Home

Have you ever pondered on the beauty of "home"? This past few days a team of ten young adults and seasoned adults traveled to Muskogee (OK) to do God's work at The Murrow Home. Thirty young Indian children are making The Murrow Home their temporary dwelling. They did not choose it but unhealthy circumstances directed their steps to The Murrow Home. Some share their bedrooms with one or two other young children, or are by themselves in a room. Our twenty hands made their spaces in Carlisle, Joseph and Anderson cottages a bit more like a real bedroom with mirrors, colors on the walls. Images of fish, bubbles, waves and star fish were splashed on the bathroom walls as well. What a  delight it was to see smiles as the children entered their bedrooms and see the transformation that had taken place. How blessed we were to have a young man who felt called to cut the tall grass on the property! Muskogee had received lots of rain the week before we arrived, hence the over grown grass that surrounded many of the cottages.
We were not done doing God's work. We organized and cleaned the garage, which is converted into a shed housing the ride on lawn mower, grills, broken chairs, garden tools, etc.... We repaired and replaced the lock on the front door of the Volunteer Cottage, shaved a couple of doors that were sticky, replaced a broken smoke detector, dis-infected the Volunteer Cottage, started some weeding around the Administrative building so that planting can take place. We also had some small times with the children; not as many as last year, but we are thankful for the times we had. Our last afternoon ended with the usual "watter balloons baptism." Volunteers, children, young adults and seasoned were all splashed. The front yard was flowing with giggles, laughter, and very wet children of God could be seen running around trying to escape water splashes.
Thank you for all your prayers and walking with us on this journey.
(If I can figure out a way to up-load pictures, I will do so). Blessings.

Ask and you shall receive...

God says "ask, knock, pray up...and you shall receive"
Simple requests were made by some of the children living at The Murrow Home to bring some waves, star fish and blue bubbles of sunshine to the walls of the bathrooms. Two of our creative talented fellow travelers brought that sunshine to the bathrooms at Carlisle Cottage.  The children were delighted. They reminded us to be mindful of our requests to God. We are told to ask.
The children ask to live in a safe environment, to be loved and to see others walk in faith and share their  ways to follow Jesus.
We appreciate all the prayers that surround us on this beautiful journey in Muskogee.

1st Day

Painting of the children's room in the Carlisle Cottage happened today. Colors of the rainbow adorned many walls in the children's rooms. How beautiful it was to see their smiles and bright eyes as they walked in late in the day to see what twenty hands were able to accomplish. Mirrors have been installed in the Anderson Cottage. Gas was put in the ride on lawn mower and the battery charged, so that the tall grass could be attended to. We accomplished a great deal deal on this first day. Are we a bit tired? But a good tired feling. We thank you God for all who have sustained us and continue to keep us in prayers.

Journey

A new journey begins.
Our prayer is to continue to give us the passion for the lost, the hungry, and that the burning of God's word in our heart be the thread of joy to quench the thirst in others. We are hungry to satisfy the needs of others around us.

Here is an excerpt of Psalm 23 (Native American version by Cook Christian Training School) for all you readers to meditate on:
"What I tell is true. I lie not. These roads that are "away ahead" will stay with me through this life.
Afterwards I will go to live in the Big Tepee, and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever." Amen.
Pastor Sandra

Mission 2013

God has put together a new team of ten people to go to The Murrow Home in Muskogee (OK)over Memorial weekend. There are five seasoned adults and five young adults. Seven of us went last year. We had our last planning and team building last night. There was much excitement in the room. We will be the first group of missionaries opening the season of visitors at The Murrow Home. There will be much to tackle. We know that God will make crooked ways straight and allow us to accomplish what needs to get done in four days. The children who are currently living at The Murrow Home range in age from three to eighteen. We ask that you keep the team, the children, the house parents and Ms. Betty Martin ( the director) in prayers. Stricter state guidelines for foster homes have been put in place and The Murrow Home has to be in complaince with these new regulations, if they want to continue to receive state funding. May these twenty hands and feet of Jesus be used in this little vineyard of Muskogee to glorify His kingdom. May your prayers lift up a shield of protection around us all. Amen.

Back Home

What an amazing experience! What a beautiful journey of Christian walk! We want to thank you for all the prayers; especially the last twenty four hours which had us stuck in the Washington DC area. You lifted us to safety and securing seats on the first flight out of DC after the storm. We are thankful. So much to be shared and to say about this wonderful, transformative experience for many of our young people. Please come and hear about our trip, see pictures and hear testimonies on Sunday June 24th at First Baptist Church of Sharon at our 10:30am service. Keep our brothers and sisters at The Murrow Home in your prayers.
Accompanying the team was a very humbling experience. I am grateful and give glory and honor to God. Peace to all. Pastor Sandra

Bacone College