Look at me - I'm Happy!

This past week was spent at McCall, Idaho at the Boise Royal Family Kids' Camp. Forty-three kids - all in foster care - had an amazing week of camp. Games, music, activity centres, swimming, chapel, laughs and more. Kids from all backgrounds of neglect and abuse experienced caring people all showing unconditional love and acceptance. Kids were listened to, affirmed, praised, encouraged and challenged to participate in zipline, archery, ropes course and canoeing. Down at the dock I took a photo of one of the younger campers and when I showed her the photo in the camera screen she exclaimed "Look at me! I'm happy!"

That was the thing she noticed - 'I am happy". Happiness is surely every child's right, but sadly many children rarely experience this emotion. If you can get behind one of the 150+ RFKC camps this summer, please do so and allow more troubled and hurting kids experience some 'happy childhood memories"

Check out: http://www.rfkc.org/ and http://www.rfkcboise.org/ and http://www.sckc.org.au

The Ripple Effect of a Life of Influence

THE RIPPLE EFFECT - A Life of Influence

Last month Sue's cousin Jeanette Kruljac went home to be with the Lord. Jeanette had fought a good fight against Non-Hodgkins and over the years we had seen the Lord's hand in so many ways in her life. It was with disbelief that I received the call from Sue that she was now with Jesus. I first met Jeanette in 1978 when a friend and I toured western US for the first time. I have been her pen-pal since my pastor Richard Holland (Founding Pastor of CityLife Church in Melbourne) visited Jeanette's church and ministered to their youth group. Jeanette and I corresponded for some years before I got to visit. Her kids Greg and Lisa were about 8 and 2 at the time and we had a great week with them. It was during this visit that I first met Sue and her family and we too began to spasmodiacally correspond. The rest is history - my church brought Sue out to minister in 1990 and again in '91 and she and I began working together in '92. Through Jeanette - her encouragement, her prayers and continued support - we have touched the children of nations around the world. As I heard stories of Jeanette's life I realised that all with whom she came into contact were in some way impacted. Neighbours, work colleagues, church members - all were ministered to in some way. Jeanette's love of life and family, her spontaneous joy even when her body was under attack, her love and loyalty to Larry and her kids (all of them) and her honor and love for her parents Bud and Olive was inspirational. We will miss her laugh and sparkling eyes, her love of adventure (she wanted to visit Australia so much) and generous spirit. We mourn a loss.....but heaven rejoices as Jesus says "Well done".

Mountain Moments.....

In the month since I last blogged, I prepared to leave for the US summer camp program with Sue, met with SCKC board and personnel on several occasions, spoke at a couple of churches and hosted a friend from Brisbane. Flew out on June 13 for Seattle and after two days there headed down to Boise. On Sunday we drove to Idaho City - a small western town that was in its heyday in the 1800's when gold was discovered. Every year a non-profit organisation "Isaiah's Ranch" hold several camps and events for kids and teens in this mountain area. The week long day camp reached 38 needy kids, hungry for attention and love. On the last day of camp I invited kids to come out and share what they had enjoyed about camp. Usually this centres on the games, the crafts etc. but this year was different. Almost every child commented that the best thing about camp was the love they felt, the care of so many people, the fact that kids chose to be nice to other kids, that they made more friends than ever before and on it went. It is our privilege to be a part of this camp, headed up by Michelle and Tim and a great team for volunteers. If you want to know more, check out www.isaiahsranch.org

"A little child...."

Today a friend and I had lunch in a local restaurant. As a confirmed "people watcher'" I enjoyed the scene at the next table, obviously a family get-together. A young couple with their first baby, their parents, possibly a brother and his wife, and their grandparents. Four generations around the same table and all with eyes only for the new arrival. The little girl was passed from hand to hand, a proud dad pointing out all the important things "Look at her smile...her hair...her little hands...." A grandfather was constantly videoing at every angle and the great grandparents simly smiled and nodded, delighted at the "next generation." It was a circle of family, all focused on one tiny baby. I couldn't help but think of the African quote that "it takes a vilage to raise a child" and that reminded me of speaking at a baby dedication service many years ago. The verse that I used is the one Isaiah uses speaking of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Christians understand that this verse speaks of Jesus' earthly birth, as a child, AND his status as deity - a son - the son of God - is given." Jesus, both man and God. But I saw this verse as having some application to all births. Every child is given by God to their parents as an earthly child, but their potential is to become a son or daughter of God, and parents need all the help they can get. If you, like me, belong to a Christian community or church, take a look at all your young families with their earthly children....and remember you can be role model and a godly influence in helping these little ones reach their spiritual potential. Keep an eye out for single parents in particular - they may love a spare set of grandparents to be in the life of their child.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Sarah and her family celebrating
21 great years. Love the smile.....

Pic on right: The cousins. Four great young adults (well, Sarah IS 21 and Jon and Tom are not far behind...Oh and Jaymie is 7 going on 8....) These young people give me great joy - they make time for me - I love 'hanging out' with them. (Actually I am the ONLYone with anything hanging out!) I enjoy listening to their world...uni....dreams and aspirations....and most of all what God is doing in their lives. Congrats Sarah - you are a true Princess and God's love shines through you. [Loved the dvd's too...and the cake.....and the laughs....and your friends are awesome. Go girl!

World Impact Week - CityLife Church

World Impact is the missions arm of CityLife. What a tremendous vision they have to plant churches world wide. To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the church some 42 missions workers were flown in from their fields in S.E. Asia, Eastern Europe, India, Russia, Indonesia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. How impacting it was for us to meet together, to renew old friendships and forge new ones, to see a bigger picture of God working in the world. We were both ministered to in many ways - practical, spiritual, social.

It was a great week of refreshing and a fitting finish to Sue's marathon three months of ministry in Cambodia, Malaysia and several states of Australia. She flew home May 1 to minister at a Women's Retreat, spend time with family in Boise and prepare for the summer ministry time in the US.

Pic #1 is the group photo of all our workers (blurred intentionally)

Pic #2 Sue and I at our info table for International Night.

CONGRATULATIONS SUE!

Twenty years ago this month, Sue took a 'leap of faith' and stepped out of a secure position on church staff in her home town of Boise, Idaho. She moved to Seattle and launched an ininerant ministry working with churches in reaching children and training and equipping children's workers. The early years were a test of faith but as Sue puts it: "The safest place for you to be is in the centre of God's will for your life". And over the years this has proven true. CCM (Carpenter's Cross Ministries) has travelled to many countries including India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, China and more, training national workers and inspiring people everywhere with passion for kids. Congrats Sue - seen here cutting her cake and talking to Larry (AKA Carolyn). Coincidentally Larry chalks up 10 years and Carolyn 15 as part of the CCM team.