Hillcrest Children's Home Trip in July - Please join us!

Hillcrest  Children's Home

Hot Springs, Arkansas

July 1-7, 2012

We are so excited that you have committed or are prayerfully considering being a part of this team.  Hillcrest Children's Home is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  

It is going to be such a blessing to minister to the staff, the host parents and the children currently living at Hillcrest.  Our team will have the opportunity to participate in:

-  children's activities (mini sports camp) with the kids - the younger kids in the morning, the older kids in the afternoon

-  light construction projects - we will know more details about this soon

-  spending time with the young women living at Highlands Maternity Home

We will celebrate July 4th with some of the host parents and their kids during the day, then end the day in Little Rock going to a minor league baseball game complete with a cookout and fireworks!

This trip is great for individuals and families.  We ask that applicants be 12 years or older and accompanied by one parent.

There are some very important dates coming up:

- All applications must be submitted with a deposit to hold your spot by June 7th.   

- Important Team Meeting Dates:

     Sunday Potluck - June 3rd, 5-7 pm  

     Sunday Potluck - June 24th, 5-7 pm 

* Note that the originally scheduled potluck on 5/20 is rescheduled to 6/3 

We will use these team meeting times to plan our trip and get to know one another.  

We look forward to hearing that you will be part of this amazing team!!  

For more information go to: http://www.lovereaches.org/

If you have any questions please contact Team Leaders:

Lorraine Meyer - coloradobirthmothers@gmail.com  

Kari Stewart - Karalot9@gmail.com   

Graduation Celebration - Asian Hope

Blog written by Dixie Kee – Asian Hope Orphan Ministry Coordinator

Whether you have been involved with Asian Hope for some time or would like to learn more about the work in Cambodia, please join us for this long anticipated event.  Seven Cambodian students have overcome great obstacles and are now graduating from college!  They came to Asian Hope Cambodia as children who needed care and education, and now they will return to Cambodia this summer ready to make a difference!  They will be sharing their stories at a celebration dinner on June 7th, from 6:30-8:30 pm, at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Pastor Mark and I were able to travel to the locations in Phom Penh, Cambodia, where Asian Hope is making a difference.  We visited the girls’ and boys’ home where our own missionaries, Joe and Rene Hansen, are the houseparents.  We had the pleasure of meeting the young men who are still in high school or preparing for higher education, taking them their favorite beef jerky from Timberline’s youth group, and hearing their dreams for their future.

We are very impressed with Asian Hope.  I would be glad to answer any questions you may have concerning this graduation event, the work of Asian Hope, or interest in a future mission trip to Cambodia.

Dixie Kee:  dixiekee68@gmail.com

Asian Hope’s Website:  http://www.asianhope.org/

5K Run/Walk For Orphans - May 12th

Saturday - May 12 - Thomas M. McKee Building on the grounds of the Ranch - Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex.


Kids Fun Run - 8:30
5K Run/Walk - 9:00


Family Fun activities and booths following the race.


It's not too late to register for this 5K Run/Walk.  Your participation will directly impact the lives of children here in our community and around the world.  :)


Register now at:  
http://www.runfororphansrace.org/

May - National Foster Care Month

Across the United States there are 408,000 children and youth currently in foster care.  While that number seems overwhelming there are a couple of things that you can do that will make a significant impact:


- Pray - prayer guide to praying for those in foster care:
http://lovereaches.org/images/files/foster-care-prayer-guide.pdf


- A Backpack of My Own - Welcome Child is committed to partnering with organizations that make an impact in the lives of foster and adoptive families to help them to be successful as they start school in the fall.  When a child enters foster care they often come with few personal items.  Sign up during the month of May to fill a backpack for students in Elementary, Middle or High School.  
Fort Collins Campus is partnering with Foster and Adoptive Families of Larimer County and Matthews House.  Windsor Campus is partnering with Weld County and Windsor School District to meet the needs of foster youth in their communities.  


Drop off dates for filled backpacks at both campuses will be August 4/5 and August 11/12.  For more information and a complete list of items needed in each backpack contact:


Fort Collins Campus - Erin at erinbeth21@hotmail.com or Kari at Karalot9@gmail.com


Windsor Campus - Lynn at LPETERSON6876@msn.com


A simple act of kindness such as a filled backpack can be such a huge blessing!! :)

Backyard Child Size Playhouse needed!!! :)

***Child Size Backyard Playhouse needed***

Building Hope is a new ministry being launched in Northern Colorado to offer home restorative care for foster and adoptive families. Building Hope will assist its first family within the next month.

Timberline Men's Ministry annual Golf Tournament scheduled for August 13th will go to Building Hope.

It would be a lot of fun to have a child size backyard playhouse not only to auction off, but to introduce the community to Building Hope.

If you know of a builder that would be willing to build one or someone willing to donate one.

Please have them contact me: Karalot9@gmail.com

Christ is Risen - Matt Maher

Broken and Poured Out

Today's reading from You Version reading plan for the 21 day fast was so appropriate as we celebrate Jesus' resurrection.

Reading from Mark 14 this really spoke to my heart today:

During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why was this expensive perfume wasted?" they asked, "She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!" And they scolded her harshly.

But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But I will not be here with you much longer. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory.

This woman was bold! I admire the strength and courage that it took for her to walk into a run full of men where she knew she would not be welcomed. What made her walk in to where Jesus was with such confident obedience?

What makes us respond to the promptings on our heart to be bold like this unnamed woman? Do we spend to much time trying to figure out in our minds if it is God's speaking those prompting to our hearts?

I know I do. How many times have I missed blessing someone by not being obedient to what God spoke to my heart (no matter how silly)? It can be simple tasks to help someone in a store or restaurant, paying for someones meal sitting at another table or larger ones like paying a debt that you do not owe or using our time and talent to help someone.

Whatever it is be quick to respond to what God has spoke to your heart, these type of promptings need our immediate obedient response.

As we are obedient to the small things that God puts on our hearts, He will breathe bigger promptings that will have significant impact in the kingdom of God.

I am determined to be more like Mary in my response to the promptings that God puts on my heart when she responded with:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Luke 1:38

Have a great Easter weekend celebrating Jesus' resurrection! May the hope of this amazing free gift rise within us in such a way that we are willing to be broken and poured out for His Glory! :)