Special invite

A reminder Bill Smith, Papua New Guinea, will be sharing on Friday Evening at Mt. Zion UAME church on Rose street off Cleveland Ave at 6:30 PM


Then, on Saturday morning at 8 AM at Crossorads Church off Vance Neck Rd (Turn left on 13 at first light past 301 light then first right). This is a Men's breakfast but women also welcome to come, meet and hear Bill share. Am also making multiple copies of Bill and Lori's ministry DVD, anyone desiring one let me know; they are powerful as you see what the Lord has done during their decades there.

A personal testimony here. It was through Charlie and Charlotte Smith ministry that I met Jesus. Charlotte is my wife, Joanne's, Cousin and they contacted a church here to visit me.

When helping Charlie and Charlotte met Bill Smith Sr., Charlie's brother and a young teen, Bill Jr. Bill Sr. was/is a missionary with New Tribes Missions serving in a place called Papua New Guinea.

This was in the 70's; had no idea what a missionary was or where this place called Papua New Guinea was.

First thing we ever sent anywhere for kids was a shoebox full of stuff to PNG. Today loading cargo containers; tomorrow ships. As a result of the Smith families love of Jesus; I met Jesus and today have the privilege of ministering to children in 20+ countries with more to follow.

In 2007, after 30 years of prayer, had the joy of going to PNG and ministering there with the Smiths, and yes, while Bill Sr now is at headquarters in Sanford, Fl. He was there when the Lord opened the door for me to go and yes am planning on going back; 2011.

Thanks again for your prayers for Matt and praying you have an opportunity to meet Bill this weekend.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Greetings All,
First off thanks so much for your many prayers for my son Matt. He is continuing to heal. Please be praying for this evening and tomorrow morning. pain level has been really high and he goes to doctor tomorrow at 11. Doesn't have enough pain meds to make it until then. Please pray for the pain to lessen and for him to be able to rest.
The Lord provided a special coat for Cassie today; Pic attached. When I dropped it off early this afternoon, she literally jumped for joy and put it right on, finally taking it off around 8PM. As she put her coat on she excitedly shared that the kids wouldn't laugh at her now.

Talk about a drink of cold water in Jesus name. James 1:27 being lived out.

We're still praying for boots (Size 4 children) and youth gloves.

Cassie was really disappointed she couldn't go and make snowmen with her friends last Saturday. Next snow she will.

Below is a list of things we are collecting for the Noltings including a few special gifts each has asked for. Please really be praying for them. Mom, Louise, widow with 5 special needs kids; all adopted. Neat strong Christian family lives on social security trusting God for all needs.Times when texted and asked if needed tp and response was praying for it.

One quick note here, yes their church does help, but no church I'm involved with can care long term month after month for folks. That is where we, The Church, come in to minister in love with kindness and compassion.

Thank you again for your prayers for Matt and for the Noltings. Girlie is doing pretty well, and health wise holding her own for now. Amazing that 2 years after knocking on deaths door, she is still with us.
Below is what we are collecting for the family. I will keep you updated as things come in.
Special gifts:

Cassie: Happy Harry's gift card; roller blades; white cheez-its

Girlie/Stephanie: Booklight; Happy Harry's gift card; amazon gift card

Nick: Frito's; Happy Harry's gift card; modeling clay

Sonny: I tunes gift card; Psych season 4; Happy Harry's gift card

Mike: Verizon wireless refill card; Happy Harry's gift card; Visa gift card

(FYI, Happy Harry's block away, kids love walking there and getting things.)

Family Items

Gas gift cards

Goodwill gift cards

Food gift cards

Basically any and all kinds of gift cards

General Food Needs

Due to food allergies some items you'll see brand names

Toilet paper

white rice

chicken broth, progresso or swanson

chicken

beef

laundry detergent

cheez-its

spaghetti sauces

oodles of noodles chicken

cup of noodles chicken

kraft mac and cheese

coffee

whole milk

fruits all

canned green beans, corn

chef boy r dee canned beef ravioli

creamy peanut butter

strawberry and grape jelly

soups, especially chicken

mayo and miracle whip

diet pepsi (sorry Jen)

grape juice

orange juice

cookie dough

brownie mix

honeynut cheerios

saltines

ritz

club crackers

bacon

eggs

sausage

frozen eggos

butter

cheeses

love ham

turkey

tuna/water

hot dogs (kids love)

ketchup

breads and english muffins

nestles morsels

grands biscuits

toothpaste

pepperoni

lunch meats

hot choc

marshmallows

If there are other things you'd like to get, feel free to contact me, and I'll let you know if they can use it.
BFC folks can drop in my Sunday School classroom.

Thanks again Saints. I can't wait to see what the Lord does as we pray seeking His greatest blessings for the Noltings.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Good Morning All,


Some of you are aware, I left church early during second service yesterday; they took my son Matt back to the ER. Intense pain; headaches. After catscan and etc, was determined he was having "brain spasms". His brain bleed and etc is healing really well. They gave him much stronger pain meds which should help as this healing process goes on.


Had long talk with the doctor and she very kindly explained things to us going the extra mile to put us at ease.


Keep having to remind myself, this is Matt not my wife Joanne; he is stronger and prognosis is good.


Did find out that Matt's broken neck is the same that Christoper Reeves (Superman), unlike him, Matt's first c vertebrae is fractured, Christoper's was compressed.


FYI, what they do, is give you Perkiset? hoping it will be enough, instead of giving the stronger pain meds to make sure. Been down this road personally with leg. Not sure if government guide line but is how it is.
Matt is back at his apartment now and we will be spending most of today talking to doctors and setting up appointments. Has long road ahead but amazingly, looking at him riding his bike again in a few months or so.


Thank you for your continued prayers. Please also continue to pray for the driver of the car who hit him and for us as we begin to deal with the insurance companies; most important that our witness be pure and everything said is Glorifying to God.

We will be having a Zambia Orphan Care Trip informational meeting this Tuesday at 7PM at my home church, Bible Fellowship of Newark in my Sunday School Room. Please note, this is not a BFC sponsored trip and is open to folks from our various area churches. Pic of room below; tkx Tab for doing such a wonderful job.

Please be praying for us as we meet and for the cargo container we are seeking to load to sender to our folks there at the Village of Hope in Zambia.

You have all heard of Bill and Lori Smith and the ministry in Papua New Guinea. Bill is in town this week and we'd love for you to meet him.


He will be speaking at both Grace E-free and BFC men's breakfasts; Crossroads Diner, Kirkwood Highway on Wednesday (Grace), then at Friendly's on 896 Thursday (BFC); both at 6:30 AM.


He will then be speaking at Mt Zion UAME Church in Newark, off Cleveland Ave. on Friday Evening at 6:30 and doing a PowerPoint presentation of the work and then the same on Saturday at Crossroads Presbyterian Church off Vance Neck Road in Middletown, for their monthly Saturday Men's Breakfast at 8AM.
Bill and Lori are very special and dear friends, mighty warriors of the cross. Please make every effort too hear him; You will be blessed!


Please also be in prayer for Bill as he seeks to raise up prayer warriors for the work there in PNG.

Anyone needing more info on any of the above, fell free to give me a call or E-mail me.

Shine on for Jesus all and have a great day with Him.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Greetings Saints Here and Around the World!!


First an update on John. Surgery was successful. Long recovery time is expected, please continue to bathe him in prayer.

Please join us in praying for a miracle for a young orphan girl named Baby. She is 12, in process of being adopted from Pune, but there have been some complications on her end and the adoption is not going to go through; family wanting to adopt her is heartbroken. Please pray boldly for hearts to change and for her adoption to go through.

Matt was released from the hospital on Thursday. Hit "hard" by a car on Sunday, in ER for over 24 hours, ICU for little more than that and sent home in a little over 4 days. To be honest we were not thrilled with the hospital sending him home, still in need of professional help, but is doing well! Thank you so much for praying.

He is using walker to get around, fair amount of pain and headaches from the concussion but we just thank God for allowing this miracle.

Matt has a long hard road ahead but God is guiding us through as only He can.

The Lord has even provided a place to stay where he is being pampered, getting good meals and better care than I could ever give. Thank you for your many prayers.

One thing folks this case Matt was spared, but no matter what the outcome was, I had no doubt God is sovereign.
We need always to look at things through the perspective of eternity; knowing our time here is brief; there will be hardship and suffering here but soon folks, soon we'll we with Jesus, in a Paradise beyond anything we could ever even begin to imagine.

Thanks again for all your prayers, please continue to pray for John and Matt and for our little girl, Baby. We'll keep you up to date.

Please pray also for the girl who hit Matt, we have not seen her but know she can use our prayers.

Shine brightly all; pray boldly and have a great day with Jesus.

I can't wait to see what the Lord does next!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Greetings Saints Around the World.


Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragements.

Before we give an update on Matt, we would covet your prayers for our friend Dan Crowe's Uncle John. He will be going in for a radical procedure to remove and reconstruct his jaw due to oral cancer this morning. It will be a 10 to 12 hour operation, and they plan on keeping him heavily sedated for about 4 to 5 days while he heals. Please really bathe him in prayer.

The words we are hearing on Matt from all involved are, miraculous, amazing, incredible unbelievable and etc.

He was finally given water in the AM yesterday and food at lunch time. He still can't sit up or move to well. Helped move him to stretcher yesterday for more x-rays and there in not too many places on his body that aren't tender but Praise the Lord, as different doctors came in to talk to him; at this point, his neck will be immobilized for 6 to 8 weeks and his leg/knee the same.

As this is being written, no surgery is anticipated for any of his injuries, Everything, brain bleed to knee should heal naturally. Thank you Jesus.

Now, it will be a long and hard healing process and I understand there can be complications but no matter how things come down, we know God is Sovereign and have a God Confidence that He is with us.

Like Paul, we know no matter what comes our way, He will use it for His Glory and our prayer this morning is that God would indeed be glorified in all of this.

At this time, we have no update on Matt's left shoulder but continue to be thankful that He is still with us.

Words from police, doctors and EMT that visited. "He was hit hard" "crushed roof of car" "EMT just happened to be driving by and cared for Matt until we arrived" " best place to break your neck" very fortunate" "miraculously, no need for surgery"....

In other words, Godincidence after Godincidence.

There is no doubt God hears and answers prayers. In this case, for only reasons He knows, He protected Matt's body and continues to work miraculously.

As I close this update, pray as this progresses that Matt would really understand all God has done here and use this occurrence as an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with all he meets.

There are no words to use to describe our thanks to you for your prayers and continued prayers as we continue on this Great Adventure that the Lord has us on.

Please also bathe the woman who hit Matt and her family in prayer. Have no idea where they are at Spiritually but know they too need our prayers.

Please remember John in your prayers also.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Update on Matt

Greetings Saints,

Matt was moved to an intensive care step down unit this evening after an MRI which we are waiting for the results of.

He was resting when I left this evening. pain from injuries has set in but he is on meds and doing better, more aware of his surroundings and able to communicate better. They had a "sitter" with him 24/7 because of concussion to watch and make sure he doesn't leave us.

The paramedic who brought him in stopped by the ER today and shared that just after Matt was hit, an off duty paramedic was driving by stopped and found Matt lying in the grass, proceeded to make sure Matt's back and neck were protected, quite possible saved him from permanent injury. Love those Godincidences.

He had another catscan afternoon and there is a brain bleed but should heal itself. His neck is fractured but "the best kind of fracture" there is no paralysis and after 6 to 8 weeks in a neck brace that should be fine.

There is concern about a blood vessel that seems to be slightly damaged where the fracture is and that is why they did the MRI. The neurosurgeon does not anticipate having to do surgery there MRI was to verify problem and they are looking at meds to help with any problems there.

There will be surgery on his kneecap which was broken/crushed. Also there is a concern about infection there and he'll be getting a few weeks of antibiotics.

It appears he banged up his bad shoulder also, but more bumps and bruises than anything else there.

Back is stitched up and appears to be holding.

Legs and elbows pretty well wrapped and obviously he'll be there for a few days or so.

But we praise the Lord, Matt totaled a car with his body and at this point there is hope for eventual total recovery. Oh, and yes, paramedic shared that his bike was trashed as is his i phone.

Thank you for your prayers, E-mails visits and etc. this should have been much worse, but as you prayed God has worked mightily.

Keep shining for Jesus all. And please continue to pray for Matt. These next few days weeks are going to be challenging for him.

Pray also for opportunities to share the love of Jesus.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Zambia cargo container needs

Cargo Container/ Zambia Village of Hope




* 4 wheeler diesel with small trailer (Trailer is huge blessing in

mud)*Maybe a Gator with a dump bed.*

Clothing (Good or like new condition)

* boots

* rain gear

* coveralls

* men's work shoes and sneakers

* ladies shoes and sneakers

*children’s shoes and sneakers

*children’s clothes

* winter coats scarves, hats and sweaters (adult and children)

* underwear , men, women’s and children’s (new)

*pants, shirts and skirts in good condition

School supplies

* quality books and teaching materials

*encyclopedias

*craft type items

*flannelgraphs

Bikes and bike supplies

* adult bikes*simple bikes are best. Not so many gears.

* pumps and needles*Tool kits for bikes would be huge, we need

* tons of tire patches. Chains and Chain repair pieces.

* bike tools

*Great idea. We are talking about starting a bike repair shop. So Tools would be great.

* extra peddles

Tools

*good paint brushes,

*sockets, wrenches, pliers

*axes and limb saws, heavy duty hoes

*,1,000 feet of garden hoses

*cement tools,

*Hand tools for everything,....

Meds

• sinus and cold medicines,

• Ibuprofen

• Naproxen Sodium (Aleve),

• ace wraps (new or used),

• Band-Aids, Dressings,

• Medium size gloves (sterile or non-sterile),

• Antifungal cream,

• Ear wax removal drops (like Debrox).



* children's quality vitamins

* Ziploc bags

* quality child's wheel chair for Matilda

Sports equipment

* volleyball nets and balls

* soccer balls

*basket balls and backboards

*jump ropes

Books

*Good quality Christian books (no feel good stuff please)

* Bibles, study bibles great help

*concordances

*commentaries

*Hymnals

*Used and new plastic shopping bags, need seversl thousand

PRAYER and PRAISE


1. Happy Birthday Amotowe Nov 2nd 6 yrs old

2. Special Bible Flashcard project Need 250 sets $40 each

3. GBBC staff house Need $45,000, God has provided $15,150 still need $29,850

4. Personal support Still need $600 a month

Find out more www.billandlorismith.com


God's incredible orchestration of all aspects of our lives has been the continual thought of my heart this weekend.


I am reminded of one of my favorite poems, though shared with you all before, it truly is worth a repeat.

THE WEAVER

My life is but a weaving

Between my Lord and me.

I cannot choose the colors

HE worketh steadily

Oftimes HE weaveth sorrow

And I in foolish pride

Forget HE sees the upper

And I the under side.

Not 'til the look is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reasons why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weavers skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern HE has planned.

Grant Colfax Tullas

So much in our lives of serving our Faithful God these past twenty plus years now has been an adventure of faith. We have followed a trail, yes even sometimes hacked out an untrodden path through thick dense bush of difficulty, that we never dreamed we would follow. Our well laid out idea of our lives really has not been the reality of God's path for us. But as we have trusted Him with our whole hearts and leaned not on what made sense to us, just as promised in Proverbs 3:5-6 ,HE has shown us HIS path and orchestrated a tapestry out of our lives that is grand beyond our ability to even imagine on our own.

Amidst the dark and sometimes dreary colors of life's trials, six years ago this Monday, God wove a bright gold stripe of shining thread into the tapestry of our lives.

We did not know on that date or that moment in time of the colorful shining arrival of our precious little Amotowe. Mommy was ironically busy delivering a little baby boy around that exact same time, but it was baby Terry John not our sweet own son. Though being needfully rejected at birth by his biological mom would seem a dark thread for him, that opened a long and arduous journey for him into a home where he has truly been loved and cherished. God's special plan made his little threat shine even brighter.

This past week, while he was busy working on computers at school, a friend of ours, a teacher at the school, just watched him for a while. She pondered as to where he would be right then if God had not put him in our family.

I often just stand similarly amazed at God's grace, as Amotowe's speech challenges and his very high energy level would make him very a very difficult "fit" for the village lifestyle and family situation to which he was born. They probably would not have accepted him, nor would they take the time to laboriously listen to him when his little stuttering tongue struggles to keep up with the active intelligent brain trying to be expressed. He would most likely be called "stupid" or "crazy" by the unsaved people in his home village. Even if they wanted to help him (by some stretch of the imagination) they really do not have many resources or agencies able to help such problems readily available in our home in PNG.

No, God had a plan ,from the beginning of time, to lovingly pick Amotowe out from the midst of his birth situation and place him into our family. We could never have imagined such a gift so amazing..but tomorrow we celebrate six years of his amazing life...our amazing gift of him from GOD. Amo is truly a love gift we will never be able to express our gratefulness with mere words. That is one expression the Holy Spirit alone can utter for us to God as there are no human words that special.

So many parts of our lives have been woven, both dark and bright, as God has been orchestrating the colorful tapestry of our lives. One thing we have learned for certain...there are no wasted steps as we follow the LORD. Each path, both easy and hard, have purpose in the overall journey.

We are so thankful for so many of you that have been a part of the weaving processes, especially when those dark colors of challenge and fear and difficulties were being added to the overall scene of our lives.
Would you please pray with us for these threads that we also ask God to add to our overall ministry picture?

*We are so excited to finally have available the full set of pictures that go along with the Chronological teachings we are translating now for our Pastors to use in their ministries in PNG. We have found how God has used multimedia with power point and visual "pictures" to truly enhance people and their understanding of the Bible as we teach and preach here in the USA. Well, in the village (and sometimes in the cities as well) power is not even an option, much less the machinery to accomplish a visual picture for folks to supplement what they are hearing.

That is the neat part about these pictures. They are laminated, colorful, large enough for a good sized group and useable not just for children and school aged classes, but would enhance adult classes and even Sunday messages. Our PNG people are culturally story tellers...that is how they have passed on information from generation to generation. What a WONDERFUL story of God and His Word we have to share. Pictures are like a thousand word story in and of themselves sometimes!

So how is that exciting for us here?? Glad you asked! You all could be a part of making that set of pictures a part of our churches in PNG. For just $40 you could provide the entire set from the Old Testament teaching starting at the Garden of Eden all the way to the New Jerusalem, the New Heaven and Earth from Revelation! Seeing may enhance the understanding of our dear folks in PNG so they understand fully salvation for the first time...and you can have a part in that blessing in this real way. What better Christmas present could you give???

If anyone wants to help us provide this gift to our churches in PNG...or if you just want to see or hear more about this project we are starting... there is even more information on our web site or you can just hit reply and ask for more details from this email as well.

website www.billandlorismith.com

Send a gift to ABWE- Mark it Story of Hope Flashcards

account Bill and Lori Smith 112863-002

We trust many will take advantage of this opportunity. We can bring as many packets of pictures as we can purchase in our container we plan to ship this Spring...so even the shipping will be covered....a truly shinning thread that we feel God may want to weave into the tapestry of many of our churches in PNG! The only question is will you be a part of this opportunity.

*What excitement it has been to watch the Master Weaver at work orchestrating our medical supplies we desire to bring back with us to PNG. Please keep praying for those needs. God is at work as we pray.

*We are praising the Lord for great opportunities to report back to our supporting churches. Please continue to pray for the $600/month support still needed before we will be released to return to the field. The challenge being to find time between visiting and reporting to our current churches and finding new churches that would be able or willing to support us as well....we need to have God either expand from within our current supporters or add days to the months so we can get to new churches as well. Either way, God is able! He can weave the shiny gold support threads amidst the dark threads of economic crisis in His own way and according to His own plan as we allow Him to work.

*We praise the Lord for His provisions thus far for our urgently needed staff housing for our Bible College in PNG. That first significant gift was just a really big and bright shinning threat to be sure...but because the project has taken so long to be fully funded and started, the original donor may actually reapply that gift to another project unless we can see the rest of that need met and the building begun. PLEASE pray with us. WE know God is able to provide all those needed finances..with or without that original $10,000, but we sure would love to keep it and get the rest needed so we can see actual construction begun soon. God has provided a gift of $5000 this week. So we now have $15,150 of the needed $45,000. Pray for the needed $30,000.

Pray with us for God to reveal HIS plan...knowing He is busy weaving what is right and best for our Bible College needs.

We know that "God's Work, done in God's way will never lack God's supply" (Hudson Taylor). "Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible" (CT Studd) so grab with us in prayer and wait for God to direct and supply!

Seeking the will of God, nothing more, nothing less...eager to watch our tapestry unfold knowing the Great Weaver His a magnificent picture to weave though our lives that He alone may be glorified.
Bill, Lori and the kids

Zambia Child Prayer Need and Ministry Opportunity

Zambia Child Prayer Need and Ministry Opportunity

 Please be praying for one of our children at the Village of Hope in Zambia. Gift, one of our boys fell out of a tree and broke his arm; really bad break. Ann Rachel, who wrote asking for prayer, got physicaly sick when she saw it. Gift is a really neat kid and I understand in a lot of pain. Please pray.
Below is a flyer that Kathleen Schwartz had sent me sharing a special opportunity they have to minister to teachers in the Liteta Zone of the Central Province in Zambia and through them the children in other villages.
The equivilent of the governor there came to our village school and was greatly impressed by this little two room school and thankful that they desire to help others learn to teach.
Personally, I believe one of the most practical ways, if not the most practical way to reach folks and train them up, is through passionate teachers. Please really pray for this ministry and if you decide to join me in helping in this ministry, please make sure you give them your E-mail so they can keep you informed.
Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27
http://docs.google.com/Doc?tab=edit&dr=true&id=dc2hj5ts_150d64t664b#send_link  -Flyer as an attachment.

America to Zambia

Teacher to Teacher 

Teachers, like you, around the world are investing their lives in children hoping to make a difference. Teachers in Zambia often have classes of 50-70 students with very little if any resources – books, papers, copy machines, library, etc. They often have very little training; some do not even get paid.



Village of Hope in Zambia is co-hosting:

a 2-day in-service - December 3-4

Focus: literacy

Participants: 150 Zambian teachers in the Liteta Zone of the Central Province



WE NEED YOUR HELP.



Your tax-deductable contribution of $10.00 would help with the costs of transportation, four meals, and supplies. A contribution of $27.00 would defray the total cost for one participant. Make a difference in the life of a Zambian teacher. So little will go so far!



Teachers in Zambia need the support of teachers in America.



Make checks payable to “AKCLI,” marked for “teachers” and send to:

All Kids Can Learn, Intl

224 N. Washington St.

Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Please include an email address so that we can send a report on this training program, as well as opportunities to be part of a US team traveling to participate with the Zambian teachers in the future.



To learn more about the Village of Hope go to: www.akcli.org.

Joanne With Jesus Four Years Later/ All Is Well

Greetings Saints,

As many of you know, about this time of day 4 years ago, the doctors called me into intensive care; there was no hope, massive brain damage, only thing keeping Joanne alive was the respirator.

After over 3 years suffering the time had come for her to leave the shell that was her body and to go to be with her Lord Jesus.

As the doctor was sharing this, in God's perfect time, Pastor Bill walked into intensive care, as I gave them permission to take Joanne off the machines that were keeping her body alive.

Then and now, the most difficult thing I ever had to do, but even in those moments of deeply intense emotional pain, the Lord was there giving strength. As we walked out of intensive care, the Lord brought more dear friends and then again later more to be with us. Thank You Jesus for Your promise to never leave or forsake us.

It took a few hours to prepare Joanne, making as sure as humanly possible she would not suffer anymore pain.

Then they called the family in to sit around her and say our good-byes as they removed her from the respirator, in less then 20 minutes, she was gone to spend all of eternity with Jesus.

I've been here alone, as I need to be today listening to this song, http://www.rhapsody.com/robin-mark, All is well, by Robin Mark. The song Pastor Isaac wrote about. My understanding is the writer of this song had just lost everything and yet wrote this beautiful song. Listen carefully to the words.

I can honestly say today, though many trials and struggles continue, All is Well with my soul.

My prayer for all of us today is that like Paul and Silas in prison, we can sing praises to the Lord, no matter our circumstances; knowing He is in control and we are in His Hand.

Just as the prisoners in that jail, saw the Gospel in them, saw their total God confidence, my prayer is that His love would flow through each of us as everyone who meets us sees the Gospel; that our actions and love would match our words.

God bless all; have a great day with Jesus as you continue to shine brightly for Him.

All is Well!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work/Desiring a Closer Walk with God

Greetings Prayer Warriors,


Below is something the Lord has done in my life while here.
Covet your continued prayers as I prepare to leave this evening; These long flights can be very painful as this old gorilla squeeses into those small seat and the leg yells. Not complaining, doing it joyfully; thanking the Lord for this special opportunity.
Shine for Jesus all. Be Holy.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Desiring a Closer Walk with God



As 2008 came to a close, I felt the Lord’s leading to pray a simple prayer asking Him to give me a closer walk and deeper love for Him more and to help me to look to Him and Him alone in every area of my life. During this trip the Lord answered that prayer and others as only He can.

This past year has been one of many struggles as I felt in my heart that I was moving farther from Him instead of being drawn closer; similar to what we experience when we pray for patience but for me more intense.

Trips were major struggles; trials constant and discouragement seemed to want to be a constant companion that had to be overcome daily as the Lord would remind me of things He had done. It never ceases to amaze me how easily I can take my focus off the overwhelming greatness of God; instead of focusing on what is good as He commands, focusing on seemingly negative things and allowing myself to worry about things that never come to pass.

God give me strength and wisdom, courage and faith to carry on, help me to be strong and courageous not to worry or fear. Lord be my God. Help me to love and give as never before; looking to You and You alone for everything.

One thing I quickly became aware of was the Lord was opening my eyes wider to my own sinfulness and desperate need of His Grace. To draw nearer to Him meant letting go, completely, or as completely as I knew how to do.

Funds for the last two trips were very light, can’t continue on like this Lord.

Let go Jim; let go and trust in Me, I will never leave or forsake you. Trust Me, Jim.

Seemed the more I gave the more unexpected expenses flowed in; but you know the neat thing here? I continue to be debt free and for the 5th year in a row will be able to give away at least 100% of my income as God continues to help me trust Him in this area.

Then there was this trip. As I reread the Autobiography of George Mueller on the way to Zambia, I was again reminded of this great man of God’s strong walk of faith and recommitted my life to trusting God looking to Him and Him alone to provide. Asking folks not for funds but for prayer only; looking to God only. Scary; but so neat to stand back and watch God work in such wonderful and amazing ways.

As the bills roll in, funds go out; somehow, amazingly, as I prepare to return to the States, today, October 12th 2009, the Lord has allowed me to remain totally debt free. (Bills to pay when I return but have funds to cover) I thank you Jesus, for your great love and Your Holy Word.

Another area that has been a struggle this year is dealing with loneliness. Should I pray and ask the Lord to bring someone into my life; a helpmate that would stand by my side through my remaining years?

October 19, will be the 4th anniversary of Joanne going to be with Jesus. Lord how shall I pray? Is it a bad thing to pray this way?

The Lord used the Grace Renewed (Sonship) team to guide me. We did not discuss it but as we talked through the week and they took me out to dinner one evening, just being with them and having fellowship with them made it abundantly clear.

Bob, Rose Marie and team are totally sold out to Jesus and just blessed me and the Lord used them to give me clear guidance in that area; without ever talking about it. Thanks guys; thanks for everything. You are in my prayers always. See you in Cuba!

The Lord showed me that He would allow me to pray that prayer and would bless it but doing so, would limit the ministry He has given me with children. I realized then that Paul went through some of the same struggles and like Paul, I’ve chosen to allow God to be my all in all looking to Him to fill my life even in this area and now have a great peace about it. Thank you Lord for your clear direction.

Just a quick note here, this is just in my case and please don’t think that Jim is saying to never marry or remarry. I would only encourage all of us always look to the Lord for guidance in every area of our lives; trusting in Him with all our hearts and allowing Him to direct our paths. His yoke is light and His love higher, deeper and wider than we can ever imagine.

I’m not suffering for Jesus; I’m joyful in Him; knowing He is giving to me the desire of my heart. Bringing the children to Him as He commands in Matthew 19:14 and Mark 10:14.

The Lord reinforced that decision as I was teaching last week at the school asking the children how long was forever? (Forever!) Sharing how our lives here were less than a small dot on a line compared to eternity and no matter what we can trust God to bring us through. Got it Lord; thank you.

At the end of 2008, I prayed asking for a closer walk with the Lord. He has answered mightily and is allowing me to walk more confidently than ever with Him, assured of His great love for me and you and thankful that He has allowed me the Holy Privilege of being His child.

As I prepare to leave to return to the States, I’d like to just encourage you to join me in praying that prayer. Pray for your love and trust of the Lord to deepen; for your faith to grow stronger and for Him to guide you in faith on the special path He has for you and for each and everyone of us.

As I write this attempting to be deeply honest, my pray continues to be, Lord draw me close, do whatever it takes to bring me closer to You.

As we join together in prayer, looking to God as we pray, I can’t wait to see what God does next.

Have a great day with Jesus all.

Keep shining for Him!

Until Every Child Knows,
 Big Jim
 Matt. 19:14
 James 1:27
Prov. 3:5,6

Greetings Saints!

Camp was absolutely incredible! Have to admit it was a little challenging doing a 4.5 hour camp with 10 workers, 5 of us 13 and under with 180 kids, but it was just fantastic. We've heard many stories from all 3 camps of children going home and sharing the Wordless book with their families and friends.

Today the children made a prayer book as our kids taught them about prayer

Just a quick FYI, this is a christian school but kids come there for superior education. Not all teachers know Jesus.

Our two sisters gave great testimonies, did the Gospel Bag. It was as rich as it could ever get. When I get home will send out some pics of the kids that will just bless your hearts. (Yes, the testimonies are videotaped)

Now, we are praying for 2011 for an entire school program but would love to do it for 2010! 3 days for the senior school and 2 for the Junior works for me!

Some of you may remember, Judy, who led music for our SBC a few years ago, according to Pastor Isaac the best music leader in all of Delhi. 3 Guesses where she teaches. She is joining us in praying for a full school camp. Music team set. Have video of her leading the children in singing. Absolutely awesome!

Have a bag of special gifts for one of our kids from here, who is in the States that I'll be bringing back. Jen, mom told her it's coming.

Was also given a plaque from the school which I'll always treasure.

We did have a little adventure heading back to the base. As you, who have been here know, driving in Delhi is better than any thrill ride!

Well, breaking down in Delhi is even more interesting as our good friend Namgyal comes to rescue us with a tow rope! (fan belt broke)

Camp workers, remember our tug of war rope? Yep, that was our tow rope! First we had to make a u-turn being towed, as the rope got tangled in the wheel! Traffic blocked as rope is pulled from wheel.

Rope maybe 36" of space between vehicles. Remember Delhi, traffic flows like a river, no lanes; cars inches or less apart.

Then going through a busy intersection and having the rope break! Retying it and getting back to the base! Thank you Jesus.

Now that is a thrill ride!

I was in the front seat of Gloria's car (Commonly called the death seat) and yes, took many pictures. WIsh I would have thought to switch to video.

We had care group this evening as we all met at Gloria and Isaac's, spending the entire time praying and thanking the Lord. Each of us praying specifically to love God more. Rich time.

We then watched a movie with our college students from Wordfest. My good friend Paul from our Village of Hope in Zambia had told me I needed to get the movie, Faith Like Potatoes; about a Zambian farmer who had faith. Thanks Paul. Guys, if I had to chose between that and Ee-taow, I'd recommend Faith Like Potatoes. Real and powerful.

Thank you Jesus for one of the richest and most blessed days of my life.

Thank you, all of you for your many prayers.

Keep shining for Jesus all.

I can't wait to see what God does next!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work/Camp Day 1/3rd Grade

Greetings Saints


It's about 10:05 PM as I begin to write here.

Camp was just awesome! Picture 180 highly excited children doing a camp during school; it was a little challenging to calm them down but oh the blessings were so rich. The word here when children act up is naughty.Some of the boys especially were very

"naughty" but it was from excitement, not being bad. These are our future leaders, Pastors and etc; live wires; gotta love 'em.

We did the special bracelets today and will be doing the prayer booklets with them tomorrow.

Also giving out Wordless Books to all the students tomorrow asking them to take them home and study them to remind them what Jesus did for them and to use them to tell their friends. Please pray.

Pastor Steven shared during assembly and tomorrow I'll be sharing using the Gospel Bag; please continue to pray.

Sarah shared her testimony today and Rhythm will be sharing hers tomorrow. Yes, we plan of videotaping her as we did Sarah's today.
Two special testimonies/Godincidences

As David explained the colors of the Wordless Book, a young boy who was H.. told him he couldn't do that because he was H... David shared that it was OK, Jesus loves H,,,, also, in fact he used to be H.... At that point the boy said OK and listened intently as David shared

After the children in my class finished the bracelets, I asked Rhythm to explain the Book to the children again. She was incredible as she went form color to color explained with great enthusiasm sharing also how God wants us to pray and every time we have problems we can always go to Him and He hears our prayers. As well done as any presentation I have ever heard. Then we had Divia come and explain it using the large flipper flapper, she also did great. Thank you Jesus. Would that we all had the enthusiasm for Jesus these girls have.

Make it three special testimonies! Seems many of the children went home form the 4th ngade camp and shared Jesus with their families using their WOrdless books and bracelets. Go God Go!

Tomorrow, the plan is for Pastor Steven to do counseling with Isaac Jr., He will do the first session, Isaac Jr, with him the second and then Isaac on his own for at least one session. Please pray for Isaac and all the counselors as they share His love.

After returning home to the base here, I had the joy of having lunch with the staff as we celebrated a first birthday and Pastor Isaac shared an update.
Please continue to pray for Pastor. He starts his medication tomorrow. A combination of very powerful antibiotics that he will need to take for one year. There can be side effects, please join us in praying for very nominal side effects and for a total healing as Pastor looks to Jesus. Pray also for the family, staff and church as they seek to come alongside of Pastor and minister to him as he has ministered to them these many years.
Pray for our camp tomorrow also, Gloria will be staying back with Isaac. Please pray for open hearts, for a double filling of the Holy Spirit and for the love of Jesus to flow through us to all we see.

Please continue to pray for the Wordfest as these 37 young people are challenged. Pray for the Lord to raise up warriors that would come and stand beside us and pray for radical life change as the Word of God is opened for them.

Shine on all. This old guy is crashing.

Have a fantastic day with Jesus as you share His love with all you meet.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Update on Pastor Isaac

Good Morning Saints!


Below is an update on Pastor Isaac. While TB is very serious it is tresatsble. Isaac is scheduled to be on strong antibiotics for a year but pretty much complete healing is expected. Lymph node, stage 3 was what the doctors had feared; that would be untreatable. Below is from the family.

Please also be praying, in about 20 minutes we'll be leaving to do our 3rd grade camp. School is really excited. I also have some exciting updates from the last camp that is just mind blowing. Plan on sending out a report on today's camp, last nights talk went well; Hours to speak, wasn't able to share everything planned but sense God's Spirit working as we discussed living radically for Jesus, based on Hebrews 11:1-12:2. Thank you for praying, Light touch of Delhi Belly seems to be over, though was weak last night.

Thank you for praying all.

Have a great day with Jesus. Keep shining brightly for Him.

The song below is very beautiful, it is going to be sung here on Sunday. Sang it with the family this past Sunday as Myriam played it on the piano and Gloria on her violin.

Until Every Child Knows,

Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27


On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 12:48 PM, Isaac and Gloria Shaw wrote:



Dear Big Jim,



The results of the biopsy came today and the Doctor informed us that Isaac has Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis. We praise God for this diagnosis as the doctors said they were suspecting worse. The doctor who is heading the case and tests comes to our church. As soon as we received the news Isaac got the team together and thanked the Lord for the outcome of the tests. Isaac has recommitted himself that he will keep going till North India has heard, or till the Lord calls him home.

This has been a difficult month of uncertainty about Isaac health after the sudden appearance of growths on his neck. Since first September there have been several consultations with Doctors. Isaac also had a 19 day deputation to UK. trip in the midst of it.

There have been many difficult days and long nights but we were sustained and uplifted by the Word of God. The prayers of the saints have encouraged us to persevere. Your notes, phone calls, SMS, posting on FB, visits and enquiring about Isaac’s health have been deeply appreciated. The promises you gave us from the Word of God has been our daily bread. We have felt so much loved and taken care of.

The following new song of Johnny Parks and Claire Hamilton sung by Robin Mark was a gift from the Lord for us during this time:



All is Well



He lowers us to raise us

So we can sin g his praises

Whatever is his way all is well

He makes us rich and poor

That we might trust him more

Whatever is his way all is well



All my changes come from him he who never changes

I’m held firm in the grasp of the Rock of all the agesAll is well with my soul

He is God in control

I know not all his plans

But I know I’m in his hands



He cloths us now then strips us

Yet with His Word equips us

Whatever is his way all is well

And though our seasons change

We still exalt his name

Whatever is his way all is well


We will need your continued prayers for

1. Complete healing of Isaac as he takes this year long treatment with drugs.

2. That there will be no adverse side effects of the drugs.

3. For the family, work and church as they adjust to Isaac’s health situation.

With grateful hearts,



Gloria, Gloria Jr., Myriam, Sarah and Isaac Jr.

Waching God WorkCamp!

On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 4:24 PM, James Kramer wrote:




Greetings Saints! What an awesome God we serve!

Second two day camp is over. Thursday and Friday we do our 3rd two day camp.

Just got back and we're just a little excited and frankly amazed at what the Lord is doing.

Camp was beyond all and any expectations and dreams. 170+ children highly excited and energized as we shared the love of Jesus with them. Just did 4th grade, 5th grade now wants us to come! Today did our special Wordless Book Bracelets. Bracelets were done in groups of ten with counselors in each group, including 6 of our 'tweens led by David, sharing the Good News of Jesus. Rhythm and Divia, 13 and 11, each led a group showing the children, 8-10, how to do the bracelets sharing their faith and praying with them.

Nothing, absolutely nothing compares with hearing these precious children sharing their faith.

Then as the day ended giving our children a charge to go home and share His love with their families and friends.

Sabrina's older sister, Freda, is here from college and she too counseled the children.

We are dreaming/praying for school wide camp within 2 years. All 2500+ children doing a 5 day camp during school hours. Going to need a full time staff just to run these camps at the various schools. Hmm, know some dynamite teens/college students that can grow into the work.

Crazy? Never happen? I'll let you know how God does it. (Umm, Jen, that would be 9 classes, Senior school with 4 classes in each group average class size 40, 3 teaching sessions, lunch, movie, crafts, games, opening and closing for senior high, 50 minute classes. then 5 classes wth 4 teams per class, Junior school, average 42 children per class)

Now Freda is going back to school in Canada to get her Masters in counseling then looking to come to Mt. Carmel to minister to the children there. Asked her to pray about running the counseling team we'll need to minister and talk to the children during our school wide camp.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Please keep praying. The potential here and in other schools is mind boggling. Again words can't describe what we saw God do today.

This morning, I was scheduled to do the opening assembly for the younger Senior grades, using the Gospel Bag. Seems today was a joint assembly of all students and teachers for grades 4-12!

"Would you mind doing it for all the children instead of just the younger ones?"

As my heart filled with joy, "Yes, I'd be glad too."

Had thought about asking if I could come back Monday and share with the older children. God already had it worked out.

Now, as a result of the camp and the privilege of sharing during assembly, all the children in the entire senior school and their teachers heard the Good News. Thank you Jesus.

Mrs. Howell, Vice Principal of the school and Sabrina and Freda's Mother, followed me and shared the Gospel again urging teachers and children to turn to Jesus.

Tomorrow is a Holiday so no school but Wordfest. Scheduled at 5; can't wait.

Thursday and Friday is at the Junior School. Again doing the assemblies for the entire Junior school and teachers with 3 of our 'tweens sharing their testimonies then camp for 3rd grade. Can't wait to see what the Lord does.

Please continue to pray boldly; continuing to pray for Pastor Isaac as we await the report form the doctor.

Have a great day with Jesus all.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work/Camp/Faith On Fire

Greetings Saints!
We have a short break here as day one of camp ends and Wordfest begins.

It's raining and the heat has broken; maybe 80 and a just a little humid. Thank you Jesus!

Still using Gloria's computer so am unable to respond to a lot of messages.

Pastor went to have the wound on his neck drained. Doctor was non-committal about the results of the tests and wants to wait until everything is in before saying anything.

Thank you on Pastor Isaac and his family's behalf for all your prayers and E-mails. It has been a real encouragement to him as he looks to the Lord as never before.

One thing I had forgotten to mention at the previous camp, I asked my class how many ways are there to get to heaven and how to you get there?

Every child answered, 10 ways, obey the 10 Commandments. They have been taught the law and very little about grace. At this point, lesson plan changed as we focused on One Way. Thank you Jesus for showing us that.

Please pray for that truth to really set in.

On the humorous side, on Friday we had three schedule changes and on Saturday two more. Must be flexible folks. EXTREMELY flexible. That being said, again the Camp was just fabulous.

Please be praying for our Wordfest as it begins in about 2 hours. Pray too for me as I work on the teaching for Wednesday' 2 hour talk; title "Faith on Fire". Some of you may recognize that title. Please pray for wisdom. Lord kept giving me verses and ideas making very hard to sleep as I tend to get excited about what He is giving me to share. Teaching on Bible heroes who stood strong in the faith, Joshua, David, Esther, Paul and etc and some of my heroes, Kaylyn Warren, Stephanie Nolting, Tim Merkel, and etc.

Without faith it is impossible to please God is the theme verse for that lesson tied together with having the faith of a mustard seed.

Onto Mt Carmel Camp!!

Pastor Steven spoke at the opening assembly as only he can sharing the Wordless Book and telling all the children about His Jesus.

There are 4 Fourth Grades and it was announced that instead of different classes today would be a Bible Camp for them. Kids were very excited.

FYI, the average class size is 44 students but very disciplined. Each morning the children assemble and start their day with exercises, song and prayer. Camp ran from 8 to 1:50 with 3 lessons, crafts, games and a movie.

We had two of our teens from the worship team available. The guys were asked to teach the children a song and did a great job especially considering they only had about 5 minutes notice.

We also had 4 'tweens, Sarah, one of her friends, Glory. and then two of our SBC kids; Rhythm and Divya. Steph and Jen they send their love. I have a picture of them that I am only allowed to show to you. Steph, they plan on sending you a card and Rhythm asked that I tell you she is praying for you as is Divya.

FYI, Rhythm met Jesus in 2005 and her sister, Divya, in 2007.

David, with his servants heart, led crafts, like me, not his area of gifting but with our 'tweens and the teachers help he did a fantastic job. Classes were combined so he was able to lead indoor games also; balloons, of course.

Now, the children did get yelled at during games for being too loud ) by the Vice Principal. Basically they were having fun but in their excitement got loud; we just played the games somewhat quietly. Reminds me of old Red Lion days when my Sunday School Class had to move because we were disturbing the adults under us.

The classes were fantastic to teach. I had Isaac Jr's class and what a blessing. These kids interacted and were really great to teach. Great school. It was very obvious most while knowing some answers, most really had never met Jesus.

Tomorrow, I'll be using the Gospel Bag in the assembly, so please continue to pray and we will be finishing our teaching on creation and the fall. Again, these children are a dream to teach (Really helps when the temperature is below 100!) Pray for David tomorrow as he does the Wordless Book Bracelets with crafts to reinforce the lessons. These are special kits that we have gotten that are really neat.

Now as I close and get ready for WordFest, We have a special prayer request. Three of our 'tweens will be giving their testimonies for the Junior School on Thursday and Firday as we teach the 3rd grades. Sarah Shaw, Rhythm and Divya. Yeah Merks, I'll tape it. Please pray for them, this is something they have never done before.

In closing, please really pray for our children here. On the way this morning the schools were too numerous to count, one man riding a bike with one daughter sitting sideways on the front and the other behind. These children need to know Jesus.

When we look at the huge number of children, it can be overwhelming, but as each child is taught and disciplied, it's like throwing thousands of stones in a pond, and seeing ripples everywhere and more stones are thrown and more ripples appear until they become a mighty current flowing into the hearts of millions upon millions. Please pray boldly.

Keep shining for Jesus all. Keep praying boldly and again thank you form all of us for your many fervent prayers. We can really feel them here.

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work/Pastor Isaac Update

Greeting Prayer Warriors!!!!


Pastor Isaac had the biopsy and should be coming home tomorrow. Please continue to bathe him and the family in prayer.

I'm here back in my room in Delhi. Came home on the train (love riding the trains here) and one of our famous rickshaw taxi's that while somewhat dangerous are an absolute blast to ride in. FYI, the train station there was even pink!

Two prayer requests:

Camp at Faith starts at 8:30 (6 hours from now) Please really bathe the team in prayer as we enter into this new area of ministry. We are all very excited. Of course God made it interesting; due to some of the team having to leave early to help out here, we were never able to meet during the retreat and will be flying by the seat of our pants. Love doing that, we have some great team members and it's going to be incredible. Pray for open hearts, the counseling teams, teachers, workers and especially the children. Camp is 2 days, Friday and Saturday, 8 hours a day. Please really pray; there is incredible potential here. Great opportunities.

In 6.5 hours there will be a Couples Seminar here with our good friends from WH sharing. Please really pray for them and for those that are attending. These guys are absolutely incredible. Saturday there will be a ladies retreat here while we do our camp. Please bathe, Rose Marie and company in prayer as they minister.

The retreat I just returned from was just incredible. Bob, Rose Marie and company are such Godly people, great role models for all of us with tremendous wisdom and love for the Lord. Their Passion and love is very contagious.

Everyone went away richly and deeply blessed. With a deeper understanding and love for the Lord.

One personal testimony. While I never sat in any if the sessions (teaching the kids) the Lord used the team to minster to my heart in a very special way.

I have been really praying for a deeper and more passionate walk with God. The Lord used these guys/gals to bring me into a much deeper relationship with God than I've ever had before Just hanging out with them and seeing their passion and love for my dear brothers and sisters here just touched my heart in a way I can't really describe. Thanks Bob it is a great honor and privilege to be able to call you friend.

If your wondering about the weather here; it's hot; a true "Indian Summer" but only in the nineties,

You know, something incredible is starting here; a fire is igniting, and the flames of the gospel are spreading like wildfire.

David, your so right, "it only takes a spark to get sa fire going" PUSH brother, PUSH!

There is a lot more that will be shared at a later date. Please really bathe all of us here in prayer.

Pray too for our Word Fest starting Tuesday here while we do our camps in another school.

One last request. Pray for a possible early November trip going and training children's workers and ministering to children. Pray for the Lord to allow this. It'll take a miracle but won't be the first!

Thank you for your prayers.
Until Every Child Knows
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work

Greetings Prayer Warriors Here and Around the World!!!!!

Update on Pastor Isaac: Tests are done (called investigations here), we should hear something in the morning, please continue to pray boldly for him and the family.

It was a great day here as the World Harvest Team again taught and I go to work with the kids.

At lunch time I sat with the team as we spoke about and shared stories of a mutual friend who used to be in Uganda and met his wife there. Seems some of them know a young lady named Elizabeth also.

I also asked if they had ever thought about doing a Sonship Program for children to run parallel with the Adult/teen one. Interesting you should ask that Jim, we are in the process of developing that right now. Thank you Jesus. Just love it that these organizations are realizing the need for deeper teachings for our children at an earlier age. Ray the lady in charge of that works at the Junior High level.

Also asked them of they had ever considered doing a Sonship program in Cuba. We'd be glad to schedule one, just have never been invited. They just haven't been invited. Told them we might just be able to help with that.

They also work in Africa and are fascinated with the play pump (well pump) we use in the village in Zambia

If able some of the team might be able to go with us to Faith Academy

WAP folks, did I mention Sonship is being translated into French?

Today as I taught the boys; just have two students but loving it. We meet for two session the the morning and one in the evening; 3.5 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening. Joshua and Adhit are great kids. In the morning we talked about Creation through the flood.

And then in the evening we discussed ways they could help and be active in sharing the love of Jesus. We ended with the guys going to Sarah Patty's blog site http://ps127.blogspot.com/2009/09/letters-from-children.html and writing notes to our kids in Zambia. They are planning on writing to them again tomorrow and are really excited about doing that.

They told our kids in Zambia to read their Bibles every day and pray, sharing also they were praying for them. Great kids. Young but with a real passion for Jesus.

Please continue to pray and really bathe our upcoming camps in prayer, the potential here is huge and we're all really excited.

Shine on for Jesus all. Shine on.



--
Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Watching God Work

We are here in Jaipur for the retreat. 40 members of the church and some big old gorilla.

As you read this we'd covet your prayers, Shaws are not with us. Issac needs to have the tests done in the morning (3AM here now) Since we are so far away here, the children stayed back, just in case there would be a need for surgery. Please join me in praying boldly for these very preciou8s Saints and that they would be able to join us here.

Now, Jen, it has been decided when we do a camp here, you will be in charge because Jaipur is your kind of place. Jaipur is also called the Pink City. All buildings and houses are Pink! Seems the soil here is pinkish in color also. The Pink Camp! Workers could all wear pink.

It's exciting being here and what a joy coming here in the bus with the church members, staff and some old gorilla from the States. Please note, using netbook and this little keyboard is a little challenging but prayerfully you'll be able to read this as I hit 2 and 3 keys at a time.

As I opened the door to my room here, our good Friend Bob Heppe walked out of the room next door. Rose Marie Miller is here, son, Phillip has a book out on prayer. If he's anything like Jack, no doubt it would be a must read. Met a few other members of the London team. What a joy and privilege to be here.

Want to share two tender stories here:

At church this morning, I assisted one of the teachers, who teaches the same age group I teach at home. Very talented teachers and tears of joy filled my eyes, as I watched Geesha share with joy and passion. Geesha is now in college and was one of our teens on the team last fall as we took the teens on their first ever trip. Taught with me in June and taught her own class the second week. Thank you Jesus.One prayer request for Geesha, she has started college and is looking for a job, please join me in praying for this special young lady of God.
On the bus ride here, a young man named David sat with me, 2007 team, he sends hos love. David did games that Camp. Team members Are You Ready? David recently came back from Singapore where he had been going to college. Some of you may remember, he was supposed to go during the 2007 camp but as you prayed, he had a delay getting his visa and was able to stay for the second week of camp where we had 500 plus children. Visa came in, day camp ended. David shared with me stories of his time in Singapore. How strong the youth in the church was and the mighty things God was doing there. David has a real burden for Chinese and shared how when he first went to school there, he'd go to church by himself in the morning. At the end of the semester, 19 of the students in his dorm were going to church with him,

David feels God's Hand on him and has a burden to work with children, full time. He has asked for prayer for the Lord's direction on this and prayer for the courage to follow that direction. Please join me in praying for David. Oh, on David, he wasn't going to be able to help with the Camp at Faith Academy but there was this coincidence (explained to him they are Godincidences) and he will be there with us leading games.


Meeting in a few hours. Time for nap, if jet lag will allow. Please continue to pray. God is really working in great and wonderways.

Please continue to pray and especially prayoing for the Shaws.

Until Every Child Knows,


Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

India Bound

Good Morning Prayer Warriors Around the World!


Quick FYI:

I'll be sending out an E-mail inviting anyone in this area to a meeting to share our goal of loading a cargo container for Zambia/Village of Hope

We are looking to have our first Zambia Orphan Care Trip Informational meeting for next August by the end of October/Beginning of Nov.

In a few short hours I'll be once again heading to the airport to return again to my beloved India!

Some huge praises here.

Some of the supplies ordered were late been shipped and the shipping arrival was either Friday or Monday. The one came Tuesday and the big load 1:35 PM yesterday, less than 24 hours before I'm due to leave for the airport. Only God.

We weren't able to verify my dates until less than 3 weeks out but those dates "Just happened" to be on sale and I got the cheapest price I've ever gotten for a ticket to India.

While closing one of my suitcases, the entire zipper ripped out. Thank you Lord for having that happen here and not at the airport or in flight. Had gotten a few bags on sale recently so repacked and put a strap on the new bag.

This always amazes me; shouldn't but does. Just ordered everything needed in faith, having no idea how or if it would fit; knowing it shouldn't but it did. I'm allowed two 50 pound suitcases, a carry on and a laptop bag. (Plus my cargo pants, of course!) Everything fit! Carrying in 160 pounds of supplies and around 10 pounds of personal things. Thought I might have to wear a coat for extra pockets but will only need the cargo pants and a shirt with pockets. Thank you Jesus!

A dear friend gave me a netbook for my trips, freely up enough space in my laptop bag to fit 50 New Testaments/Psalms/Proverbs (Delivered and given to me last night by another dear friend) and a few books and DVD's.

Crafts I wants were on clearance at Answers in Genesis and the videos also were on sale.

All books, videos and supplies were either donated or on sale for at least 25% off. God's economy.

Between what was given and personal funds; all expenses covered!

Is our God awesome or what!?!

This trip is looking to be an exciting I'll be a part of a Sonship retreat Monday through Thursday going with Bible Bhavan Church and the staff of DBI. This is being run by our good friends from World Harvest London (Bob Heppe and company) and I get to help with the children/teens. FYI, in 2002, I had the privilege of going to Wales to help with New Life Masih Ghar Churches first ever retreat run by the same folks running this one and that retreat is where the Shaws and I really connected.

Now 7 years later, on my 7th trip to Delhi working with DBI, I get to be with them again. This time in India! Thank you Jesus!

We did will be doing three 2 day camps in local schools; a long time dream and huge answer to prayer. The children will go to school and instead of going from class to class will be going to different stations of our camp. The student count for this is just over 500; less than 10% know Jesus, including teachers. Teaching on Creation and training children how to use the Wordless Book.

Also am looking to teach in Sunday School and a few other special events.

Some specific prayer requests:

Safe travel to Newark Airport and no problems or surprises with luggage (Weight exact weight allowed; at least by my scale.)

Friday morning between 11 AM and noon should hit customs. Please pray for no problems. Have never had problems but never what to take that for granted. Not "sneaking" anything in but no matter what country you enter, there can be hassles and fees.

Pray for leg to hold up. Long flights can be challenging for it and it tends to get angry when I try and do too much.

Team Unity and for the love of Jesus to shine for all of us.

Hearts to be opened as we share His love.

Encouragement for the staff and workers both Indian and London.

Our Indian teens as they work and minster with us.

For the Lord to keep my heart tender,

Suitcases to hold up.

At this point, I don't have a seat assigned for tonights flight. Praying for an aisle seat or even 1st class; never flown that. But mostly pray for opportunities to share his love at airport and on flight.

No problems with malaria mosquitoes.

On the humorous side; I was told the weather is pleasant there right now. By June standards yes but the 10 day forecast is for mid to high 90's. Not exactly my idea of pleasant but saying that, it truly is pleasant and beyond when I'm there ministering with my dear brothers and sisters.

Please really pray with Holy Boldness. Pray for God to work as never before opening even more doors to minister.
Keep shining brightly for Him.
Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27

Lyle and Michelle Update/Back to the US

Back to the US

Dear Friends & Family,




About a week and a half ago, Michelle and I were very excited to be able to return to our PNG home and our kids and dear friends here. It has been marvelous to be here, and it has provided a good environment for me to have flexibility with work (going up and down the hill between the house and office as necessary) and help with the kids. Michelle has been slowly improving on her balance and continues to work regularly on the excercises given her by the physical therapist and occupational therapist in Australia. It will be a matter of months and maybe even years before we see exactly what deficits are overcome and which she will be left with.



Since being back, we have worked at attempting to contact neurologists and other medical experts around the world to get advice on what Michelle’s risk is for a restroke and to determine what is the best approach for preventing another major migraine that could lead to another stroke. While there are differing opinions on what the best medication would be for Michelle’s situation, the prevailing consensus of the medical folks we contacted was that it would be very wise for Michelle to be close to modern medical facilities in the event she have another episode. Based on the feedback we have received and the wholehearted support of our home church and leadership here, we have made the decision that we will be leaving PNG in early November. We did not want the process of packing up, selling items, and transitioning responsibilities at work to be too stressful for Michelle, so have planned these weeks here. We look forward to getting back to Michigan and finding a good neurologist that will be familiar with Michelle and her condition should this ever happen again.



The two largest down sides we see to us leaving early is the fact that our kids will need to change schools mid-year and the abbreviated time of training and handing things off in the office. I am currently starting to look into accounting jobs in the Grand Rapids area, and we are starting to see if we will be able to get pre-approved by a bank to buy a house. Given the economic times and our strange situation of being missionaries overseas makes us an odd case. The logistics of making arrangements for everything and selling the things we have here and buying all we need to in getting set back up seems like a lot, but we have been excited to already hear of some possible solutions for a vehicle and temporary housing.



We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here in PNG, and it has already been very emotional in many ways to think of leaving here. We have dear PNG national friends and NTM missionary friends that we will miss desperately, and we have gotten very comfortable in our home, school, and work. There are so many wonderful memories we have of our time here and feel priviliged that we have been able to be a part of the ministry here and had the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people. Please pray with us for this time of transition and training here and for the huge process of getting settled back in Michigan. This has a big impact on our kids as well. You have been amazing to pray so faithfully for us through our time here and through the ups and downs along the way. Thank you all!



With love & appreciation,

Lyle, Michelle & kids

Michelle!!! Go God Go!

Go God Go! Keep Praying Saints!

Until Every Child Knows,
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
James 1:27
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 12:54 AM, lyle_vanklompenberg wrote:
Hi everyone,
What a roller coaster ride we feel like we have been on with emotions all over the place since all this began 2 ½ weeks ago! After hearing some very difficult news yesterday and passing that along to all of you yesterday, we have some news we are much more excited to share today!
First of all, Michelle woke up this morning and started to get ready for us to leave for her rehabilitation appointment. As she was getting ready in the bathroom, Michelle said, “Lyle, I think I can see better today than I did yesterday!” As you probably remember, Michelle’s stroke had caused her to lose pretty much the entire upper left quadrant of vision in both of her eyes (and much of the lower left quadrant), so she had been unable to see objects above her eye level and to the left. This morning, as Michelle got ready for the day, she was able to see her things in her peripheral where everything had been completely black in the weeks since the stroke. We praise the Lord for that and are so grateful for all of you praying for Michelle’s vision. This already seems like some real improvement, which her very well respected neuro ophthalmologist told her not to expect! J Michelle has been experiencing some “flashes” and “sparkles” on her left side of her vision, and the neurologist wondered if this is just some of her brain settling down from the stroke.
Second of all, our plans have once again gone back to leaving together on Friday for PNG! The advice yesterday from Dr. Voermann, the rehabilitation doctor, was quite disturbing, and we spent a very difficult evening and night trying to sort out if I (Lyle) should go back to PNG to be with our kids, if Michelle should be admitted as an inpatient, if Michelle’s family should come to be with her, etc., etc. None of those options brought a real peace. Since the opinion that Dr. Voermann had shared was much more dire than anything told to us by the neurologist or any of the other medical staff we had talked to, we decided to contact our neurologist and make some contacts with a couple doctors in the United States that we really respected. Dr. Voermann had told us that Michelle should not be walking around, needed to be admitted to the rehabilitation unit for two weeks, and that Michelle was a high risk for restroking. All of this had Michelle even more anxious about me leaving her or not being able to see the kids for two more weeks. All of the advice we received from doctors in the US, one that oversees a major rehabilitation unit in Michigan, and from our neurologist here in Brisbane that has been working with Michelle since the beginning was that Michelle is past the very risky period and should be free to walk around as much as she is up to, does not need to be an inpatient, and should be fine to return to PNG! Due to the type of stroke Michelle had, which was not tied to risk factors such as obesity, oral contraceptives, high cholesterol, etc., she does not have the same risks others have of stroking again because of those factors.
As things stand now, Michelle plans to attend physiotherapy Wednesday morning and Thursday morning, and we hope to be able to get flights to get back to our beautiful children on Friday! Despite some of the harder days we have had (like yesterday), we do know God is in control and is very good to us. We pray we are able to live in light of that on the rougher days as well as the very encouraging days such as today! Thank you for riding this up and down road with us and caring so much. We still have some major decisions to make regarding our long-term plans, and those will need to be sorted out in the weeks again.

Love to you all,

Lyle & Michelle

lyle and Michelle Update

Please continue to really bathe Michelle and Lyle in Prayer.


Please pray boldly for:

Michelle's eye to heal

a great prognosis and for all to see God.

That Lyle and Michelle would be able to stay in PNG

Wisdom and discernment as they seek the Lord in this seemingly impossible situation.

Pray as Daniel looking to the Lord for an answer!



Until Every Child Knows,

Big Jim

Matt. 19:14

James 1:27

- Hide quoted text -







On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 7:39 AM, lyle_vanklompenberg wrote:



Dear friends,



Today was Michelle’s 2nd day of physiotherapy at the rehabilitation center at the hospital, and she was able to meet with an occupational therapist and a rehabilitation doctor. She started off with the occupational therapist, and it was tremendously encouraging to see all of the things that Michelle CAN do that are potentially problems for folks that have had strokes. David, the occupational therapist, did numerous tests of Michelle’s vision, perception skills, fine motor skills, and different thinking skills. Most of the tests Michelle scored extremely well, and all of the limitations the therapist saw were things we were aware of. He was very optimistic about Michelle’s prospects of having significant recovery on a number of these current limitations. Next, Michelle was with the physiotherapist who ran her through some exercises to help her walking and balance based on her session with Michelle on Friday. All that went quite well, and Michelle was even able to jog a little bit in the hallway.



The last person we met with at the end of our morning was the rehabilitation doctor. As had been the case in each of our meetings with doctors recently, this resulted in another twist. This doctor’s opinion was that it was foolish for Michelle to even do the amount of walking we had been doing around town here. While we thought we were doing a good thing to work on Michelle’s walking skills (and were seeing some good improvement), we evidently were doing something the doctor did not think was wise. Everyone had told us the first month after the stroke was so key, and this was the time to retrain your brain to pick up for cells that died during the stroke. The rehabilitation doctor said he would definitely not suggest Michelle go anywhere for a couple weeks. He much preferred that she be admitted to their rehabilitation unit for two weeks to allow more time to pass from the time of her stroke and to give them the ability to allow her to heal but to also channel her activities just to the rehabilitation activities they guided. We left the doctor after an hour long meeting with the idea we are supposed to tell them tomorrow what we are going to do – go back to PNG against his advice or be admitted to the rehabilitation unit of the hospital here.



Needless to say, this was actually much more difficult than what we were braced to hear today. The thought of just staying down here and being away from our kids for a total of a month seems terrible to both of us. We have kicked around many ideas and haven’t decided what to do. We have had some gracious offers by friends to come be with Michelle and allow me to return to the kids soon. We have had offers by friends to bring our kids down to us. All of the options have some huge down sides – having our family apart, the massive costs, logistics of places to stay with the kids, etc. Please pray with us as we try to sort something out in the next little while. Please continue to pray for Michelle – both for her medical condition and also for the difficulty of being down here away from her family and about to be back in the hospital. Today involved a lot of tears. While there are no certainties of whether Michelle would stroke again or not, the doctor feels the next couple weeks are imperative to allow her brain to heal and to get past the riskiest time. I know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I brought her back to PNG, and she had a stroke in the next couple weeks.



If you haven’t picked it up yet, we are really struggling right now to decide exactly what to do. While we both feel there is not much else we can do but to follow the doctor’s suggestion for Michelle to be admitted to the rehabilitation unit (probably tomorrow), we are battling a lot of emotions about us being away from our kids, me not being by Michelle’s side, etc. We are not expecting anyone to write back with a simple solution, but we wanted to update you on where we are at and ask for your prayers as we sort through this additional turn of events. While we are looking at an additional two weeks now, we worry that date could also get pushed back as our other potential departure dates were.



Thank you all for the amazing prayer and financial support to us through all of this!!



Love,

Lyle for Michelle too

Kay's Kamp

“Can we stay another week?” begged one of our 8 yr old kampers. It was Saturday morning and he, along with several others, didn't want to go home! Gee, I can’t understand why- they had leftovers for breakfast! Mac & Cheese, hot dogs & hamburgers and everyone’s favorite - Ice Cream!!!

Within what seems like the blink of an eye, Kay’s dream of a camp for kids with cancer, became a reality on August 8-15, 2009. We had eleven kids ranging in age from 5 to 17; most of whom had never been to an overnight camp, because most summer camps aren’t equipped to handle children with cancer or kids in remission who are still dealing with the side effects of the disease and its treatment. In the “ZOO”, our loving name for the infirmary, two Pediatric MDs, a Nurse Practitioner and 27 nurses did rotating shifts 24/7 and made sure each kamper received medications and TLC whenever needed! Funny, everyone in the ZOO wore an animal hat and a T-shirt that said “ZOO Keeper” - go figure!

When the parents said their goodbyes on Sunday, the kampers set off to make memory boxes to fill with all the treasures they would make or receive during the week. That evening we had a “Dream World” activity - let’s just say it involved eating hanging graham crackers, kampers washing faces and brushing the teeth of their counselors along with a visit from the tooth fairy and the Dream Master who only allows good dreams at kamp - he carried his blankie and cuddly bear! So, that night, each kamper received a cuddly bear to sleep with too!

Every day consisted of several activities; arts and crafts, sports and games, archery, camping skills, music, fishing, daily newsletter along with special events each afternoon; like a Swamp Trek, a very fun and very wet activity (there was also jello and instant potatoes involved.) We Tye-Dyed T-shirts, made sand art, dream catchers and scrapbooks. Now, we also had a waterslide - it was long, bumpy and a blast! The water power was complements of the Clayton Fire Company who kept the slide (and all of us) cool and wet! It was a huge treat when they invited the kampers to take a ride in the big red truck!

Our evening activities were the best! The Delaware Aerospace Foundation brought the “star lab” to kamp along with telescopes for each kamper to assemble - it was awesome! Volunteers from Pro Physical therapy came out Tuesday night to host a carnival with cotton candy, snow cones and a national champion Yo-yo performer that wowed the crowd with his remarkable talents. And what would the evening be without karaoke (Oh my!! Let’s just say we had many talented, brave, silly performers!) Wednesday we were scheduled to sleep out under the stars and watch a movie, but with the threat of thunder storms, we moved inside. No problem - with the help of the Wilmington University's Women's Volleyball team, the PJ contest was hilarious, the popcorn was yummy, the movie, Aladdin, was a perfect choice. We even had some brave kampers who decided to roughed it for the night in the tents we set up in the gym! The Kamp dance on Thursday night was great! Everyone dressed up, some more than others - let’s just say Superman, Tinkerbelle and Snow White showed up. The strobe light was flashing as DJ played everything from the Macarena, line dances, chicken dance and even the hokie-pokie! We danced until dawn! (Not really, more like until curfew, around 9:30.) Our campfire Friday night was blazing and each cabin group performed a skit, several involving silly string and jello filled balloons (yes, more jello!) We roasted marshmallows to make s'mores, roasted wieners and chicken nuggets too! Ever had a cocktail wiener with chocolate sauce?? Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!!!

Check out the kamp website at www.kayskamp.org to read the WBOC TV & WDEL Radio interviews and The Smyrna/Clayton SunTimes article. There are pictures and short interviews with some of our kampers.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us before, during and after Kamp week! God is amazing and Kaylyn is surely smiling!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13

Go Kamp!

Not Going Home Yet/ Update on Michelle

Dear friends,




First the good news – in our doctor’s appointment today, the doctor looked at the results of the MRI/MRA done last night to see if there was need to be concerned about the blood vessel in her brain that seemed to still be spasming when the first MRI was done last week. While he did not think the vessel was necessarily back to normal, he had less concern that anything would happen with it. Part of the comfort he had about it was the passage of time without any major problems. With each week that passes from the time Michelle originally had her stroke, the doctor said he would be more and more confident that Michelle wouldn’t be having another stroke.



Now the news we were not wanting – we are not able to fly home yet tomorrow. After looking at the MRI/MRA results, hearing from Michelle on the status of her symptoms, and seeing some of the limitations Michelle has noticed more since being out of the hospital, the doctor thought Michelle would benefit greatly from spending some time in a rehabilitation unit with occupational therapists. We are still waiting to hear from them on how long Michelle would need to do it, whether she would need to be inpatient or could be outpatient, etc., so we don’t have firm plans yet. I will have to say we were absolutely crushed to think of spending longer before we get to go home to the kids. They are being loved to death, but I think we are struggling more without them than they are without us. We asked a lot of questions about how much this occupational therapy would be able to accomplish and whether it could wait until later, but everyone was pretty emphatic that the closer to the time of the stroke the therapy is done the better. It didn’t make it any easier to deal with. We also wished we could have been working on this more intense therapy this past week instead of waiting until now to go that route.



The doctor also asked our plans for things long-term and shared with us his perspective. Bottom line, he is not able to give us any percentages or guarantees about how likely Michelle is to have another migraine or stroke, but he is strongly encouraging us to consider returning to the US even before we are scheduled to in June. We have talked and prayed a lot about things…what is prudent medically without losing sight of the fact that God is completely in control and able to sustain us no matter where we would be.



For now, we have cancelled our tickets yet again. We are hoping the rehabilitation unit is able to fit Michelle in tomorrow and then to be treated as an outpatient for part of next week. We probably don’t know that is feasible yet. Please pray these plans come together, for healing for Michelle, and that we will be able to get home soon. While we know it isn’t really feasible to have the kids here with all that is going on and these days away are not that big of a deal if they help Michelle’s prognosis for years to come, I think being away from our kids is the hardest part for both Michelle and I of being here.



Thanks for standing with us through this entire ordeal. There certainly are a lot of curve balls and unanticipated changes along the way. We pray we will be able to maintain a good testimony through it all.



Love,

Lyle & Michelle