deb_liesa

 

Vista Hills Homeschool ministry was originated by "two fat women on a mission from God."  lol  I'm Deb. My husband, Volker, and I have 4 kids - two girls 17 and 13 and two boys 11 and 11. Vickie has since had to step down from ministry.

We felt that God was calling us to support homeschoolers in ways that the average group does not -- based on the example of the Christian church Paul describes in the Bible. A group of Christian, and even some non-Christian women who love and support one another,  pool resources, and pray in earnest for one another.

Our motto is: "If we all pull together, we will all pull through...."

This is not a ministry initiated or provided for by a church, but a ministry initiated by God in the hearts of two homeschooling moms.   Basically, I am an uneducated, unorganized, illequipped, unhealthy mom who is being used and empowered by God to do the impossible.  Pretty cool when you think about it.

This is not a "Church specific" ministry. My church provides the ministry with a classroom and prayer support - everything else I am able to do depends on Gods provision.   I find that because we have the classroom at the church, people think they have to come to our church to belong or that I have finances provided for the ministry - they don't and I don't.  I depend on God to make it possible to do all I do. 

I run the ministry out of whatever God provides. All of our classes are free and we never allow anyone to be left out of any other field trip, dance or other event because they can't afford it.  

If one of our moms is in trouble, we do everything we can to help. If we can't physically “do” anything, we can always pray, and we try to remember to do that before we do anything else.

We encourage and meet with new homeschoolers to kind of give them a “feel” for what homeschooling is and show them some of the different kinds of curriculum and "schools of thought" for teaching.

We have a homeschool library which has curriculum which was donated by other homeschoolers for moms to check out for a year and bring back when they are done. It isn't really organized right now, but we are working on it. If you would rather keep a book, then we allow that as well for a donation to the ministry. (The amount is between you and God -- we trust you to be faithful.)

Our church has provided us with a classroom to do with as we will, so when God provides us with a teacher, we set up classes. All of our classes are free -- God was very clear that we are not allowed to charge for them. If you want to teach a class, we would love to have you do it in our classroom, but it has to be as a service to Christ or we can't use you. 

We also try to provide other events, such as dances and field trips.

We even have moms who donate their talents such as pedicures and manicures for free one day a month. We call it "spa day" This is a day of fellowship, support and prayer -- to refresh and pamper our moms, so they can continue the ministry God has called them to as a wives, mothers, and teachers, with strong faith and light hearts.  (all the while the kids are screaming their heads off and playing for all they are worth - lol - it is a good day for them as well. )

The most important function of this ministry, I believe, is communication between the moms. Through the Vista Hills Homeschool ministry email list, we pass information. Whether it is a field trip, answering questions, a cool web site or a prayer request, we share it with each other. This is how we all stay connected and get to know each other. Most of us have never met one another. (I'd say there are about 20-30 who participate regularly - how active you are completely depends on you)  We just know each other through the email, yet we know we are never alone. There are sisters out there who are praying us through.  

If you have questions on any subject, just shoot an email through and ask all the other moms. There are about 210 of them willing to give an opinion on just about anything. 

The only price we charge for being part of this ministry is that we ask you to take a moment and actually pray over each and every concern that comes through. And if you find that I am worthy of an extra "tip" for my efforts, I ask that you cover me with prayer for wisdom, health, time to do the work, financial and other provisions to do the things God wants me to do, and find a"balance" between God (lest He end up at the bottom of my priority list), my husband, my children and the ministry. 

I am here to serve you by the power of the Holy Spirit living in me through Jesus Christ our Lord. The name is "Homeschool" Ministry but we are about the Lord's business. You can ask us for help for anything. We pray first, and if the Lord says "do" -- we do. 

If we sound like "your cup of tea" drop me a note and I will add your name to the address list. :o).

For Gods Glory!

Deb