THE SPIRIT
Connecting Mission in our Lives
February 2009
Mission Spotlight
Los Angelitos Orphanage, Tijuana, Mexico
Los Angelitos Orphanage is one of three orphanages and other centers in Tijuana directed by Friends of Los Ninos. The orphanage is a Christian facility in which children are loved and cared for by a very committed staff with the goal of guiding each child toward a healthy, productive and Christian adulthood. Los Angelitos Orphanage is faithfully and capably administered by Ed Perry who was once an orphan himself.
Along with two other North County churches, CPC is part of a steering committee to ensure the financial success of this orphanage. Grace Presbyterian Church, Vista and Village Church, Rancho Santa Fe have joined together to enlist others in our churches for fellowship, prayers and financial support of the children of Los Angelitos Orphanage. In addition to cooperatively supporting the monthly expenses of the orphanage, the steering committee is working to raise funds to purchase the home in which the children live. There is currently a financial commitment of one half of the purchase price of the house.
To come alongside the goals of the steering committee CPC has planned several events in the next few months. On February 22, 2009 meet Ed Perry, Administrator of Los Angelitos and Claude Wilson, Director of Friends of Los Ninos after our morning services for a forum. Ed and Claude will share the story of Los Angelitos and its children and discuss ways for CPC members to be involved.
On March 1, 2009 our Communion Sunday Outreach will be a Diaper Drive. In addition to size 3 and 4 diapers the orphanage has a need for infant sleepers and toddler and youth pajamas. These items will be delivered to the orphanage by Claude on one of his monthly trips to Tijuana.
Then on March 28, 2009 join us in Fellowship Hall for a fundraiser dinner event sponsored by the steering committee. There will be an opportunity to discuss plans and answer questions along with entertainment.
Communion Sunday Outreach:
Where Hungry Souls Are Fed
On designated Communion Sundays we reach out for Christ by bringing designated food and other items for specific ministries. As we celebrate the Kingdom of Christ at the Lord's Table we also participate in God's Reign where good news comes to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, and freedom to captives (Isaiah 61.1).
March 1 Los Angelitos Orphanage
Diaper Drive (sizes 3 and 4)
Infant sleepers and toddler and youth pajamas
April 5 One Great Hour of Sharing
May 3 Military Outreach Ministry
Grocery bag food drive
Interfaith Shelter Wrap-Up
By Karen McLachlan
The interfaith shelter network is a mission program that CPC has participated in for the last 7 years. The network comprises over 100 congregations from many denominations, who collaborate together with local social service agencies to provide support to homeless individuals across San Diego County throughout the winter months.
CPC served as the host campus from Jan 4-18 this year. Thanks to the gracious support of our pastors and staff, and the generosity of over 50 volunteers from the congregation, we were able to provide 8 guests with food, shelter and a safe environment over this two week period. Our guests came to us from Temple Solel in Cardiff, and departed for Bethlehem Lutheran in Encinitas. Many of us had the opportunity to share in both laughter and heartache with these good folks, and wish them all the best as they make progress on their way back to more stable living situations.
Serving as the shelter coordinator for the first time this year was certainly an exhausting experience. More importantly however, it was also an incredibly rewarding experience for me as I got to witness and participate first hand in the outpouring of support and generosity this congregation showed towards our guests. It is truly inspiring to see how God has called us together here in the midst of our own economic uncertainties, enabling us to unite as a church family and offer this ministry. I am reminded of the chorus of a familiar hymn, taken from the text of Isaiah 6;
"Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart"
On behalf of the Shelter Planning Committee, thank you for hearing this call and allowing God to lead you to this mission.
Bill and Gerry Tayler's Zambia Project Update
In January 2009 donations from CPC members totaling $1,000 was sent to the Tayler's PCUSA Extra Commitments Account. Gerry sends this update:
"Please share the info that the school building has been completed and that they are now using funds for supplies, training for teachers and nutritional needs of the children. The new school year opens in Zambia this month [January] and they anticipate having twice the number of students in the new building. Thank God for the ongoing support of these orphans and vulnerable children. Bill and I plan to return to Zambia in May to celebrate this project with our friends there and with all the children and their families. Thanks for your help. Gerry"
Further donations can be made using the following information:
Make the check payable to Presbyterian Church (USA) ECO# 052037
Mail checks to:
Presbyterian Church (USA)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15264-3700
From: Indonesia Revisited
Peace has come to Aceh,
but tsunami challenges continue.
By Rebecca Young
In March I visited Banda Aceh, an Indonesian provincial capital city where 80,000 people died on December 26, 2004.
Although it has been more than four years since the tsunami and the unprecedented amounts of support that came in from around the world, the survivors continue to face serious problems. House reconstruction has been slow because the wave made hundreds of miles of land along the coast uninhabitable. Building supplies have been hard to come by due to skyrocketing demand alongside sincere and admirable efforts by the government to control illegal logging.
One positive aspect of the tsunami response however, has been the way communities have come together in unprecedented ways. Before the tsunami, Aceh was involved in a civil war that pitted armed insurgents against the Indonesian military. It was an extended bloody battle that ended just eight months after the tsunami. Peace has indeed come to Aceh, and with the peace a new willingness of the people to cooperate with one another after years of suspicion and mistrust.
Thanks in part to aid received from the PCUSA, residents in villages like Kuala Bubon on the west cost of Aceh have been able to move into new homes that they helped design. Sadly, soon after the residents moved into the house in January 2008, they were informed by the local government that USAID is building a road that will pass directly through the village.
Twenty-two of the 118 new homes are to be demolished, and a 15-foot high bridge will pass through the middle of the village.
The villagers have organized themselves, seeking an audience with the provincial governor and signing a petition to USAID asking them to move the road north of the village. The people of surrounding villages up and down the coast have signed a statement of solidarity with the people of Kuala Bubon.
After three years in barracks, the people finally have been able to move into their dream homes. Now, after only a few months, they face homelessness once again. After three years of living on handouts in borrowed quarters, it will mean more to them if they manage to prevent the road through their own efforts. The most remarkable aspect of the situation is how enthusiastic the people are to band together for something that they know is right, and that is their right to fight for. Please join me in prayer for the people of Kuala Bubon, for their village, and for their struggle to save their homes.
For Art and Sue Kinsler,
Jesus Feeding the Crowd
is a 2008 Christmas Picture!
Sue and Art are happy to tell you that our Lighthouse Foundation this year sent to North Korea flour, soybeans, and other food for orphans and persons with disabilities and poor persons that, even with dollars up 50%, were worth $400,000. Five-eighths of this was emergency food aid approved by the 218th Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that used Lighthouse as its delivery arm. Completing this project in December is a Christmas gift for North Korea and being involved is also a Christmas blessing for Art and Sue.
This has been a busy year with our having five months Itineration Assignment in the US during which Sue returned to North and South Korea three times to continue to monitor and make plans for helping orphans and people with disabilities as well as sending in food for thousands of other young children. Like the boy with the five loaves and two fish that Andrew brought to Jesus in John's gospel account, Lighthouse offers what God's people have given to the Lord who says "Bring it to me," and by his grace in mysterious ways it is multiplied.
Art and Sue Kinsler For those who helped with prayer and funds, Thanks!
PRESBYTERY OF SAN DIEGO DISASTER ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
The Solana Beach Presbyterian Church Firestorm Team continues their monthly work days in Ramona working with designated families. Come and join them! Their next workdays are: February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, and June 20.
Please contact either Larry Muschek at lmuschek@lcglen.com or cell phone, 760-533-4284, or Linda Holland at linvbh@aol.com or cell phone, 619-787-4743, for more information. If you're planning on joining them for a workday, please call Larry or Linda no later than the Wednesday before the date so they can send you the information you need.
The latest news from the PDAC:
1. Unmet Needs committee: As noted in our September, 08, newsletter, we were successful in our request to Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for a $50,000 grant for use at the San Diego Recovery Teams' Unmet Needs Table. We are now represented with other agencies in the county hearing requests/proposals from case managers to assist families who are uninsured or underinsured. As of January we have provided assistance to 10 families and used about half of our grant.
2. Web site: There is now information about our committee on the Presbytery's web site. This includes: activities, newsletters, contacts, meeting dates & locations, and links to the Recovery Centers. (www.PresbyterySD.org/comm/DAC). Criteria and application forms for churches to request funding from the committee for fire response projects can also be found here.
3. Our current project is the preparation of disaster preparedness materials for our congregations focusing on individual and congregational preparation. These will be available on the web site shortly.
Do you have a work group of individuals with chain saws? Fallbrook Recovery Center is looking for such a group to assist with cutting avocado trees. JOIN US!
Next committee meeting: February 24, 2009 9:30 am - 11am
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
RSVP to Carolyn Peterson, Chair; hpandcp@sbcglobal.net; 760 436-9165
