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.

Elaine Biser - Secretary of Project Lost Sheep

Board Meeting in September 2013

Left to right:
Joycce Dueker - Founder, Catherine Parlenti - Accountant, Patty Cordova - Pastor's Wife, Elaine Biser -Treasurer,  Doris - Bible Study Teacher and Tutor,  Terrell Slawson - Real Estate Guru, Barbara Seigel - Business Owner in Food Industry

If I miss anyone, please email: ultraviolet.black2@yahoo.com
Thanks

How Project Lost Sheep Came About

Project Lost Sheep began when I was away on a retreat. It was very quiet. I was at our favorite family vacation spot and not expecting anything unusual. However, while I was on the very much run down basketball court just walking around I heard the words "Project Lost Sheep" and "seed to the future." I knew it was a call to work with children.

I went to my missions pastor in the church I'd been a member of for years and he told me I needed to start a non-profit. He gave me the name of a man in the church who could help.

Some time went by and I got some of my dearest friends together for lunch. Those who came seemed interested and the children's minister of the church came towards the end and affirmed that this mission was "from the Lord".

Of course, I didn't know what to do next but one of my friends, Audrey Hostetler, said she would pray for this work to be established.

We needed a church home and so I went to another church where it was easy to get a room for meetings and met with the pastor who was very positive about outreach to children. That is how we came to have the First Baptist Church in Menlo Park as our base for meetings.

The night of the signing or the incorporation papers we had a table with books on for a program that was going on and then our little group filed into the library for the signing of the papers.

There were 4 of us. One for each job. I became President because that was the job that was left. Little did I realize what I had just signed up for. My life took an entire new direction and I was on the biggest adventure of my Christian life!

What We Accomplished For 2012

This has been a year of great and impossible forward movement for us.

• God has come through, when we had no funds, to do camp for more than 90 children.

• God provided in an unexpected way for the tutoring program in Redwood City to reopen.

• God kept Verbo church open when the building inspector wanted to close it

• God used our move here to San Jose to jump start a tutoring program at a Korean church for Spanish youth.

• God connects us through our love, our faith, our sharing...but it is not all on our shoulders.

• We have learned the Loaves and Fish lesson. Our little is God's enough because He is going to send the blessing.

My prayer for you:

"May the God of the impossible be very real to you in 2013. May you not faint when you do not have enough in any area for any demand but may you rest trusting that God will take care of you, His beloved child. May you forgive and forget as much as possible knowing that you are forgiven.

May you expect from God, not man, for your every need and see His power as you reach out to share seeds of truth with those around you and serve children.

Joyce Dueker

Mad Hatter Tea Party

On a warm spring afternoon in Atherton, we gathered together to get a preview of the eight Touchdown Camp.

Patty Cardona, president of Project Lost Sheep, brought children who had attended camp last year. Each child reported on a different aspect of camp. One little girl performed a dance.

Darlene Stethem, Bible teacher, gave a preview of the lessons and music for this camp. Dates: July 16-20 at Verbo Church in Redwood City.



Catherine Parlanti, treasurer, asked that we be alert to getting community support from local businesses.

We appreciate your interest and support to make a real difference in the lives of these children. Enjoy a camper who danced for us. Enjoy the picture-movie from the tea party recently held as a benefit for our eight Touchdown Camp coming this summer. (July 16-20)

About Our Company

Project Lost Sheep
A non-profit organization that provides for Touchdown Camp in Redwood City and additional tutoring for "at risk" kids. "At Risk" means unsupervised children who are at risk of dropping out of school or lacking in proper care. We believed in giving opportunities to children as they are our future. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon or born in a good environment. We realized this and we are here to help kids understand the importance of education and good values. We need to take action to show them the way and be a guide. Show them love and encouragement. We believe that through encouragement and love, a person can do wonders. Nothing is impossible.

Thanksgiving Event

Thanks be to God, a roomful of people who had worked hard for the children gathered to enjoy a festive Thanksgiving meal on November 3rd at our Menlo Park home church.

After enjoying the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing gravy and vegetables, we settled to hear reports from our 7th annual Touchdown Camp.

Doris Bates, camp coordinator reminded us of the scripture: "The feeding of Five Thousand" when small offerings were blessed to feed the crowd. We were delighted to learn that we had so much food donations, that food left overs were shared with the youth of Verbo Church, our sponsoring church and home camp in Redwood City.

Barb Siegal, VP, gave the report for the Project Lost Sheep's account that everything was sufficient after all bills have been paid for camp. Catherine Parlanti was missed as she was ill that day.

We have seen God's faithfulness over the years and we believed that this service will come through. The board has approved a faith project - The Coin Jar Offering. Each gift card of $50 dollars can be given to each of the 20 families in the tutoring program.

Sandra Jamaillo, director of the school, told us the needs of the children in school, that they have emotional problems as well as academic ones. Little by little, with love, they are making progress. She talked about a boy in fourth grade who is intelligent but does not know how to count to 20.

Michelle Bedecarre, who tutors every week with the program gave an appeal for more workers to come and help the children one on one. She talked about the joy of helping just one child do better. Lauren Younger from our group is also a regular volunteer at Verbo and does a great job with the children.

Doris Bates and Joyce Dueker offered the Coin Jar Offering with contents up for the blessing to the Lord.

Businessman Jim Dillard spoke of his experience as a volunteer at camp with his wife, Valerie. Jim is interested in volunteer development to help us expand.

Greg, a deacon from the Korean church in San Jose, explained that they had done much international work but were happy to get some guidelines for reaching out in the local area to children. There was a lively conversation around the table between our San Jose visitors, Sandra and Michelle regarding the needs of children from at risk families for tutoring.

Joyce and Sharon Lee introduced the Christmas Party which be held on December 4th. Invitations to follow. As one of our new visitors said, "it was a warm group" to experience.

We encourage you, wherever you are, to start a Project Lost Sheep group to make a difference for the "at risk" children in your area. We have groups stretching from San Mateo down to San Jose.

"Let us not be weary in well doing for in due time we shall reap." HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you from us.