The Meyer/Williams Story

We hear a lot of talk about race in our nation today. In Franklin, TN there has been racial reconciliation talk for years. Talk is needed, but action is needed even more. I think one of the best aspects of our work day project is that it brought together different "faces" of the one human race that God created.

JT Olson and Don Meyer had known each other for twenty years, and had both grown into men who desired to give their lives away in the service of others. JT and Sara Olson had done that in their adoption of their daughter from China. Don and I wanted to do the same thing in the adoption of four children from Moldova. After Don expressed our financial need to JT, the two sat down together over breakfast and put meat on the skeleton structure of Both Hands, and the first work-day project and fundraiser came together.

JT had heard of Mrs. Lucille Williams’s need. She is an African American, who after being widowed for seven years, had many necessary projects that needed to be done to her home. A Mexican man read about the work day event in the newspaper, called JT, and insisted that he and his crew do the siding on Mrs. Lucille’s house, saying "we must do this for Christ." They came with cheerful hearts, warm smiles, and must-needed expertise. Many other Caucasians volunteered their time, talent and treasure, and the day became a picture of how much can be accomplished when God’s people work together across racial lines.

Mrs. Lucille’s home received structural changes, new siding, a new heater, some basic plumbing, plus painting and landscaping. We (The Meyer family) had an enormous financial need, and God decided in his sovereignty that He would provide the funds through the body of Christ. By the time our new kids arrived home, we were in debt $50,000+, and Both Hands was able to help us offset those expenses.

Four former orphans received a new home and a future filled with hope. And a new and vital ministry was born – Both Hands, which exists to break down the financial barriers to adoption while changing the lives of widows and orphans.

Now, that is a God-sized, joy-filled, win-win-win story! (I love it when God shows off.)

Thank you again to all who took part in this project. And thank you to those who are continuing the saga of changing the lives of widows and orphans through this ministry.

Blessings,

Mary Meyer