It is almost 10pm in Thailand on Monday, the 30^th of March.  I wanted to get some pictures out to all of you so you can see what is happening here with the team.

These are some pictures from our Saturday Elective classes with the Zoe Family!  Al the kids, young and old signed up ahead of time for a class they would want to be part of.  We had tied dyed shirts, bike repair class, guitar, recorder, scrapbooking, card making and drawing of illustrations and comics.

The classes were a huge hit and now the kids all know how to do some practical but fun things.

Please continue to pray for us daily.  Today we started our first day of camp with the Zoe kids and then in the afternoon another Children’s Home joined us as guest.  Wed did games with the kids, memory verses, bible stories and crafts.  Our day began at 7am with devotions and ended at 6pm.  It was a long day for sure, but well worth it!

We are all grateful for this opportunity and wish you all could be here with us to be a part of this life changing experience.

More to come!

Pastor Julie

Victoria helping rubber band a shirt to be tie dyed!

Two Zoe Girls looking on as the tied dyed shirt class was taking place.

The end result!

Diane teaching a Zoe child how to play a Recorder!

Zoe Minstry Student (ZMS) practicing what James Rhoeds was teaching in his drawing elective class.

Marc finishing up on a bike repair!

I'm sitting in Thailand writing to all of you!  It seems surreal that I am 11,000 miles from home and can still communicate with anyone who wants to read this! 

Our team of 13 (including me) arrived safely and without incident yesterday the 27th of March.  We were in an airplane or an airport for a total of 25 hours.  Trust me, the last 1.5 hours we were all ready to be on the ground to stay for a while.

It is very hot and humid here. 95 degrees with 70% humidity. Not sure how long it takes a body to adjust, but I'm hoping its quick because I'm not use to this.

This is my second trip to Thailand and to serve with Zoe Children's home. As we toured the home today and saw some of the kids and and bible students, that I had met last year, I thanked God for what He is doing and how grateful I am to be able to do this little part with and for Him. 

God already answered one prayer I had, that our team would not get stopped at customs and "fined" for bringing in new items. (Really its a corrupt government thing, but there is no way around it.)  We all went through with out getting fined.  3 of the team members were stopped and their bag that was full of supplies checked, but then they were released!  We serve an amazing God. We found out that we were the first team in the past 1.5 years that has not been "fined."

I'm completely expecting the rest of the trip to go in the same direction, God going before us, making a way, and flowing through us each day we serve at Zoe.

Check back soon, I'll try to attach some pictures for you to take a look at in a couple of days, if time permits!

Pastor Julie

In just a few mintues I will be taking off to meet the rest of the Thailand Mission Team at the church.  As I am sitting and pondering the trip, the words of Pastor Marty keep repeating in my mind. "What can God do through me?"  "What will God do through us?"

I'm not just pondering that because I'm getting on a plane to go around the world, I've been pondering that for weeks?  I hope you are too.  I've been asking God daily to flow through me, whatever comes my way, do something through me.

Though I obviously believe in going on Mission trips someplace out of Santa Clarita, I am being challenged of late to look at Santa Clarita as a mission field.

Over the next two weeks, I will have the amazing opportunity to let God flow and work through me to a nation that need Him, however, when I come home, I am looking forward to seeing Santa Clarita the same as Thailand, a nation (city) of people who need the love of God!  And I will be asking God daily to flow through me, I challenge you to do the same!

Pastor Julie

If you were not at the family meeting at the end of February, then you did not get one of our year at a glance calendars for Champs.

I have extra's at the Champs Welcome center for you to pick up.  Hopefull this will help you plan out your summer and the rest of the year.

I'm inserting a snapshot of the calenadar.  If you need it in print please stop by the welcome center. 

There is much availabe for ALL of us to be incommunity with each other!

I know its kind of early, but...don't miss signing up for Breakout and Kids Quest when we start advertising in April. 

Have a great week!

 You know how Pastor Marty talks about how important it is to meditate and have solitude on a consistent basis?  Well I try to go away about every 3 months. (I know some of you are saying, "you've got to be kidding, how in the world world would I fit that in my hectic schedule?, what would I do with the kids?, what about work?")  Recently when the Miller's shared at church, they too spoke of having 2 small children and trying to figure out a way between them how to get away and when they did, how refreshing and fruitful it was!

Well this week I was able to get away for a couple of days up at a cabin in Pine Mtn Club.  It has been 6 months since I have been away, because of the holidays, then my shoulder surgery, just life.

I found myself sitting in my bedroom at the cabin for nearly 6 hours straight. (if you know me, that is quite a big deal)  I wrote in my journal, read from the growth journal, prayed, paused, awaited, and listened .

I had really asked God to speak to me.  I know He does, but you know those times where you REALLY need direction and clarity for stuff?  This was one of those times for me.  After I sat for about 3 hours I felt like I was suppose to go for a walk.  So off I went down the hill.  Pine Mountian is in the mountains, so walking is not the norm.  Well about 1 1/2 hours later I made it back to the cabin.  Going down hill was so much fun. Coming back up was quite different.

While I set out to walk, I was trying to empty my brain.  Have you ever tried to think of NOTHING?!  I have a very hard time doing that. But...I think I succeeded.  Walking, walking, down and down just looking around. A slight breeze about 50 degrees.  It was refreshing.  Finally I knew if I didn't make a turn and start back to the cabin I may never make it. So up I went. Oh my goodness! It took me twice as long to go up as it was to go down.

The amazing thing was God began to really speak to me in the painful, tiring journey uphill.  I had to keep stopping to catch my breath in the thin mountain air.  I would find a big rock in front of someones yard to sit down on and wait for my heart to stop racing and my breathing to slow down.  As I sat I prayed each time (which was more times than I'd like to admit).  By the time I made it back to the cabin, God has totally given me the vision, purpose and curriculum for our Summer Spectacular!  (Details to come later) 

The reason I'm sharing all of this with you, is because, quite frankly that has never happened to me before.  It was an amazing experience and exercise for me.  Pastor Marty's message this past Sunday spoke of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us and work through us.  If we pause long enough, get rid of the ambient noise (you don't have to go to the mountains to do that honestly) it is amazing how much you will hear!

Be encouraged! Be challenged!  Look at your calendar, and find at least 1 day in the next 3 months, where you can slip away, empty your brain and listen to God's loving, gentle voice. (well ok, sometimes He brings correction as well.  I'm just saying)  If you need ideas of where to go, just ask I'll help you out.

Longingly waiting, till the next time! 

Pastor Julie

'Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.   Amen.'

After the christening of his baby brother in church,  Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.  His father asked him three times what was wrong.  Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,  and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

One particular four-year-old prayed, 'And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.

Posted By Julie Sandeen At 8:35 PM •

Yesterday, I sat and wept at the end of the second service as I watched 11 people raise their hands to make a decision for Christ to be the Lord of their lives!  Then two more joined them at the end of the third service.  That is 13 people in one day, who stepped out of their comfort zones, humbled themselves and surrendered.

My tears were tears of joy and amazement at the power of the Holy Spirit doing what He does best.

A young man came to the Champs welcome center and checked in 3 kids that were not his own.  He didn't even know their last names or birthdays, but knew it was important to bring them to church.  He too stepped out of his comfort zone to make a difference.

Today while at physical therapy I met a woman in her late 30's who they thought had a stroke, but it turned out to be a bulging disc and some nerve damage in her plexis area, that runs down her arm to her hand.  She now has no control over her wrist and it just flops.  At the end of our very short conversation, I looked at her and said, Melissa I will pray for you to recover fully, to which she said thanks.  Believe it or not that was out of my comfort zone.  I often think those things, walk away and do pray, but I don't often tell someone out loud who I don't know that I will pray for them.

What have you done that's caused you to step out of your comfort zone lately?!  I  love this quote from Perry Noble: "God couldn't give a rip about your comfort -- he simply wants you to be obedient... and at times that means facing things head on that scare you and completely take you out of your comfort zone."

Let's be scared together, to make a HUGE difference in the Kingdom of God and in the Santa Clarita Valley!

-Pastor Julie