From the time we arrived in Kansas until the time we had an apartment was about five months. The first month we were at Glen and Judy’s for two weeks and then with the Waller’s for two weeks. The following two weeks we were at the Cromwell’s home, the family that we met the first Sunday we attended the Olive Branch Church. When we left the Cromwell’s, Jim and Bonnie rescued us, and we were at their home for a little over three months.
We now believe that during those three and a half months that the LORD was parading us before the leadership and congregation. God’s intent, we believe, was to assess what the church would or would not do for a family in obvious need. We were at the time unaware of God’s plan for this book and the reasons for us being homeless and without income for so long. It seemed as if we were locked into a stagnant position. 
It is necessary for every church to realize that when a family is coming across the country homeless, they will probably not know what to do, and the church needs to provide patience, support, and understanding.
As soon as we began attending the Olive Branch Church we found ourselves under the church leadership’s watchful eyes. They were trying to figure us out, trying to fit us into a mold of what they thought we should be doing. But all the time that they had their eyes on us, God had His eyes on them. The scripture says, “Be careful with what measure you judge, for with that measure you will be judged.”1 The church was given ample opportunities to respond in benevolent ways but chose to ignore our obvious needs.
During this time, we observed a pattern of inconsistencies concerning a church calling itself “Christian,” which means follower of Christ and His teachings, and the merits to support their claim. When we get to Heaven, God is not going to ask us how well we guarded the church building or finances. He will not ask how well we did protecting the sheep from outsiders and the infections they may have. Sure, there are schemers and frauds that want to use our kindness and trample it under foot. But honestly, how much does any of that hurt us? Did it cost a little money or a little time and inconvenience, a little embarrassment? What if five people abuse our kindness, and we avoid helping the sixth, because we don’t want to be taken again? Will we be justified?
“By George, no one is going to make a fool out of me again,” we might say! Yes, we have been defrauded and taken advantage of many times, but then we have seen men weep and women cry when we helped them only to make us realize that we had been the ones that God desired to use to help those individuals. They would tell Janie and me that what we did saved their lives. We have to draw close to the Holy Spirit, and He will direct us and reveal the things we should be doing. The scriptures do say, “Examine yourself to see if you are in The Faith,”2because God will ask us how we handled the souls that came to our door with just a flicker of hope left in them. Will we have any accusers before the throne of God? Will there be any there that we turned away as unfit for our help? This is a serious issue to consider. Any one of us or our children could easily one day be looking for help and see what it is like to be turned away.