The children were eager to hear more.  I asked, “Have you ever asked Jesus into your heart…
                                     to be with you, protect you, care for you, love you and forgive you?”


                         John 6:47,”I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life.” (GNT)
                 
Blank looks were returned to my questions. “Well the little girl I told you about…do you know who she was?” “No” came several voices with heads shaking side-to-side…”Well that little girl was me”.

“And just like you get sad when you don’t have enough rice to eat, or your Papa and Mama do not have enough work, or the rice farming is not good, or a big storm comes and blows off the roof of your home…
                                    I didn’t know how to make things better”

                   Philippians 4:6, “Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, 
                                            always asking him with a thankful heart.” (GNT)

“You know these songs I have been teaching you?”…“Yes” came little voices again…
”Well when I was your age the lady who taught me these songs loved God and knew Jesus. She also told me about what Jesus did for me by going to the cross…He loves you and wants to be here for you…and for you to know his love”

                                  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 
                                    that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)

So when this “Mam” asked if I wanted to ask Jesus to come into my life…to “come near to me”, like the song, I said “Yes” and we prayed together. Would any of you like to ask Jesus to come near to you and into your life?

                                  John 3:3, “Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: 
                                                         Unless a person is born from above, 
                             it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” (MSG)

Not one child said “no”…I re-confirmed…then I said okay anyone who wants to pray with me bow your heads…
everyone bowed their heads and prayed after me.

Dear God,

I love you. Thank you for coming near to me and loving me.

Thank you for your son Jesus. Thank you for what he did for me.

That he went to the cross to wash away my sins…the bad things that I sometimes do.

Please forgive me I want to be near to you…will you please come into my life? I love you and thank you.

Amen

2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” NLT

Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (NLT)

We all said a big “Yeah!” and clapped our hands…then I told them that just like the Graduation the other day with the celebrations…the angels in heaven were celebrating over their coming near to God and asking Jesus into their hearts!

Luke 15:10, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” NLT

The Pastor that was helping with the restoration of the school will do the follow up on the children… we passed out little pads of paper and colored pencils to the children and they all wrote down their names. 
 Note: I erased their last names for privacy.

The rest of the day was light hearted…with games, more songs and paper airplanes races. I taught them “Red Rover, Red Rover” they played it for over an hour. When it was time for me to go the two oldest girls came up to me and said “I will miss you Mam…I love you Mam” I gave them hugs and a smile and told them I would see them again.

You see I know that when time stands still here on this earth…we will rejoice together in Heaven with our Lord! And let me tell you what a day that will be.

Caprice <><
2 Peter 3:9, “Now the Lord is not slow about enacting His promise--slow is how some people want to characterize it— 
no, He is not slow but patient and merciful to you, 
not wanting anyone to be destroyed, 
but wanting everyone to turn away from following his own path and to turn toward God’s.” (VOICE)                

After they finished their song for the team in order to clear the schoolroom, I asked the children if they wanted to hear a story. With big smiles they all said, “yes!” 
So I took them outside to the sidewalk in front of the adjacent classroom and I began this story…
“How many of you were frightened or sorry that the storm came?
Hands went up…did you cry? Heads shook yes…
    Well there once was a little girl and like you she got sad and scared at times…her father would drink alcohol and get angry. She felt sad and did not know what to do…when she was ten years old she met a lady who told her about God who created the world and he was a Holy God. Do you know what Holy is?” Their faces looked with eagerness to know the answer…”Holy is something that is so good, so very, very good and it is separate from what is wrong or bad.

Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (NIV)

I love the way the Messages puts it…

Matthew 5:8, “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. 
Then you can see God in the outside world.” (MSG)

I continued, “And God who is Holy and good…loves you and you (as I gestured to the different children) and me so very much that he gave his Son to us and his name is Jesus…do you know who he is?”

John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” NIV

John 5:24, “I tell you the truth: eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life.” (VOICE)

All together they replied, “Jesus is God”; they are taught the principles of good character as a result of who God is in public school, but not that you can have a personal relationship with Him by asking Jesus into your heart. To just have the knowledge and then lack the belief…does result in relationship with God.

1 Peter 3:18, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” (NLT)

Do you know God? Do you truly know…that you know God and his love?

We all experience storms in one way or another in our lives; 
Some of the storms are a result of our surroundings and others…
Those storms...are the ones we create...we can become the "Storm Makers"
If the truth be known we bring them on our selves.

Yes, it is true if we would be honest…not everything in this world is good and we are included in this.

Have you ever disliked someone…Hated so deeply that it caused pain in someone’s life?

Taken something that didn’t belong to you…as to benefit your own needs casting theirs aside?
It is referred to as stealing

Caused another person to hurt…so you could feel better about yourself?

How about the simplicity of casting yourself in a positive light…when really none of what you said is true?


Or maybe you are a fantastic person...and for sure...you are always available to boast about it!

Have you ever just past something by…not showing kindness when you were capable of making a difference?

Do you stuff alcohol, drugs, food, your job, who you "think" the world wants you to be...
In the number one place in your life as a safety net...
 Instead of a relationship with God?

We have all allowed the winds of destruction to howl around us, because of the choices we make. 
These storms that rage, come in many different forms, don't they?

Well why not change course? 
Instead of you taking control…let God carry you through...by putting your life into his hands! 

Trust me…no...Trust God…you will never...ever...regret it!

Caprice <><

Acts 3:19, “So now you need to rethink everything 
and turn to God so your sins will be forgiven and a new day can dawn, 
days of refreshing times flowing from the Lord.” 
(VOICE)

The return drive home was quiet. 
We were all crammed into the car, leaving behind two of our team members to spend the night at the location. This would save the time of driving us all back and forth in addition of providing them an early jump on the day. 

The next morning we left at 6am to arrive on site early, the day was already warming up as a wave of hot humid air blanketed over us as we stepped onto the grassy field at the school. The children had begun to arrive, although I told them I had work to do and we would start our time together some time around 10am.

At 10am they were lined up and ready. We started with songs…these kids love to sing! The day before I had taught them 3 songs, “Waddle Le Ah Cha”, “Noah’s Arky”, and “Jesus Loves Me”. 

We had a lot of fun, but today…well…today was different.

The song that came to mind is an African American song called Kumbaya; that was originally sung in the Creole language. It asks God to come near to those who need him. It is inviting Him to come to your aid.

Hebrews 4:16, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)

I hadn’t thought it through… the Lord gave me the idea when I asked, "What next Lord?"  I am glad I asked...because what God had in store...was amazing. 
"Kumbaya" unfolded as a Chaplain tool, as the children began to relate to the song and request for God to come near...

Someone is crying…

The children shared regarding the tears of fear they shed during the typhoon.

Someone is praying…

The stories of the prayers they prayed for help.

Someone is working…

They listened to sound of the hammers pounding the nails into the new roofs of the school all around them…and they smiled with a sense of fulfillment.

Someone is thankful…

They were thankful that their prayers were being answered grateful that God would smile on them

Someone is Happy…

With BIG smiles they all agreed…I could see understanding in their hearts.

They decided to sing for the team on their lunch break…the quality of the video is not that good...but the treat of them singing...out shines the quality of the video. I can't wait to share with you what happened next...
But that is another story for next week! 
So until then...

If it is tears...then cry out

If it is a need...then ask

If it is work to be done...look around, God will supply

And then remember to...

Give Thanks with a joyful heart!




Note: 
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please go to the actual web page @ 
http://www.crossroads-ukiah.org/womens-blog

The first day of our official workweek took a lot of planning by our team leader. There is no running to the large home improvement centers for supplies or a GPS to guide you to your site. Planning, preparation and prayer are what get you were you want to go. The location required two trips to get us all there in addition to the precious supplies and generator.  And the drive in it self took an hour there, another hour back to the mission house and then one more hour to deliver the last of us. One car, a team of seven, plus the driver and supplies finally on task 3 hours later.

“Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability.... We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.”
― Thomas Edison

We passed the “church without walls” as the drive took us deeper into the storm torn island. The dirt road that traversed through the countryside, was a glimpse of what these villages had endure with typhoon winds up to 195 MPH. But on the other hand the island was resilient and strong like those who live here.

Philippians 4:13, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (GNT)

Looking out the window on one side of the car laid the rice fields with a river, and scattered here and there were water buffalo…which served as their power in farming. Out the other side was a costal mountain ridge. As we traveled along its base and up slightly in elevation, we were treated to a beautiful view of the valley. And then suddenly as we rounded a curve in the narrow road, we came upon men working to install power lines; this area had been without power for 5 months! Carefully our driver maneuvered by the vehicles and workers in the road. Continuing on there were areas were the downed coconut palms had been drug to the side of the road, cut into boards, and then used by the locals for rebuilding. Nothing would go to waste…where tragedy struck…opportunity could be seen.

“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity?
Our attitude toward it.
Every opportunity has a difficulty,
and every difficulty has an opportunity.”
J. Sidlow Baxter

We came to one more river, crossed a bridge, turned at a “T-intersection” and there was the village where we would be working. On one side of the narrow street were homes and on the other the school. Our driver entered through a gate and then parked on the grassy grounds of the school as we took in our work site…the damage was easy to identify. Roofs were missing and trees that once provided ample shade for the students and teachers were stripped of branches, yet tender leaves were budding at an attempt to regain their stature. And then I noticed them, a swarm of children, smiling faces and hands waving…all on vacation, parents working, their daily chores completed they were ready to visit and spend time with our team. And this is where I was graced with another wonderful opportunity…wrapped in a blessing.

I need to share something with you before I go any further. I had practiced hammering nails for weeks in preparation for this mission. I am a registered nurse, chaplain, women’s and mission’s ministry leader, mom of five, and grandma of 5 with one on the way to make a wonderful half dozen. I love life, my husband, gardening and Jesus. Nowhere in my life experiences have I hammered nails on a roof! But I told Judi the coordinator for CSBDRM, that I was not afraid of hard work. To honor that and the privilege of coming I practiced daily hammering nails. I hammered until I got it down. 

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (ESV)

But you know what? I may have these ideas of who I am, the experiences that fit nicely under my belt, and the desire to do this or that…but my father in Heaven has the best plans for me and knows exactly where I belong and when to place me there.

Ephesians 1:18-20, “I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.” (GNT)

So…what happened next, I will forever hold dear to my heart for years to come. You see God took all of those experiences, the needs in this village and the prayer requests and said, “here you go Caprice…I am trusting you with these little hearts.”

My job for the next two days was to keep these kids busy and out from under the feet of our team. These kids, where precious, and more important God knew what the last five months had been for them and their families. So we played games, helped organize moving lumber from one building needing repair to the next and again we sang songs together. In other words the Lord was laying a different type of foundation.

Caprice <><