Camp

Anticipation is a wonderful thing. We may look forward to a lunch with a friend or a big vacation.
We look forward towards Friday.

Right now those of us are anticipating the largest camp ever in Redwood City with visitors from other cities to see how it is done.

I like that tingly feeling that something good is just around the corner. I can see the children and hear the laughter and smiles once they adjust to camp. They will be happy with the food and well fed. They will learn and be cared for by so many adults and teen helpers.

For those children who have been to camp in the past they will be asking. When is camp?

Children anticipate almost everything. They live in an attitude of expectation. Small things can please them very much. A wiggly caterpillar, a new pet, a set of crayons.

Let's become more like children in anticipating all the good things God has in store for us this summer. What pleases God is when we adults wash off the same old same old attitude.

Come to camp. Renew your anticipation!

Giving From The Heart

We know when we have given that right gift to someone because the gift fits the person. But, we receive a gift of feeling good about the time and energy spent on getting the gift, wrapping it and sending it.

It is a sad thing when giving to charity turns into a one time "something you have to do" to reduce taxes. That is not the heart of giving. The heart is giving a heart felt gift. It may be something that helps you as well but that is not the center of the gift.

Recently Project Lost Sheep received a gift in check from a car given to us via Cars for Causes (800-766-2273).

Yes the person who gave the car really wanted to help us. I can only say that that gift will move us along to feed more kids at camp than ever before. The person got a tax deduction from Cars for Causes, also a non-profit.

The purposes of Cars 4 Causes is "a non-profit organization desgined to simplify the process of fundraising for charities and organziations through contributions, and sale of automobiles, boats, trucks, RV's etc." Do you havve a car you are no longer using? Do you have a neighbor that might want to give to help more children get to camp?

The perfect gift may be to be used to encourage someone to action in clearing their property of that vehicle. It is really, "more blesssed to give than to receive."

Let's use what we aren't using to help children get what they need. We are in the blessing business with you.

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)

Mother's Day

I suppose the most important gift a mother can give her children is not all the things she is busy doing for them but something of herself.

My mother was a teacher and she was serious about her teaching and also about her country. She would write letters to her congressman if she felt something should be changed.

We would hear her typing away on the old manual typewriter back in the bedroom. My mother was a tough woman. She put herself through high school working as a clerk in a law office. She then put herself through college and got her master's degree in education.

This was no small feat and she had a passion for education. She thought anyone could improve and yet she saw the needs of children around her and was concerned for "latch key" kids.

All of these seeds didn't, of course, mature in me until I was much older but I was prepared by my mother for the call to children when it came to me.

Her passion for education affected all of us. We all got college educations and teaching credentials although not all of us three sisters worked as teachers.

I don't know how she did all that she did. She did not cut corners. She taught, she shopped, she cooked, she cleaned and she and my Dad worked hard to be good parents and then grandparents.

She didn't have a lot but she had plenty inside. She had faith and she took us to church every Sunday and yes she taught Sunday school. Teaching and education were bedrock to her as were her faith. She gave much to her children, her students, and her community

In memory of my mother: Myrtle Sutherlin

Prioritizing Correctly

Lots of people tell me that they would like to volunteer... someday. When they retire or when the children are older or when they have more time.  We all work in a priority universe. What we do with our time tells us our priority. If we spend all our time making money and non of our time on things that we say are important to us then we may be able to fool ourselves but not those around us, nor God who sees it all.

On the other hand, there are people who "go over the top" out of balance on doing good things to the detriment of their families.

Ray Steadman, beloved former pastor and author, of Peninsula Bible Church once related the story of a woman who came to him saying her marriage was "on the rocks". When the pastor inquired what she was doing with her time the woman piously said that she was teaching 10 Bible classes a week: days and nights.

Pastor Ray told her to "quit her Bible studies" and save her marriage. Being available to God does not mean that we are crazy and neglect the people in our own family.

Jesus was available to the crowds and helped many of those in his path but he also had his guys, the disciples. He had the best mother and He never forgot her needs even when He was dying on the cross. He turned her car over to John.

{ BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER, Jesus said.
 And from that time Mary was taken
into John's home. }

When we love God we will spend time with Him: we will pray and read the Bible not because we have to but because we want to. We will be available to serve people and help them because we are ready and full.

The Lord has the answers to our craziness. Do we trust Him enough to give him our hearts and our time?

When we are in the center of God's will He give us joy. This joy can never be bought with our own efforts nor money. Joy is a fruit of God's Spirit: Joy is a lasting paycheck!

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.

Showing Love Through Little Things

My grandmother was a very wise Christian woman. One of her favorite statements was "what can I do for you? She lived in Indiana and was the wife of a farmer but her impact on me was great because she really cared. She wrote me newsy letters of farm life.

Late, when the children were little she made by hand blankets for them. She also gave me shell jewelry which she made in Florida in the winter.

She had learned that there were lots of opportunities out there to show love to others and she did it with her hands and her heart. But, you say, I don't make things. I don't do any of that. Okay, neither do I... Wish I could... but there is a way. IF YOU GAVE YOUR TIME that you could help someone and show you cared. How the cold old world needs this today.

If you focused outward and wanted to show love where would you start? Try something small and practical. You could really listen to someone who had a problem. (gift of time). You could invite a lonely person out to do something with you. Go with you to something. There are many isolated older people who would love to do something different. You could really do something at your church. Try something that is beyond what you normally would do and see God work!

If you haven't felt God's love in a long, long time you could just check out on Sunday mornings some churches near you. Church shop like you do anything else. You might be surprised how relevant the Bible is to your problems today.

God likes us to see His opportunities. How do we know what they might be until we experience the greatest love in the world. God wants us to love Him and love others. We just have to get out of the "it's all about me" mindset and say what can I do for you?

Touchdown Camp For Our Children

Once again, we are excited to sponsor the Touchdown Camp for kids this summer, July 2012. We have up loaded some photos of camp. We hope that you can be a volunteer, a donor or an advocate for our cause. We need 50 volunteers and $10,000 to run the summer camp.

 

Camp Information

Date: July 16th -20th, 2012

Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Verbo Church

2798 Bay Road, Redwood City, CA 94063

Tel: (650) 364-9821

For Volunteering

Call Doris Bates at (650) 368-1224

Email: djbdance@comcast.net

Visit www.touchdowncamp.com for more info.

For Donations

Write a check to: Project Lost Sheep

Mail check to:

co/Catherine Parlanti

Project Lost Sheep, Box 2735, Menlo Park, CA. 94026

Question about donations, email: catherineparlanti@hotmail.com

Help build our children's future. Donate, volunteer or be an advocate and spread the word. We love to see you there. Your efforts are much appreciated. Thank you and God Bless You.