prayers

Yesterday my mother called to tell me about a lady at her work whose apartment had burnt down.  The family (mom, dad and 3 children) was left with nothing.  I sent out an email to the ladies of Women's Bible Fellowship.  This community of mothers responded immediately.  None of these women know the lady whose home is gone.  And yet, they felt compelled to help a stranger.  I am overwhelmed with God's provision.  The bags and boxes full of clothes and toys are a visual representation of how much God wants to love His children.  Thank you Lord for filling these women with compassion and generosity.  

If you feel drawn to help the Garcia family- will you please bring your donation to my home or email me.

Girls clothing size 4 and 5

Boys clothing size 18months

Women's clothing size 12 or Large

Men's clothing size 36 waist or XL

Bedding, Household Items (kitchen supplies) 

I'm starting a campaign to find 20 counselors for Girls Camp at Twin Rocks by the 20th of April.  Camp isn't until the end of June...but we really need to get our team in place as soon as possible.  

If you can help spread the word about 20 by 20- I would be ever so grateful!! 

Facts:

Camp for Counselors and Staff begins June 28th at 3pm 

Camp ends for Counselors and Staff on July 4th at 1:30pm

Girls Camp rocks.

We want to have 2 counselors (or a counselor and jr. counselor in every cabin)

We have an awesome staff already in place - full of new ideas/programs/games and songs.

I have an amazing Co-Director-Lecia Retter

Our Speaker this year is Sarah Baldwin-campus pastor at George Fox University 

God is so evident in this ministry to 4th-6th grade girls.

Counseling is fun and rewarding.

Coming to Twin Rocks will be a life-changing experience for everyone who attends-kids and adults. 

To apply go to:  http://208.14.151.22/fmi/iwp/cgi?-db=Staff%20Application&-loadframes 

I got pretty excited last night when Michelle told me she'd heard and seen that the African Children's Choir will be back in Oregon this month (December). And not just because it's the AFC in general, but because it is the same choir which came to Newberg last November when we were graced to care for Dora, Stella and Esther in our home for two days.

Their tour ends on January 9, 2008 in Eugene. Before that, they will be close by in Aloha on December 23rd and Salem on December 27th, as well as other cities in Oregon between now and then. I am filled with emotion thinking about seeing them sing for their last couple of performances before they travel back to their homeland. On many days I've lifted up prayers for these children in the past year as they have traveled around the US. I must thank God again, now, for bringing back their shining faces and beautiful voices to fill my heart with joy.

It has been too long since we posted an update on Amalija. We heard from many friends wanting to know what has come as a result of all of our prayers. Well, the big answer, is that she is definitely coming! Her and our prayers have been answered and more. While we were looking to get only enough funding for her first year at school, to date, from the hearts of our friends and family to Amalija's friends and family abroad, she has received almost enough money for two years at Fox. It has been amazing to see this happen.

Right now, I am unsure when exactly her arrival date is, but is probably around August 9th. This is two days before we get back from vacation, but the Stansell's have been gracious to offer their home temporarily until we return. Now that we are on this trip, we are looking forward to meeting her as soon as we can.

-Alan and Family

We have witnessed the amazing power of prayer, the warmth and generosity of our f/Friends and family, and a clear sign of way in which He wishes and intends to employ Amalija to do His good will here on earth. As of this week, with current donations and existing pledges of support in the future months, Amalija has the funds she needs to move to the next step in her journey here to be with us.

Below is a email we just received from her this morning. Our family sends out our deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone who has given and pledged support. You are God at Work.

Below is a copy of a thoughtful email recently sent from Rick Muthiah. It talks about Amalija and our desire to find her the money to allow her to begin attending Fox this fall. With all the opportunities which have made themselves available to Amalija to attend, we believe it is His plan to have her here in our lives. But that means we need to do the practical things such as raising the money necessary. Please prayerfully consider how God can use a woman like Amalija to spread his peace and love. Bless You!

---

Amalija Laslo is a 27-year old Serbian woman who hopes to attend George Fox University (GFU) as an undergraduate this fall. Amalija, who plans to study international relations with a minor in peace studies, has been accepted by the university and is one of 18 students invited into the Freshman Honors Seminar. Amalija was introduced to George Fox by (GFU professor) Ron and Carolyn Stansell’s daughter after the two of them met at a school in the Czech Republic.

Amalija writes, The vision and hope for my future is humanitarian work in the context of equipping individuals to work against poverty, conflict and society problems in their own environment and helping them with different resources. I believe that the possibility of studying at George Fox University will be more then just an opportunity for me to study, but a time to help shape my future.

Of approximately $34,000 needed for her first year, all but about $10,000 is covered (as of June 9) through a combination of scholarships, anticipated work income, and free room and board at the Duckfamily household, who are members of Newberg Friends Church. By July 1, Amalija needs proof that she can cover the remaining $10,000 if she is to be granted a student visa. Amalija's mission and sense of calling seems closely aligned with the work and ethos of the Friends church; thus, it seemed fitting to invite members of the Friends—and the broader community of believers—to support her in her calling.

Donations can be made for Amalija by writing a check to Newberg Friends Church and designating it to "Amalija." Newberg Friends will also be collecting pledges of financial support for Amalija. Please contact Michelle and Alan via the Contact form, or Denise in the church office at 503.538.8381 if you want to pledge a monthly amount. Unfortunately, donations to Amalija are not tax deductible.

In an e-mail to Rick Muthiah, Amalija wrote, I prayed and believed that God will find people who will take interest in my situation, therefore I know that your response is response from God, you are used in such a powerful way by God.

We pray that Amalija’s words would be applicable to a wide array of supporters within the Newberg community and beyond.

YouTube's 31st most viewed video forwarded to me by my brother. I can't add much else...

Today is the day my brother Scott heads overseas on a C-130 transport. Deluxe accomodations all the way, let me tell you. He gets to choose between a bench along the wall, or a spot on the floor between pallets of supplies with a seabag pillow.

He called me five times this afternoon as they were preparing to depart and let me know that former President Bill Clinton was in the same place he was. They got to take some snapshots with the ex-prez:

And they had a few moments to talk with him about their deployment to a nation in Africa near Ethopia and Somalia.

Here's a short video clip as he and others chat:

While I'm not happy to have Scott called back to active duty, I am proud of him for honoring his commitment and sacrifices he and his wife are having to make in service to our country. Politics aside, our nation would not be free today were it not for men like him then and now. Please pray for his safety and the safety, health and quick recall of all our military personnel involved in active conflicts around the world. Naive a prayer as it may be, I also pray that God will help us see an end to the bloodshed wherever it may be.

I love you, Scott. We're now counting down the days until you return.

We were blessed again this past week to watch, listen, enjoy and remember our girls from the African Children's Choir as they performed with Josh Groban on Idol Gives Back. I haven't got caught up in the whole American Idol "thing" or "phenomena" and we typically don't watch it. However, this night was different as two nights of performances and videos were shown to raise awareness and money for impoverished children in the US and Africa. I have again been amazed at how God is able to use seemingly improbable venues and people to bring glory to Him. As of April 26, which is now three days ago, over $60 million has been raised. Simply amazing.

Michelle posted Silent Night on her blog back on December 23rd when the choir appeared on The Tonight Show, to which I added the video I recorded onto VHS tape. Editing her entry, I added a remark that I wish I had a High Definition version of the show. Well, I haven't found that particular show in HD yet, but the American Idol show was in HD and I did record it. So my prayer has been answered.

[Geek speak: Lucky for me, Idol (Fox) is not encrypted (the 5c bit set to "Copy Freely") which means I can stream it to my Mac over Firewire from my DVR, capture it with AVCVideoCap which is part of the freely available Apple FireWire SDK, and transcode it from MPEG2-TS to AVI or QuickTime with MPEG Streamclip]

I haven't been able to add nametags to our girls in the video, but here are still pictures of them from the video:

Dora

Esther

Stella

If you didn't watch the show, I think it would be worth the time to download one of the files below. While these High Definition files are large, the quality is stunning. And, if you have a high-powered PC, the AVI file below is full 720p including 5.1 surround sound. If you have trouble with the AVI file, you may need AC3Filter for audio or DivX for video.

Right-click and download:
Download QuickTime 720p version [100.7MB, 1280x720, 29.97fps, stereo]
Download DivX AVI 5.1 version [104.5MB, 1280x720, 59.94fps, 5.1 surround] (May require VLC for OSX.)

If you don't have a need (or desire) to watch this in HD or surround sound, you can also download relatively small version which weighs in at a meager 23.8MB.

Dora, Esther and Stella, "Our girls," look beautiful .... just like they did when they were here. I've watched the video several times and even though they only singing background for Josh, I get emotional watching and listening to their small yet strong voices. I remember so well hearing them in person the two times we were blessed to be able to, and I long to see them and hug them again. May God continue to enrich their lives, and to give them strength as they continue on their journey. I pray He keeps their faith strong when they return to their homeland to further their education, that they share their friend Jesus with everyone they meet and have the courage to listen and obey God throughout their lives.

Growing up, (I'm still growing up) I used to think going on an African safari would be so much fun. I loved watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom each week. The thought of getting to see those lions in the wild, while "safely" peeking my head out the top of a Land Rover seemed like the perfect adventure.

Now I'm not so sure that's the kind of African adventure I'm seeking. In fact, I know it's not. I still love wildlife and seeing the beauty of the Savanna the grandure of Victoria Falls, or going on a gorilla expedition in Rwanda would be amazing-but not nearly as fulfilling as working with the African people would be. Let me just put this out there-if I wasn't such a weeny, if I didn't have commitments to uphold here, if someone said-here's a "free year", here's a plane ticket, here's the know-how, here's the money, the place, go now and serve in an African orphanage with your family for a year or help with the Music For Life program (African Children's Choir) I think I'd go. yeah, I'd go.

Alan's away right now and I've had lots of time to think, to get stuff done, and yes, to watch TV late at night when I can't sleep because he's not here to cuddle with, to listen to his snore, and to keep my feet warm. I can't sleep with my freezing cold feet. I even put a heating pad on my feet-it's not nearly the same as my cozy warm hubby. Ok, I'm getting off topic- the point is that I've been watching some TV And last night on Anderson Cooper 360 the show was about Oprah's Leadership School in South Africa. AMAZING. I know that some Christians have a problem with Oprah-I don't want to get into that controversy-but I believe this is a woman who is changing the world-and in this case-it's for the better. She's giving girls a chance to learn, to change their lives through education-through having food in their stomachs each night! Oh, God we take for granted SO much in this country.

On the same show they showed a white South African who has given her life to running an orphanage for children stranded by the AIDS epidemic. Beautiful innocent children who have done nothing wrong-but are left with no parents and now are stigmatized by their own people because they have parents who died of AIDS. Wow, what a complete joy and heartache it must be to love those little ones-If my heart is going to break, let it be for innocent, parentless children God. I love children so much, and I could easily see myself cooking, cleaning and caring for these forgotten ones.

My life, as you know if you've been reading this blog, has been deeply touched by the African Children's Choir and the ministries they provide for children-many of whom have lost one or both their parents due to disease or war. Please pray with me that if it is God's will for Alan and I to further our involvement with this ministry at some point that we will have the courage to do so.

Friends of ours at church are headed to Kenya in May-to work with some missionaries there at a hospital, on computer "stuff." Wow, a couple who have commitments here and yet are willing to set time, money, and comfort aside to love others in Africa-hmm.... I think I have a lesson to learn.

My brother-in-law is about to spend a year in Africa-he just got called up out of the reserves to serve in Djibouti. It's right next to Somalia. He doesn't really have a choice in the matter at this point, but he's putting his life in the USA aside-leaving a wife and school, and the possibility of starting a family, to serve his country. I don't know what kind of danger he'll be in. I pray his role in Africa will be a positive one for the African people. I pray he comes home safe, I pray his life will be touched in a profound way by his mission. I pray his mission is your will God.

God you know me, you know my heart, you have put all these things in front of my eyes. You've given me your Spirit to guide me and light my path. I feel the excitement, I can sense the adventure-now if I just didn't have cold feet.