A “Total” Miracle

A Total Station was one thing on the wish list of AMI’s co-founder, architect, business manager, and much more–Daniel Bacchiocchi. Sounds like a place to get fuel for your car, doesn’t it? Though it isn’t a gas station, Total Station equipment does provide speed… to the building process. Total Stations are highly sophisticated pieces of equipment that use GPS, computers, and specialized prisms to measure vertical, horizontal, and slope distances electronically. They can be used to mark out chosen points of a blueprint when laying out a building on site, or to create a computerized lay of the land similar to what a surveyor would map out on paper. As you can imagine, such technology is pricey. Imagine you are the architect planning buildings that extend over gullies and perch on the sides of valleys, or decks that wrap around large trees. How many thousands of calculations would go into laying out such structures? Daniel couldn’t help but dream of using a Total Station for the plans of AMI. But research revealed that a Total Station of the caliber AMI needed would cost at least $42,000. That definitely isn’t the kind of money AMI can allocate for such a tool, despite its extreme usefulness. Daniel checked on eBay, just in case. And among the pricey possibilities was a Total Station, same brand, in pristine condition, almost the same model he had priced new, except this model did not require an annual licensing fee to use its software. Daniel contacted the seller right away and asked if he would knock off $1,000. The seller agreed and said he would throw in a brand new bipod and a couple tripods. So Daniel purchased the Total Station, for only $14,000! Troy Homenchuk, one of the employees at Master’s Builders and the photographer who took the picture above, watched hours of YouTube videos learning how to run the equipment and saved the $2,000 cost of training classes. He used the Total Station to mark out the Multipurpose Building for the groundbreaking event. It works perfectly. God knows our heart’s desires. And He must be desiring to speed up the development of the AMI property, because that purchase was a “Total” miracle! The support of so many who have prayed, sent encouraging messages, and donated The beautiful 77 acres of wooded property with bubbling spring Promises from God regarding the ability to finish paying for the property one day Our wonderfully dedicated 11 Advisory Board Committee Members All of Michael Kusarawana’s good work (website and videography) All of Troy Homenchuk’s good work (graphic design and photography) All of Toni Minikus’ good work as Administrative Coordinator The Big 40x80 Tent (and volunteers for set-up and tear down!) A 20ft storage trailer (and Dan’s amazing job adding our logo) BOSE sound system (and Matt Minikus’ help setting it up) God holding off the rain until the end of our Open House event All of Kathy Sturgess’s volunteer work in bookkeeping until future employment with AMI Komatsu bulldozer, Genie telehandler, CAT multi-terrain loader with attachments, CASE mini excavator, JLG articulated lift, hauling trailer, Helical pile driver, MACK dump truck All of Emily Garcia’s good work to sort out our health and liability insurance The establishment of AMI Health Ministries for our medical missionary work Dr. John Kelly partnering with us in Medical Missionary work D&L Construction taking on our building project in January (Amish-based group building the shell of the Multipurpose Building) Anticipated partnership with “Living Stones Journey’s” transformational tours The donation of an additional 8 acres of land adjacent to the first Anticipated partnership with David and Julie Kelly in videography/social media Groundbreaking day! (and the Lockwitz/Orsburn volunteer hospitality) A role for each of us to fill in forwarding the Gospel Mission What began as hardship for Everett and Esther Lucas turned into an opportunity for ministry. Everrett had lost his job shortly after the events of 9/11, and so the couple were invited to Florida by Everett's brother to learn and to help with his beekeeping business. They never looked back. Today Everett and Esther take care of about 700 of their own hives, migrating seasonally between the orange groves of Florida and the blueberry fields of Michigan. Their barrels and jars of golden honey not only sweeten homes but are also used to bless God’s work. For decades, the lovely couple have supported countless ministries with part of the earnings from the bees and honey, including the building of the Edwardsburg Church and a recent donation to what God is building through AMI. Mr. And Mrs. Lucas trusted God’s plan for their lives, and thanks to God, their bees, hard work, and open hearts, Everett and Esther have turned honey into hope and the propelling of the gospel. __________ Another donation was shared this month by a supporter who decided to forgo her cosmetic dental work in order to support AMI. “I’m in my eighties. I don’t need to worry about my looks. And I want to give something to further the mission.” __________ Thank you to all of our sweet supporters who have sacrificed their money, their time, and their love. We are so thankful to be united in service to God!