Running to the Darkness

When in Rome! January 31, 2012

What an incredible amazing God! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be able to venture to Italy! But then again I never greamed of going to India or China either! As a matter of fact, God sent me to both of those places and I went afraid!

It wasn't that I came to Italy in fear but I just never asked to come here, but God has certainly delighted me while here already! We arrived on Tuesday morning here about 7:30 a.m. (about 1:30 a.m. in Kansas City) Patrick Nachital, Regional Director for the Church of God Missions met us at the airport with the pastor, Daniel, of the host church of the Three Worlds Conference site. What a joy to be met in a foreign country by familiar faces! Even though they are new friends, they both speak English! What a relief in a world of Italians! And yes, it is so true that they really speak with their hands--their entire body!

Pastor Daniel transported us to the church where we became acquainted with the "apartments" there where we were to stay. We met, George, a pastor from Canada, there who is also teaching at the conference.

Pastor Daniel wanted to take us to his favorite local coffeeshop on the corner several blocks from the church for a cappucino along with chocolate creme filled flakey pastries! So we went! One of the men working there attends the pastor's church. He was very glad to see us and served us with a big smile! Italians have warm strong geniune handshakes!

Alot of Italian sounds vaguely familiar, such as: Grazie = gracias, thank-you and Buon appetito! equals Bon Appetit! I didn't realize that Italian, Spanish and French could sound so similar!

We hopped back in the car and returned to the church where our host suggested we take a rest for a couple of hours as Patrick and George had flown in late just the night before. So we rested and then walked the two blocks west to be greeted by an angry ocean! The brown sandy shore was taking a beating as the waves crashed violently in rapid succession!  The majesty of the ocean never fails to astound me! I love it! We walked and walked It didn't matter that the temperature wasn't pleasant! We savored every brisk moment of it!

Hungry by this time as it was well into the afternoon, we turned from the windy beachfront inland in search of a good Italian place to eat a late lunch. We stumbled upon a little cafe that was open as not all of the shops are not open all day in the wintertime. Two young dark haired beauties stood behind the pastry window and bar and pointed to flat pastries filled with ham, cheese and tomato sauce. One of the young women knew a little English and one knew even less as she proceded to embarrass herself, but we will never know what she said because we didn't understand! She however was so flabbergasted at herself that she squatted down behind the bar and wouldn't come out for several minutes!

In the meantime we noticed patrons coming into the coffeeshop and "bellying up to the bar," purchasing a "shot" of espresso, throwing it back, all while just standing there and then leaving with less than 5  minutes being spent there!

Ahhh,Italy!

Little Surfer Dude--stole my heart!

I can't get him out of my mind today!

 

Tadan Charles Foss   December 2011

I got to meet him yesterday! It was everything I had expected and nothing I had anticipated! His father came to Indian Creek Community Church this week because our partners, Penwell Gabel sent him, certain that their facility would not be adequate to hold the people who will want to attend the
celebration services for Todd’s son, Tadan when he loses his battle with Vanishing White Matter, leukodstrophy.

Todd and I sat in the café at Indian Creek having met for the first time just moments earlier. He was a relaxed as any father can be while making arrangements for the passing from this life to the next by his son! He told me that Tadan had appeared to be a normal toddler until February of last year when he was diagnoised with this Vanishing White Matter Disease. The illness affects the cells of the brain. It impacts the myelin sheath, which is the fatty covering that surrounds and protects nerve cells. Damage to the sheath slows or interrupts messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
This disruption leads to problems with movement, speaking, mental and physical development and vision.

Tadan could no longer walk on his own, couldn’t use his right side and couldn’t control the function of his legs, so he loves to sit cross-legged on the couch while he “watches” his cartoons. Most of his days
have become fully occupied with watching cartoons with Carissa, his mom hanging out, available at his beck and call or mere uttering to retrieve a drink of Sprite or water.

His father loves to call him, Little Surfer Dude. He says Tadan’s full head of dark curly locks that have grown too beautifully to be on a little boy! However little Tadan knows what he wants and what he doesn’t want! And currently, he doesn’t want to have his haircut! Perhaps it is due to the fact that everyone knows that eventually his head may need to be shaved for some treatment.

His smile is big nd wide, beautiful and bountiful! His carefree, Samson-like tresses tossled in the wind frame  face made for more! But Little Surfer Dude, nor any of his family had ever been to the beach! Until the Elves of Christmas Present (an anonymous Kansas City area group) found out! When they learned that the Belton, Missouri curly-headed little resident had not experienced the thrill of seeing the ocean, they were determined that had to change! So they arranged for the entire family to travel
to Myrtle Beach and they had a blast! Tadan’s mouth fell open when he saw the beach and the ocean for the first time! Carissa, his mom, scooped him up out of his wheelchair and placed himn on the sand. Carissa sat Tadan on the sand where his feet began exploring the first time they had felt sand between his toes! (See it for yourself, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZOcVUPkPHU
)

“When he can’t see anymore, he will have these memories in his mind, “ said Carissa, a 32 year-old photographer who stays at home fulltime to help care for Tadan.

Todd Foss, Tadan’s father dn a general manager at Chipotle in Overland Park, Kanss said that he and his family are committed to living each day with gusto!

When you first meet him, you will never forget him, Chief Elf said. He radiates. He is so cute and he has such  a great personality.”

Pain is a constant companion but you can’t tell from the Tadan that hangs out with his family. He is
spunky little fellow, said Jean Pyle, a Hospice nurse who helps care for
Tadan.

He is a 4 year old boy who has not given up, said Todd Foss, 45 year old dad.

Though Tadan is only ONE in SEVEN people in the world with the genetic condition that he has, indeed I found him to be an inspiration! He is as RARE as his Vanishing White Matter Disease!

Currently, Tadan is under hospice care at home with his mom nearly constantly at his side. No doubt the strain, grief and stress of having a terminally ill child has taken its toll on their marriage and Todd is living separtely with his mother in Shawnee. Tadan has n 11 year old sister, Paige and
a 9 year old brother, Dalton.

The family plans to donate his skin tissue and vascular muscles in hopes to help sick children. The reality of it all hits and some days they cry and some days they enjoy the simple pleasures of living and laughter.

Tadan’s condition has helped his mom and dad have a totally unique perspective and insight into Christianity and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Todd said someone explained it to him with a question, woud you die for your son, Tadan? Without hesitation Todd responded enthusiastically and
passionately YES!

Well, that is what Jesus did for you! The stranger told Todd! Todd said, “He got it then!” With all of his previous understanding OR misunderstanding of God, somehow God got through!

Todd talks to Tadan bout angels and heaven! He wants him to know that he Carissa will probably not be going at the same time. In an effort to prepare this little one to go before him, Todd began to whisper to Tadan each time before he tucked him into bed at night. As a good dad, Todd believed
that it was critical that he help to encourage his son. However at the same time his heart struggled to release the precious little boy who has so delighted his life! Reassuringly, he would remind Tadan, One day Jesus will come to get you to take you to meet His Father.

Then one day it happened. Todd reminded his young son that one day Jesus would come to get him to take him to meet His own father and then he found himself saying, Tadan, if Jesus
comes tonight and wants to take you, go with him!

When the time comes and Tadan leaves with Jesus to go meet His Father, the family plans to gather and celebrate Tadan’s life here. His father believes that Tadan’s mission here will be complete at that time. They desire the time to be a celebration of the hope and the life that Tadan will then
possess! They want attendees to dress cheerfully. They do not plan to wear black and don’t want anyone else to do so.

They will rejoice that Tadan will have discovered the true Infinity and Beyond!

 

We Remember Amylee Tyler Oct 11 1979--Jan 13 2010

Now that I think about it, it was most appropriate for Sandy to call me on Tuesday night. Sandy is Amy Tyler's mother and Tuesday night was the night that I set aside to connect with Amy as she followed Christ down the pathway of the shadow of death. Sandy just wanted us to know that the ashes that were from Amy’s earthly vessel that had been her final act of service to others, donated to science at KU so that others might live longer from the benefit of research, had been finally laid to rest in a bench at the back of the Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Sandy called because she wanted us to know at Indian Creek the final resting place of one who had enjoyed the support and encouragement of this Body. 

I met Amy the day she shared her story with the Mothers Of Preschoolers at Indian Creek.  
Jean Janner was serving as Co-Coordinator. Jean had reached out to Amy, a young mom who had recently discovered a lump on her breast while nursing her five month old infant. Jean’s heart was compassionate towards Amy as she learned that the dreaded  breast cancer had invaded her young athletic body. Jean committed to walk with her as Amy was determined to fight cancer and win! 

Only God knew that later Jean would be diagnosed with cancer as well and Amy would stand beside her as together they battled against the destructive monster!  

Amy was vivacious, caring, strong willed, determined and new to a faith in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jean bought Amy a Bible and Amy clung to the promises in the book! Jean inscribed these words in the front: 

 in that book and God did give her a thirst for His Word. Later Amy wrote a note to God and kept it in that very Bible:

Lord,

 I lift up to You, my cancer this day, and I ask You to take it away. I thank You for Your Grace and mercy toward me. I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up. O Lord, my God, I cried out to You and You healed me (Psalm 30:1-2). Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives your iniquities, who heals all your disease (Psalm 103:2-3). Should You decide not to heal me in the way and time I desire, I trust that You will bring good out of my suffering and that it will glorify You.

Amen.

I remember when Amy was so frail and thin that she could barely walk, but she had a strong desire to be baptized so that others would know her stand with Christ was real and hopefully gain strength and direction to find their way back to the amazing God she had discovered. So she summoned her strength and willed herself to venture for what was her final time to Indian Creek on a Sunday night where in a solo baptism she demonstrated her death to this world and new eternal life in Christ! Many of you gathered for that.

Amy’s favorite passage was Psalm 139. Amy fought and mothered to her last breath! She loved Harrison and longed for him to know the God who had held her together and given new meaning and purpose to her life. She demonstrated amazing courage and determination. She fought the good fight and finished the course! And like the Apostle Paul she won the prize and experienced the ultimate victory attaining the goal—heaven!

I imagine that if Amy could speak to us now she would beg us to consider C.S. Lewis’ qestion. What if this life is the Prelude and heaven is the Story? We look at this life as if it is the end but God tells us it is only the beginning. We tend to think about this life as real and heaven as imaginary. But which is more substantial—that which is temporary, finite, fragile and painful or that which is eternal, infinite and whole? These were some of the words and questions poised by Pastor Gary at the celebration of Amy’s life nearly two years ago.

Today, Friday, January 13 is the anniversary of only the second year of Amy’s departure from her husband and toddler son and her arrival in Heaven. I still have an appointment for Tuesday nights with her on my calendar. Morbid? I don’t think so. I choose to leave it there to remind me of the life and death struggle and a young woman who taught me much about living in her dying.

I thanked Sandy for calling and told her that I would tell you of the final resting place of Amy’s earthly remains. I rejoice that the bench in the cemetery is not the place where Amy’s spirit resides! It is encouraging to me to celebrate that for two years now her spirit has soared in Heaven where she experiences the love and presence of Jesus in a place where there is no pain or dying.

As we remember, I pray that you are encouraged that your life and investment for Christ makes an eternal difference! 

 

On Our Own in Hong Kong!

Okay Belinda, time to lead! On Thursday we met founder of Project Partner and author, Donna Thomas and her friend, Mary Mandel from Colorado at the YMCA Salisbury around 11 a.m.

We were rested, sorta, but they had just arrived at 6:00 a.m. and had not had any sleep yet. So after chatting they headed back to the room for some rest before taking on Hong Kong! However, we were ready to venture out so we went for it!

Harry and Marilyn Smothers are jewels! Veteran international travelers they know that the best way to deal with jet lag is to walk it out and get adjusted as quickly as possible. They were interested in learning as much about Hong Kong as possible in the short time we would be here so they selected a tour that gave us a taste of four sites: the most popular, Victoria Peak; the Stanley Market, a bargainer and souvenior seekers' haven; the historic Aberdeen Fishing Village on the channel which once housed a quarter of a million fisherman but now is home to a mere 100; and last but not least, a tour of a local but world renown jewelry factory!
Nestled in the village is the world's largest floating restaurant-Jumbo which can seat 2,000 customers at once!
Ivy was our very informative and delightful guide and the tour bus was quite comfortable seating about 30 of us. Ivy answered questions that I hadn't known who to ask.
For instance Hong Kong consists of over 230 islands! However only 30+ are inhabitated. With only 11,000 square Kilometers and 7.1 MILLION people that is over 6, 000 people per square kilometer! No wonder people in Hong Kong live vertically!

In 1949 the Communist took over China so the businessmen moved to Hong Kong. The largest industry is textiles! No wonder that are so many fashion stores in Hong Kong! However when Hong Kong went back to British control, the businesses moved back to China because labor was cheaper. Hong Kong's second most important industry is tourism with over 100,000 visitors per month, 90+% of which are from Mainland China! In 1997 Hong Kong was back China's control but since the culture had been steeped in the British way of life, China is trying to change Hong Kong progressively so Hong Kong still maintains many processes on their own. However China has much influence and will continue to until Hong Kong becomes dependent upon them again in 36 years.

Truly a strategic time to be involved in China and Hong Kong! Although Hong Kong is considered a part of China there is still a border that is maintained between the two and it requires a passport to travel from one to the other! Why? Two reasons: one reason is to control the population of Hong Kong since it is well beyond saturated now and second is because currently Hong Kong enjoys a fair amount of independence from China and the culture is quite different. Ivy concluded part of her talk stating that who knows maybe in the next 36 years Hong Kong will have changed China!

Currently, Chinese come to Hong Kong to purchase authentic brandname items which they produce imitations of in China while Hong Kong residents flock to China to purchase cheap copies of the real expensive brands more affordably! Crazy! Did you know that there are more Rolls Royces per capita  in Hong Kong than anywhere else in the world?

What a fascinating and insightful tour of Hong Kong, pleasant smelling city!

Home Away from Home-the Foreign Becomes Familiar

What an honor and a privilege to be in this international city for the third time in a year!

Last fall Gary commented, "Isn't it interesting that when you arrive in Hong Kong, it begins to feel like home!" He was referencing to when teams return from China after hosting an English as a Second Language trip. It certainly feels strangely familiar! However this time I experienced a big difference! For the first time I arrived solo and anxiously awaited the arrival of part of the team I am commissioned to lead!

It all started when Gary discovered that he had inadvertantly injuried himself this last summer and had developed a hernia. The doctor definitely did not recommend returning to China or Hong Kong until after he had the surgery. However by the time it was diagnoised and an appointment and surgery set, it was unwise for him to travel extensively by plane or car.
So Kristen scrambled to rearrange her schedule to lead the Project Partner Annual Eyewitness trip.

That meant that she needed someone to take her place leading a small group that would include Project Partner's founder, Donna Thomas. Donna believes that she is traveling to Hong Kong to say "good-bye" to long time friends and partners, a bittersweet trip. A close friend and a couple from Casper Wyoming signed up to travel on this trip to connect with Donna and Project Partner.
Gary and I believe with all of our hearts that God SENDS us out to tell others the incredible Good News of Christ! Recently, Indian Creek Community Church focused on Living Sent as God's people to His people. God sent Jesus to be the Good News and Jesus SENT His disciples out to proclaim it and is still SENDING us out today! At the time we began the focus I had no idea how God would take me up on the offer to GO wherever He would SEND me whenever He SENT me!

As a result I have traveled more globally this summer and fall than I can remember! Actually beginning in the spring of 2011 I participated in Project Partner's Medical trip to rural areas to offer free dental and medical services to clinics, hospitals and schools! Then a second trip in late July early August to Hong Kong and China with a team of ten from Indian Creek to teach English as a Second Language! What an amazing adventure as God blessed that trip with much fruit!

Then a couple of weeks later I escorted a team of five women to India to encourage women in rural areas with India Gospel League and Women With a Mission. We shared our hearts and lives with hundreds of women in the two weeks we ventured in India led by president of Women With a Mission, Prati Stephens. We even were able to see the Taj Mahal for the first time!

And less than six weeks later, here I am in Hong Kong! What an awesome privilege and responsibility that I don't take lightly! I meant it when I commited to Jesus to GO as long as He would SEND me! I can hardly wait to see what lies ahead as our team ventures out tomorrow!

A Special Young Man, Adam Ettinger-We Haven't Forgotten

September leads to October and it was a mid-October morning, I remember Gary had left for the offices of Indian Creek Community Church just a few minutes earlier but was back frantically throwing clothes in a suitcase saying that he was leaving as soon as possible for Oklahoma City!

Good friends, Dan and Debbie Ettinger had called. Their oldest, Adam who was a senior at Mid-America Christian University and had just gotten married in June of the same year, had been struck by a truck and was in the hospital in critical condition!

How could that be? We had just had dinner with Adam and his young bride, Sarah. It was surreal to those of us left in Olathe to wait for news from the hospital and the family! Dan and Debbie Ettinger and their three children: Adam, Heidi and Kelly had been one of the first families to attend Indian Creek Community Church. Pastor Gary had personally knocked on every door in the Santa Barbara Estates where the Ettingers lived at the time.Our families became fast friends! Debbie even volunteered to keep all three of the Kendall kids: Kristen (5 yrs), Jeremy (3 yrs) and Luke(1 yr.) while I went to the hospital to deliver our fourth child, Megan in 1987.

Heidi was a frequent babysiter for the Kendall Klan. Kelly and Luke were toddlers together while Adam was a mentor to Kristen and Jeremy as Adam was a few years older than them and served as a summer Student Ministry Intern. Adam was preparing to become a pastor when he graduated and was so very excited about giving his life to help people find their way back to the God he loved and to whom he owed his redeemed life!

He had dedicated most of his summers as a youth to travel to Mexico to spread that love and he was preparing to go wherever God would SEND him! He met his beloved wife, Sarah, at Mid-America Christian University and was thrilled that God allowed them to be married before Jesus returned! The absolutely giddy love struck pair were the VERY first couple to be married in Indian Creek's brand-new facility on Black Bob Road! What a sweet ceremony it was! Both the bride and the groom were teary-eyed with gratitude and happiness that God had allowed them to be connected in love and marriage! No one would have believed that Adam's would be the first funeral in the new facility as well.

That fatal mid-October morning Adam had left his new bride at home with her encouragement (we even heard that she kicked him out of bed to help him get up) to workout at Mid-America Christian University not far from their apartment. While on the way home just a few hundred feet from the entrance to the school Adam, who had a soft heart, stopped his truck on the far lane of the four lane road to assist an injured dog. Unfortunately, a man who was also driving a truck did not realize Adam's truck was stopped. He was probably traveling almost 40 mph when he struck Adam's truck from behind causing Adam's truck to run over Adam as he was bent over in front of it examining the dog he had stopped to help.

Gary had received the call soon after arriving at his office that morning. Adam had sustained head injuries and was in a local hospital in Oklahoma City in critical condition. How could that be? We had just had dinner with Adam and his young bride, Sarah, hadn't we? It was surreal to those of us left in Olathe to wait for news from the hospital and the family!

How? Why? Please God won't You heal him? Questions swarmed our heads and hearts! It was only a couple of days later that we be grudgingly accepted the news that Adam's healing would not be for this earth! God had already prepared a place for him in heaven and he was beating us all there to see his Savior face-to-face first! Devastated his wife of only a few months and family grieved their loss of his presence here. Our entire community grieved because when one weeps, we all weep. Adam is missed by many of us at Indian Creek Community Church. Certainly, we rejoice that he has his reward! But we selfishly miss the fun of his presence here among us now. He made a difference in many of our lives and we long for the day when we will see his face again, along with His Savior and ours, Jesus.
The reality is--none of us know when our time here is up! So Until then let's live as though today we might get hit by a truck! Let's live as though today is our last day to love one another and to make a difference with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ! Adam certainly did!

One Beggar Telling Another Beggar Where to Find Bread

A friend recently asked me, now that our children are in the 20's (Kristen turns 30 next month!), if we had any tips for her as she is raising her children. I guess she figured surely we learned something in those 30 years!

I hesitated even to respond. My first thought was, "If we knew how to raise healthy children we'd be rich!"

AND, "In reality we could probably tell u more what NOT to do!"

My first thought of regret was, "Oh how I wish Gary and I had started praying together sooner!"

Then I began to think of other things. Here is part of what I wrote to her.

We would keep praying, keep loving and keep extending grace to yourselves, others and them.

Know that you will mess up and so will they! You will fail them. Keep pointing them to THE ONE Who will never fail or leave them-Jesus!

Keep loving them and hugging them and keep encouraging them to love and hug one another!

Take them to a third world country at least once by the time they are 12yrs. old and teach them to hug and love people who are not like them.

Keeping giving them back to God and loving them no matter what!

Keep praying His Word over, with and for them.

Teach them how to defend themselves in prayer from the enemy and that there is a real spiritual battle raging with eternity at stake and that it's not all about them! But they are bought with a high price, there's more to life than this life and they were born for more! They have a purpose and high calling to love God and love people and to demonstrate that love to others that gives God glory!

Teach them that just as God sent Jesus we are SENT to love the world so they will KNOW He sent us!

I really didn't PLAN to write that it just came out because it IS what I believe.

They will learn what you believe by what you do and how you live, not by what you say. :)

Don't get caught up in trying or thinking you can do it perfectly. You can't and you won't and they won't.

Don't be afraid to apologize to your kids when you get it wrong. It is how they learn to apologize and ask forgiveness from others.

Give yourself and them freedom to make mistakes and teach them to go to God for their needs to be met.

Encourage them to live with open hands and hearts and to live generously.

Remember you don't have to do it alone. Ask for help from God and others.

Pray, pray and never give up! Hold onto God and teach them to cling to Him. Go to Him often and teach them to do the same.

Thanks for asking. Once I got started I realized I had alot to say. :) we certainly have not done it perfectly but have clung to His grace!

I would encourage you to ask yourselves:

Is it our purpose to raise children to follow God or to follow God so wholeheartedly that we lead them to follow Him as we do? Think about the different focus in a life like that!

I wonder if God gives us that strong intuition to dedicate ourselves to loving Our own children to demonstrate to us His live for us, His kids! We are eager to lay down our lives for OUR kids but we are ALL His kids! How would we live if we had that same desire and determination to live for the purpose of reaching and raising HIS kids to know and believe Him?

I know we didn't arrive there after more than 30 years of parenting. My personaly pride continually focuses me back on what's mine! I know I am responsible to Him for them but there is more than my family and those I love. There is the world that He was sent to and that He sends me and mine to as well! I don't want to live like it's all about me or teach them it's all about them.

I know you didn't ask for or expect all of this and maybe you stopped reading long ago. I'm glad you prompted me to think about it. It is how we are grandparenting and it is how we are raising our grandchildren (see, there I go again-it's all about me and mine!)

Obviously, we don't get it right but we keep giving the lifelong journey to God and asking for His direction, wisdom, discernment, love and grace! We want to be quick to extend the same to others!

May God encourage, strengthen and carry you as you follow Him and lead your children realizing that they are following as you follow Him! May God richly bless you and yours with the incredible peace of His marvelous peace!

Ephesians 3

¹ When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles. . . ² assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. ³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

⁶ And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. ⁷ By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

⁸ Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. ⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone^[c] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him,^[d] we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. ¹³ So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

¹⁴ When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,¹⁵ the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Remembering September and Adam

Did you know that your body has memory? Did you know that smells and seasons can trigger memories? They can and do! I love these beautiful brilliantly blue skies of September in Kansas City! However, September always brings memories of Oklahoma City as for nearly 20 years Gary and I traveled with our family and many friends and their families from Indian Creek to participate in a competitive but fun Labor Day Church of God Softball Tournament! It was a great time to renew friendships, meet new people and enjoy sitting in the sun together, cheering the church teams on! We always loved checking on the recent Indian Creek students who were attending Mid-America University while there. Finally the day came when Jeremy and Luke came of age to participate! They begged Gary to come out of retirement so that he could play with them! They said they had dreamed of that day since they were kids! That year Indian Creek won FIRST place in the tournament!

September leads to October and it was a mid-October morning, I remember Gary had left for the offices of Indian Creek Community Church just a few minutes earlier but was back frantically throwing clothes in a suitcase saying that he was leaving as soon as possible for Oklahoma City!

Good friends, Dan and Debbie Ettinger had called. Their oldest, Adam who was a senior at Mid-America Christian University and had just gotten married in June of the same year, had been struck by a truck and was in the hospital in critical condition!

How could that be? We had just had dinner with Adam and his young bride, Sarah. It was surreal to those of us left in Olathe to wait for news from the hospital and the family! Dan and Debbie Ettinger and their three children: Adam, Heidi and Kelly had been one of the first families to attend Indian Creek Community Church. Pastor Gary had personally knocked on every door in the Santa Barbara Estates where the Ettingers lived at the time.Our families became fast friends! Debbie even volunteered to keep all three of the Kendall kids: Kristen (5 yrs), Jeremy (3 yrs) and Luke(1 yr.) while I went to the hospital to deliver our fourth child, Megan in 1987.

Heidi was a frequent babysiter for the Kendall Klan. Kelly and Luke were toddlers together while Adam was a mentor to Kristen and Jeremy as Adam was a few years older than them and served as a summer Student Ministry Intern. Adam was preparing to become a pastor when he graduated and was so very excited about giving his life to help people find their way back to the God he loved and to whom he owed his redeemed life! He had dedicated most of his summers as a youth to travel to Mexico to spread that love and he was preparing to go wherever God would SEND him! He met his beloved wife, Sarah, at Mid-America Christian University and was thrilled that God allowed them to be married before Jesus returned! The absolutely giddy love struck pair were the VERY first couple to be married in Indian Creek's brand-new facility on Black Bob Road! What a sweet ceremony it was! Both the bride and the groom were teary-eyed with gratitude and happiness that God had allowed them to be connected in love and marriage! No one would have believed that Adam's would be the first funeral in the new facility as well.

That fatal mid-October morning Adam had left his new bride at home with her encouragement (we even heard that she kicked him out of bed to help him get up) to workout at Mid-America Christian University not far from their apartment. While on the way home just a few hundred feet from the entrance to the school Adam, who had a soft heart, stopped his truck on the far lane of the four lane road to assist an injured dog. Unfortunately, a man who was also driving a truck did not realize Adam's truck was stopped. He was probably traveling almost 40 mph when he struck Adam's truck from behind causing Adam's truck to run over Adam as he was bent over in front of it examining the dog he had stopped to help.

Gary had received the call soon after arriving at his office that morning. Adam had sustained head injuries and was in a local hospital in Oklahoma City in critical condition. How could that be? We had just had dinner with Adam and his young bride, Sarah, hadn't we? It was surreal to those of us left in Olathe to wait for news from the hospital and the family!

How? Why? Please God won't You heal him? Questions swarmed our heads and hearts! It was only a couple of days later that we be grudgingly accepted the news that Adam's healing would not be for this earth! God had already prepared a place for him in heaven and he was beating us all there to see his Savior face-to-face first! Devastated his wife of only a few months and family grieved their loss of his presence here. Our entire community grieved because when one weeps, we all weep. Adam is missed by many of us at Indian Creek Community Church. Certainly, we rejoice that he has his reward! But we selfishly miss the fun of his presence here among us now. He made a difference in many of our lives and we long for the day when we will see his face again, along with His Savior and ours, Jesus.

The reality is--none of us know when our time here is up! So Until then let's live as though today we might get hit by a truck! Let's live as though today is our last day to love one another and to make a difference with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ! Adam certainly did!

SENT - Luke and Rachel

 
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son...This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us and SENT His Son as a sacrifice...

 

  In Psalm 127 it says that children are a gift from God and blessed is the man whose quiver is full! However aroows are not meant to "stay in" the quivers! Arrows are meant to be "shot out" or SENT out! Though bittersweet, Gary and I rejoiced with Luke and Rachel even as we helped them to pack! Kristen and Jeremy did some heavy lifting (that's what brothers and sisters and friends are for) too! On July 29th, we helped Luke finish packing up their Lenexa apartment so he could join his sweet wife, Rachel , who already had secured a job in Roselle, a suburb of Chicago. Luke and Rachel felt compelled by God to be a part of a small body of believers Mission Church who want to help people find God! So far they have had three preview services and are  up to about 150 people! God is building His Church!

When we think of our own relationship with God and the sacrifice of His ONE and ONLY SON for us, what else can we do but send them out for Him!

Wherever We Go There We Are!

 What fun to be back in Oklahoma City for Spiritual Life Emphasize Week at Mid-America Christian University! I arrived home on Sunday evening from India and Gary had already arrived in Oklahoma City for the Spiritual Life Emphasis Week because he was the main speaker for their daily chapel services. I took Monday to recoup, do laundry and catch up on Landon time and then on Tuesday, Kristen and I headed south on I-35 bound for Oklahoma City ourselves. She, though a Taylor University grad was scheduled to speak in chapel at the Alma Mater of her father, grandfather, grandmother and brothers, on Thursday morning! What an honor!

We felt it almost immediately! A sweet, sweet presence of Christ on the campus and in the services! The faculty and students seemed to be the fragrance of Jesus! And what a pleasant aroma it is!

Gary challenged the students to fulfill the Great Commision and "Go unto the world until the whole world knows." On Thursday, Kristen shared her personal call to be on mission in China through Project Partner and talked about Seeking God and His Will, Surrendering to His plan and Following HIs directions. She didn't pull any punches and shared very frankly with the students about the cost of the call! She also encouraged them that God's plan was much MORE than they could dream or imagine and WAS the abundant life of Christianity!

Today Gary shared the final message of the week and challenged the students to look inside and let God do a work IN them before He does a work THROUGH them! He talked about the STUFF that we accumulate and carry around that gets in the way of who we are! Wherever we go, there we are! He assured them that our stuff follows us around and can prevent us from being all that God has for us to become and from going where God wants us to go!

He talked about Moses and the "stuff" of his life. Moses was raised a foreigner in a foreign land. He probably felt like a misfit and that he didn't belong. Eventually, his stuff boiled to the surface and came out in rage against an Egyptian and he had to flee, finding himself an outcast, he ran away. He encountered some daughters watering their animals who were being bullied and again his stuff boiled up and this time he rescued those being treated unjustly and was invited to be a part of their family. Now Moses was a part of a third culture, not his own. Moses believed the bad press from those around him and the lie of the enemy that he wasn't enough. But God saw Moses as the rescuer of his people--the man who stood up to the most powerful man in the world-Pharoah--the man who saw the face of God, who was a friend of God--the courageous man who held up his staff to part the Red Sea!

Gary concluded by reminding the students of Moses' encounter with the burning bush-a holy moment. Moses took time to take off his shoes and respond to God's call in the burning bush and it made all the difference. Gary challenged the students to take off their shoes and embrace the moment as theirs for a divine appointment with their Creator for their healing--a chance to lay down, surrender, their stuff to Him. The student band came forward: the keyboardist and female drummer were among the first to take off their shoes and pile them beside of the alter. Soon half of the student body had discarded their shoes at the alters and knelt to surrender their stuff and their plans to God!

Inspiring to see students respond to their call from God, Gary, Kristen and I headed home at noon. Encouraged to know the future is the hands of students surrendered to His hands!

Nana Is So Blessed!

 
I have more posts from India to update as soon as I can figure out how to post my pictures on Typepad, that is! However, I couldn't wait to give this update! We returned from India on Sunday, September 18! After traveling many, many hours, more than two days AND a wheelchair episode that will be detailed later and an 8 hour layover in Newark which was needed and utilized! So I spent all day on Monday, unpacking, doing laundry AND catching up on my Landon time! What fun we had at the Deanna Rose! The day was too beautiful to resist! (Besides I have learned that nothing resets your internal time clock like getting out in the sunshine!)Landon loved all of the animals but it was the Pumpkin Patch display on the way  out that he didn't want to leave! They had some type of masks that looked like monkeys to him so he was inspired to do the monkey dance! Hilarious! What a joy!

Thursday Sept 15-Full Conference Day-Everybody Speaks

By the time you read this we will be well on our way back from visiting the Taj! Due to aggravation of internet service I wasn't able to keep up on a daily basis but wanted to post these entries saved from my ipad for your reading.

What a great day! We started the day with Prati sharing, supposedly the devotional, but she cannot help but preach! She is gifted that way and her passion for these women is over-the-top! She longs to transmit everything that she has learned as a leader to them each time she sees them! She also longs to encourage and inspire them and has an incredible way of encouraging, inspiring and challenging without shaming or shoulds! Fabulous leader, she is! And oh how they love her and respond! They thrive under her coaching, mentoring and nurturing! And so do we! Dana, RaeAnn, Vicki and Paula have certainly delievered each time that they have stood to share! God has used their experiences, personalities, abilities and weaknesses to encourage these women as well as to honor Him that they would DARE to believe that the Almighty God of the Universe who hung the stars in the sky, could or would even desire to use them, their stories and their lives! Having been handed a new suggested assignment and challenged to "leave their notes" the girls rose to the opportunity! They know that God is growing them up because He is stretching them out of their comfort zones to new places! God is in control! It is beautiful to witness the new found freedom and joy with which Prati shares as she steps through the fear of being rejected by her own people and dares to preach in her native tongue, Maharati, in her home state! God has taken her to a new level of empowerment because of her obedience! Expecting great things to come!

Paula shared a powerful teaching on the Holy Spirit! RaeAnn finally got to share again since she had been ill. She was more relaxed in His Spirit this time around. She was passionate about her experience of what God had to do IN her before He could work THROUGH her! She was a little nervous about losing her notes and armed only with her Bible and note cards she went for it! God came through for her and she fell into the joy of obedience and letting Him do the work through her! Beautiful to see!

Prati cahllenged us at dinner at 9:00 to please speak from the topics on the outlines Rev. Samuel Stephens had compiled. And though it threw the women at first and they spun out at first, they had retired to their rooms and dug deep into God's Word for themselves and poured over it! They prayed and God gave them a new teaching and revelation! What a victory! Praise the Lord! Now we all have a new story about His work in us!

Vicki shared the teahcing session just before lunch and she called us to be ambassadors for Christ! She reminded us that we need to know who we are and whose we are! She told the story of God suing ther trip to Walmart where she encoutnered a woman with two huge carts of noodles who was purchasing food for her high school students who were so hungry they coulnt' learn. God broke Vicki's heart right there in Walmart for His children and called her to be an ambassador for Him, meeting the needs of His people for His glory! Vicki told the women that they \are critical to changing the face of India! She said that God told her that these women WILL change the face of India!She called them to fearlessly pray for two of the women on their list!

One thing that the India Gospel League is exceptional about, well many things but one thing I want to mention her, are reports! They are diligent about collecting data and following up on reporting what resources and donations produce directly in the lives of people in the areas they serve! We heard some of those reports in the form of stories from real people about the way the ministry impacted their lives directly and those in their community! Praise the Lord! Women testified that they are being built up in faith by the Women With a Mission conferences and the small care groups that are meeting. One region had seen 45 women saved recently directly related to the ministry of Women with a Mission! One woman pastor and her sister reach out to 30 women every day!

India as a country has been greatly influenced and impacted by Great Brittain and one thing that is constant no matter what the day holds is that there will be TWO Tea breaks! One break around 10 in the morning and another around 2-3 in the afternoon! And India is home of the original Chia Tea!

It was my turn in the evening to share the inspirational service and I could hardly wait! I love sitting at the feet of Jesus' feet with my sisters! I love passing on what God is teaching and telling me! It is so encouraging to encourage one another in this way! God has been impressing the Scripture in John 3:16 upon me in an new way since about December of last year! I have been compelled with His command to be SENT into the world as God sent His very own Son and now Jesus SENDS us out with the same message of grace, redemption and reconcilliation! The Holy Spirit moved upon us and we were honored to be encouraged and impressed with His presence! How power that is! What a joy to share with sisters!

Tues. Sept. 13- Rewind! Looking forward to Maharastra State Conferences

And the adventure continues! Today we were up and packed for an early flight to Mumbai. Actually the flight wasn’t so early but Prati was concerned for the traffic in Chennai so to make certain e reached the airport in a timely manner. The traffic proved to be not as difficult to manage as getting the driver there on time. We just enjoyed the moments waiting in the Gift Shop and in front of the hotel fully engaged in the traffic of the streets of Chennai. Truly, India must be experienced, not just seen and heard. It is an entire body encounter where all of the senses are fully engaged! To see the bustling “toot toots” is not enough, you must hear their staccato beep of their horns and the buzz of their lawnmower engines. The men and women walk briskly carrying their loads on their heads. The men on bicycles. Entire families of five or six on one motorscooter is a common sight. Today we saw a city bus packed full, way beyond capacity and on the side of the bus with tight grips on the windows, hanging on for dear life, seriously, were half a dozen men! And of course the animals have free reign: goats, cows, dogs, cats, and pigs even. Freight trucks like the buses filled to the max and beyond! Their horns brazenly declare, “I am coming through and I am bigger than you so make way!”

Fascinating, it is to observe, the dance of the traffic so mesmerizing we were still watching when the driver came to transport us and our entire car full of luggage to the airport. Today we were to fly to Mumbai and then drive 6 hours to Nasik for Maharachtra State Conference!

The Chennai airport is an experience that as most common in all of the airports across India until a few years ago. First you are met at the entrance of the airport by a guard, this time the sentinel stationed beside of him is fully armed with a rifle of some kind swung over his shoulder. You still must have a ticket to get into the airport. As soon as you are inside you must send all of your luggage that you plan to pack, Show them to the attendant and we are loading the suitcases onto the little conveyer belt that takes it through the scanner and shoots it out the opposite side where it is automatically bound with a temporary strap as it should not be opened again until after arrival in Mumbai. And then we still hold our carry-on luggage which we learn is too large for what is permitted in the cabin so we check yet more luggage! The attendant must have waved weight and number of pieces because there was no charge for excessive pieces or weight.

American women come with a lot of baggage! Sometimes more than they can carry on their own! With everything safely checked in, we made our way to wait at the gates for our departure. But first we must proceed single file through the security check point which in India has always included a FRISKING. The friskers are always gender specific and are now most often armed with a large paddle wand which has replaced merely the gloved hand of the frisker. My carryon bag scooted through with no issues, except the tag that is required to be attached so that the checker has something to stamp must have gotten caught in the belts because there wasn’t one on my computer bag. I have seen the consequences of this before. It means that the owner must make a trip back through the security to the airline check-counters to retrieve another handbag tag and back through the scanner to bring the tag to attach to the bag. I was surprised that the tag wasn’t there and then a bit flustered to think of scurrying back through the check point. The guard was kind and must have seemed my distress because he found a lone tag somewhere and fastened onto my bag so that the attendant could stamp it. I rewarded him with a huge relieved smile and big thank you! He seemed to feel appropriately thanked, most often it is not as easy as that, but I was grateful that this time this was the case.

Now we could proceed to the gate, only to learn that our flight had been delayed and we were told only to ‘’sit awhile” and so we did. We passed the time refreshing ourselves with 7UP and trips to the TIOLET and talking. Boarding and the flight were uneventful enough. Surprisingly we did not sleep nor eat. It seems that Indian flights have adopted American Airlines’ idea of selling snacks and meals instead of serving them complimentary. Even as recently as last year they were still serving a meal even on the hour brief flights.

The two hours went quickly as I spent the time catching up on my journaling and reading the new book I acquired out of curiosity, Live Sent. I sat by RaeAnn and took the opportunity to tell her how glad that I was that she was along and how much I was enjoying getting to know her. It is especially delightful as she is beginning to feel better and better by the day!

Landing in the new Mumbai airport is so much more pleasant than the old one! We retrieved our luggage on the free carts and rolled it out the doors to the van and driver IGL had arranged for us. The van will be easy to locate and distinguish as it is bright yellow! I have never seen one like it in all of my travels all over India! And it was large enough for all of our baggage to fit inside the van with us! I was particularly grateful after spending the entire night before hanging and rotating my clothes so they will dry.

Since it was near 2:00 and we were getting ready to hit the road for several hours we trekked over to a familiar hotel, The Legends. The Legends has been the point of entry for many of the teams. Many times being their first glimpse and introduction to India. I remember so vividly, Cassandra standing in the corner windows and gazing outward, crying compassionately for the city that had captivated her heart in brief seconds! I remember young Kasey Booker opening the window wide to extend her satellite phone as far as possible so that she could acquire a signal to call home and report. I remember the very first time we sped through the streets in the wee hours of the morning and sped into the alley onto the tiny carport entry. (I was certain that it was all over!)

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

Somehow I am on! Connected! My, how I miss it! I tried every night and even went down to the hotel lobby to try their internet desk, only to be told that it was out of service! So while I was packing and waiting for my Hanna to dry (picture tomorrow) I sat down and just thought I would give it a try! And viola! I'm on!!! So I am going to "Make hay while the sun is shining as my dear grandmother used to say!" (She used to say lots of things, this phrase I can print!)

Anyway I am working a couple of days behind! I hope that you have been keeping up with Paula's blog, www.paulajfrench.blogspot.com. She is doing an incredible job through her phone and her daughter's help! Gotta love that assistant!I Today we finished our last full conference day, with half a day left tomorrow. The girls are doing wonderfully! They are finishing well and strong! What a delight to see RaeAnn back to better than ever as she shared freely today for the first time since she got sick. Prati challenged us last night to get away from our notes and speak from the heart making more eye contact with the women! Scary, especially when you remember that these ladies don't speak in front of people regularly and have not had any or much opportunity to ever share their stories! Prati also threw us a curve by giving a new assignment about 9:00 last night! All rose to the occasion and dove desperately into their Bibles for fresh new insight directly from the Holy Spirit for themselves! What a joy and relief to them when they found He came through for them! He could be trusted indeed to work through us if we are just available! II Corinthians 4:5-7, He risks His reputation on us, weak clay pots, knowing full well that His light will shine brilliantly through our broken places and He will be the one who gets the glory! Indeed He did a work IN us before He did a work THROUGH us! Each one of us shared today. The evening concluded with Prati sharing the inspirational message with the women making confessions and commitments to be sent out by Him to anyone anywhere He called! We are convinced that the women of India play a critical part in changing the face of India! You go, Girls! Shucks! Still can't post pictures on blog! I think the connection is not strong enough but who knows! Anyway, glad to get this one up! And although I will be posting in the rears, I am going to post what I wrote for a couple of days ago but couldn't get on.

Thanks again for joining us on this journey of being SENT into the World! Thanks for praying us hone!

The Children of Sharon Gardens do the Hockie Pockie

Testimonies, Scripture memory, dance, songs, stories, entire books recited, leis of welcome...rows of patient obedient lovely children!

This is a random post that I didn't get to include on our time at Sharon Gardens so I just thought I would insert it into the blog between days! Enjoy!

One of our first nights @Sharon Gardens we were treated to a Children's Program! It is a special presentation that happens nearly every time I am here! I have come to anticipate it eagerly! It is a time when the entire population of children, nearly 300 gather in Donna Thomas Chapel to give God praise, to celebrate Him and to share His goodness to them by the testimonies of His work in their lives! A few of the children shared that God truly transformed their lives with the help tat they have received from Sharon Gardens and the India Gospel League! What a joy to hear the generation of poverty, addiction and sin is rooted!

Sonething I keep dreaming about is our team bringing some type of prestentation to encourage and inspire them! (I have a year now to think of something else if someone would be interested in going!) We always bring them treats (candy, pencils, note pads, markers, stickers, erasers, etc.) and we would love to treat them to something in a personal presentation. We have sang somgs before. This time Vicki Orcutt had been tasked with coming up with something, so she had brought a couple of songs she wanted to teach the children. However when the time came (and YES, she had tested it before) He would not play anything. Anyway, Vicki had selected two action songs: Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes; and Hockey Pockey! How I wished that Landon were here and that they could see him on the big screen! What fun playing with them

Sorry, I didn't get a picture! I was too busy doing the Hockie Pockie myself!

Going and Coming! Together Again!

What a ride! This starts our mad week of coming and going in order to accomplish the schedule of conferences we have been assigned! It is a love-hate relationship-as we absolutely love the new and old friends we encounter! And we adhore leaving the new and good friends we have acquired on the way!

What a blessing that we were detained an hour this morning from leaving for the conference because of the rainstorms that came through it would make the local women late to arrive at the conference so the Pastor wanted to start the conference an hour late. So while we waited: Dana, Prati and I went to her room to spend some time together in prayer! What a refreshing encouraging and blessed time it was! I love to pray with Prati! She is such a dynamic prayer warrior! She continues to mentor me in my parenting! I love to hear her pray to her Master! Such a sweet and devoted relationship she has with Jesus! Love sitting at His feet together just pouring out our hearts to Him!

What a delightful treat today to walk into the Tindivanam Conference convened in a Life Center Church and see a friend from previous Indian misadventures--Lillian! She had been visiting a newly married daugther in the area and took time to spend the day translating for us! We really didn't get to catch up in any kind of real time fashion but we did get to lay eyes on each other, hug and share ministry, lunch and hearts just a bit! What a joy to be able to pick up where we left off even though a couple of years ago and connect heart to heart! Love that about friends!

Prati shared a challenging and inspiring message encouraging the women that we all have a purpose! And God that we are not here by accident! She reminded us that we came to hear from God and God alone! We are tired of listening and believing what others say about us and tired of talking to ourselves! We want to hear from God today. So we consecrated and committed ourselves to listen with open ears to what He would say to each of us! I love the way Prati has of lovingly encouraging and inspiring the women while challenging them to their core! What an incredible mentor and communicator! But most of all I love her heart for her Master, Jesus! God has given each of His belivers a mission and we were made for it! He sends us out to our worlds to be on mission for Him to restore His people to Himself! It is the most important thing we will do today! She said that we were given the ministy of restoration! What a lead in to my time to share, "We Really Do Need to Get Along" which is all about restoring broken relationships but I wish we were through. It is painful! However, it is encouraging to know and I reminded the women that sometimes what God wants to do IN us, He can do no other way! What a joy to sit at Jesus' feet with about 120 girlfriends who are thirsty to know more and more about Him, His mission and theirs!

Spending the night here I was looking forward to some down time to read or write but then I opened my suitcase and to my surprise, my clothes were soaked! We did travel through a rainstorm and our luggage is always loaded on top of our vehicle. It was covered with a tarp and didn't get wet yesterday. Howver not so, today. So I have been unpacking wet things and draping them over every lamp in this suite (last rooms available as the others were full)! Passing drying time creating this blog, hoping that clothes will be dry enough in a couple of hours when it is time to repack for the plane trip to Mumbai today. Then a van ride to Nasik where they are hosting a three day conference in Prati's home state of Maharaska! She is always anxious to speak here (though there really is that old, " a prophet has no honor in their own hometown.") Pray for God to annoint her with His message for His beloved daughters, our sisters there! And pray for His anointing on the rest of us as well as we share His heart for His little girls! By the way-RaeAnn did not speak today but is getting better and better gradually with every hour! We are delighted and grateful that you are praying her through! She is quite the trooper! What a doll! Don't forget to check out Paula's pictures at www.paulajfrench.blogspot.com.

 

Until Next Time @Sharon Gardens

Sunday, September 11, 2011 was a beautiful morning in Salem, India! The brilliant blue sky reminisent of the fatal morning when planes became missiles in the USA and the first time since Pearl Harbor the USA was caught by surprise by enemy attack!

Unfortunately, terrorism in India is more common. Dana had wondered how India would treat the anniversary of 9-11, much as I expected, they didn't. I had been invited to share the message on the Sharon Garden campus so instead of going out to a nearby church we stayed home and shared. (Prati wanted the workers, house parents, students, teachers and children who serve us so faithfully while we are there to have an opportunity to share worship with us. The music was very inspiring! The language doesn't have to be common, the Holy Spirit interprets the praise of The Creator! In the beautiful open air Donna Thomas Chapel everyone is seated on large straw mats on the floor except for the American guests and the family of Rev. Samuel Stephens who sit in plastic chairs in the back of the chapel. The chapel is named in honor of Donna Thomas who with her husband, Chuck founded Project Partner and introduced Rev. Samuel Stephens and the India Gospel League to partnership with the USA.

With such an inspiring and encouraging environment who wouldn't thrive! Prati proudly introduced us to a young couple who presented their first child. The three month old infant is the first "grandchild" of Prati's as the young woman grew up at Sharon and now had returned to work on the campus. How exciting for Prati to see the fruit of her labor! And she is a proud grandma!

What an honor to serve these who serve us so beautifully while we are in their home! The service was beautiful with the music and words of testimony by some of the residents of what God has done in their lives this week. I thought it interesting that they passed the offering plate twice! Once for "missions" and once for the church! Honored to share the Word of God and the word God gave me, I shared the message, God Sent Jesus and Jesus Sends Us that God gave me to present in Kentucky at Christmas time. I trust that God's Word does not return void and He will do the work in the hearts of His people. Rev. Sam, Danny, Taragon and the Campus Pastor served communion. Touching. Sam asked the Women With a Mission team to come forward and they prayed for us! Very powerful and moving!

Always reluctant to leave our friends who are now more like family even to the girls who have visited Sharon for the very first time, we ate lunch and packed the van. We are grateful RaeAnn felt strong enough to travel! Sam was kind to pray for her at breakfast. She is a trooper! He supplied some medicine from the hospital that he says works better on the bacteria local to the area. It seemed to sustain her as she slept most of the nearly 6 hour drive to Pondicherry.

The hotel we were in for the one night before heading to the Regional Conference this morning and then to Chennai after our sharing is very nice! We are trusting God to speak through us this morning and throughout the day and so apprecaite your partnership in prayer! What a joy to have you as a part of the journey!

I regret that I have not been able to navigate how to send pictures from my phone to the laptop so that I can post them here! It is very frustrating! However Paula seems to have it figured out as she sends herself and her daughter her pictures from her phone and Jocelynn, her self appointed assistant drops the picture and the text Paula emails into Paula's blog and viola! You have beautiful posts! I hope that you will visit her site at www.paulajfrench.blogspot.com.

Remembering 9-11 in India

I will never forget where I was that day 10 years ago! And I don't believe it is a coincidence that I am back in India again on the 10th anniversary of the day America was assaulted on her own soil. Yes, it happens to other countries but it had not happened to the invincible, United States of America! I saw these pictures for the first time half a world away on CNN in Mumbai India while preparing to leave for a Women With a Mission conference.

I will never forget where I was...and I will never forget where I wasn't. I wasn't at home with my family huddled around the tv making certain that they were all safe. I wasn't close to my friends calling to be sure a certain American Airlines flight attendant was not on any of those four flights that day. I was not being held and comforted by my husband. I was not present at my church when others came to pray.

When I contemplated leaving the country three years later bound once again for India, I asked my teenage son his opinion on whether I should go or not. "Luke, do you think that I should reconsider going in light of 9-11 and everything that has changed since I was there before?"

Luke looked at me straight in the eyes and with wisdom beyond his years answered with a question, "Same God, isn't He, Mom?"

And today ten years later, here I am in India on the 10th anniversary of when America declared war on terrorism. And yes, much has changed in America, however, God is still the same. He is still sovereign and in control. He is still faithful and constant. He is still the ultimate freedom fighter!

Today I am grateful for the freedom of life in Christ that goes beyond religious freedom! It is freedom to have a relationship with the God of the universe and know that He alone holds the future in HIs hands! And He is available to hold my hand when the very earth below my feet shakes and crumbles!

There are things eternal that not even the Congress of the USA can legislate! God will be sovereign whether we allow it or believe it! And I am grateful for the Cross that reminds me God SENT Jesus into this world to rescue us and Jesus SENDS us to rescue others! Like the NYFD on 9-11, we, the Church-believers who have been rescued, must rush in when others rush out!  

 

Still Learning...One Village impacts Ten Other Villages

Starting our venture from Sharon Gardens is a relaxing, low key way to commence a strategic couple of weeks living out the love of Christ by encouraging His beloved daughters as they equip and encourage others to follow His call to encourage others to know Him! However, it also means that after Friday, tomorrow, it will be like toping the first hill of the roller coaster—the view is breathtaking, however the speed is mind boggling and before you know it, you arrive breathless at the other end of the track—ride over!  We are desperately trying to squeeze as much out of and into these days as is possible! We know that they will be over far too quickly and we will find ourselves boarding the plane for Newark wondering where the two weeks went and then landing in our home places, surreal, wondering if maybe we did just dream of being in a land of billinos of people half a globe away!

Each time I come to Sharon Gardens I learn something new! Today Daniel was the lucky duck to give us the tour. Our first unscheduled stop was to the brandnew or nearly new production center, Sharon Enterprises. It is housed where the old Nursing College was once crammed. I thought that Paula French was going to dissolve into a puddle (oh, how I missed and thought of you, Judy Sturman) when we stepped into a room with mounds of exquisite, one-of-a-kind sari material; some in scraps, some in finished product and some being swept up as trash! Certainly, we had to rescue some of the material and product for grandchildren and children of friends. Paula was happy as a lark or should I say, tickled pink, since that is the color of one of the outfits she purchased! I won’t say who because that would all but ruin the surprise!

Next stop was the New Nursing College which houses hundreds of students who are rescued from nonproductive lives and given the opportunity often to be the first one in their family to go to college! The India Gospel League does not just see the individual but they also see the generation and long to influence it and empower it for Good! The students are pleasantly surprised and relieved to learn that it only costs $300 to complete a two year program of nursing! I took the picture of a young woman who attended the Children’s Home at Sharon Gardens. (I will post as soon as I can figure it out.) She grew up in the incredibly positive and safe environment and upon graduation opted to take advantage of the Nursing College’s two year program. Once she completed that successfully she applied to work at Sharon and is excited continue her education with higher learning while she works! Hers is just one of the countless transformation stories that are the result of investing a little love and help to those less fortunate!

The Cancer Hospital was next on our less than ten stop agenda. Daniel introduced us to one of the administrators of the hospital and she took the tour from there! (IGL turns up apprentices everywhere!) Sitting outside of the Pediatric Ward (It is sad that a cancer hospital has to have one of these, but then again maybe it is something to be thankful for!) was a young girl with beautiful big round dark eyes that were bright but timid as we approached. Her mother was with her so we stopped to inquire why they were waiting there. The mother told us that her daughter had bone cancer and was preparing to have radiation treatment. A group of five mothers that yanked our heartstrings taut and we asked if we could pause and pray for her. It was welcome so we gathered around the girl, much too young to face such uncertain precarious times. Paula led the prayer as we all agreed. When she looked up to gaze into our eyes hers weren't the only ones filed to the brim but she wore a smile of relief and peace that wasn't there earlier! Thank You, God for loving your precious daughter through your other precious daughters! We finished touring the wing and turned to trace our steps back down the same hallway. Of course she was still there so we asked her name and took pictures so that we could remember to pray for her when we were back in the USA.

The Stephens' faithful driver who has chauffeured us on many conference ventures as well as shopping escapades was at the doorway of the hospital to transport us to the remaining stops past the concrete production site where the blocks for the Life Center churches IGL plants are made, (we did skip the dairy farm, shhhh, the new girls don't know what they don't know. :) Time was getting short and we had a 30 minute drive to an adopt-a-village site. Since we were planning to return in time to attend the Children's Program at Sharon tonight we refrained from going inside either the primary or high schools, Anderson Schools that were nestled under the massive mountain! On the way we drove past the laundry facility for the children's uniforms and that of the various workers as well as the vo-tech facility where about young men gained hope after their families were swept away in 2004 during the Tsunami. We also passed a variety of equipment exercise for the children in mostly primary colors that were bright and inviting and had been produced right there on the site!

My heart always beats fast as we head up the narrow roadway to the Convention Center that hosts thousands of pastors, women and leaders of all kinds! I will never forget the story of the anguish prayer that persisted prior to that decision of whether or not that was the best venture. God answered that prayer with a Muslim businessman who contacted Sam to come to see him because he wanted to contribute! That was the first significant gift for the center and Rev. Stephens knew that that was confirmation from God! I have a warm memory of the time when Sam's daughter, Becky, a vibrant young leader was assigned to give us the tour and we walked up the roadway to the land that was set aside. As we held hands and hearts as we strolled along, she talked of her dad's counting the cost prior to beginning and she said, "Money always follows vision." Truly, a daughter after her father (and The Fahter's) own heart she is an incredible leader of the entire Children's Minsitry of IGL and holds a place on the board. Walking on the grounds of the Convention Center I could see the women from the National Convention in 2008 seated enjoying lunch prepared in the large kitchen. Entering the auditorium of the center, triggered a flood gate of warm memories! I remember standing in the middle of the room when it was filled floor to ceiling with bamboo scaffolding! And then the year of its near completion when Cassandra Dickerson, a member of one of the WWAM teams with a powerful voice took the chance to stand on the stage and anoint the room with a song that raised Holy Spirit goose bumps! How my heart longed to participate in another powerful gathering there!

And then I saw it! Something new! The banner that stretched across the entire front of the stage that declared SENT to the World! It took my breath away to try to wrap my mind around the idea that God was prompting and moving our hearts to create a book by the same name, SENT! God is amazing! He is always up to producing a plan to include HIs children at His table! I am so grateful and excited and humbled to even be around! Why not ask God what He is up to in your area and family?

Next stop the Adopt-a-VIllage in Kotty where the pastor is also the cook for the teams that come to Sharon Gardens! He was busy preparing our lunch that we would return for late in the afternoon so he was unable to meet us at the LIfe Center. However we were greeted by the teachers and parents of the childcare center that meets in the Life Center as well as a host of the believers that worship there on Sundays. They greeted us with plastic floral creations made in the LIfe Center. They invited us to introduce ourselves. The joy and smiles on their faces were evidence of the life transformation of the community of that village! One village affects and impacts ten other villages surrounding it!

Traveling in the van on the return to Sharon I learned that there were 37 villages around Salem!  The India Gospel League has established four Life Centers so they are feeling like that it is only a matter of time before their influence is felt throughout Salem! They are intentional and strategic about reaching every last one of God's children with His Love!

Thrilled to see and hear so much good news, we rode back to Sharon in anticipation of more to come in the evening when nearly 300 children of Sharon would demonstrate the joy and testify to the difference Christ has made in their lives through His love expressed by His servants at Sharon!

After lunch we had about 2 hours of free time...hmmmmm....what should we do? Shop? Why of course we had loved ones and prayer partners for whom we needed to obtain treasures to take home to remember. And of course, we must fulfill our tourist visa!

Sharing

 
What a joy to share this experience with Paula French (who ironically enough is not pictured here because she joined us in Newark)! It is through shared expeiences that Paula and I have become good friends! Most of our shared expeience has been half a world away in India! Paula lives in St. Louis and we met while Gary and I were attending a BreakThrough experience. Something in our hearts knew we were kindred spirits! Paula, a marriage and family therapist, accepted several invitations from me when I served as IndianCreek MOPS Mentor to speak and encourage young moms @IndianCreek MOPS for many years! She was a favorite! Besides a message, Paula loved to bring some unique little surprise, treats for the young moms! And the moms loved it when she came!

Paula and I ventured to India together twice before this trip and love sharing that adventure! (Not just any body will go to India with you; just sayin') Yesterday Paula "brought it" at the Women With a Mission National Training Day for local leaders in Salem when she described desirable characteristics of leaders and led us to consecrate ourselves for "tomorrow God is going to do amazing things!"

Just wanted to share with you Paula French so that you could enjoy her posts and perspective. While I am laboring over a hot computer, I mean a computer in a hot room, she is typing her posts on her iphone and emailing them to her daughter who is dropping them into her mom's blog template! She is also importing pictures Paula is emailing her onto the sight, so Paula's site has pictures! I have taken pictures on my iphone but cannot access them on gmail. Any ideas? Please help me if you can.

Love, love, love sharing this special time Living out His Love in India with girlfriends! Hope you can join us sometime! Meanwhile thanks for joining us in your prayers! We are gratedul!

Great First Day of Conferences in Salem, Tamil Nadu India!

After a good night's rest, okay, maybe not all of us slept all night! We were excited to be invited to share with the India Gospel League staff in their Extended Prayer Time prior to their work day. They have this time on a regular basis to encourage their employees and it is an opportunity to share Christ's love and provision with those who do not know Him. What a joy to see all of their smiling faces! They are always so warm, honoring and helpful! They take care of all of the details of the conferences and travel. They know our schedule better than we do! They are examples of the servant leadership which Paula taught about in the sessions in the afernoon.

It was an intimate setting in the upper offices of IGL with the faithful and dedicated national and local leaders for the Women With a Mission. They were encouraged to see one another and we were encouraged to see them! Paula French had designed a leadership track just for them and was eager to encoruage them in their leadership in equiping the women in the local, regional and national groups as they lead women to reach thoes in their villages toward a relationship with the One True God! She talked about the leadership of Joshua and the importance of leaders not only being commissioned but personally consecrating themselves to being a leader of integrity and character. It was a holy moment as we prayed together commiting to serve with authenticity and love, consecrating ourselves, preparing for God to do amazing things!

Session Two was full of practical components of a leader following the footsteps of the greatest servant leader ever, Jesus Christ. At lunch the women went out and selected a rock to bring back for Session Three where we returned to Joshua and followed Joshua as his leaders walked through on dry land the parted waters and then Joshua called them back to return to the place where the waters parted to the very most dangerous place. There they were to collect a rock as a memorial of what God had done for them that day! Each woman brought her rock and we wrote the obstacles in our lives we perceived in accomplishing God's call on our lives. In small groups women were encouraged to share these challenging places in their leadership as well as the call that they have identified that God has on their lives. Then in a time of worship and contemplation we laid our rocks before Him and prayed for His leadership and guidance, recognizing that nothing is too hard for God and He is for us and will lead us through the obstacle! What an encouraging time for us all! Thanks Paula, job well done!

We also go our tour of the IGL offices while in town. As always the staff greeted us with beautiful lieus of fragrant red roses so common to celebrations and honoring the arrival of guests in India! What a wonderful tradition that humbles my heart every time! And I know what they are going to do! It was exciting to see that IGL has expanded their offices and built a near upper floor, remodeling the Children's Ministry Department and removing it from the floor below. Becky Stanley's office is there as well as her brother, Danny Stephens who leads the Student Movement Department of IGL and is doing an incredible job stepping into the call God has on His life! So many years I remember agonizing and praying with Prati for him as he ran from that call for a time. But a beautiful work of grace God has brought in his life and he gladly extends it to all of those around!

Finishing a full day of sessions and office tour around 5:00 p.m. we decided since we were alreday in town we might as well do a little shopping! We can eat dinner when we get home! You can't always shop! So off to Prati's favorite Sari store where she was the owner's first customer! The girls were delighted and marveled over the unique and exquisite silk fabric especially created for sari's and punjabi's! Nothing like it anywhere else in the world! Each woman was able to select something that she would be able to wear while she spoke later in the week to Indian women in the conferences to come! What fun to be fully emersed in the culture of a beautiful and unique land!

And what is a new outfit without a new pair of shoes! Prati showed us a little shoe store where the four young men were mesmerized by blonde women in a world of dark haired dark eyed men and women. They weren't the most efficient but they were eager to serve!

Finally sometime after 10:00 p.m. we returned to the sanctuary of Sharon Gardens and had a wonderful meal prepared especially with our American taste in mind! Servant leadership at its best here! When we were finished we remembered that we needed to prepare for the Children's Program tonight. So we spent the next hour assembling the nearly 300 treat bags (containing glow sticks, note pads, pencils and smarties) for the children. Sharon Gardens is home to nearly 300 children who attend school and learn about God in a setting that supplies their basic needs of food and clothing as well. It is common for parents who cannot afford to feed their child to bring them to Sharon and leave them there so that they can be provided for adequately! (How difficult a decision that must be!)

So today we will tour Sharon Garden campus, with a break in the afternoon and then enjoy the Children's Program tonight! This year besides the treat bags we have a treat for the the children as team member Vicki Orcutt has some songs she will teach them and we will celebrate the goodness of God together! What a incredible God we serve!

Thanks for your prayers as we live out HIs love and remember yours!

Stretching and Growing

 This picture is of the mountain that stretches to the sky behind Sharon Gardens! We truly are in an oasis, a sanctuary that feels so peaceful and encouraging! In the morning we will leave to go into the town of Salem to the offices of the India Gospel League where we are nvited to share with the staff prior to the beginning of their work day and our Women With a Mission National and Local Leadership Conference. We covet your prayers that the Holy Spirit will impact each heart with the very message intended just for them!

What a joy to share with the IGL staff, some of whom are not Christians! It is a joy to serve those who have served us so graciously and magnificantly!

Just as I finished writing what i would share, I saved it to post here for your prayers and reading pleasure and it saved something else over it and somehow the text disappeared! I am just very grateful that i had printed it out first! Not today, SLICK!

Recoverd the text if you care to read and pray that God will use it to grow His Kingdom!

Stretching and Growing

 

What a joy it is to be here in Salem with you! My name is Belinda Kendall and this time when I came to India I purchased a 10 year VISA!! Afterall I have been coming for ten years! And each year we tour the offices and I am overwhelmed with your servant’s hearts and gracious attitudes! The incredible welcome is so warm and honoring! Indeed we feel so very special to be with you!

 

Thank you so very much for your work that makes the other work for the Kingdom! What you do matters to so many! Some of you with whom I have had the pleasure of partnering I know personally your amazing contributions and stand amazed! You are gifted and extraordinary folks and I commend you and applaud you for your diligent effort and skills!

 

We left the USA on Sunday morning and flew first to Newark, N.J. and then to New Delhi, spent the night and then to Coimbatore this morning and were escorted and transported to Sharon Gardens last night about 7:00 p.m. (Many of you in this room made every detail of that time possible and were very aware of exactly where we were and what we were doing because you made every part of it possible.! Thank you!)

 

Last night as we were eating dinner across from our gracious hostess, Prati asked if any of us would be interested in sharing this morning. The more I thought about it, themore the desire grew within me. Then it dawned on me, I have visited this facility and these offices countless times but I have never spent any time sharing with you! And after being here more than a dozen times I feel like you are nearly family! So I thought it would be appropriate to share a part of my story with you. It is my prayer that it encourages and / or inspires you.

 

Some of you may have been around long enough to have met my husband, Pastor Gary Kendall. It has been 12 years since he has traveled to India and he has only visisted twice! In 10 years I have been here more that a dozen times! It was Gary who has always been the brave and courageous one! He was raised in the home of parents who were missionaries and he grew up with a THIRD WORLD CULTURE thinking that that kind of life was normal.

 

And Gary was the one who traveled to the foreign lands for the first 20 years of our marriage while I focused on raising the four little missions  we had in our home! Eventually, they began to grow up and older and God presented the opportunity for me to venture to India! Gary and my brother-in-law, Dr. Scott Green encouraged me to do it!

 

So finally I found myself on the ramp on September 8, 2001. My husband, Gary and two sons: Jeremy and Luke walked me to the very entrance of the jetway. I was in denial up until that point-now I was faced with the fact and finality of leaving them behind and it became very real and overwhelming to me! I tend to be a little dramatic anyway. As I was parting from Gary I asked him desperately, “Honey, will I come back?” To which he replied, “I believe so.”

 

“But what if I don’t,” I choked on the possiblity and ever the romantic/ dramatic went on, “If I don’t come back, will you come after me

“Absolutely!” He declared and sealed the promise with a passionate kiss!

 

Good enough for me, what else could I ask, I boarded the plane to meet and travel with a team of women of whom I knew noone! I did not know anyone in the country to which I was traveling, nor anyone on the team I was serving! I was growing in my trust and my adventure was only beginning. When we arrived a group of us went to eat while we were awaiting the arrival of the rest of the team. We had only been sitting at the table a short while before Rev. Samuel Stephens entered the room and announced that he needed to tell us something. He confessed that he did not want to share the news that he had learned but that he knew we must know. So he began to share what the rest of the world was watching over and over and over in disbelief as two of America’s own jets filled to the brim with fuel and passengers were used as missiles to assault an attack on the World Trade Center Towers!

 

We were of course in shock and sat in disbelief. It was what Rev. Stephens said next that encouraged me and comforted me. Sam relayed to us a dream that he had experienced a while before. In the dream he had seen the two towere snd heard God say to him, “These two will fall.” Samuel said he was greatly perplexed and didn’t know what he was supposed to do with that revelation. So he told his mother and mother-in-law and asked them to pray.

 

When I heard this story, it gave me great comfort that this man with whom we were traveling and investing was a man who heard from God and listened. And though I was afraid, I was at peace. There were some anxious times in the next three weeks before we traveled home. However, God grew me up in faith and trust in Him because He sustained me!

 

I know that He will do the same for you!

 

What are you afraid of? What would it take to walk straight toward that fear?

 

What are you willing to do or not do because of fear?

 

Beth Moore says that we are not growing unless we are stepping outside of our comfort zone.

 

I want tp show you how a sign states it.

 

This picture was taken in Macu Tower in March when I traveled there with my daughter prior to teaching English as a Second Language for two weeks.

 

No, I didn’t jump! I haven’t grown that much! Maybe next time. But I did go out on the ledge, high above the city and walked all the way around it! Scary? Kinda, but more exhilerating than anything!

 

One more story: I did not grow up around the water and I don’t know how to swim very well so I can be very uncomfortable in the water. However my husband LOVES it! So had an opportunity our entire family to go snorkeling and the kids could not believe that Gary would pay money for me to go because they were certain that I would not go into the water. So when the time came I was the last one perched on the side of the boat, everyone else was paddling around, bobbing up and down and enjoying the sun and the ocean and the incredible world beneath the surface. It took lots of coaxing and patience but eventually I scooted off of the edge and safety of the boat into the deep blue sea! Instantly, fear gripped me and I began paddling frantically and holding my head above water, working hard to stay upright. A man from the boat yelled, “Hey Lady, look down! You are missing the show!”

 

Talk about missing the point! Sure enough my googles were still above the surface of the water and I couldn’t see a thing beneath the waves. Cautiously, I placed my face donned in mask flat to the surface of the water and the view below took my breath away! There were hundreds of bright yellow, orange and all colors of incredibly beautiful fish! And then there was the magnificient coral reef below! I kept my head underwater mesmerized until they finally had to flag me down and pull me, the last one, back into the boat because it was time to go. 

When I think about how my fear paralysed me, I realize that I could easily have missed the entire underwater wonderland!

I challenge you to think about what you are afraid of and what is limiting you in areas of your life that could be a whole new world opening up right beneath you that you could completely miss out on if you don’t take the courage to plunge into the deep end and look way down!

Perhaps there are emotional or physical fears but perhaps it is spiritulally that you might be curious but a bit afraid of going any further with God. Or maybe you haven’t started the journey with Him.

I invite you to take some time and contemplate what God might be saying to you. Could it be “Look down! You are missing the show!”

 I am so thankful that God gave me the courage to walk down that ramp 10 years ago this week and travel to a land halfway around the world to a people I did not know but who have enrched my life and stretched my way outside of my comfort zone!

 

Delayed but delighted to be on mission in India!

What a great team of women! We concurr with the flight attendant who said she could not imagine life without a pen, lipstick and laughter! Delayed on take-off from KCI, we later learned because the USA President was flying somewhere over the vicinity, the entire air space was closed!

Vicki Orcutt met us there from Casper and joined RaeAnn Middleton, Dana Hogan and me. We were anticipating meeting fifth team member, Paula French in Newark. Time for a prayer circle with pep talk from Gary and prayer with Indian Creek's Global Director, Eric Rochester. It also gave us opportunity to have a "last supper" or lunch with Geroge Middleton and my dedicated husband, Gary Kendall who drove up to spend some time after preaching the message at Indian Creek Community.

It always amazes me as to how God forms a team! Before the formation of the team none of the women had met each other. Although RaeAnn and Dana both attend Indian Creek, RaeAnn was a part of the group of pioneers who launched Indian Creek Gardner campus and Dana was involved in Alpha on the Olathe campus. Vicki, Director of Missions at Highland Park Community Church in Casper, Wyoming met both girls for the first time at the airport. I know all of the women individually and was the connector God used to form the team. Eric had prayed for unity and oneness of our group, the same prayer Jesus prayed for His disciples and we began to experience it nearly immediately!

The trip to Newark was uneventful enough and connecting to the International terminal was smooth with only a shuttle bus ride from one terminal to the next. Upon landing in Neward we were grateful to learn that Paula was there and already at the gate. We arrived just in time for a water break! I think I sleot more on this 15 hour flight than any in a long time! (Some people use medication/herbs to sleep on the plane. I just stay up the night or two prior to leaving--that will make you sleep like a baby, well maybe not a baby as some babies do NOT sleep on an international flight at all! Paula can testify to that fact as her seat was strategically located in the "nursery" section!)An uneventful flight brought us to a brand new incredible humongous (as my precious grandson would say!) New Delhi airport! After gathering our mountain of lugggage (we were taking part of our country to India!) we made our way out of the terminal to meet our driver assigned to us from IGL to take us to the airport. Easy to find since he held up a sign, "Mrs. Belinda Kendall"A very kind but overwhelmed man when he saw our luggage and counted the 15 pieces! Too much for the one car he had brought to fetch us.

So we split up into two taxis, always an adventure! And although we left at different times we arrived at the hotel at the same time! Oh, to experience the busy streets of India, there is nothing to compare with the variety, traffic, excitement and congested chaos that is strangely commonly navigated! We arrived safely at our hotel and were pleased to know that of course the hotel restaurant was still open to accomondate us! And we were the only ones there! Private dining! We ordered quickly as the waiter warned us the restaurant would not be taking orders after 11:00 p.m. and it was alrday 10;45! We were able to get soup, butter chicken, and nan! Topped off with bottled water we were ready for our rooms!Wake up call at 6:30 with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and departure for Delhi's domestic airport to fly to Combitore and then a few hours ride by car to Salem! We are off! We so apprectiate your prayers and are so grateful to God for His constant presence and provision for His beloved daugthers far from home but strangely at home with His people half a world away!

Amazing Couple of Weeks!

We are all very excited to be back in Hong Kong! What an incredible international city! The hustle and bustle reminds me of New York City but the harbor is no comparison! The traffic is as diverse as the road traffic in India!

We are so thankful for prayers that have sustained us! We are so grateful that Christy is feeling better! She is a completely different woman than when we arrived here just a couple of weeks ago! She couldn't even leave the room she was so sick! Now she is excited to explore this new city and we are ecstatic to escort her!

We shared a dinner last night to celebrate Chad, one of the team member's birthday! We found a TGI Friday's and they even brought him a little birthday scoop of ice cream with a candle! He will never forget where he celebrated this year marker!

We hustled to get a good spot to view the nightly laser light show on the fascinating harbor and even an hour before the shore was lined with people and tripods! And what a beautiful show it was! Just about a hour an hour before an beautiful harvest moon began to rise over the buildings! It was as if God was saying, "You think this is something! Let me show you what I can do! Remember I am the one who created the heavens and the earth and hung the sun in the sky! See this moon! It is shining with only the reflection of the sun's light!

We are awed by the marvelous creation of God and thrilled by the creativity He gave man as well!

We are excited to post pictures and stories of our journey when we return! View some at Project Partner!

English as a Second Language

We are into our second journey! By now the excitement and wonder has weaned. The initial rush of adrenaline has subsided and the longings for the comfortable and familiar have invaded our minds while the enemy takes opportunity to assault our hearts and minds with doubt and lies! However it is them that God reveals Himself to us and speaks in voices of others. It is then that His encouragement and healing comes to us through His people. It is them beyond our comfort and familiar that our faith becomes real! By faith...

Happy Birthday Megan and Happy Birthday ESL Class Party

Today I am celebrating Megan's 24th birthday from the same place I celebrated her 23rd on an English as a Second Language Project Partner Trip! Very appropriate since she is celebrating in the same place she has for the last 22 years, in Heaven with her heavenly Father!! I presented today about American families. It wa a very talkative class. The students are curious but nervous to try their English aloud for fear of failure. I was teaching about birth order, telling them I was the firstborn of five children. I asked them how many of them were firstborns also and only one or two raised their hands. I asked again. Then someone said, "They don't know how to respond if they are an ONLY! (how could I forget my audience?!)all of a sudden the tremendous pressure and weight of that fell on me and I was very sad for them and understood better their reluctance to try because they might fail! But then we too have only ONE life to give. One shot at it! How do we leverage for the most impact our one solitary life! In class I shared about American families and the breakup of families. I also talked about how our families expand as we grow older and how I love that! We listened to then sang We Are Family and then I told them about the family of God in the church and how God is our Father so we Are brothers and sisters. We listened to The Family of God via You Tube and sang it together. Interestingly, an unusual quiet and calm fell over the room and I was able to share about being born into His family and the hope I have of seeing my daughter again in heaven. I am praying that those seeds fell on fertile soil and trusting God to water and grow them and reap a harvest from them.

We Are Family

http://youtu.be/YkTSfnkalQ 

What a joy to be with Project Partner  and brothers and sisters halfway around the world and feel the kindred spirit of His love! We experienced a great day of English as a Second Language classes yesterday! The team did wonderfully! They jumped in and engaged with the students and pitched in and helped one another! It is a beautiful picture of His Body being His Body to reach others! 

Today I am presenting the American culture lesson. I am talking about families in the United States. I will teach the different make up of families as well as the concept that we are a part of HIs family, the family of God. What a beautiful picture that we share the same Father and it is His love that enables us to love one another!

We are excited to demonstrate that love in a way that others can know and understand! Your prayers and support are vital! Thank you for your participation!

Amazing Day!

What a gorgeous day in Hong Kong! 

A good Ferry ride, a great meal (did you know that you could make ice cream in a wok grill?-We did at a restaurant tonight! Great mango!) we reconnected with friends and partners, who were very excited to see us and us them! Great to be reconnected! Anticipating what God will do next! 

Thanks for your prayers!

Good Morning Hong Kong!

What an incredible international city! We arrived Sunday night about 11:00 p.m. The journey to the hotel took until about 1:00. Christy had a bit of a rough flight with some back pain and severe dehydration! Thanks for your prayers for her as she rests into the day. We are believing for total healing and recovery for her! The Continental crew could not have been nicer or more accomodating! They were true servants! Christy was a trooper!

We were met at the hotel by another team member, Chad who had come over early to meet some friends. So our total team is Bri (from Kentucky), Kristen, Chad (from Oklahoma), Matt, Christy (from Texas), Ann (from Wichita), Cinday, Elise, Jackie and me!

We are looking forward to heading to Victoria's Peak this morning, hoping to beat the rain so that the team can experience the spectacular panaramic view of the harpor and take in the scope of Hong Kong!

Your prayers are so appreciated! Our love to all!

Go Deeper in Sex--Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex but Didn’t Know Who to Ask…

That was the title of a popular book when I was a teenager and curious about “the birds and the bees”. My parents were of the generation that didn’t necessarily believe in “having that talk” with their children. So I learned what I learned from kids in school, the book I referenced and TV. I  don’t recommend that method of parenting.. A wise woman who was a mentor to me in parenting, Valera Bachman advised me about a year before Kristen went to Kindergarten that if I wanted a chance to tell Kristen and form her thinking I had better tell her before she went to school. Valera taught school for more than 25 years and I trusted and believed her advice. So at bedtime one night I went to Kristen’s room and Gary went to Jeremy’s room and we each had a book to read to them that explained the blessing and curse of the God given gift of sex. Kristen had a typical, yuck, reaction. From the other room we heard Jeremy and Gary laughing and Kristen being very bright asked, “Are they talking about the same thing?”

How brave are you? Get real with your group and share your experience of hearing about sex for the first time. Where were you? Who told you and what was your reaction?

What does God think about sex? Are you sure you want to go there? He likes it! He created it!  God communicates on sex through His Word and He has a lot to say! I believe that He created sex for us and our good. He created it for intimacy, pleasure and permanency.  The incredible bonding of the act of sexual intercourse is meant to connect us in a way unlike any other relationship. It is described as creating a unique oneness where two become one! Read Genesis 2:24. Think about the powerful act when two chemical elements are combined and create an entirely NEW element unlike the other two. I do believe that in the union of marriage, God created us to be MORE together, than either of us can be on our own. Sex can be a mutual enjoyment and encouragement in marriage that can bring pleasure to both.

What do you think? Read Pro. 15:18-19. Also, I Cor. 7:3-5, Heb. 13:4 and for a deeper study discuss Song of Solomen with your spouse.

Sex is such a powerful union that just as it has great potential for pleasure, there is equal opportunity for pain. So God’s Word offers boundaries to keep us from hurting ourselves and others. Read I Cor. 6:18. The prohibitions are for our protection. Read I Thess. 4:3-5. Where do these Scriptures draw the boundary lines? Read Romans 1:26-27, Leviticus 18:6, Leviticus 18:23, Exodus 20:14 and Heb. 13:4. Talk about the reason for these boundaries. Consider 1 Cor. 6:15-17. What are direct results and implications of “two becoming one”?

How far will you go? Think about and consider sharing how sex has enriched your life and how it has caused pain.

Years ago I read in Focus on the Family about a case study.

Renovations were being done at a middle school downtown.  The tall fences that surrounded the playing area were taken down in preparation for replacement the following week.  Typically, the kids would play right out to the fence line, but after the fence was taken down, the kids stayed in the central part of the play area and would not venture within twenty feet of the old boundary. 

Boundaries can give us freedom and security. What can we learn about God and the boundaries in Scripture? Will the study of these Scriptures affect the way you regard sex and your sexual activity? How? Maybe you want to write a prayer or make a commitment to God about your thoughts and/or decisions.

Happy Birthday Mom!

 
Alberta June Whitt Barker, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, garderner, racecar driver, pit crew, care giver, writer, woman of many talents, my mom! I love you! May your day be full of peace and joy!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter.

Thirty-two years ago...two became one...we love because He first loved us!

Happy Second Birthday Jadon--a special little boy!

 
On June 25^th Jadon will be TWO YEARS old! I still remember the day Kristin and Tony brought Jadon to the offices after their doctor’s appointment when they received the diagnosis that he had Spinal Muscular Atrophy. 

At that time Jadon was only a few months old and from that day Tony and Kristin’s worlds were rocked. They have been juggling this new normal for two years. Tony decided sometime early within the first year that he would leave his job to stay at home with Jadon. Since then Tony has built many things that have helped accommodate Jadon’s special condition. Eventually, because of Jadon’s condition he required more than medical equipment but also medical care personnel to assist with his needs. So they have medical care personnel who attend him, gratefully in their own home. 

Tony and Kristin sadly realized during Jadon’s first winter that his trips to church would be severely limited and finally had to cease altogether. The risk for infection on his continually weakening body was far too great! Tony has been able to attend some without them. Their outings with Jadon are very limited. Recently, they were able to take Jadon to the zoo. 

 
As I can only imagine, between work and caring for Jadon, they have been fairly isolated. Focusing on his care, work and special events to raise awareness of this deadly disease (which kills more babies than any other genetic disease) have occupied all of their waking moments and limited their sleeping ones sometimes. 

Kristin and Tony’s mothers have taken turns spending nearly a year each to live with them to help out. And they have found great camaraderie with other SMA families in the area. However, Kristin and  Tony do need more help. They need community…their spiritual community…their church family. So they are inviting us in to  help. 

I asked what are some ways that we could help out. So here they are:

1. Sign up at www.takethemameal.com. Kristin said, “It’s really NOT about the food.”
2. Guys, drop by to visit with Tony and Jadon during the day. Their address is 1303 W Elm Terrace, Olathe 66061.
3. Email them anytime. Convenient for them to answer.
4. Become a friend on FACEBOOK and keep up with Tony’s updates.
5. Tony is painting his house alone. He hasn’t asked for help but you could ask him.
6. They are establishing Jadon’s Hope, a not for profit to raise awareness for SMA. If you know anything about not for profits and could help with paperwork.
7. Send a card or note of encouragement to their address: Tony & Kristin Burks & Jadon, 1303 W Elm Terrace, Olathe 66061.

Let's surround them with the love of Christ through His Body!

 

 

 

Joshua Luke Kendall-A Follower and a Leader are Born

 
Twenty-six years ago on a Sunday morning, we were  preparing to pack up two preschoolers: Kristen and Jeremy and head to First Church of God in Kansas City KS where we were pastoring a few more months prior to venturing with four other families to establish a new place for these Olathe families to bring their friends who were far from God. The dream was that they would find a safe, inviting atmosphere where they would experience the love of Jesus Christ and dare to believe it for themselves!

But there was a stirring and I knew it was about time to head to the hospital for the birth of our third child! Gary called a couple of friends to care for Jeremy and Kristen. Since this was our third child we had experienced the fact that I had a track record of a long laboring day prior to delivering the other two children! So Gary knew he had time to check me in at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and then go to preach the message God had placed on his heart for the First Church of God in Kansas City Kansas and then rejoin me at the hospital in plenty of time! And besides there wasn't a plan B. He was THE Pastor!

 
I settled in for what I knew was a long stay and kissed Gary, who promised to return as soon as he had shared the message. And sure enough when he came back I was in the same postiion. Finally, the doctor made an appearance and was surprised at my lack of progress for a full day's work. He said, This is your third baby! You should be better at this by now!" Now that was encouraging! Anyway, he talked me into an epiderial and I am grateful!

Joshua Luke Kendall was born before 6:30 p.m. that Sunday evening! What a beautiful baby boy! kristen and Jeremy were delighted and in awe of their new perspective playmate! They came to visit and to hold him before he was a day old and have been his adoring fans ever since! God is so good to give us family!

 
Gary and I had pondered over what to name this special child as names were important to us! Prophetically, though we didn't know, we selected Joshua because of the strong courageous leader in the Bible by the same name. We didn't yet know how appropriate that name would be! But Luke's heavenly Father certainly did! He knew Luke and all of his days before a one of them came to be! With a brother named Jeremy, we thought Joshua would be a great fit. However someone warned us that there were many children already with J names. So we compromised because we loved the name LUKE and the Biblicall recorder and witness of the life of Jesus, we decided we would name him Joshua but utilize his middle name, Luke to address him daily. Sounded great at the moment but we had no idea the frustration in the school system to have a first name but use your middle name instead!

Joshua Luke Kendall, we have loved you from the beginning! Yes, before you were born! We believe that you were knitted together in my womb and that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! We believe that you have a heavenly Father who knows every hair on your head and who had great plans for you, to give you a future and a hope! We believe that He  knew when were were selecting your name, Joshua that you would be a courageous and passionate leader after His own heart! He also know that like your namesake LUKE, the doctor who followed Jesus, you would have a sensitive and compassionate heart for hurting people to find their way to a God who cares and heals!

 
We are so excited for you as you follow your heart and God's call on your life to venture to the city, Chicago to join Mission Church in just a few months! What a courageous venture! But then would we really expect less? What a joy to witness God sharing your heart to His! We are excited and know that it must be Him calling you! We know how much you would rather go somewhere warm and sunny, like Phoenix! However, I will never forget a conversation we had once when you were several years younger. You were asking but not really asking me when you pondered aloud, "Mom, why do I love the city so much?"

I don't think it was my response because I am just not that clever but I think it was God's, "Luke, I think you love the city because that is where all the people are!"

Simple but how true for you! God has entrusted you with a great love and an ever greater gift with people! Luke, you have never met a stranger and we observed that from the time you could talk! You LOVE to engage people! You are not afraid to tell them what is on your mind--good or bad. God will use that but will also temper that! You are easy to be around and fun to hang with! You are an adventurer and an explorer. You are an encourager who thrives on encouragement!

 
We are so grateful for Rachel and the incredible vibrant lifegiver, life partner she is! We know that God has entrusted her to you to share life and His journey as one!

 

We know that 26 years seems old to you today but what a beautiful age to be starting a new venture together with one who loves you by your side and the Holy Spirit who encourages you inside of you and a God who created you to be SENT by Him on purpose and mission! You were born for this life! We love you and are cheering you on!

 

She's Back and I am Going Back!

 
 
Since 2001 God has infused me with a passion, not my own to travel to India and Sri Lanka to encourage and train women leaders and I have fallen in love with the Indian people and culture! (not yet the food) My heart is connected to those with whom we partner, the India Gospel League. What a joy to partner with Rev. Samuel Stephens, the President and his wife, Prati Stephens, President of the Women with a Mission and their entire family! God has bound her hearts and hands together for His purposes and we are forever grateful!

 

I am so excited that Prati will bein in Olathe at Indian Creek Community Church this Sunday morning and her son, Danny Stephens who is the director of the Youth division will be in Gardner! What an incredible opportunity to actually see and talk with them in person and hear their hearts for God and His people! Prati will share the message with Pastor Gary while Danny contributes at Indian Creek in Gardner! Both will be present at a luncheon on the Olathe campus immediately followning the second service so there is lots of chances to meet and greet them personally! 

In India there are 1750 people groups many unreached or only partially reached and around the world over 150,000 people die each day most without knowing Christ! Let's join the awakening around the world for those who don't know, to come to know Him.

How will they know unless someone tells them? Will you be the one? Around the corner and/or around the world? God is sending us back to India in September. Would you consider how you can participate...Go...Send someone...Pray?

So Long Hong Kong!

What a fantastic international city! Leaving Hong Kong feels a bit sad. What a great trip! Lots accomplished as far as for future trips. I am more familiar with Hong Kong than ever before! Although it has been a fleeting 10 days it has felt very restful. Though the week in China was challenging I know the time in Hong Kong helped immensely because we felt we could relax a bit and be on our own time and agenda. Kristen let me practice finding my way around and leading. The subway is the most challenging. However I am learning to keep an eye on the signs. The crowds and the pace can be overwhelming. It is not that they are in such a hurry as much as it is the are all purposeful and going somewhere. And there are so very many people! It was surprising to see in Hong Kong the celebration of Easter even more than in the USA. The signs on the street and in the malls with rabbits everywhere. The Easter camps at the YMCA were intriguing...open to the public. Very interesting! I am excited to be home but am already thinking about returning in the summer with the English teaching team! Thanks for your prayers and support! We so value your partnership! BTW-My port is out on my phone so it will not take a charge! :( So no tweeting, texting or calling for me! Be certain to check for Kristen's updates at www.project partner.org of follow her on twitter or Facebook!

Reflections on a Meaningful Trip

Thinking about the times we experienced with a part of His Body demonstrating Jesus' love! Wanna see more pictures? Flicker

What a joy to serve alongside brothers and sisters from halfway around the world with the same spirit and purpose! What a delight to share meals, living space, serving, relaxing times, worship and His love with them!

Remembering being with the students and operating as a body, each cooperating and doing their part to accomplish one purpose! Being THE CHURCH serving HIS kids in a community that doesn't know Him but can't deny His love being expressed in tangible form!

While some were serving at the schools, the team of doctors were holding clinics in the center of the community with special cases and seniors diagnosing and conducting glucose testing. Meanwhile at the school nurses and nutritionists were teaching health, hygiene and abstinence (required)! Imagine that!

God is so good to give us one another and cause us to need one another so that we depend upon HIs love for one another!

The Church in China and India has been missional long before it was the trend!

Bittersweet Goodbyes--See You!

We said "Goodbye" to part of the team yesterday as some could not finish the week because of commitments. A half a dozen left this morning heading north to Beiijing home. We said "Goodbye" to the seniors who reside in the center where we were staying. Kristen has a video of them standing on the front steps waving! We also have a video of the children at the last school lining the driveway saying "Goodbye". We created quite the traffic jam!

The rest of us still 30 something boarded the bus on a six hour trek back to Maacu for them and Zhihu for us. The ride is always eventful! They are such a fun group of people to travel with! It reminds me of mine and Gary's days working with youth and the mission trips! Except that these are all grown adults having a blast with one another! They love to laugh and joke and I don't believe I have seen a more joyful group of people! On the way out a week ago the bus trip began with each one taking a turn at the mike, yes-there is a tour guide type microphone on the bus! Each one of us trekked to the front of the bus and introduced ourselves telling who we were and why we came! So on the trip away from the school we each took another turn (remember we have six hours to travel) and shared about our experience of the week and anything else that we felt like we wanted to say! Of course they all shared in Chinese and sometimes someone remembered to translate for us and sometimes not! But it was a blast! It made the ride seem shorter and really gave a great opportunity to hear one another's heart! (Wish I had thought of it for our family trips to KY! Not the introduction part of course but maybe our expectations on the way there and our highlights on the way back!)

They dropped us off tonight and are driving on to Maacu. (Kristen and I are on our own the rest of the way home. Tonight we are in a hotel until morning when we get up and take a hotel shuttle to the ferry on to Hong Kong.)

Lots of waving and hugging but not final farewells! Oh, no! We know we will see them on Facebook! Thanks to modern technology! And if we don't see them here again we will see them in Heaven! So no farewell here is final! 

We just say, "See ya!"

Speaking of which, we are looking forward to see you all soon as well!

Ready to Head Out

We are ready for the bus ride back to coast where we will spend the night before boarding ferry for Hong Kong!

It Is Finished!

Mission accomplished! His people were served. His Body united! His name was glorified! I can hardly wait ti be able to get back and post the pictures of the children as they lined the sides of the driveway to the school to express their gratitude and wave goodbye! The teachers, administrative staff and principal were all smiles as well. And so were we! Well except when we started to realize we were leaving them!we must leave them in the capable and loving heavenly father! Such partnerships like this exemplify the missional church!

Last Day in Clinic and School

Wow! It is difficult to believe we are at the last day already! What a great group of servant minded people! What do a pilot, a chef, a couple of nurses,one dentist and his wife, eight doctors, some lab techs, a couple of nutrtionists, three photographers, a jewelry store clerk and her husband and two pastors have in common? All took the opportunity to live out the love of Jesus for a week, cooperating to be The Church and making a difference in the lives of more than 700 children! Thanks for participating through your support and prayers!

Physically Fit for school & life?

Today we sat up stations in a school and assessed the general of many children in the school. We measured and documented their height and weight, their eyesight,and dental health. Doctors also assessed their general condition through a physical and recorded the results of each indidual exercise in a report the children took home to their parents A nutritionist shard a presentation on nutrition. I worked with two others measuring height and weight, plotting on a graph the percentile in which they fell and recorded the results in each individual child's take home report. Rewarding! We return to the school in the morning to continue the process.

Beautiful morning to partner for Him!

A pilot, Medical technicians, radiologists, dentists, nurses, nutrtionist, and doctors...all partnering for better health for a community! Joyful attitudes to give back! What a great group to be around! Going to be a great day!

Arrived Safe & Sound!

Amazing trip! Arrived at site a bit earlier than expected so the team spent some time singing with the residents! No worries, I did not lead! Tomorrow we will help with physical exams for the children. It is our pleasure to serve!

Amazing International City of Hong Kong!

What an incredible city! Busy! Busy! Busy! Amazing destination for many people from all over the globe! Asian, American, Indian, European, Austrailian...all trapsing the same streets! Intersecting and interacting as one cosmopolitan community! What a beautiful picture of God's creativity and beauty!

We enjoyed walking the city today and I DO mean walking the city! Kristen was leading the way and teaching and training me as we went. Which tram to take, which street to cross, which subway goes to the Peak! Don't forget to buy water! Drink it! Don't forget to put money on the Octupus cards at the airport because that is the easiest and fastest way! Don't forget that they only take cash! Purchase the subway tickets to Kowloon Station. Lots to remember...lots of details! 

Challenging, YES! Exciting, Absolutely! Kristen knows Hong Kong like the back of her hand! Who better to train an apprentice! First time last summer I just watched. Today I was practicing remembering! The more training the better so that I can be ready when the time comes!

We traveled to the Stanley Market so that we could take the team there. Then on to Victoria's Peak to witness the spectacular view of Hong Kong Harbor! It is the best 360 degree view! Absolutely breathtaking! What a creative God to have formed such resourceful and creative people who could have constructed such a structure on the peak of a hilltop!

Late dinner, who can think of eating when there is so much to see and learn! Now time to rest so that we will be ready to check out in the morning, board the ferry and meet the rest of the team for the second leg of this amazing adventure!

Thanks for your prayers! We are excited and encouraged! Praise God for a glorious day!

For more pictures and updates, visit www.projectpartner.org. Because Sprint doesn't have affordable international coverage I will not be posting as much as Kristen will be.

 

Come and Get it! Cappaccino Blast! Baked Potato Soup!

 NOW is your chance!

I am not a gourmet cook but I do have a few favorites that people keep requesting! I am willing to share them in a cookbook! Along with others who have a heart for China and are partnering with Project Partner to raise awareness and support! Some favorites are:

Baked Potato Soup

Cappacino Blast Punch

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Annette Doull's Nutty Coleslaw

Monkey Bread and Overnight Rolls and more!

Now you can have these infamous recipes and MORE AND help fund Indian Creek Community Church's China Team!

Pre order your cookbook for $15.00 on Sunday at Indian Creek Community Church OR Belinda Kendall and delivery will be available to pick up on Mother's Day. Wanna help? Simply submit your own recipes to Judi Jurgens: Judi Jurgens by March 27.

 

 

SENDING OUT Luke & Rachel Kendall @RESTORE Community Church

 
What a day! Honored to be a part of Restore Community Church and Luke and Rachel's Commissioning along with an extraordinary group of people being SENT to Chicago to help people there find their way back to God!

 

I stood humbled and amazed at a God of seond chances! A God of love and favor of mercy and grace! My eyes filled with tears as I looked into the eyes and heart of Tommy Bowman, worship leader as he proclaimed with all his being more than words

 

I thought of Luke being called out by God to follow His choosing! And I remembered a state youth convention more than 10 years ago when Luke tender hearted told us of his experience there. He had heard Jesus call to him to get out of the boat for Him! Luke knew Jesus was calling him to be willing to follow Him and lead other people to do the same! And now here he is responding yet again to Jesus' bold call to get out of the boat and leave his beloved Kansas City (Jayhawks, his famly and all!) to go to a cold windy land in Chicago! Luke's choice would have beem more like Phoenix! He doesn't especially like the cold but he LOVES the city! He asked me once after a trip to Chicago, "Mom, why do I love the city so much?" I responded before I really even thought about it, perhaps God did, "Luke, I think you love the city because that where all of the people are!"

Luke does have a gift with people. He has a gift on the drums as well. He has a vibrant young bride who wants to DO SOMETHING before they have children and start a family! I remember their honeymoon adventure to San Diego where they treked out to a rock to take a picture together and nearly lost their lives in the strong current of the incoming tide! I love the way Luke describes traveling with Rachel as everywhere they go together is an adventure!

I know God is calling them to more than Chicago with a great group of people who have hearts to help people find God! He is calling them to a dream that is His dream to impact a city, yes, but to impact them as well! What a joy to send them, even knowing following their dream, if it is His dream, will cost them everything! God sent His son, how can we do any less?

We enjoyed getting to be a part of the SEND OFF! What fun to hear Tommy Bowman lead and share from his heart for the final time at Restore! How bittersweet for the folks there! But a new birth always is! Jon Peacock's message was inspiring and compelling! Yes, we all have dreams! And they require sacrifice and sometimes they just need to be released inside of us! We must SEE THE UNSEEN! I had never heard the story he shared about Walt Disney's groundkeeper finding him staring into space and being concerned for him, asked him is he could help him. Mr. Disney was standing in the middle of the park that at the time only consisted of ONE ride. When the groundskeeper pressed him, he said I am not staring at nothing. I am looking at my mountain. Mr. Disney died a few years later and after his death they constructed his mountain, SPACE mountain at Disneyland and at the dedication they talked of how sad it was that Walt Disney was not there to see it. When Mrs. Disney, his widow got her turn to speak, she corrected them saying, Walt saw that mountain long ago!

Secondly, Jon shared that in order to release the dream we must STAY THE COURSE. The path of least resistence has never led to anything significant!  The path of most resistence is where we learn how much the dream's going to cost and is where God does His work on us. It is the path on which we are formed! Afterall the logo for Christianity IS a CROSS! It points to what is to be expected--incredible amounts of sacrifice--everything! But the Spirit of God replaces fear with faith for the journey.

Thirdly, Jon said that he had learned to SEEK THE HEART OF GOD. God's ultimate desire is to be in relationship with us. It reminds me of what Tommy Bowman said at the end of the service. He said that people had been talking about the impact he and Jess had made but HE was leaving forever changed!

We are SENT people! Who are we sending out for HIM? Where are we called to go?

The Good

Sometimes we can listen to something over and over and never really HEAR it!

Friday is our "therapy day" or better known as our grandparents' day...every Friday that Gary and I are in town we are privileged to have the company of the most adorable 19 month old boy EVER! Yes, we are biased but just stop by and see for yourself! Landon is our first grandchild and we are both first borns so of course we want to encourage and inspire and enhance his little life in every way humanly possible! Jesi and Jeremy are great parents! Jeremy is the googey-eyedist devoted daddy who loves to spend time with his son! And Jesi is a smart experienced child development savy preschool trained and Sunday school tested teacher!So they really don't need our help much, EXCEPT physically, they value the time to redirect their energy and effort back into one another, their marriage, work, friends, or  sometimes just to sleep in! We proved trustworthy enought to not only keep him all day on most Fridays but also overnight! And we LOVE it!!!

Jesi decided early on in Landon's life (Jesi is a first born as well! And Jeremy IS a first born son!)to teach him sign language. It is supposed to help defer the terrible two's and temper tantrums (we will let you know in a few months:) and allow a way for babies and toddlers to communicate before they can actually speak. My sister, Brigette, experienced being a grandmother before me and she told us how helpful it was to teach her grand daughter sign language. So Gary and I were glad to help! So we purchased some Baby Signing Time dvd's and began learning along with Landon! And we all love it! The songs are great and they make signing easy to learn and remember!

 

We only have three dvd's and we have been watching and interacting with them once a week or so for over a year! Today we were listening to one and I had heard the song hundreds of times but today I HEARD the message for the firsr time!

Rachel Coleman, author and creator of the Sgning Time program and dvd's, wrote the song (probably after discovering her first born daughter was deaf). I hope that it encourages and inspires you as much as it did me.

The Good

It was you and me and the whole world right before us

I couldn’t wait to start

I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us

We thought we knew what we got

And then one day I thought it slipped away

And I looked to my hands to hold on

And then one day all my fear slipped away

And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won’t find easy

But, baby, we’ve found the good

No, maybe we won’t find easy

But, baby, we’ve found the good!

It was you and me and a new world right before us

I was so scared to start

I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us

But how did they move so far?

And then one day I thought it slipped away

And I looked to my hands to hold you

And then one day all my fear slipped away

And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won’t find easy

But, baby, we’ve found the good

Maybe we won’t find easy

But, baby, we’ve found the good!

To my awesome husband Aaron- Maybe we won’t find easy, but baby, we have found the good! I love you~ Rachel

Happy Sweetheart's Day!!! Thirty-two Years ago...

My sweetheart said to me this morning,”Hey, am i remembering right? Didn’t I propose to you on Valentine’s Day?

That he did! We both were working in Houston at Fast Motor Freight, the late evening shift which meant all of the bills of lading had to be completed before we could leave so we usually finished about 11:00 p.m. We rode together so we had special permission from the authorities at the Christian College we attended, Gulf Coast Bible College (now in Oklahoma City, renamed Mid American Christian University) to be in late that night. But what I didn’t know was that he had asked special permission as well to be inside the Chapel at West 11th Church there on the campus of the school. So we went inside and there in the semi darkness of the chapel we he told me of his love and asked me to marry him! We took communion and prayed at the alter together. He had planned to wash my feet but the chaplian thought that that was too risky and we might get carried away. Anyway, I said YES! and we celebrated 31 years of marriage this year! And we have fought hard for every day of it! Sometimes we have fought others, sometimes our kids, sometimes the enemy and sometimes each other! But it is a BEAUTIFUL fight! And we know it won’t be over until we finish the race!

SENT

Just a few days ago we sat at the kitchen table with our oldest daughter as she talked about her next adventure for the advancement of His Kingdom. She was processing aloud the trip and all that it would include and contemplating the impact and value. She wondered aloud if the value would be the same as if her father had gone. I tried to encourage her. “Of course they will know our interest is high! Kristen, your dad is sending his most valued treasure—his daughter.” 
Gary, always the encourager, chimed in, “My one and only daughter!” Then it dawned on us.  
Gary and Belinda so loved the world that they SENT their only daughter (first to Mexico, then to China, and to India and even to be married and live in OHIO)!

     Psalm 127 

^3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
      the fruit of the womb His generous legacy?
   Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
      are the children of a vigorous youth.
   Oh, how blessed are you parents,
      with your quivers full of children!
   Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
      you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

I still remember his emphasis and point that arrows were not meant to stay in the quiver. They were meant to be SENT OUT! 

As a young bride who did not yet have any arrows in my quiver, though I loved the thought of it, I certainly had no idea how it would feel to draw back the bow. But I knew how it felt to be chosen and to be aimed at a target and sent out! How it felt to know that you were on mission and were spending your one and only life for an eternal difference!

Today Kristen is sent out to a target, half a world away and Mom and family are praying that she will hit the mark.. an arrow out of the quiver. Jesus was willing to be SENT from heaven and God was willing to send His very best!