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Covenant Missionary Jo Ellen Reaves latest newsletter…

A Special Mission Trip to Oaxaca

Have you thought about participating in a mission trip to Mexico but have not found enough interest from the membership of your church to make up an entire mission team? Or for some other reason have you not been able to come to Mexico to experience what God is doing?

This November we are thinking of offering a mission trip for individuals to join together and make up a mission team to Oaxaca. You can make a difference in the life of the Covenant Church in Oaxaca.

The objective of the mission trip would be pre-school and grade school health screening. This would include vision testing, hemoglobin testing, height and weight and physical exams. Nutrition talks and dental hygiene are also a possibility. There might even be the opportunity to do some adult health screening in marginalized areas of Oaxaca.

We need a few doctors, nurses, and dentists, but we are also willing to teach group participants how to do some of the screenings and to do other things needed for this type of mission trip, including taking photos, filling out forms, guiding children from screening area to screening area, entering data into the computer, etc.

This trip would be a very practical way to help meet the needs of the community while planting the seeds of the Gospel. You would be working together with Mexican Christians on this project. Approximate cost for this trip is $800, which includes hotel, food, transportation while in Mexico, water, sightseeing, donation to the ministry project, etc. The only costs not covered are your flights from the U.S. to Oaxaca and back. There is a maximum of 9 people for this mission trip.

There will also be the opportunity to participate in worship services at local Covenant churches and to learn more about what Covenant missionaries are doing in Oaxaca, as well as time to sightsee and to explore Mexican history and culture. Covenant missionaries will accompany the mission group at all times. No Spanish is necessary. Translators will be provided. Contact me if you are interested or have questions at [email protected]

Thank You for your continued support!

All support gifts are tax deductible. Support gifts (regular or one-time gifts) should be sent to:

Department of World Mission

Attn: Missionary Support

8303 W. Higgins Road

Chicago, IL 60631

Please make checks out to the Evangelical Covenant Church and include a note that the check is “For support of JO ELLEN REAVES.”

You shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Jeremiah 1:7b

Prayer Corner

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Praises

For a great visit to the U.S. to visit my grandchildren.

For safe presidential elections in Mexico.

For our summer intern, Jana Wipf, who has been a great asset to the Oaxaca mission team.

Concerns

For the national youth camp that will be held in Oaxaca in mid-July and for the two volunteers

coming from Ashtabula, Ohio, to help at the camp.

For elections in the national church (The Covenant Church of Mexico) this August. A new executive committee will be elected.

For the Mexico mission team, as we elect a new country coordinator at the annual missionary

retreat in July.

Contact Information

The easiest way to contact me is through e-mail. Ministry/mission e-mail should be sent to:

[email protected]

My personal e-mail remains: [email protected]

My regular mailing address is:

Calle Zaachila #109

Fracc. San Jose la Noria

68120 Oaxaca de Juarez

OAXACA, Mexico

I would love to hear from you! My blog site for photos, short stories, etc. is: http://joellensjournal.blogspot.com.

Dear Redeemer Missions and Giving Team:

I would like to thank you for the donation for medications to our recent Nicaragua Medical Mission. We recently completed our trip to the Leon, Nicaragua area in partnership with DOCARE international (www.docareintl.org) and JustHope International (www.justhope.org) (May 25-June 3, 2012). We saw and treated approximately 1500 patients with a variety of disorders. I have attached a few pictures for your perusal. Redeemer members and family in addition to Barbara and me included Carl Ellison, MD and Anna Loyd, DO. Thank you again for your support.

Stanley E. Grogg, DO

Organizer of tri

Laura Dester Garden Project

Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m. from May to October you will find these Redeemer women and others at the Laura Dester Shelter gardening with and listening to children. Gardening is therapy for the children at the shelter. Here is a story from a counselor at the Shelter.

"Everyone at Laura Dester loved Michael. Not because he was always well behaved, but because he had a charming smile and at times, an equally charming personality. Other times, Michael was anxious, angry, and aggressive. Most of the residents avoided him because he was often physically aggressive, hitting other residents and destroying property. It was only in the garden that Michael became gentle and peaceful. He handled each flower delicately and with a gentle hand. The staff soon learned that the best way to sooth Michael was to take him to the garden.

Michael learned many things at the garden. He never tore a flower from its vine; he never stepped on a plant. Michael found something to care for in the garden despite the lack of care he had been given. During watermelon season, Michael decided to assign each melon to a different cottage by using a marker to label them. This was his way of giving to his peers. He went to the garden daily to check on the watermelons and noted the growth of each one.

Michael is no longer at Laura Dester, but there are many Michaels in Tulsa. There will be others this spring and summer who will be calmed by tending the Laura Dester Children’s Center garden. The garden provides signs of new life, tenderness, and growth in an otherwise stormy life."

Thank you to all who made Dream Builders Rhythm & Art Camp a success!! Here are a few pictures from the week at camp.

Redeemer Wins "Partners in Education" Award

At the Tulsa Public Schools Partners in Education reception May 9, the Tulsa Chamber awarded Redeemer with the "Outstanding Faith Based Partner" Award for our partnership with Mark Twain Elementary. Way to go Redeemer! You all have made this possible and the list is long for the ways God is using us in this West Tulsa Community. Some of these include; 75 mentors, 5th and 6th grade science enrichment, Beautiful Day, class birthday parties, Dream Builders Camp, Literacy Night dinners, Angel Tree, Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving baskets to needy families, teacher appreciation, Santa pictures, uniform closet, and more! Thank you Redeemer for three great years at Mark Twain.

Cinco De Bando 2012 was the highest attended to date! It was a very entertaining evening including performances by Grant Wiscaver, Stomp & Holler, The Claptet, Flycatcher and Carnegie. Over $6,500 was raised for Blood Water Mission. Another successful partnership with Orange Leaf and Chick-fil-a who contributed 15% of their sales during the event. Thank you all for coming out and making the evening a wonderful success.

First Things First THIS Sunday

This Sunday help provide children's clothing for Ugandan Orphanage, Blessing of Joy. All sizes of children's clothes are needed. Solomon Mutebi, founder of BOJ and Redeemer attender, will be traveling to Uganda May 11 and will take the clothes with him. You can go online to www.blessingsofjoy.com to find out more about this organization. And as always bring your food items, paper goods, and personal hygiene donations for the Bixby Outreach Center. Gently used spring and summer clothing are also appreciated. Thank you for your continuous support and generous donations. Lets fill a trunk full this Sunday!!

#bixbyoutreachcenter #blessingsofjoy #firstthingsfirst #missions #donations #orphanage

Mark Twain Teacher Appreciation

A letter by Redeemer member Carrie Storm on behalf of the Mark Twain Teacher Appreciation Team.

This past year I have had the opportunity to see God intertwine paths in my life that I had not seen initial connections between. It's been a joy! Let me share:

Through a series of events and conversations, I met this amazing teacher at Mark Twain Elementary who loves on her kindergarten class every day. Having a daughter in kindergarten myself, it was easy to make a "mom" connection with this teacher and class. Having had a career in public education, I also have a heart for knowing the countless "extra" hours that teachers devote to their class family and I never want to miss a chance to say thanks to teachers.

I became involved with the Teacher-Staff Appreciation Committee with the PTA at my daughter's school this year, and after spending time working with other moms to recognize and show our appreciation to the staff that works with our kids, it got me thinking: who does this at Mark Twain? I didn't assume (nor do I now) that families didn't care or appreciate the Mark Twain Staff, however I felt that I had a unique opportunity to simply connect two "education families" for the purpose of encouragement.

After approaching my school's PTA about funding a project for the Mark Twain Staff (to which our executive board was enthusiastically supportive of- thanks!) I went on my well-worn path to Sam's and stocked up on a few treats for the Mark Twain Staff to receive throughout the second semester of school in their boxes with little cheerleader notes attached. For example: "The Mark Twain Staff is the perfect "mix" of love, fun and determination" attached to bags of snack mix; "Mark Twain Elementary is so 'bear-y' lucky to have you on its staff" attached to bags of gummy bears. Simple. Silly. Easy. Fun. On behalf of the staff of Jenks Southeast Elementary Staff, some little treats and notes randomly dropped in mailboxes about 15 minutes away I hope has been just the extra kick that these well deserving group of staff members at Mark Twain have needed to get through a tough day.

I didn't know that a kindergartener, a birthday party, a series of emails, a PTA committee, two elementary schools and one church would all overlap together like they have, but I'm thrilled they have and blessed to have seen it happen!

A letter from Janelle Barnett, 3rd Grade Mark Twain Elementary Teacher.

I don't know who the wonderful soul (or souls) are responsible for placing these encouraging notes and little treats in our mailboxes but I would like them to know that I feel lifted up and encouraged each and every time I have found such a surprise. Especially on a day like today after assessing some of my students then sitting with tears in my eyes looking at assessments that do not indicate "growth" but each and every student has progressed changed in so many ways. I didn't go into teaching to have anybody pat me on the back or cheer me on at all times but I appreciate the words of encouragement that comes during those times when teachers are not always able to witness for themselves the impact that they have in students' lives. Thanks again.

Janelle Barnett-MS 3rd Grade

Young Life Car Wash This Sunday

Help provide a way for North Tulsa kids to attend Young Life Camp this summer by getting your car washed. Join us this Sunday, May 6 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The car wash area will be on the North side of the Sanctuary. Here is an update from North Tulsa YL director, Ryan Jackson. "Spring time in Young Life Club can be a hit or miss situation but we really have been blessed to have an amazing Spring! We have had an number of new a faces from McLain, Hale and Booker T Washington. We started a new wrinkle to our weekly gather after club called Real Talk, RT is a optional homogeneous 30 min session after Club, where leaders and kids spend time talking about the talk or and life situations. It has been a really rich time and has allowed leaders to build relationships with kids they may have never naturally connected with. I'm so excited to inform you that North Tulsa Young Life has purchased 12 passenger van, and has quickly put it to work, it has helped us efficiently transportation more kids to and from club and weekly activities. Unfortunately one of those events was the funeral of one of our Leaders Jade Middleton in Dallas, TX. Jade was an amazing energetic leader who heart for her girls was a direct reflection of her time with God, She passed away of Resurrection Sunday due a car accident and was laid to rest on Friday April the 13th, with a van full of girls and two leaders I was blessed to drive the group there and back but the beautiful part is that on the way back to Tulsa I was able to talk to the van full of girls asking questions and getting their real responses and sharing with the what the differences are in what the world sees in them and what God sees long story short about 10 outside of Tulsa I was able to say a prayer in which four of the girls in the van give their lives to Christ!!! There is so much going on with North Tulsa right now but I just wanted to give you a glimpse. Please be praying for us as we continue to work to raise funds to successfully get 25 to 30 kids to camp this summer as we need to raise at least 13,000 to make this happen. We are hoping to have Car Washes like the one this Sunday at Redeemer as well as searching for other ways to help raise the needed funds."

#younglife

Thank you to the lovely ladies that helped out on Saturday, April 14 at the Bixby Legacy Run. Participants were Michelle and Mackenzie Cordova (who also ran in the Fun Run), Melba Loftis, Cindy Perry, Peggy Swyden and Jeanne Holmes. These ladies did everything from selling T-shirts, registering volunteers, to guiding runners on the course. We appreciate you very much and your involvement in the community!

It was a great day with over 200 runners."In spite of the wind and threatening weather, we made it through", says Jeanne Holmes who serves on the BOC Board of Directors. Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers!

#beautiful day #BOC

Beautiful Day "Special Project House"

One of the projects tackled during Beautiful Day was what we called the "Special Project House." We assisted a family that had all their windows broken and the home "peppered". Our intent was to help clean up the glass, wipe off and vacuum up the pepper residue, and take all their clothes and linens to the laundramat for cleaning. This project was much more involved than we anticipated, and it turned out the child that lives in the house (Jessip) is mentored at Mark Twain Elementary by Redeemer member Gary Yaeger. Here is a message from Gary:

When we signed up for the Mark Twain Beautiful Day I was of course put on mulch detail because I just happen to be gifted in that department. We finished up early and Rick called to see if Sue and the crew at the house needed any help. When we pulled up I saw the house and wondered why we were even attempting to clean it, it looked about ready to fall over. Then Jessip came walking out with a big smile on his face and gave me a hug- he looked as happy as I've seen him since I've known him. Jessip doesn't say much most of the time, he's already learned to be guarded about things in general. But he grabbed his half sister and introduced us and proudly told me this was his house and led me in to see his room.

He had no idea what was going through the minds of everyone there- we were all trying to imagine why any child should have to grow up under these conditions. But Jessip and Phoenix were proud and happy to have all these people helping them and they couldn't believe their good fortune. I’m thinking God wanted us to get a close up view of what real poverty is, and how He equips children to deal with it through their innocence. God is obviously not finished with us and Jessip's family, and when He lays His plan out I know we will be ready to respond. God bless you for His work that you do and God bless Redeemer for answering His call.

Gary

#beautiful day #Mark Twain

Here are some pictures from last weekends "Beautiful Day" event.

Thoughts and Notes from Mark Twain Elementary

Redeemer Friends,

It is not often that I am at a loss for words! I think the events in the past two weeks have left me overwhelmed, in a great way. Gretchen and I knew pretty quickly that we were in over our heads, but what a good place to be. Redeemer led the way and I just tried to keep up.

It was good to begin with the Easter egg hunt. Our community has never had an egg hunt at the park, especially one with 5,000 eggs. Several families came to me concerned because their children had not been back to the park since Hannah had died. It was a perfect event, one that Hannah would have loved, and a way to bring happiness back to that place. I loved that the children were collecting eggs in baskets, umbrellas and backpacks. Their shirts and pockets were full. There were so many happy faces and God was so good to hold the rain. Pastor Cap from Grace commented that the rain had perfect timing because the families stayed huddled under the pavilion and spent time talking while waiting for lunch. Thank you to the many volunteers for providing eggs and for those who came out that day!

Beautiful Day was just that …an incredibly Beautiful Day in so many ways. The weather could only have been orchestrated by God as the odds were pretty great that we would be in rain gear, if not severe weather. Those blue skies were more than we could have asked for, and 250 volunteers definitely topped the cake. I think the video says it all and hopefully allows everyone to see all of the many projects that were in place. It is heartwarming to me that so many people with so many talents make time on their weekends to serve others. I think the message and model that sends to our community is so impressive. The families and students who were there that day were so proud to be a part of something bigger for their neighborhood. The staff was so blessed by the wonderful treats that were found on Monday.

The City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Parks were so complimentary of the organization and efforts made for this community and commented that they had never worked with a more friendly group.

I think this was a perfect example of why Christ modeled the importance of both service and relationships. The far reaching results of these events, some we will never know, are many. My thanks go to you for loving God and loving others well!

Sheri Carpenter Mark Twain Elementary Community Schools Coordinator

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Notes From Mark Twain Staff

This is an awesome treat! Please send big hugs from Mark Twain staff to them.- Sandy Doctor (3rd Grade)

Redeemer has gone above and beyond! They are incredibly sweet to inundate us like this. It is wonderful to know that our hard work is so appreciated.- Elizabeth Clarke (2nd grade)

Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked this weekend for Beautiful Day, brightening Mark Twain and the surrounding community. Our playground looks AWESOME! The kids loved the new look of our picnic tables and gardens ready to go :) Thank you for brightening my day with the wonderful “tub of love” I received walking into my classroom this morning. I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. – Janelle Barnett (3rd grade)

Tell them thank you for us, our teachers are the best and we love them very much!!!!!!!!!!!! Ms.Trena (custodian)

Okay, the gifts from Redeemer Church this morning are too much!!! I cried when I saw it and I cried again when I read it. This is the most thoughtful thing ever!!! They are an awesome group of people!!!!I just want to hug them!!!! – Amber Ford (4th grade)

Ok. That was amazing! I seriously was fighting back tears. I wish I had come and brought Gabby. She was supposed to have a soccer game but it was cancelled. That is an amazing church.- Melissa Medina (2nd grade)

I loved the video. It really did a great job of capturing the feeling of the day...WOW is all I can say. – Genie Shannon (Community Schools)

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That is awesome!!! Michelle Graves – (teacher assistant)

Thanks for taking your Saturday morning and helping out with the Beautiful Day event. The video brought tears to my eyes and cold chills! I sure hope our community really appreciates what everyone did for them. Also Brandon Snodgrass, one of our 5th graders, was so proud of himself for helping out, too! Thanks again! Love you!! – Nita Carter (5th grade)

What a wonderful group of people, wonderful video and song, wonderful everything. I either had cold chills or water in my eyes most of the time I watched the video. This school and community are so blessed to have such caring people be our friends.- Nancy Miller (Office Staff)

The box of goodies is so special from Redeemer Church! I truly have appreciated every thoughtful thing they have done for us all year. They are really special people!!! Betti Franklin (Pre-K teacher)

Thank you so much for the wonderful treats from Redeemer. What a nice surprise for a Monday morning – so thoughtful! – Lisa Stafford (Counselor)

Redeemer baked 650 homemade cookies at Saturday's Beautiful Day in the Mark Twain kitchen to include in the gift boxes for all 65 Mark Twain staff. Frozen chocolate chip cookie dough balls were collected in the weeks leading up to Beautiful Day, made by numerous Redeemer women, with the majority made by Sara Fell’s (Redeemer 8th grader) Girl Scout troop.

Below is a thank you note from a Mark Twain staff:

If I had realized the wonderful stuff that was going on inside on Saturday, it would have been hard to get to the garden. I cannot say “thank you” enough for the yummy box of goodies prepared by RCC. You really made me feel special and loved. I am a regular recipient of love from your church body. I cannot tell you how uplifting it is for me for you all to partner with us. My students and I are so blessed through our lunch buddies, birthday partners, and now to have our gardens looking amazing. Wow!! We were in the garden today and the kids were so excited with the new plantings. We are grateful. Thank you again for all you do!!!! Joyce Hembree, Mark Twain

#mark twain #beautiful day

A Letter from a Mark Twain Teacher

I am a teacher at Mark Twain Elementary and I have worked with the absolutely amazing Science volunteers for the past 3 years at Mark Twain-Julie and her team have lifted me thru their angel wings. I just watched the video of Beautiful Day and I am crying like a lost puppy! The love and kindness shown thru Reedmer is amazing. The love and prayers that went into that day have lifted my spirit.

I love my job and the families I work with but sometimes, well many times, I feel overwhelmed with life in general when praying for my students and their families, many are just in survival mode making sure they know where their next meals are coming from. I go home exhausted and in tears and frustrated many days when I leave Mark Twain, but not once have I thought about not going back the next day.

Julie and so many began to come in and it was like God himself was in our building. I couldn't wait to see everyone and just be in their presence during Science Enrichment. God has truly blessed us with Reedmer in our corner! I know words will never explain the love I feel hugging me each time I think of Reedmer, but I want you to know that you truly have made a difference in our community!

Tiffany Ann Morgan MS Site Tech, Facet Manager, & Team leader Mark Twain Elementary

#beautiful day #mark twain

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