Christmas and Carols

Christmas is a special time for carols. They greet us like old friends each holiday season. For example, "Little Drummer Boy" is a perennial pick. This year I have been touched by a rendition by the Feat group. Their worshipful voices and new words draw the listener into the experience.

We know from the carol that the little drummer boy was poor. He felt he had nothing to bring before a King. The only thing he had was his drum. Then he started to play, and the words came to him. He worshipped. And he beat on his drum. And kept beating and beating, with his focus on pleasing the King.

When we think of giving as an act of worship, we need to stop and really think. Is what we are doing at Christmas centered on the King or more about other things that consume our time and energy? In fact, how much worship happens during the holidays to deeply satisfy us?

Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the Drummer Boy. The only thing we can bring to the King in worship is something unique to us. It is not a matter of money or tinsel on the tree. Like the humble Drummer Boy, we can only bring what we have that is part of us. God has a gift from him inside each of us that differs. And this is what you can bring in worship and awe!

If you can sing, you could lift your voice in a new song. If you like to dance, dance as worship. Dance to Zumba or waltz sedately around. If you are so distressed over something you don't know what to do, offer that thing to the King who listens and comforts. If you have been bad and mean to others, admit your hardened heart. Ask for His forgiveness. He will release you.

"Make clean my heart within me, Lord" So slow down now and take time to listen to what really matters. What can you bring to the King as an act of worship? "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." Colossians 3:23

Dream Big

 We all know that little children can dream. A little boy can become a frog, get small with his legs apart, and then spring up. But can they dream beyond what they see or know?

They have the capacity to dream, but they must have input! This is why we have adult speakers at every camp from many careers and trades. Last year, we had an engineer who talked about breaking the sound barrier. We had a guitarist who owned his own music shop. We had two nurses. We had a well-known Christian speaker who talked about Heaven.

After each speaker, the entire group of over 100 children had a chance with an open mic to answer specific questions. This is a sampling: "What is your favorite color?" "How many years of school did you have?" "How much money do you make?" Etc.

We know that year after year, speakers have inspired dreamers to make career choices that have motivated them to stay in school through high school and beyond.

Project Lost Sheep helps children to dream and then to keep the dream alive beyond all expectation, because God is with us and them.

Inside the local sponsoring church, Verbo in Redwood City, children become teen leaders. An outreaching church becomes an incubator for all dreams to become real.

Somewhere Along the Way...

Before Patty Cardona and her family arrived in California, a small non-profit group called Project Lost Sheep began meeting in the library of a local church.

We didn't know it then, but we would be waiting together for five years! I was the primary connection for most of the members, so for a long time, they were strangers to each other. As the president, they all assumed I knew what we were doing. I certainly didn't, except that our focus was on children.

Elaine Biser, Prayer Partner, Secretary of Project Lost Sheep

Looking back, I know I couldn't have accomplished what I did without the Lord's help, especially the public speaking. With the prayer support of many prayer warriors, particularly Jan Shockey, my prayer partner for many years, we prayed yearly for a combined seven children and for other endeavors, including Jan's significant work in Moms Together.

Jan Stockley, Joyce's prayer Partner

Month after month, as the group of strangers gathered in the church room, there was dinner: pizzas and salad. We came from different churches and workplaces. Somewhere along the way, a community of people, ready to serve children, was formed.

We prayed in a circle before dinner, and after the brief formal meeting, which I led, there was wonderful fellowship afterward. As time went on, a regular prayer group was formed.

God was preparing us for something BIG. Somehow, someone told a small startup church in Redwood City about us, and we were invited to help them with their children's ministry. They needed help packing backpacks. And somewhere along the way, we became partners in the adventures the Lord had for us, all so that His Great Kingdom could come and His Will be done for all to see.

Season of Stories - Supernatural Miracles

This is a true story. A young pastor and his wife living in Guatemala received a call from God to move to Redwood City, California. The specific call was for them to be a healing influence on the city!

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. So, acting in faith, Pastor Orlando Cardona, his wife Patty, and their daughter Fabby, left their country and moved to the USA.

They rented a very small business office to serve as a church and outreach center. Patty did some substitute teaching at the nearby elementary school and soon discovered that the people needed food and school supplies.

A small church formed with an emphasis on faith and serving the felt needs of that community.  That was the start of Verbo Family Services. From the very beginning, action involved faith moves to meet real needs! 

I can never forget when I met Patty in that office building. She announced to me, "We are going to feed the entire elementary school Thanksgiving dinner." And yes, that happened—not because they had the resources to do it, but because they offered what little they had and trusted God to provide the rest.

That is faith plus works, my friends. Faith without works is dead.  

Here is a current quote from Patty Cardona: "We continue praying, continue believing, keep working, and our God will do the supernatural miracles.

Tis' the Season of Giving

 We are entering a time of sharing with others. This is a season of giving!

I don't know about you, but I have been more than a little overwhelmed by the number of requests from nonprofits. Some send little practical gifts like return address stickers, while others offer all kinds of incentives—even a small stuffed dog from one and a canvas tote from another.

Project Lost Sheep does none of these things. We send information out on our website and mail a quarterly newsletter. We are pretty much low-key. But we do have needs.

I am not sure how many nonprofits can say that 90 percent of any gift goes to the need.

In our case, we fund a camp called Touchdown Camp. This year, 110 children had a free camp experience in Redwood City, thanks to our loyal supporters. This was our 20th year there, and more than 1,000 children have enjoyed a week of day camp.

Good news is shared with these children and families, and I can tell you there is evidence that camp has made a positive difference in our sponsoring church location in Redwood City (see Verbo Family Services).

The more good news is that we are like adolescents growing out of their shoes and clothes and feeling very hungry. We are expanding to other cities, with Miami Beach next year and an expanded footprint in San Jose, CA. We also have the San Francisco Foundation in process, as well as plans for Honolulu.

We have an international footprint in Guatemala, where leftovers from camp have been mailed to children in Guatemala City. Patty Cardona, our president, is promoting expansion in many places with videos and teachings from camp in Redwood City.

So, when you think about giving, how about looking down at the little children and responding with your heart?

How Touchdown Camp Got Started

When I look back twenty years ago to our first Touchdown Camp, I realize that the key ingredient was faith. It took faith for Patty Cardona and me to move in action and try out this new camp which would reach out to vulnerable kids in Redwood City, CA. 

Camp had been funded by a faith initiative by Doris Bates who took one hundred dollars and asked her friends to match it by giving another Hundred. So when she connected with me and asked what I would do with it I said, "Open Touchdown Camp."

Well there were lots of pieces. I had no idea what I was doing, but I proceeded in that direction anyway enlisting people who worked in the missions area to come and help. Of course there were many people praying for this new venture and we never underestimate that without the flame generated by faithful prayers going on, we never would have made it.

Then we were off and running with two weeks of camp and 40 children who wanted both sports and crafts so overnight we had to change the entire program. That was a spark of faith. It worked because we were learning that camp was for kids and, the kids knew what they wanted!

So the children came every year, and some of them came back as teens to volunteer. The success was not due to any one person, but everything was underwritten by God, and we learned that He was in control.

By God's grace, prayers and work in communities, lasting change can be achieve, in each cities and churches.

Sparks that are seperate, but when they are laid down together, they have the possibility of creating a fire of change that brings light in the darkest of places.

Help with Homework

For a moment, cast your mind back on being a child bringing home your homework. In the past, books in various subjects were lugged by you. You might recall a time where you struggled in a subject. Maybe you didn't want to ask for help but then you did. Most likely this help came from a parent or a sibling. You were lucky.

What if there had been no one to help you day after day, you struggled, and were bullied because you couldn't read or speak English or do math? This is the sad true situation for thousands of elementary age children who will never get the basics they need to succeed in school. More than 13 years ago, in Redwood City, in Verbo Family Services church, a small after school tutoring program started inside the church.

Volunteer adults sat one to one with their child who needed help. It wasn't all work because there were snacks and games and a welcoming environment in a Sunday school room. Children were recommended for this help from a nearby elementary school.

This Redwood City program birthed a new help with homework program under Glenn Inn, a deacon in a Korean church in San Jose. This man, who worked full time, had a mission heart to reach out to the Hispanic children in apartments surrounding the church. Why did he do this so well and succeed? Because he had come to America from Korea with his family as a child and been bullied.

It is a terrible thing to mark a child with ridicule and hate because they do not conform. Children can be mean and judgmental. They can hurt a child so badly they hate school and stop trying.

Inside a church is an ideal place to provide homework heloers. The church provides the structure, the space, the times and has staff during the tutoring. We encourage men to participate as leaders because In so many of the families we serve, there is no dad there.

Does this make difference? We know that it does. When a child feels he has someone who can help he will get a shot of encouragement. The adults in the room make sure each child gets celebrated. Frequently, there is a party at the end of each term.

As an educator I can only say that if you had just a few hours to give and get the most joy, serve a needy child. Will you stop right and pray now in earnest from your heart about becoming a homework helper?

Will you ask for prayer from your church to consider such a program?

Thank you for sharing and becoming a part of something that will give a child hope and a future and bring families into the church. God hears the prayer of the poor and him who has no helper.

What is it that is so good about the sight of roses in winter?

In most places winter is a dormant time for rose plants. What was beautiful in summer is only a dead looking plant in a garden. And so, this time of year, a bouquet of roses is a shot of life and hope that spring will come. Newness and life will arise!

Roses in winter lift our spirits and make us smile and dance. If we are recovering from illness, the fragrance of roses may make us sit up and take a sip of water or endure the time we are in with a modicum of courage.

Roses have messages. Colors of roses mean different things. Red roses signal romantic love. These are huge around Valentines Day. Lavender roses symbolize love at first sight! Yellow roses symbolize joy, friendship and optimism. White roses symbolize purity and innocence. Roses seem to be a vital part of every florists mixed bouquets.

I was recently told here in Idaho that roses were no longer being bought from fields in CA because the fields are now being used to grow marijuana. What does this say about our priorities? Is making a profit more important than growing a crop of beauty and hope? Where did this crop swap out come from anyway? Does this new crop grow life or death for people?

A winter without roses, is a day without sunshine that is endless.

Little Acts of Mercy

Sometimes we may think of mercy as a character trait. That certainly is true when we think of God's mercy, in coming from heaven to earth, to reconcile people to himself. Here we are in this dark world, had to see a mercy of Jesus, the Christ, who lived and breathed mercy every day of his life.

We can see the acts of mercy down here, in real time by those who profess to follow him! A few simple acts to consider doing this Christmas:

1. Speak the truth in love. Jesus did!

2. Forgive others and keep forgiving others. Jesus did. Even to the cross.

3. Notice the poor.

4. Give financial help to the needy. Jesus did.

5. Tell people stories that make a point and that they can understand. Jesus did.

6. Stop when you see someone grieving and do something for them. Jesus did.

7. Allow mercy to control you when dealing with disturbed people. Jesus did.

8. Stop thinking of yourself and your desires. Jesus did.

9. Watch out and hit the breaks, so you can take notice of the little children near you.  Jesus did.

Encouraging Others

When Project Lost Sheep was just getting underway, I had a chance to speak at a community group with about 75 people attending. Many there that day were seniors. I was nervous but made it through the lunch and finally got to speak.

As Project Lost Sheep had just formed, I gave only an appeal that we needed to reach out to children and especially to those who were needy in our community. Several people said encouraging words to me as the meeting ended. I had some information on the table which included the mailing address for our group. So about once a week I would check the P.O. Box in Menlo Park. (Yes, the same one you see today.)

Slowly a trickle of financial encouragement came in. Lots of times, the box was empty but I noticed that there was one envelope a month that came, without fail.  It was a small donation but it was regular and someone was validating that what we were about was important.

So one day I went and met this encourager. Mildred lived in a small rented apartment. She was about 80. She seemed glad to entertain me, she brought out tea and cookies for us to enjoy. We chatted a bit. All the while I was just sitting there wondering how I could express how much she meant to me. I felt in some ways, we were friends because she was behind me in her envelope giving. 

Finally, as our time was ending I got out a few words of thanks to her for her faithful gifts. She smiled and said: "Oh my dear I have 20 organizations that I support each month. I like that you reaching out to help children."

It seemed amazing to me that she could give to so many out of her little and was so committed to doing it each month. It was hard to say goodbye to Mildred that day. Her support was a huge encouragement to me. She validated what I was starting. Project Lost Sheep was all about reaching out to children.

Do we ever outgrow our need to "encourage one another"? I wonder how many endeavors would still be moving forward if they had a Mildred in their box. We need smiles and words of encouragement. We need people to listen and pray and catch the vision for helping children.

I am thankful for each of you who have prayed and listened to me and have shared with your gifts over all these years. Never underestimate the impact of your giving small to back something good for the kingdom of God.

🙏

Racheal Torres Shares About Touchdown Camp

 An interview with Raquel Torres

How did you hear of verbo?
I heard about verbo through my parents. My dad participated a good amount in the indoor soccer program as well as my mom did a lot of volunteering with verbo leading me to participate as well.

What programs did you participate in?
I participated in Kids touchdown camp and volunteering services with verbo.  

How has this helped your family?
Verbo has helped my family tremendously. It has helped my family to connect deeply with our community. It has helped my mom to better understand the different perspectives of other families in my community and motivate her to do more for the community. She has participated in numerous volunteering events with verbo, ranging from setting up chairs for events to aiding the redwood city police department in distributing information on covid to people who are most at risk during the pandemic. Through verbo she was able to meet a multitude of people from vastly ranging backgrounds to assist the community. I can say with confidence that she would have never achieved these opportunities if verbo was not around. 

As for my dad he gained many new perspectives from volunteering at verbo alongside playing in an indoor soccer team at verbo. I remember as a kid many people of different backgrounds of Spanish speaking nations would band together to participate in an indoor soccer tournament. It was an incredibly fun experience to watch my dad play on a soccer team. I was able to see the passion everyone had to win for their respective teams. It was a memorable moment because no one had any hatred for one another but genuine joy of seeing one another every night to play a match of soccer against one another. What stuck with me was that everyone who played every sunday was somebody who had a connection to verbo. Some had children in the touchdown camp program, frequently went to Sunday church and participated in volunteering work for verbo and other organizations. My dad was able to better connect with his community and regularly engage in activities he had a passion for. To this day he still continues to play soccer games in our community. 

From my experience verbo has helped me into shaping me to help my community whenever possible. Since I was young I participated in Kids touchdown camp. I remembered the excitement and joy I had every summer when I went to the camp. The program itself allowed me to experience new opportunities that I have never tried. One opportunity I tried was going on a stage and acting for the first time. I was given the opportunity by one of the leaders of the program in which they asked me if I would like to act in a skit. Normally I would have rejected it as I had stage fright but in the moment I accepted it. When I was given the role and instruction of what to do my heart nervously raced. I felt nervous and embarrassed but I persisted with the skit. After the skit I felt a large amount of embarrassment but what stood out to me the most was that I was happy. I realize that even if I was embarrassed and frightened of a large audience I was glad that I acted. 

I was never intimidated by the leader but was kindly pushed to try out new experiences. Had it not been their kindness and them not giving up on me I would have never tried out acting. To this day this experience has helped me to take on any opportunity that comes in my way with confidence. Year after year I continued to go to kids touchdown camp until it was my turn to become a leader for kids touch camp

Throughout my journey of becoming an adult I have continuously helped my mom with volunteering work. From my time at Verbo I was able to connect with different organizations like the redwood city police department and help them with volunteering work. I was able to help in cleaning the streets of redwood city, wrapping christmas gifts from families every year on christmas eve, distributing information on covid during the pandemic to families at risk, and ect. All of the years of volunteering has helped me to gain many skills and experiences working in independent and team oriented tasks. Alongside helped to better strengthen my opportunities in looking favorable to universities and job opportunities. 

When you talk to your friends about verbo what do you tell them? 
I talk about all the wonderful opportunities they can receive from verbo. They can receive volunteering work opportunities that help them to gain many new skills and experiences many universities and jobs look for. As well as they could enroll their family members to a summer camp free of charge. The summer camps offer fun activities for children,food and education. Furthermore they have a pantry that in my experience help me to not worry about food during the pandemic and now.

Memories of Love

We didn't have many books growing up, but those we had, were treasures and used mainly as references. This was in the era before google.

One day recently, going through some old boxes that had been in storage here for over 10 years I opened a box and went through books including one entitled: A GUIDEBOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS

It had a red cover and was in excellent shape. Curious, I opened it. I yet had no memory of this book. A handwritten inscription with date said.

"To my dear Joyce."

Love, Daddy

This brought a real wallop of memories including at one time that my Dad has been an amateur coin collector. May we remember and be thankful for those who loved us and left us notes to remind us years later.

Loving Actions

People may hear what we say, but our actions to show our faith hits them with more impact. Words are merely words, but actions speak louder than words.

Actions define who we are and give a message to those around us. If someone is laid up with a bad back, we take food to them, and check in on them. It tells the person that we are "a good Christian". That person who was hurting will remember our kindness and what we did to help them.

The Good Samaritan cared for the beat up man on the side of the road. He took him to a safe place and provided for his needs by paying the inn keeper. He couldn't stay but he left provision while the man healed. He invested in the sick man out of his own pocket.

Actions do speak louder than words. If someone lacks food or clothing and we wish them Godspeed without lending the help, then we are not acting out our faith to care for others.

Each year at camp, all the food needed is provided for very hungry kids. This year, the provision of a day camp with sports, food, mentoring, crafts and Bible instruction will again launch kids into the most memorable week of their summer. The day they will always remember. This is a kindness to a group of 100 or more elementary children, many from other countries. They are usually struggling and lacking, but in this one week, every thing is good.

So, love does move us out of our comfort zone. It can also lift us to see more purpose and connection with others. Love is the highest gift mentioned in the Bible. So may we all walk across our streets in America, to see the real needs, and fight against those who beat up and destroy our children. 

May we remember the poor and afflicted and do our part to move mountains of doubt and despair. We will never be alone when we walk this path.

Moving Out of Your Comfort Zone

We all are creatures of habit. Let's face it... We like things to run a certain way. We like to have things go in our timing because that makes us feel comfortable. But, being a Christian is not about being comfortable. It is about change and following in Jesus's footsteps. He cared for people. He stopped, and listened to people. He reached out his hand to touch others. 

So, what about us? Do we care enough to see the needs of others outside our social economic level? Why is change so hard? Is it that we don't trust God enough to let him lead us to the people and children who need us most in our city?

Are we afraid to enter the area of the poor and see what their needs are? Will it take too much of our precious time? Will our coworkers or friends think we are weird? Yes, what others think of ourselves, can make us want to just be the same as everyone around us. 

But wait...

Are you really satisfied with how it all is here, now? What about all the kids under twenty, who are ending their lives before they really have a chance? They are like sheep without a shepherd, heading for a cliff only to fall over to certain death.

Will you say NO? And join others to form a human barrier in your city? Will you pray hard for this? Will you risk your comfort and time for yourself and others? Will you take up your cross of denial, and follow the only One who risked His life on the cross, so that we can change and follow Him?

Hospitality

She had a smile on her face as she opened the door. She also had splatters of flour on hands and apron.

"Come on in," she said. "I'm baking pies." And there was one on the counter: definitely apple. Small peels everywhere. I didn't know June Ochsner well. She was, like me, a Navy wife.

Both our husbands were out on extended patrols. We were living in Hawaii on Oahu far, far away from family. I was beyond lonely that day and so I had called. As I sat down and watched her roll out the next crust we chatted. Details elude me but I started to feel cared for. I also felt welcomed.

June was not in the slightest bit self conscious about the way her kitchen looked. Nor was I. She had put me at ease in some mysterious way and I found the awful aloneness of that day starting to lift.

The second pie was in and my stomach was rumbling a bit. Now I was not so lonely but more hungry. I had been cooking for just myself which was very boring and now I was sitting in some kind of baking dream. The second pie was out and cooling on the counter. I was now drinking coffee and getting more acquainted with June.

And, of course, when the pie had cooled enough, she sliced me an oversized piece which I gaily consumed.

It was the best piece of birthday pie/cake I ever had!

Touchback

When I first met Patty Cardona, who is now, president of Project Lost Sheep, she and Pastor Orlando Cardona were starting a church in a small office in the poorest area of Redwood City near an elementary school. How our fledgling non-profit connected with them is another story, but on this day I am remembering how it was then. 

As you entered there was a desk with some papers on it. Inside was the church floor area for this moment with various things bags and boxes. The church was maybe 50 people at most and they met in this space

With children's area in the corner and upstairs was a tiny space. So, Orlando and Patty had arrived in Redwood City, not too long before with a call from God to start a church that would be a healing influence on the City. This was more than 25 years ago.

Patty had vision and her vision was large and owed a great deal to her prayers and family with her Dad. A pastor and church planter and her mother who was always praying. Patty recently told our team that she received the Lord when she was 9 years old, in Sunday school classroom.

The day that I am thinking about was just before Thanksgiving and she had been showing me around and we ended up at the front desk where I sat and listened. I knew that she had been doing some work inside the elementary school and knew the needs of that community. "We are getting ready to feed the entire school Thanksgiving Dinner at the school," she said, I was dumbfounded.

Extreme left: Pastor Orlando Cardona, 3rd from the left: Patty Cardona.

How could this happen? I thought. But, I was also aware that I was in the presence of a woman who had faith. And, what happened was like mountains moving! The people were fed and Verbo Church began to grow faith step by faith step.

This Thanksgiving Verbo Church is in a six thousand foot building. A warehouse that became a church community center. 400 people will sit down to eat together and receive Gods love and hospitality. Those who come from other countries can find a home in America in this place.

RICH STRIKE Won Kentucky Derby

Against all predictions this unknown horse, RICH STRIKE, won the Kentucky Derby recently. I just saw a replay and can say that that horse just went for the gold!

Rich Strike got to run at the last minute because another horse was scratched. The owner, discouraged from the loss by fire of horses in his stable almost gave up the racing business, but he didn't.. And he took a chance by buying this young horse and putting Rich Strike through training and minor races. And then the owner applied for the Kentucky Derby, and the rest is history.

My Dad always rooted for the out of favor long shots in the derby. I watched it with him for years, and he was always consistent in believing some day one of his long shots would win. He got excited over the horses at the end of the race and kept rooting for them.

Do you think that nothing can be done about big problems in America? How many of us would bet some of our time or resources on giving a child a chance?

We may have the deep satisfaction of seeing some winners who make a difference, not just in their lives, but heading to the finish line, having the speed and stamina to win some big races in America: like turning the odds upside down on kids dying from drug overdoses, like protecting innocent children shot to death in the crossfire from gangs in our streets, like being aware of teens under stress..maybe friends of our kids...who could take their own lives by suicide.

The race against all of these things needs to be something a huge number of us do. Thousands of us across America need to volunteer wherever we choose. Businesses need to speed up giving to unknown non-profits working for good for children and teens.

Like Rich Strike, we could all be surprised at how many good changes will come if we will just place our bets out there!

Children are like race horses - they need attention, opportunity, food and care. They need people to watch and cheer them on to their own finish lines.

Easy Money

 Hello Everyone, 

I am trying this new recording type of blog instead of typing words. Please let me know if you like this kind of podcast?

Here is my first podcast on Easy Money.  

Please click on the blue words or the photo below and a grey screen will appear and click on the small white arrow to start my podcast. Thanks.

Finding Joy Again

We all need to look for things that perk us up. It has been a tough few years for most of us. Our inner resources may be a bit like dead batteries. So what we really need is joy charging in whatever form that might take for us.

I have rediscovered the pleasure of baking. It is fun. Right now I am enjoying a mini chocolate chip muffin part of a batch that I froze.

I uncovered some bulbs that were under dead winter debris this morning. They aren't in bloom as it is still winter into spring here. And yet, it gives me a charge of joy to know that all the deadness will be gone and spring green with cheerful colors will again appear.

The winter has been long and as was the year before that. We don't know if we are safe or will be stricken with illness and suffer or even die. But, like my courageous bulbs, we know as those who believe in the Jesus power to change our bodies to be like his we will experience life everlasting with no tears or sorrow and no death!

So, as I find things that give me joy I reflect that the wars and pain and loss here will all be kissed away by everlasting love and hope.

Seeing the ways as children

Children see things around them we adults have forgotten. They laugh at little things. A small bug on the sidewalk can cause them to stop, lay down, and watch it cross the sidewalk.

Children love the word "surprise". They have good expectations of what is coming. They believe impossible things. They live on the wings of hope. They know that more and better can come. They have that little grain of faith in something bigger and greater and more wonderful than they see. They sympathize over another's hurt knee. They really care when someone, anyone hurts. They feel deeply.

Children are humble and grateful. God, please grant us, the eyes of a child once again.