Karen Belton

OverComing Obstacles

<p>Let me say THANK YOU, for your interest in my story.&nbsp; I have a small craft business that I run from by home.&nbsp; The purpose in my funding is to STOP an approaching foreclosure.&nbsp; The payoff amount of my home is $179,679.99.&nbsp; Even though I have been working with the bank for a loan restructure, they have informed me that they are moving forward with foreclosure proceedings as soon as August 2012, until a resolution can be made.&nbsp; My campaign funding amount will help me, bring my loan current, and have money to put into my craft business. My testimony is about Triumph over Tragedy! &nbsp;I believe that I have a gift from God! I thank Him for spearing my life, and giving me this gift.&nbsp; And now I&rsquo;d like to share it with the world!</p> <p>I am a 51 year &nbsp;old multiple amputee, and single mother.&nbsp;&nbsp; March 1992, I had brain surgery to remove a blood clot from the right side of my brain. In June of 92, both legs were amputated below the knee.&nbsp; In July 92, my right and dominant hand was amputated.&nbsp; And in August of 92, four fingers, two fully and two partly, were also amputated on the left hand.&nbsp; This vascular illness left me with just 2 &frac12; fingers and one hand .&nbsp; God is so good to me, because I type faster now, then I ever did with all ten fingers.&nbsp;&nbsp; You can laugh, because that&rsquo;s funny!&nbsp; Doctors say that people who had, what I had, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">DON&rsquo;T LIVE</span>!&nbsp; And if they do survive, the life expectancy is 1 to 5 years.&nbsp; I am blessed to be here!&nbsp; All of this happened to me <span style="text-decoration: underline;">twenty years ago</span>.&nbsp; I am telling you all of this because I want you to get to know a little bit about my struggles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>&nbsp;The story continues&hellip;&hellip;.</em></strong></p> <p>After surviving this illness,&nbsp;I relocated to Georgia.&nbsp;&nbsp;After one year of investing in the stock market, and loosing a major portion of money, I divested. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I joined a new and upcoming ministry and accepted a calling on my life as an evangelist.&nbsp;&nbsp; Things were really great!&nbsp;&nbsp; I began to monetarily support the church ministry.&nbsp; The Pastor told me that he wanted to put me on the board of trustee for my help and support.&nbsp;&nbsp; I told him I was not expecting anything, but agreed to his request.&nbsp;&nbsp; Subsequently, his secretary called and asked me for my birth date and social security number.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I asked her &ldquo;for what&rdquo;, she responded to finalize the paperwork for the church attorney. &nbsp;&nbsp;This was to finalize the new position as a trustee member.&nbsp;&nbsp; I believed and trusted the pastor, and gave them the information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took the info and put it on an AMEX application, and forged my name.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was devastated!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I reported his behavior to the police.&nbsp;&nbsp; Months of a police investigation uncovered that this man had NO preaching credentials, and the ALL church donations were going into his pocked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In all he was charged to FIVE counts of identity theft.&nbsp; He got five years, served three and was deported back to Nigeria.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;My mother and 81 year old grand father moved here to support me emotionally and financially, and help me keep my house.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One month after he arrived, &nbsp;my grand father passed away in my son&rsquo;s bedroom early one morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;It&rsquo;s been a few years now, and I still miss him.&nbsp; &nbsp;I took a job as a Veterinarian Receptionist and worked there for a year until the doctor closed the clinic.&nbsp;&nbsp; My mother is 72 and has noe retired from working and can no longer help me.</p> <p>&nbsp;it&rsquo;s hard to believe that all of these experiences happened to one person.&nbsp; Yes there are times when I am overwhelmed.&nbsp; But, I think the message for my life is that &ldquo;of my own, I can do nothing&hellip;..But I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I want my life to demonstrate that you can overcome obstacles, and live a full life dedicated to the Lord.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; God Bless You.</p>

About Me

• 8 Campaigns From the launch to the finish line, these were the campaigns you ran to make something happen for your entrepreneurial, cause-related, or creative passions.
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