So Much to be Thankful For!

On Thanksgiving Day my family and I piled into two cars for the 45 minute drive to Christ Chapel in Long Beach, so that we could participate in their outreach to the homeless and AIDS people in the community.


This is my brother, Paul, setting a tray of appetizers on one of the beautifully decorated tables in the Social Room.



















Much preparation was completed on Wednesday, but here we are putting trays together and organizing in anticipation of our 'guests'...



















Well, most of us were working...these two are actually 'hiding out'!







OOPS! An errant lettuce leaf falling off the tray!








Taking more trays from the 'prep room' to the Social Hall. This is Garry, my nephew, son of my brother Paul and sister-in-law Kathryn.

Kathryn is the one who made the contact and even shopped for much of the food for this day of giving and serving.



Filling glasses with ice in preparation for drinks of soda and bottled water.



Mother and son - my sister-in-law Kathryn and my nephew Elliot.


And, me! I was working 'behind the scenes' but thought I'd better have at least one picture so that you would know I was there!



















The kitchen! and our two chefs...I understand that this gravy is a secret recipe...hmmm - all I know is, it was delicious!



Carlene in ingenious! We needed someplace for the trash - she had a bag and there was a place to tie it!



Our guests waiting patiently to enjoy the feast. Well, except for the guy to the far right...that is brother Paul!















The tables are all set and decorated, ready for our waiting guests!



The team!
















We take a moment to pray for the day, for our guests and for the team of volunteers.


Here they come! Eager to find a place to sit and be served a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner complete with all the trimmings!



Brother Paul giving his full attention in deep conversation...







Yep, they are enjoying the feast!



Me, I am enjoying an inspiring conversation with Tony, the worship leader of Christ Chapel!








This couple was so friendly, I decided to snap their picture!






Here is Kathryn, helping on of our guests pack his food to go. Some of these people took food 'home' to friends sleeping in parks and other places, who were unable to come on their own.

As so often happens, when we set out to be a blessing to others we find that we are blessed so much more than we anticipated. We left encouraged by the love we sensed from the congregation of Christ Chapel as well as from the gratitude and appreciatioin we felt from our guests. What a wonderful time of coming together to serve!

Update on Monica

Remember Monica? She is one of the students I sponsored by helping with her school fees for two sessions. Look at my blog entry entitled "Two Students" for more about that. In this photo she is on the left with three of her school friends.

Now for the update! Following is a report from her guardian describing the recent "Family Day" at her school:

“I attended the Academic Day at Monica’s school, Lockwood Girls’ High School in Nakuru, on the 10th November 2007. This day was particularly for the Form One students since two similar days had been set aside for the Form Three and Form Two students.

On this day, the parents/guardians of each student had the opportunity to review and discuss the student’s academic performance during the course of the year. I attended as Monica’s guardian and I had the pleasure of meeting, together with Monica, all her twelve subject teachers. It was a whole day’s exercise - exciting and challenging!

During each meeting, the subject teacher introduced himself or herself and went ahead to guide me through Monica’s academic track records. We looked at the continuous assessment tests (CAT’s), her class participation, End-term exams, as well as general discipline. We analyzed the trends, identifying areas where she registered improvements as well as areas of declining performance. Monica was given an opportunity to explain the causes of her performance and also to project target grades for the forthcoming End-term exams. The teacher gave his/her comments and recommendations. As the guardian, I was also given opportunity to comment and ask questions.

Monica was encouraged to put more effort in her class work to improve on the weak grades. She was also cautioned not to relax in the subjects where she registered high performance.
It was an excellent opportunity to receive direct feedback from the class teachers in the presence of the student. Overall, Monica was assessed as a student with high academic potential, active both in class and extracurricular activities, especially drama. She is disciplined and well behaved.

Each Form One student along with her parents/guardians went through the same process. We finished the exercise at 6:30pm and then it was time for the parents/guardians to depart. Most of us were traveling back to Nairobi.”

Please join me in prayer for Monica, and for all the children & young people of Kenya and even all of Africa, as they struggle to ensure a future for themselves in the face of challenge and adversity. Praise be to God as He guides these young people and blesses them through those of us (you and me!) who "pray", "send" or "go" as missionaries.

Too Much Fun!

I have been back 'home' now, consistently for about 3 weeks. In that time I have been visiting friends and taking advantage of opportunities for fellowship at my church, The Crystal Cathedral.

This first photo was taken at a luncheon hosted by my pastor and mentor Dr. Beverely Muffin, in honor of a happy-sad occasion. Dear friend Gudelia Ramirez is leaving our department (Global Community) and joining the Congregational Life team. Shown here are both departments dining together...volunteers and staff alike.

My close friend Kim hosts a Bible Study on Friday nights - the perfect time for women of all ages to unwind together after a long week at the office, in the home and/or in the marketplace.

On Tuesday we filled up four tables at the annual "Holidays on Parade" sponsored by our Women's Ministry. Each of the many tables in the room is decorated individually by the ladies attending the function. In our case Kimmie provided the linens and centerpieces at each guest brought a place setting of their choosing (except me of course - Kimmie provided mine!)

I have, for several years, assisted Kim as she teaches - whether classes offered through our church or various Bible studies. In my absence (I was only gone 6 months!) she found a new assistant. Here she is with Bree. Bree and I instantly liked each other when we met - we have something important in common...we both LOVE Kim passionately!



Here we are together...(Kimmie and me)







And the 'ole ladies' as Kim calls them!

On the left is Auntie Jo and on the right is Kim's mom Irene. They are sisters and they share an apartment near to where Kim lives and are invaluable to her as they help with Kim's son Jordan and are involved in many of the various activities and endeavors that Kim tackles daily.



Ah...the best part! Men from the Men's Ministry served our dinner! This is Pastor Lawrence Wilkes - he is doing a fine job if you ask me!




On Thursday I had so much fun at a monthly luncheon dubbed "50+". Even though I certainly qualify to attend, my motivation this week was to see the honored guest.

Fred Swann is a world-renowned organist, President of the American Guild of Organists, Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral and - he is my friend!

While we were both on staff at the Crystal Cathedral I assisted him with his budget year after year, for which he was most grateful. I must confess as much as he was in awe of what I could do, I was a hundred times more in awe of what he could do - the man has an amazing talent, a humble spirit and an awesome ability to tell a good story.


He is pictured here chatting with the host of the luncheon, Pastor Jim Kok - our "Koach of Kare" aka Pastor of Care Ministries. Fred is explaining the inner workings of the amazing organ pictured behind him in terms even I could understand! Another amazing gift of this talented man.



After Fred told the story of how he came to the Crystal Cathedral, Dr. Schuller, who had been advised that enticing Fred to come on board would be a strategic move, shared a touching moment with Fred as he honored him with warm words of gratitude.




I was doubly blessed that day as one of my favorite people of all time, Dr. Sande Herron, shared from her heart to ours - about wrinkles! Once she had our attention she talked about the wrinkles in our brain and how new experiences and learning new skills add wrinkles to our brain, thus keeping us younger...good message!

And - I saw so many of my 'church' friends that day...!

Life has kept me busy with work and involvement at my church, visiting with friends and family, doctors' and other appointments...and just plain enjoying the abundance of blessings the Lord offers every day!

Today I told my story...

Homebuilders is the name of the oldest and largest Sunday School Class at my church, The Crystal Cathedral. Before I left for Kenya they invited me to share with them my call to Africa. I was excited with they asked me to come back and tell them of my experiences while there. The biggest challenge was keeping the talk to 30 minutes!

I 'mingled' before the class started - here I am with friends Janet and John. Janet is the one who arranged for me to speak today - thanks Janet!

After thinking and praying about what to say I decided to break my experiences into four categories - Meeting with Hour of Power viewers, Community Outreach activity, HIV/AIDS work and my personal passion - working with The Christian Mission to Learners (CML) a students' ministry with a holistic approach to ministry to youth.


I shared with the group a bit about the devastation being caused by the AIDS epidemic, and how every person is in some way affected by this virus. Even if one does not know someone personally who is living with AIDS or who has died from the disease, we all feel the effects of millions of government dollars being directed away from public services to combat this growing epidemic.

By reaching the children - one student at a time - with the
tranforming message of hope in Jesus Christ, I believe we are affecting the future of Kenya in a positive way.

I was honored to represent The Crystal Cathedral Ministries, while in Kenya, which brings a positive message of hope through the Hour of Power to a country hungry for the assurance of God's promise from Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (NKJV)