Dear Friends of Brook Haven House,

Once upon a time in upstate New York, there was a Victorian house in a small village that stood vacant for several years. There were pigeons in the attic and dust on the furniture. But then God made a way through His people to open this house to single moms. It no longer was empty but the voices of children playing and babies crying was heard throughout this house, it had become a home.

Thank you all so very much for making Brook Haven House a reality the past three years. This year has again been very challenging and we have had some hard yet rewarding times. Nine women have pass through these doors and have been touched by The Fathers Love. Their babies have been born healthy and they have received all the help they desired.

Our staffing has changed but our mission and vision remain the same. We “provide for the needs of single mothers, promote the sanctity of life, and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” To the best of our ability we have accomplished this in 2006.

Your prayers and financial support have made many things possible. One person several years ago pledged to give Brook Haven House an offering every month. His income consisted of his Social Security check. He struggles to make ends meet but true to his word he has remained faithful. On Christmas day for the past two years he has come to our door and rang the bell. He did it again this year and gave his small gift to Jesus. No tax deductible statement needed for this gift, just a smile and the words that said “here please take this – God told me to give this to you three years ago and I want to do what God wants me to do”. Another person we did not know came to our door and handed our staff an envelope stating,  “He felt God asked him to give this” and left. When opened there was a check in it for $1,000.00 that we needed at the time. He had never donated to Brook Haven House before. All this to say that God is faithful and people are being obedient to His still small voice. Thank you!!

When we thought we were being persecuted we learned later that it was only God giving us what we needed. Our mode of transportation was inadequate at the beginning of the year. But God saw fit to bless us with a full size 1996 conversion Van. This van had all the space we needed along with many extras that we loved to have. It was easy to get in and out of, even when pregnant or with a car seat. After it was on the road for two weeks and we thought all was going well, it was in an accident on the way to the hospital and was declared totaled by the insurance company. Now what? Through a series of events over time God blessed us with a 2003 Windstar that had two back sliding doors and extra seating in the back. Along with this it got better gas mileage and looked great. This all happened because people like you gave generously to a cause that you believe in.

Looking at numbers in this ministry or any other can be very deceiving. We are not about numbers but people. People that many have forgotten or abandoned because they were no longer useful to them. People that God made in His image and in His likeness but they do not know it yet. People that have potential and that have life within them that is precious to our God. All of who have spirits that will live forever in eternity.

During this year many people have given of themselves, their time and talents to Brook Haven House. Several of you became directly involved by staying at the house and being with the women that were there. Some of you cared for infants while their mothers went to appointment and such. Some of you brought gifts; help organize our attic, clean and spent time with us. Thanks you!

Your prayer support has been amazing all year. Some of you have us on your regular prayer list, others pray when you feel God prompting you to do so. Thank you! Your prayers keep us going, discouragement and fatigue are often enemies of any ministry and this is no different. Missionaries get home sick and want to see more results for their labor, this is no different. We all want to see results that are tangible for our investment in any program and our expectations for Brook Haven House is no different. Unfortunately many of the things we do are not tangible nor can they be measured in any way except eternity. We are not getting bigger or adding staff etc. Our goal is to continue to be a safe place for women to come when everything else is going wrong in their lives.

Our Board of Directors is awesome; they continue to pour themselves into this ministry with their prayers, finances and time. Thanks you all for serving in this capacity, past and present members.

We still need that new furnace although our present one is working so far. Our finances are usually on cash in cash out basis, which leaves little room for improvements or renovations. Our needs are always meet and our wants usually are also. Thank you! We need volunteers to become directly involved with the women, not only their babies. Babies are a commodity that we all love to share and cuddle. Mothers with challenges are not so user friendly. They need friends of their own age with values that will last through time and eternity.

During the coming year we will miss the input of Rev. Richard Zehr. He was a great asset to this ministry and always had words of wisdom regarding circumstances facing this ministry.

I want to sum this all up by saying. “Well done good and faithful servants of the Lord” you are awesome in your support of Brook Haven House. Without you and your commitment these women and babies would not have a place to come in Carthage to receive Gods love in this manner.

Sincerely,

Lawson Lehman

President