Introduction

We have a sister in Christ, Teri Dettmering, who has been dealing with many challenges for a very long time. By the grace of God our Lord has sustained her in conditions that have been painful and unstable.

Here is a summary of her story. Years ago Teri quit her job to move in and help her step father who had Alzheimer’s. After he passed away her mother got very sick. So Teri remained to take care of her until she also passed away.

Then she needed to move in with her daughter and son where she is now. They are leasing a house in the countryside. She lost her car in an incident that described on the page of this site named Past. She has had troubles with her feet that made it painful to walk.

I met Teri through an online small group. I have witnessed her faith in Jesus Christ greatly improve through facing many financial challenges. She has prayed much and requested many prayers. God has made a way for her bills to be paid through the generous donations of fellow Christians.

Her current conditions are not sustainable. Things will not get better if left alone. I have talked at length with her on the phone and exchanged text messages. Together we created the contents of this site. This includes summaries of her Past, Present and Future that are available at the links on the right side. The Future includes Seven Seasons. These seasons began when we first started to correspond. They continue to the next major transition that is her relocating and until she is well established there.

Teri needs a residence where she can access employment by public transportation or a car. She needs a suitable support network and ways to minister both online and offline. All of these changes are very possible. We have already seen God move in amazing ways in response to many prayers.

In order to both meet the short term needs and facilitate the transition then there must be a combination of many prayers and generous donors. That means that many more people need to know about our sister in Christ so they can pray and give. I have asked Teri to help me write down summaries of her Past, Present and Future. These will help to quickly orient the new supporters to the needs and plans for workable solutions to the problems. There will also be brief video interviews to describe her background, current needs, future plans, prayer requests and testimonies of answered prayers.

The purpose on this document is to provide the complete story. A person can read it and understand both the big picture as well as the next steps.

Past Present and Future

In this context Past refers to the various factors that go back many years that have contributed to the current conditions. Nothing happens in a vacuum. In order to best understand the real needs and develop lasting solutions then the roots causes of the problems need to be examined. This is why a doctor asks for medical history in order to better interpret the symptoms at hand. Then the treatments will not only address the symptoms but will also deal with the root causes so there is no reoccurrence.

In this context Present refers to the external situation and internal matters. There are several layers that overlap. These will be described separately. But let us notice they are all alive and active in her life at the same time. I consider this a Danger Zone because of how it has been hurting her physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing. It has been wearing on her to barely get by from month to month by asking the same friends to help. And the money has arrived often at the last minute.

In this context Future refers to an approximate sketch of a map to get her from the Present Danger Zone to her Promised Land including a much better residence, suitable employment and support network. The map of the Future is divided into seven seasons. They follow a logical sequence. There is only one date used and that was assigned by an outside institution. The seven seasons could unfold rapidly or slowly. And they are general enough to apply to most other people involved in major transitions. Thinking, talking and praying about these seasons helps to make wise preparations, increase hope and improve faith. It puts the present discomforts into the light of those desirable results. This provides a track for plans and actions that is reasonable, safe and sane.

Lord willing during the coming weeks and months the seasons will go from a future hope to a present condition and then to an established memory. That measurable progress will glorify God because the only way these major changes could have happened was due to the answers to many prayers. Those who prayed will be encouraged and inspired to pray more for Teri and others.