch to the basket were two little matching lambs that Jo Anna chose from Abby’s room. “Something to help each family remember their boys, their own two little lambs,” she said. The baskets also included a written note. The words were difficult to find, as it is difficult to find the right words when there are no words. Jo Anna finally just said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. From one grieving mom to another, I understand.”

Julio is the site coordinator who works with Jo Anna and who knows the boys from his program. He has been great this week in reaching out to both of these families. He has one more task today as we have asked him to translate the cards into Spanish for these two families who speak very little English. He will also be delivering the basket to the family who lost their son. Julio has become like family to them.

Here are a few pictures of the baskets that we sent them:

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It’s so humbling to see how God can use us, Julio, and others to be his hands and feet in a broken world. All of you were also a part of this story; you were the hands and
feet of Jesus to these families because of your prayers for us, your love and care for us during our grief, your dedication to reading Lyle’s blog and sharing it with others, and your financial gifts. This is not the end of this story, as we will continue to let God use us in the lives of these two families. Your help will also allow us to be able to serve so many others through the Abby Grace Project. Just think, this is just the beginning of the impact The Abby Grace Project will have on this community and this world.

We love you all,

Grandma Donna