Meet Josh - KING of Everything EBAY

Joshua has been working at The Gear Foundation for over two years now. He loves his job and the people he works with. He started working in the Ebay store when he first arrived. There he sorted through items, listed them on Ebay, and shipped them when they sold. He also works in the Thrift Store when they need extra help tagging clothes and carrying bags back and forth. He is a fun loving guy, who has no equal in the characterization department. He hopes to go back to Vanderbilt (where he stayed, when he had leukemia) to work and play with the kids there, while their being treated.

If YOU have NOT visitied our EBAY Store, its on the main website on the lower right.

Meet Keith...

Well, another MONTH ...WOW, where Does the time go? Well, this month I am SO excited to introduce YOU to Keith. Keith has worked with us for TWO years now and he is a fantastic, HARD working, diligent young man. Keith just happens to be a wheelchair user. To ME, Keith is My Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 4:4) Keith IS the whole reason we started a EBAY Business

(http://www.ourthriftstore.org/ )

Ya know there are times when God brings someone special just for YOU to be a blessing to. YOU KNOW....Folks that Don't Have What YOU do, and out of YOUR abundance you can help them? Well Keith is my Gift. Keith deserves MY very BEST. It is such a privilege to employ Keith and when we found out Keith had NEVER SEEN the ocean or swam in it, we sent him on the vacation of his dreams! ? Click here to see great video of that miracle trip!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPeZ4OroA5M
Friends chipped in after hearing about our plan, and we sent him to Florida, Beach House, Walking Around Money (as my Dad put it) and a Private Pool. You GOTTA See the Joy on his face! His FIRST Vacation....Wow.

Well THIS year we decided to fulfill another dream for Keith. Keith has NEVER been to Disneyland. WHAT? My family GREW UP at Disney in Anaheim. Our parents would literally drop us OFF for the day in the Magic Kingdom. So, after sharing our "PLAN" for Keith's MOST EXCELLENT VACATION 2009, a certain MOTOWN Music Star said "HEY, Let's fly him down since he has NEVER FLOWN BEFORE" , Then a certain Country STAR said "HEY, I have the Disney V.I.P Passes handled, then while discussing this PLAN with a certain donor named CHUCK, he said "I have the Universal Studios Passes handled", so as we speak, Keith is wearing out DISNEY and Universal Studios ALL EXPENSES PAID, Just like King David did for Mephibosheth.....Just LIKE God's Heart for Keith.... and US.....

Thanks for reading ....thanks for your prayers that KEEP us going and making a difference for the Kingdom of God and folks like Keith.....The "Least of These" Jesus talked about...

Can I Challenge you with something? May I HUMBLY ask that you seek out a Keith in your life that you can bless? Just think if we all had ONE Keith we gave a hand to........what a ripple effect in our world.... Wanna make God SMILE?

Meet Employee #1 Nathan

Well, it's time to meet the FIRST Employee GEAR ever had, Nathan. Nathan and I started painting mailboxes WAY before Our Thrift Store ever appeared. The week we started our Non Profit called "The Gear Foundation" we hired our First employee. Nate has been with us now for 5 YEARS! Wow, if you look at the beginning days at Our Thrift Store, it was Nathan who was side by side with me as we stripped,polished floors and cleaned up. Nathan also has an incredible talent for photography and has sold many calendars at Our Thrift Store. Nathan is a MAJOR outdoor enthusiast. He hunts EVERYTHING and LOVES to talk all about it. I am SO thankful for our friend and the one I always introduce as "Employee #1". Happy Anniversary Nate!

Meet Clay

Who better to introduce us to Clay than his very proud parents Bob & Karen Sircy.

"Clay loves to "GO TO WORK". His job at Our Thrift Store is a major highlight of his week. Friendly faces welcome him, and patient voices guide him throughout the day. His desire is to work hard and his accomplishments are celebrated. In this place, kindness takes residence. For our family, the culmination of a job well done can be BOTH seen and heard - Nothing is more exciting for Clay than ripping into his paycheck that comes in the mail. Wow! Because just like his brother, Clay has earned his own spending money...and the glow on his face is radiant and contagious. "

Meet Beth

Beth & Sara

Beth is the oldest of the kids we employ at Our Thrift Store, but don't let that fool you. Her child like charm and love for life is off the charts and very contagious. Nothing makes her happier than finding MONEY in any of the pants, shirts or coats she hangs up-When she does LOOK OUT! Her joy can be heard all through the store.

Beth has worked at OTS for almost 4 years now. She has just moved into her own group home from an apartment and she LOVES IT! We are so proud to have Beth with us and she LOVES her job. Another interesting fact about Beth is that she KNOWS EVERYONE in Franklin. Truly...EVERYONE.
The coolest part of living in a small town was again demonstrated when we heard the Tornado Sirens going off. They seem to really frighten Beth. When she got scared she called to talk to her favorite dispatcher at the Franklin Police Department, and the Chief sent a car to pick Beth up and she spent the night right there in Dispatch. Now that's small town service with a heart and such a testimony to Jackie Moore our Police Chief.
You will find Beth diligently working upstairs so drop by sometime to say hey if you are one of the FEW folks in town that has not met Beth.....yet

Meet Paul

Paul & Phil Vasser

Paul Chadwick Sharp
His name is Paul Chadwick Sharp. Heʼs 22 years old. Heʼs been working For the Gear Foundation for about 2 years and 10 months, he going to be on his 3rd year soon. He puts out carts, cleans products, and puts out donations, and basically anything else heʼs asked to do. His hobbies are fishing and reading. His favorite food is Italian and Sothern foods. He has a dog named Daisy. His goal is life is Middle School Pastor.

2009, Here we GO, 2008 is History

OK, what a Blur....Our "Countdown for the Cause" Fundraiser was a TOTAL Blast as expected. Someone at church said today " I am amazed on how much fun we had" Isn't that CRAZY we forget to HAVE FUN along the way? Man our employees Danced ALL Night, along with my Sara who stayed on the dance floor until WAY After 1AM.

We had SO many silent auction items. THANKS to all the local businesses that gave to the cause. We raised a few more dollars for the Arc of Williamson County and our GEAR Foundation which IS the frosting on the cake. I ABSOLUTELY Have to Thank my fund raising committee - Angela and David, Tina and Don Tackett, and Sandy my ANCHOR Wife. They pulled off bringing a TON of Silent and LIVE Auction Items to the event.

All was going just fine, until I was told there was a bidding WAR going on.Surprisingly NOT for the Week stay in the Cayman Islands (Sunshine Suites) or the Aqua Marine 14kt Gold Ring (Walton's Antique Jewelry) BUT with the "Cake a Month Certificate" This was 1 Cake or Pie a Month for 12 Months and MAN these Pies and Cakes are OUT OF THIS WORLD. We LIVE auctioned this one to settle to WAR- We sold these for a touch under $200.00 when all was Said & Done. Debbie Gerstenberger started a business dong these and she is UNBELIEVABLE. The Apple Pie that she brought by the store was VIOLENTLY attacked until every crumb was eaten like a HOOVER Vacuum Cleaner. If YOU EVER wanted something Special for someone that is a Gift of LOVE, email Debbie at pastorbob@crossgenerations.org

We are now celebrating our 5th Year serving young adults with disabilities in both our businesses - Our Thrift Store and Our Fulfillment Center. I could not be ore blessed to DO what I DO for these young adults in creating jobs for them in a safe and caring environment.

BIG PLANS for 2009

1. PLEASE pray as we STEP out in Faith Again on Two New Businesses that I believe with ALL my heart the Lord wants us to start that will allow us to SERVE even more young adults with disabilities. We will talk SOON about these as soon as the doors open on these opportunities.

2. I can't WAIT to introduce you to our newest Hire Ashley. Ashley is a spectacular writer and does not fit real well in the working world because of her vision problems. Ashley will be helping me make THIS a Fantastic place to visit every week. We have a STORY to tell and Ashley was brought to us to help tell it. The Lord Knows I can't write.

3. YOUR Homework... Read Proverbs 3:27 - We MUST fulfill this scripture in our lives. THIS year we will ALLOW the Lord to POUR MORE thru us.

We can't look forward without saying goodbye to 2008 and the Blessings we particpated in, can I brag a Little on God?

Last Year we:

- Gave over 50,000 pieces of clothing AWAY
- Supported 7 different minsitries with STUFF they needed WE had
- Processed enough STUFF to support 30 employees

God is Faithful. I pray he shows you "What he has set aside for YOU" in 2009