NORTH MANKATO — Like many homeowners, North Mankato resident Beckie Midler had many projects on her to do list.
From painting to cleaning out the garage, there was a lot that needed to get done.
“I talked about getting these rooms painted. My kids didn’t know when they’d be able to, but they were going to help me,” she said.
Midler fell and broke her neck in October, meaning there were lots of tasks she couldn’t check off on her own.
“(My husband) had planned on doing all of this last summer. He was going to do all the painting, just different things, and stuff in the garage that we were getting rid of,” she said.
Sadly, Midler’s husband, Mark died last February after a battle with cancer.
So when Tyler and Heather Luethje said they wanted to do all the work for her, Midler felt nothing short of blessed. Midler got to know the Luethje’s at Hillside Church, where all three attend.
While all have been members for a while, their paths never quite crossed since they went to different services.
That changed when Tyler and Heather’s adoption journey led them to an organization called Both Hands.
“Adoption is an extremely expensive thing, with ours expected to probably be around $50,000. With that comes a lot of fundraising,” said Tyler. The couple is seeking a child from Bulgaria.
“When we started this process almost two years ago now, you look through different fundraising possibilities and grant possibilities, and through that and other adoption resources, we came across (Both Hands.)”
Based out of Tennessee, Both Hands’ mission is to serve orphans, widows and adoptive families.
“Both Hands connects orphans and widows together, and it was a very unique fundraising project where we are serving a widow by having a sponsor team to raise funds for us and then serve a widow on their behalf,” Tyler said.
He and Heather eventually met Midler after asking other members of their church who could be a good candidate to help.
Since 2008, Both Hands projects have raised over $16 million for adoptions and orphan care. The organization has also led over 1,000 projects in 45 states.
Midler’s home was one of a handful projects across the country this weekend.
A team of volunteers got to work Saturday painting the interior of her home, putting in a new landing area outside her patio door, power washing the outside of her property and more.
It was all at no cost to Midler thanks to donated supplies from organizations like Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams Paint Store.
Heather said the process has opened their eyes.
“I think our eyes have opened the further we get in the process and the further we’re understanding what scripture calls us to do as believers to care for orphans and widows,” she said.
Midler believes God has blessed her this past year.
“My first reaction was wow,” she said. “He comes along and says we’re going to do everything, and I can’t even do a thing but sit here and watch. Do you know how hard that is for someone that likes to do it themselves?”